Tropical Storm Debby took a shot at reversing the area’s severe drought conditions late last week as she moved northward, dumping rain along the way. Parched ground absorbed some of the heavy rainfall over more than 24 hours of stormy weather, but couldn’t soak it in fast enough to avoid expected flooding.
National Weather Service rain gauges at the western edge of Morgan County recorded 4.3 inches of rain between noon on Thursday, August 8 until Friday afternoon, August 9. Local weather watchers measured more than that with their home rain gauges, anywhere from five to eight inches falling locally.
As predicted, heaviest rain fell overnight Thursday into Friday morning, raising streams and rivers quickly as the sun came up. Typical flooding points registered the water flow, including Warm Springs Run in Berkeley Springs State Park, Sleepy Creek at Johnsons Mill Road and the Cacapon River at the low and high-water bridges.
photo by Chuck Marsh
Early Friday morning, motorists came upon high water across many roadways from Paw Paw to Hedgesville. Major roads like Winchester Grade Road were closed for periods as streams and creeks washed across access points. Low-lying spots on U.S. 522 were covered in water as well. Debris accompanied the high water. On Thursday night, the hillside below the Berkeley Castle partially washed out, closing Cacapon Road for a time as highway workers and first responders cleared mud and rock from the roadway. 
By Friday afternoon, most waterways had dropped below flood stage again.
Tornado warnings for Morgan County stayed in place overnight Thursday, but no twister was confirmed in this area. A tornado was confirmed in Berkeley County during the storm event.
