Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, July 15, 1990 TAG: 9007150253
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: E3 EDITION: STATE
SOURCE: RON BROWN STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
The National Weather Service had placed a flash flood warning in effect for Roanoke, Patrick, Floyd, Montgomery counties and the ity of Salem until 10:45 p.m.
At 8:30 p.m., however, police dispatchers reported only some minor small-stream flooding.
The most severe possibly was in Floyd County, where about a foot of water made Virginia 648 impassable, and a fallen tree blocked traffic on Virginia 612.
"We've gotten several phone calls on fallen trees," said dispatcher Debbie Vest. "It's storming here pretty good."
The rain Saturday and earlier in the week came when the area was beginning to show concern over dry conditions that prevailed in June and early July. June's rainfall was less than an inch, and the first 10 days of July saw only .73 inches fall.
A Grayson County dispatcher reported that some streams were getting swollen after several days of rainfall. The weather service said some parts of the region have received more than 5 inches of rain in the past two days.
A thunderstorm was rumbling through the Roanoke area about 5 p.m., but police dispatchers reported no major flooding in the city. Several people were stranded in a car when they ventured out on a low-lying bridge on Wiley Drive, but were quickly rescued, dispatchers said.
The weather service reported heavy showers were cutting across Roanoke, Botetourt and Franklin counties about 9 p.m., but dispatcher they were reporting no immediate problems.
Appalachian Power Co said about 200 customers were without electricity at various time Saturday evening.
City firefighters responded to a call of smoke showing near the 900 block of Campbell Avenue Southwest. It was determined the smoke was coming from police flares surrounding flooding there.
by CNB