A strong upper low slowly lifted northeast across the southern Appalachian Mountains over the 3 day period. While precipitable water values were not particularly strong with the low, a strong low level jet in advance of the system brought strong moisture transport and orographic ascent to the region, centered over the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. The hardest hit areas saw between 4 and 7 inches of rain over a two day period, resulting in a widespread duration flood event. Mainstem rivers and reservoirs were also significantly affected by prolonged period of heavy rain.

Flood in BURKE, NORTH CAROLINA
From 05-MAY-13 20:00:00 to 06-MAY-13 07:00:00 (EST-5)
Location: JOY
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 30.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: 911 Call Center

Numerous roads were flooded across the central and western part of the county after several inches of rain fell on the 5th and early on the 6th. A spotter on the southwest side of Morganton reported 7.15 inches of rain for the event. Several rock and mud slides were also reported. Flooding occurred initially along streams and then along the Johns River and the upper reaches of the Catawaba River. Some locations affected included Little Silver Creek was flooded Causby Road (1 SSE Glen Alpine). The Johns River flooded Johns River Road (7 NNW Morganton). Rose Creek flooded the Rose Creek Campground. A water rescue was reported at this location after a private bridge collapsed under a vehicle (6 NNW Morganton). Flooding was reported along Byrd Road (4 SW Morganton). Russell Creek was reported to be flooding Fish Hatchery Road about 10 miles northwest of Morganton. A swift water rescue was reported at the Optimist Campground (3 N Table Rock).

Flood in RUTHERFORD, NORTH CAROLINA
From 05-MAY-13 08:10:00 to 06-MAY-13 06:00:00 (EST-5)
Location: CHIMNEY ROCK
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: 911 Call Center

Campgrounds were evacuated and high water was reported on several roads between Bat Cave and Lake Lure starting a little after 8 am on the 5th.

Flood in CALDWELL, NORTH CAROLINA
From 05-MAY-13 19:00:00 to 06-MAY-13 10:00:00 (EST-5)
Location: EDGEMONT
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 30.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: County Official

County officials reported that around 7 roads were affected by flood waters from the evening hours of the 5th through the late morning hours of the 6th. Areas that experienced flooding included Indian Grave Road where a low water crossing bridge was washed out. Johns River flooded Old Johns River Road in several areas. Edgemont road was flooded by Wilson Creek. Part of the embankment was washed out on Highway 90 near Collettsville, causing one line of the highway to buckle and slump.

Flood in AVERY, NORTH CAROLINA
From 06-MAY-13 02:15:00 to 06-MAY-13 15:00:00 (EST-5)
Location: ELK PARK
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 100.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Social Media

Heavy rain affected Avery County from late on the 5th through the morning hours of the 6th. A Cocorahs observer near Linville reported 7.00 inches of rain for the 24 hour period from 7 am on the 5th til 7 am on the 6th, with another nearby observer reporting 6.92 inches. Several roads across the county were flooded or affected by rock and mud slides. A few of the flooded roads include Highway 184 in Banner Elk, Mullen Hill Road in Ingalls and Green Road in Altamont. Several private bridges were washed out along the Linville River with residences cut off from US 221 and NC 181. Some residences were evacuated in the Land Harbor subdivision between Linville and Crossnore. A fire and rescue vehicle was caught in rising waters along Elk River Road and had to be abandoned. On US 19E, Buck Hill Campground had to be evacuated, with campers taken across the road to the Green Valley Fire Department. til 3 pm on the 6th.

Flood in POLK, NORTH CAROLINA
From 05-MAY-13 10:00:00 to 06-MAY-13 04:00:00 (EST-5)
Location: PEA RIDGE
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Newspaper

Most of the flooding with this duration rain event occurred as a result of rises along the Green River in the northeast part of the county. Several roads that cross or run near the Green River were flooded, including Ken Miller Road, John Watson Road and Abrams Moore Road. Roads within the Green River Highlands subdivision were flooded as well. An NWS employee who lives in the south-central part of the county measured 5.11 inches of rain for the event.

Flood in TRANSYLVANIA, NORTH CAROLINA
From 05-MAY-13 09:25:00 to 06-MAY-13 18:00:00 (EST-5)
Location: CHERRYFIELD
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: County Official

Several inches of rain fell across Transylvania county, mainly on the 5th. Most of the resulting flooding occurred along the French Broad River or as a result of backwater effects of streams flowing into the river. Among the effects of the heavy rain, the Little River flooded parts of Cascade Lake Road north of Merrill Rd near Crab Creek. Hannah Ford Rd and Island Ford Rd were flooded by the French Broad River. Barclay Rd was flooded by the French Broad River 2 miles south of Brevard. Crab Creek Road was flooded by the French Broad River just southeast of Penrose. The French Broad at Blantyre rose above flood stage around 3 pm on the 5th, crested at 19.3 feet at 545 pm on the 6th, and fell below flood stage at 730 pm on the 8th.

Flood in HENDERSON, NORTH CAROLINA
From 05-MAY-13 09:30:00 to 06-MAY-13 06:30:00 (EST-5)
Location: SMYTH
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: River/Stream Gage

A long duration of moderate to heavy rain caused several creeks in central Henderson County to go into flood by the mid-morning hours of the 5th. Mud Creek flooded Balfour Road near the Hendersonville water treatment plant. Fruitland Road was flooded by Clear Creek near the intersection of Lancaster Road. Flooding was reported in many parts of Hendersonville as Mud Creek went above flood stage around 10 am. Flooded roads in town included South King Street, East Caswell Street and White Street. Old Airport Road was flooded by Cane Creek in Fletcher, though the flooding took several hours longer to develop in the northern part of the county.

Flood in MITCHELL, NORTH CAROLINA
From 06-MAY-13 07:00:00 to 06-MAY-13 11:00:00 (EST-5)
Location: WEBBS
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Social Media

Pictures on the Yancey county News Facebook Page showed that NC 197 was flooded and closed where Brummett Creek flows into the North Toe River near the Relief Community. The flooding appears to be a backwater effect near the river. This is just inside Mitchell County on the Yancey, Mitchell County line.

Debris Flow in HENDERSON, NORTH CAROLINA
From 05-MAY-13 15:00:00 to 05-MAY-13 15:00:00 (EST-5)
Location: BAT CAVE
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: County Official

Both lanes of Chimney Rock Rd were blocked by a debris flow near the intersection of US Highway 74 in Bat Cave.

Flood in HENDERSON, NORTH CAROLINA
From 05-MAY-13 15:00:00 to 06-MAY-13 18:00:00 (EST-5)
Location: MILLS RIVER
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Newspaper

Flooding developed on several roads in the Mills River Community by the mid-afternoon hours of the 5th. Flooded roads included Butler Bridge Road, Warlick Road, and Jeffress Road. Mills River also flooded North Mills River Rd by the late evening hours. Butler Bridge was flooded by the French Broad River, but may have been affected by a stream initially. Some roads in the north and west part of the county were flooded well into the next day and beyond as the French Broad River rose to a level of 19.29 feet by the afternoon hours of the 6th and only slowly receded thereafter.

Debris Flow in BURKE, NORTH CAROLINA
From 06-MAY-13 02:00:00 to 06-MAY-13 02:00:00 (EST-5)
Location: TABLE ROCK
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: 911 Call Center

A landslide was reported on Kayga Ave, near Fish Hatchery Road.

Debris Flow in BUNCOMBE, NORTH CAROLINA
From 05-MAY-13 23:00:00 to 05-MAY-13 23:00:00 (EST-5)
Location: SHUMON
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: 911 Call Center

A landslide covered Old Fort Road with 4 to 6 feet of debris near High Cliff Trail.

Debris Flow in MCDOWELL, NORTH CAROLINA
From 06-MAY-13 00:00:00 to 06-MAY-13 00:00:00 (EST-5)
Location: GRAPHITE
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Broadcast Media

A landslide closed the westbound lanes of Interstate 40 along the Buncombe, McDowell County line.

Debris Flow in MCDOWELL, NORTH CAROLINA
From 06-MAY-13 01:00:00 to 06-MAY-13 01:00:00 (EST-5)
Location: GRAPHITE
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 20.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Newspaper

A 32-year old man was killed when he was buried by debris from a landslide while inspecting a rail line in far western McDowell County.

Flood in BUNCOMBE, NORTH CAROLINA
From 05-MAY-13 20:00:00 to 06-MAY-13 19:00:00 (EST-5)
Location: ELK MTN
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 10.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Newspaper

A mix of river and stream flooding affected the county after several inches of rain fell, mainly on the 5th. A few streams went out of their banks during the evening hours of the 5th. Charlotte Street was flooded by Flat Creak during this time. Starting during the early morning hours of the 6th, much of the French Broad and Swannanoa River systems went above flood stage. Several roads were affected around Asheville where the French Broad was above flood stage from 115 AM EDT on the 6th until 630 PM EDT that day. Flooded roads included Amboy Road, Swannanoa River Road, Riverside Drive from Craven Street to the I-26 on-ramp, Lyman Street and Azalea Road among others. Several rock and mud slides affected the county as well, particularly the south and east parts.

Debris Flow in RUTHERFORD, NORTH CAROLINA
From 07-MAY-13 13:30:00 to 07-MAY-13 13:30:00 (EST-5)
Location: LAKE LURE
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 500.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Newspaper

A home along Lake Lure was condemned and a boat house destroyed after a landslide occurred along the immediate lake shore.

Flood in RUTHERFORD, NORTH CAROLINA
From 05-MAY-13 22:00:00 to 06-MAY-13 18:00:00 (EST-5)
Location: ROCK SPGS
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Newspaper

Flooding developed along the upper reaches of the Broad River starting during the evening hours of the 5th, lasting through the afternoon hours of the 6th. Flooded roads included Thompson Lake Road and Coxe Road at Cleghorn Mill Road, among others.

Flood in CATAWBA, NORTH CAROLINA
From 06-MAY-13 12:00:00 to 07-MAY-13 12:00:00 (EST-5)
Location: CLAREMONT
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 2.00M
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: County Official

The gauge on Lookout Shoals Lake crested at a stage of 106.98 feet during the mid afternoon hours of the 6th. The lake only slowly receded over the next few days. Several residences were flooded along the lake. Some of the worst flooding was along Ridge Street in the Carpenter's Cove area as well as Longfield Street and Overlook Drive. In total, 21 homes suffered significant flood damage along the lake, while an additional 32 received minor damage.

Flood in MCDOWELL, NORTH CAROLINA
From 05-MAY-13 22:30:00 to 07-MAY-13 06:00:00 (EST-5)
Location: NORTH COVE CROSSING
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 250.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Newspaper

Widespread flooding occurred across the north and west part of the county after several inches of rain fell on the 5th and early on the 6th. Several roads were closed and several rock and mud slides were reported. Closed roads included Resistoflex Road near Old Greenlee Road, Old Linville Road flooded near American Thread Road and Old Cove School Flooded by the North Fork Catawba River, among several others. The worst hit area in the county was the western shore of Lake James. Rising waters flooded at least 10 RV���s at the Moose Lodge Campground. Several structures at the site were also flooded. Boat docks were damaged by high water and debris at the campground and at Burnette���s Landing. The water gradually receded starting on the 7th.

Debris Flow in HENDERSON, NORTH CAROLINA
From 06-MAY-13 11:45:00 to 06-MAY-13 11:45:00 (EST-5)
Location: GERTON
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Newspaper

Two mudslides were reported on highway 74 in Gerton. A mudslide was also reported on Middlefork Rd off of highway 74. The roads were closed for a while.