An unusual long-duration event occurred June 7-11 as a very slow-moving upper trough and surface high across New England combined to produce several days of cool-air damming and persistent rainfall along the frontal boundary and in orographically favored areas of the Blue Ridge with the heaviest rainfall focused over eastern Watauga and Ashe and western Wilkes counties where rain gauges showed 2 to 3 inches in the 24-hour period ending at 0800 EDT on June 8th. The rain continued much of the 8th even heavier amounts with an additional 4 to 8 inches across parts of the area and another 2 to 3 inches ending 0700 on the 10th. Numerous official sites set daily rainfall records on both June 8 and June 9. Four-day totals by the morning of the 10th ranged from 5 to 15 inches, with isolated amounts at unofficial sites approaching 20 inches. The tremendous inflow from various tributaries in the upper Yadkin basin pushed the pool elevation at W. Kerr Scott Reservoir (WLKN7) to its highest level since the dam was completed in 1962, reaching 1062.61 feet on June 10th, eclipsing the previous record of 1061.20 feet in November, 1977.

Flash Flood in WILKES, NORTH CAROLINA
From 08-JUN-19 22:00:00 to 09-JUN-19 04:00:00 (EST-5)
Location: CHAMPION
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Newspaper

Several mobile homes were evacuated along a small stream where it enters the South Prong of Lewis Fork Creek and near the confluence of the north and south prongs of Lewis Fork Creek.

Flood in WATAUGA, NORTH CAROLINA
From 08-JUN-19 22:00:00 to 10-JUN-19 11:00:00 (EST-5)
Location: VALLE CRUCIS
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 20.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: River/Stream Gage

The Watauga River flooded along much of its course from Shulls Mill to Sugar Grove with several low water bridges flooded and other roads near the river. Several people were rescued from a car stranded in flood waters from the Watauga River in the Shulls Mill area. Several buildings in the Valle Crucis area received some flooding. The Watauga River at Sugar Grove (SGWN7) crested at 15.40 feet, just short of Moderate Flood Stage (16 feet) on the afternoon of the 9th, the highest level since the May 2018 flood and 2nd highest since 2004. According to USGS data it was approximately a 5-year recurrence interval (0.20 annual chance flood). The IFLOWS stream gage upstream near Foscoe (FOSN7) crested at 11.48 feet (Minor Flood Stage - 9 ft.), which was the 2nd highest in the fairly brief history at this gage (since about 2010).

Flood in ASHE, NORTH CAROLINA
From 09-JUN-19 01:45:00 to 10-JUN-19 07:30:00 (EST-5)
Location: GLENDALE SPGS
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: River/Stream Gage

The South Fork New River near Jefferson (JFRN7) crested the afternoon of June 9th at 10.44 feet (11,600 cfs), the 7th highest level on record (nearly continuous data since 1925) and highest since September 2004 (remains of Hurricane Frances). This was also very close to the 10-year recurrence interval (0.10 annual chance flood).  Several roads near the river were flooded and blocked.

Flood in WILKES, NORTH CAROLINA
From 09-JUN-19 00:00:00 to 09-JUN-19 18:00:00 (EST-5)
Location: DENNY
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: River/Stream Gage

Elk Creek was reported flowing across NC Route 268 near Elk Creek Darby Road.
The USGS gage at Elk Creek (EKVN7) in the upper Yadkin River basin in western Wilkes County crested at 9.41 feet in the mid-morningat of the 9th with a discharge of 11,000 cfs in the 50.9 mi2 basin. This was the highest stage/discharge since August 1994 at this gage (12.02 ft.) and the 3rd highest on record (continuous data since 1966). According to the most recent (2009) North Carolina USGS flood frequency study the recurrence interval at this gage was slightly above a 10-year event (.10 annual chance flood), although regional regression equations suggested a more unusual event. The automated rain gage co-located at the site measured over 12��� of rain in the 3-day period, and 11+��� in 2 days. Significant flooding was reported across parts of western Wilkes County with the worst occurring in the Elk Creek, Upper Reddies and Lewis Fork watersheds according to news reports.

Heavy Rain in WATAUGA, NORTH CAROLINA
From 08-JUN-19 07:00:00 to 09-JUN-19 07:00:00 (EST-5)
Location: BOONE
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: CoCoRaHS

The CoCoRaHS station at Boone 4.6 E (NC-WT-37) measured 9.05 inches for the 24 hours ending 700 AM EDT. The 3-day total ending at 700 AM on the 10th was 15.24 inches. This 3-day total is within the 90 percent confidence interval for a 500-year (.002 annual chance occurrence) rainfall event at this location per NOAA Atlas 14.

Debris Flow in WATAUGA, NORTH CAROLINA
From 08-JUN-19 21:30:00 to 08-JUN-19 21:30:00 (EST-5)
Location: TRIPLETT
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 5.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: 911 Call Center

Heavy rain caused a mud slide on Elk Creek Road near Wes Randall Road. Several utility poles were knocked down by the slide.

Heavy Rain in WATAUGA, NORTH CAROLINA
From 08-JUN-19 11:00:00 to 09-JUN-19 11:00:00 (EST-5)
Location: BOONE
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

The Boone 1 SE COOP station (BOON7) had 4.60 inches in the 24-hour period ending 700 AM EDT on June 9th, the highest ever for a day in June. The old record was 2.81 inches set in 1992.  Nearly complete records date back to 1980 at this site.

Heavy Rain in ASHE, NORTH CAROLINA
From 08-JUN-19 07:00:00 to 09-JUN-19 07:00:00 (EST-5)
Location: JEFFERSON
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

The Jefferson 2 E COOP station (JEFN7) had 5.15 inches in the 24-hour period ending 700 AM EDT on June 9th, the highest ever for any day in June. The old record was 4.52 inches set in 2006. It was also the 9th highest daily rainfall on record. Nearly complete records date back to 1910 at this site.

Flood in WATAUGA, NORTH CAROLINA
From 09-JUN-19 12:40:00 to 10-JUN-19 00:40:00 (EST-5)
Location: FOSCOE
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 615.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Department of Highways

There was significant flooding across parts of Watauga County with several roads closed.  Substantial damage occurred to road and culvert infrastructure across parts of the county. Ar mudslide occurred on Route 421 near Mt. Zion Road.