The National Weather Service has issued a FLOOD WATCH from this evening through late Sunday Night for the Southern Blue Ridge. Rain associated with Tropical Storm Delta will produce locally heavy rainfall across much of the area. In the Flood Watch area, small streams and creeks may experience significant water rises that may exceed flood stage before the rain ends Monday afternoon. Carroll, Grayson, Henry, and Patrick Counties are the Virginia counties included in the Flood Watch. Additional Flood Watches may be needed for the Roanoke Valley into portions of the Highlands.
Timing: Rain will move into Southwest Virginia and the Southern Blue Ridge this morning in waves. Areas north of US-460 will deal with a few showers at times. Saturday will not be a total washout, but you’ll need to keep the umbrella handy. The heaviest rain will move along the Blue Ridge late tonight into Sunday. Additional showers are likely Sunday night into Monday.
The highest rainfall amounts will fall on either side of the Blue Ridge. Not a lot of rain is expected across Eastern Virginia, with amounts generally less than one half inch. Locally higher amounts greater than 4 inches are possible in the highest elevations of the Blue Ridge which may lead to flooding. Rain will end Monday morning with breezy conditions (wind gusts 20 to 30 mph) behind the system.
