Rains bring minor flooding to SW Va. and Valley

By Staff Reports

Published: January 7, 2009

-- Heavy rains brought minor flooding to Southwest Virginia and the Shenandoah Valley today, closing dozens of secondary roads.

The National Weather Service in Blacksburg said more than 2 inches of rain fell in parts of western Virginia over a 48-hour period ending this morning.

The rain spelled trouble for roads in low-lying areas. The worst hit was Scott County, where creeks jumped their banks and blocked 20 secondary roads at one point, said Michelle Earl, spokeswoman for the Virginia Department of Transportation. A dozen roads were temporarily closed in neighboring Lee County, she said.

Roads were also closed in the counties of Franklin, Pittsylvania, Pulaski, Shenandoah, Smyth, Washington and Wise, according to VDOT.

The heavy rains, which briefly turned to ice along the Blue Ridge north of Buena Vista, forced schools to open late in Bath and Highland counties. -- Rex Bowman