A deep, closed upper level low pressure system was observed over central Alabama on the morning of May 28th. The east winds around this low, allowed deep sub-tropical moisture from the Atlantic to move into lower Mid-Atlantic region. Areas of rain developed across the mountains by late morning, and gradually increased in coverage due to the sustained 25 to 30 knot (850mb) moisture inflow. Precipitable water values were observed in the 1.2 to 1.3 inch range through the day into the early morning hours of the 29th, which is around the 75th percentile for late May. Through the 28th into the early morning hours of the 29th, the upper low drifted eastward, allowing instability to increase across the central Appalachians as the associated pocket of cooler upper level temperatures approached. While Surface-based CAPE levels remained minimal during the event, Most-Unstable CAPE (MUCAPE) values were observed climbing across the mountains through the evening of the 28th into morning of the 29th, reaching into the 600 to 850 J/Kg range. Combined with orographic lift, this instability supported the development of low-topped thunderstorms with enhanced rainfall rates.  As rainfall totals increased across the mountains and soils approached saturation, flash flood guidance values were lowered to under an inch at the 1- and 3-hour time periods.
The heavy rain then led to flooding of Wolf Creek and Walker Creek. Elsewhere, training cells across Floyd and Franklin Counties resulted in minor flooding of the South Fork of the Roanoke River, which brought the Roanoke River up to Action Stage as it passed through the Cities of Roanoke and Salem.

Flood in FRANKLIN, VIRGINIA
From 29-MAY-23 09:00:00 to 29-MAY-23 12:30:00 (EST-5)
Location: ROCKY MT
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

School Board road was closed due to standing water across the road.  This is a road that is prone to flooding due to poor drainage during periods of heavy rain.

Heavy Rain in TAZEWELL, VIRGINIA
From 28-MAY-23 11:00:00 to 29-MAY-23 11:00:00 (EST-5)
Location: LITTLE TOWN
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

A personal weather station (Weather Underground: KVATAZEW19) recorded a 24-rainfall amount of 2.78 inches. This is between a 2-year and a 5-year Average Recurrence Interval event per NOAA Atlas 14 Point Precipitation Frequency estimates. Runoff from this location flows into Wolf Creek.

Flash Flood in BLAND, VIRGINIA
From 29-MAY-23 08:00:00 to 29-MAY-23 12:00:00 (EST-5)
Location: CLEAR FORK
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 25.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Heavy rain caused Laurel Creek to flood out of its banks and enter two homes on Laurel Fork Road.  Portions of the road were also flooded and impassible.  The property damage is the damage estimate of flooding inside the homes.  No injuries were reported.

Heavy Rain in TAZEWELL, VIRGINIA
From 28-MAY-23 11:00:00 to 29-MAY-23 11:00:00 (EST-5)
Location: BLUEFIELD
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

A personal weather station (Weather Underground: KVABLUEF19) recorded a 24-rainfall amount of 3.29 inches. This is about a 10-year Average Recurrence Interval event per NOAA Atlas 14 Point Precipitation Frequency estimates. Runoff from this location flows into the Bluestone River.

Flood in GILES, VIRGINIA
From 29-MAY-23 18:00:00 to 30-MAY-23 02:30:00 (EST-5)
Location: NARROWS
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

The Town of Narrows Police Department reported that the New River at Narrows had risen high enough to surround modular homes and vehicles parked closed to the river at the RV park off of Highway 460.  It was not clear if water entered any of the homes or rose high enough to cause any damage.

Flood in MONTGOMERY, VIRGINIA
From 29-MAY-23 11:20:00 to 29-MAY-23 14:20:00 (EST-5)
Location: ALLEGHANY SPG
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: River/Stream Gage

The South Fork Roanoke River near Shawsville, VA (SHAV2), crested at 5.64 feet (3,240 cfs) at 12:25 pm EST (1725 UTC) on the 29th above the flood stage of 5.0 feet. This event is between a 2-year and a 5-year event (50%-20% Annual Exceedence Probability) per USGS StreamStats.  Mainly only minor overbank flooding of properties along the river is observed at this stage, and no damage was observed or reported.

Flood in GILES, VIRGINIA
From 29-MAY-23 10:50:00 to 30-MAY-23 17:30:00 (EST-5)
Location: NARROWS
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: River/Stream Gage

Wolf Creek at Narrows, VA (WOLV2), crested at 11.71 feet (9,650 cfs) at 13:30 pm EST on the 29th (1830 UTC) above the flood stage of 10.0 feet. The flooding was the result of between 2.5 and locally 4 inches of rain covering a large area of the headwaters, most of which fell between noon EDT on the 28th and noon EDT on the 29th.  This is the 11th-highest documented crest of this gage, and the highest since February 2020. This event is nearly a 10-year event (10% Annual Exceedence Probability) per USGS StreamStats.

Heavy Rain in ROANOKE, VIRGINIA
From 28-MAY-23 11:00:00 to 29-MAY-23 11:00:00 (EST-5)
Location: ADNEY GAP
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

A personal weather station (Weather Underground: KVABENTM19) recorded a 24-rainfall amount of 4.46 inches. This is between a 5-year and a 10-year Average Recurrence Interval event per NOAA Atlas 14 Point Precipitation Frequency estimates. Runoff from this location flows into the South Fork Roanoke River.

Flood in TAZEWELL, VIRGINIA
From 29-MAY-23 07:20:00 to 29-MAY-23 22:00:00 (EST-5)
Location: YARDS
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: River/Stream Gage

The Bluestone River at Falls Mills, VA (BRVV2), crested at 10.96 feet at 11:15 am EST on the 29th above the flood stage of 7.0 feet, and just below the major flood stage of 11.0 feet.  This is the new flood-of-record for this gage, exceeding the previous record of 8.66 feet established in January 1996 by 2.3 feet.  The flooding was the result of between 3.5 and nearly 5.5 inches of rain covering a large area of the headwaters, most of which fell between noon EDT on the 28th and noon EDT on the 29th.  This event is a 10-year event (10% Annual Exceedence Probability) per USGS StreamStats.

Flash Flood in FLOYD, VIRGINIA
From 29-MAY-23 07:00:00 to 29-MAY-23 11:00:00 (EST-5)
Location: UNION
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: 911 Call Center

Burks Fork was flooded out of its banks and observed flowing over Weddle Road, making the road impassible.  The road was reopened after the flooding receded, and no damage was reported to the road.

Flood in GILES, VIRGINIA
From 29-MAY-23 14:15:00 to 30-MAY-23 00:45:00 (EST-5)
Location: POPLAR HILL
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: River/Stream Gage

Walker Creek at Bane, VA (BANV2), crested at 13.84 feet (13,100 cfs) at 17:15 pm EST on the 29th (0015 UTC on the 30th) above the flood stage of 11.0 feet. The flooding was the result of between 3 and 4 inches of rain covering a large area of the headwaters, most of which fell between noon EDT on the 28th and noon EDT on the 29th.  This is the 15th-highest documented crest of this gage, and the highest since May 2020. This event is a 10-year event (10% Annual Exceedence Probability) per USGS StreamStats.

Heavy Rain in GILES, VIRGINIA
From 28-MAY-23 11:00:00 to 29-MAY-23 11:00:00 (EST-5)
Location: NARROWS
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

A personal weather station (Weather Underground: KVANARRO21) recorded a storm-total rainfall amount of 3.32 inches during 24 hours ending at 11 am EST on the 29th. This is between a 5-year and a 10-year Average Recurrence Interval event per NOAA Atlas 14 Point Precipitation Frequency estimates. Runoff from this location flows into Wolf Creek.

Flash Flood in TAZEWELL, VIRGINIA
From 29-MAY-23 07:30:00 to 29-MAY-23 12:00:00 (EST-5)
Location: BLUEFIELD
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 150.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: 911 Call Center

Heavy rain caused Beaverpond Creek to flood out of its banks at multiple locations.  Water was observed flowing up to the top of the bridge at Stockton Street, with water entering multiple homes several inches deep on Skyline Drive.  Further downstream, multiple images on social media indicate Beaverpond Creek flooding out of its banks and into businesses along both S. College Avenue and Walnut Street.

Heavy Rain in TAZEWELL, VIRGINIA
From 28-MAY-23 07:00:00 to 30-MAY-23 07:00:00 (EST-5)
Location: BURKES GARDEN
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

The Cooperative Weather Observer at Burkes Garden, VA (BURV2) recorded a 48-rainfall amount of 2.84 inches. This is between a 1-year and a 2-year Average Recurrence Interval event per NOAA Atlas 14 Point Precipitation Frequency estimates. Runoff from this location flows into Wolf Creek.

Flash Flood in TAZEWELL, VIRGINIA
From 29-MAY-23 08:00:00 to 29-MAY-23 08:00:00 (EST-5)
Location: FALLS MILLS
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 20.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: 911 Call Center

Heavy runoff from rainfall flowing down a hillside caused the back wall of a building to collapse.  No injuries were reported.

Flash Flood in TAZEWELL, VIRGINIA
From 29-MAY-23 08:50:00 to 29-MAY-23 12:00:00 (EST-5)
Location: FALLS MILLS
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 80.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

Heather Street and Angel Lane were both flooded due to combination of flooding of the Bluestone River and Brush Creek.  Multiple homes along Angel Lane had at least 1 to 2 feet of water flood inside of them, forcing the resident to evacuate.  Property damage is the estimated flood damage to the homes.  No injuries were reported.

Heavy Rain in BLAND, VIRGINIA
From 28-MAY-23 10:00:00 to 29-MAY-23 12:00:00 (EST-5)
Location: BLAND
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

A personal weather station (Weather Underground: KVABLAND12) recorded a storm-total rainfall amount of 4.04 inches during about 26 hours ending at noon EST on the 29th. This is around a 10-year Average Recurrence Interval event per NOAA Atlas 14 Point Precipitation Frequency estimates. Runoff from this location flows into Walker Creek.

Heavy Rain in TAZEWELL, VIRGINIA
From 28-MAY-23 11:00:00 to 29-MAY-23 11:00:00 (EST-5)
Location: COVE CREEK
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

A personal weather station (Weather Underground: KVABASTI15) recorded a 24-rainfall amount of 2.38 inches. This is between a 2-year and a 5-year Average Recurrence Interval event per NOAA Atlas 14 Point Precipitation Frequency estimates. Runoff from this location flows into Wolf Creek.

Flood in TAZEWELL, VIRGINIA
From 29-MAY-23 08:30:00 to 29-MAY-23 18:00:00 (EST-5)
Location: YARDS
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: 911 Call Center

Several portions of Falls Mills Road were flooded and impassible due to the Bluestone River rising out of its banks onto the roadway.  No damage was reported to the road, and the road was reopened after the flooding receded.  The flooded road caused local residents to be stranded on their properties.  At least on home along the road was evacuated by a swift water rescue team as a precaution due to a resident being concerned that flooding would enter their home.