Ohio, 1996

Flash Flood in Ohio, May 17, 1996

May 17, 1996 · NWS IWX · 1 event in 1 county or zone

Up to ten inches of rain fell across Williams County in a 6 hour period producing serious flooding in many communities in Williams County. The hardest hit communities were Bryan, Ohio and Antwerp, Ohio.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 1 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

  • Tornadoes
  • Tropical storms and surge
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  • Wind
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  • Winter weather
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  • Cold
  • Fire, smoke and dust
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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
$3.0 million
Crop damage
$200,000
Events
1

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

What happened

The episode as NWS IWX wrote it up.

Up to ten inches of rain fell across Williams County in a 6 hour period producing serious flooding in many communities in Williams County. The hardest hit communities were Bryan, Ohio and Antwerp, Ohio. Flooding in the county was described as the worst in 70 years. In Antwerp 22 homes were damaged with 11 beyond repair. In Bryan, Ohio water as deep as 8 foot was reported in places with many homes sustaining damage and some beyond repair. Total damage to property, roads and utilities was estimated at 3 million dollars.

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

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Event by event

1 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Flash Flood, Williams

When
May 17, 1:00 AM EST to 7:00 AM EST
Where
Williams County, Williams County
Property damage
$3.0 million
Crop damage
$200,000
Coordinates
41.560, -84.588 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Flash Flood
Flooding that begins within six hours of the rain that causes it, or of a dam or levee failure or ice jam release, often with deadly speed.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Ohio in 1996Every state in 1996This day in weather historyWarnings in Ohio, May 1996

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5559587.