PROJECT ALERT NOTICE (VA WV) VA-WV WSC responding to moderate flooding

Date: Mon, 01 Mar 2021 12:50:35 EST

Summary: Persistent rain and resulting snowmelt has caused widespread minor to moderate flooding in most basins throughout the region.

Much of the two-state region experienced persistent rainfall over the weekend, followed by increasing temperatures. Most of the rain fell over southern West Virginia and western Virginia, impacting the Kanawha, Potomac, Shenandoah, and James River watersheds and sending snowmelt pouring into streams.

The Coal River at Tornado, WV is forecast to exceed major flood level later today. Most other sites in the other basins are at, or forecast to exceed, action stage by mid-week. No stations with long-term records are expected to exceed the peak of record, but the Coal River at Tornado forecast peak will be largest since 2007 and will rank as the seventh highest peak overall at this station. All monitoring stations are operational and no stations have been damaged as a result of this event.

There are currently 22 field staff deployed and collecting high flow discharge measurements and water quality samples. Headwater stations are the primary focus today with plans to continue sampling larger systems later in the week as the flood wave propagates downstream. Some field staff have been hindered by road closures in southern West Virginia.

Coordination with NWS Weather Forecast Offices in the region are taking place when needed.