The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued a flood warning for the City of Fredericksburg and the counties of Spotsylvania, Stafford, Orange, Prince William and Eastern Culpeper.
By 2 p.m. April 30, about two inches of rain had fallen across the area since the morning, and numerous creeks, steams and rivers were overflowing their banks, the NWS said.
The parking lot at City Dock in Fredericksburg was totally covered by early afternoon (see photo). Flood stage at City Dock is 18 feet. The Rappahannock River is predicted to crest there at 8 a.m. May 1 at 22 feet, the NWS reported.
“Additional showers and thunderstorms are moving into the area from the south and streams are sill rising,” the NWS reported. Residents are advised to remain alert to rapidly deteriorating conditions.
“Most flood deaths occur in automobiles,” the NWS said. Never drive into areas where water covers the roadway. Flood waters are usually deeper than they appear, and just one foot of flowing water is powerful enough to sweep vehicles off the road. “Turn around, don’t drown.”
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