Sunday night’s heavy rains, coupled with the already saturated ground, caused some small stream flooding and road washouts that delayed schools in some communities and closed them in others Monday.
The James River in Botetourt County was still rising, and topped flood stage (16 feet) in Buchanan about 10 a.m. today. Officials expect it to crest at about 22 feet, 6 feet above flood stage, around midnight tonight.
Rt. 43 east of Buchanan was already closed because of the high water, as were some secondary roads around the region.
More than a dozen roads in Montgomery County were closed due to small stream flooding.
Craig, Roanoke County and Salem were essentially spared. There was only minor flooding in each of those localities despite rain totals that ranged from 1.5 inches to nearly 5 inches on the crest of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Rockbridge, Franklin and Bedford Counties had a number of roads closed.