Flash flooding shuts down streets throughout Buckhannon after Monday evening downpour

A massive downpour that moved through Buckhannon Monday evening left many creeks and roads impassable due to flash flooding.

The National Weather Service issued a flash flood warning in effect until 1 a.m., saying that more than 1.5 inches of rain may have fallen during the storm.

“Doppler radar indicated heavy rain due to thunderstorms from earlier in the evening,” the NWS warned. “Flooding is ongoing or expected to begin shortly in the warned area… Turn around, don’t drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood deaths occur in vehicles.”

Route 20 was closed near Speedway, and many side streets were also closed. The Buckhannon Fire Department responded to calls of flooding due to quickly rising creeks in the Boggess, Gum and Lincoln Street area, and the road below St. Joseph’s Hospital was also covered in water.

Mayor Robbie Skinner asked residents to avoid driving through high water.

“The severe thunderstorm that just rolled through our area has caused several downtown streets to flood,” Skinner wrote on social media. “Please do not try to drive through the high water. The streets affected are: Madison, Lincoln, South Florida, South Spring, South Kanawha, and South Locust Streets, and West Main Street between St. Joseph’s Hospital and the underpass.”