Ohio, 1997

Flash Flooding and Flood in Ohio, August 17 to 20, 1997

August 17 to 20, 1997 · NWS RLX · 13 events in 9 counties and zones

8 thunderstorm wind, 3 flash flood, 1 hail, 1 flood, as filed by the National Weather Service.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 4 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
  • Floods
  • Wind
  • Hail
  • Winter weather
  • Heat and drought
  • Cold
  • Fire, smoke and dust
  • Marine and coastal
  • Other

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
$706,000
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
13

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.

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

8 thunderstorm wind, 3 flash flood, 1 hail, 1 flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Jackson

When
August 17, 12:00 PM EST
Where
Jackson County, Jackson
Property damage
$5,000
Coordinates
39.050, -82.630

Hail, Jackson

When
August 17, 12:05 PM EST
Where
Jackson County, 2 mi W of Monroe
Measured
0.88 in hail
Coordinates
38.850, -82.650

Thunderstorm Wind, Vinton

When
August 17, 12:15 PM EST
Where
Vinton County, Wilkesville
Property damage
$2,000
Coordinates
39.080, -82.330

Thunderstorm Wind, Meigs

When
August 17, 12:15 PM EST
Where
Meigs County, Chester to Pomeroy
Property damage
$5,000
Coordinates
39.080, -81.920

Thunderstorm Wind, Washington

When
August 17, 1:15 PM EST
Where
Washington County, Belpre
Property damage
$115,000
Coordinates
39.280, -81.570

The city's safety-service director said more than 100 trees were downed in the city. He estimated wind gusts of around 70 mph. Roofs were damaged by fallen trees. Some city residents even reported their vehicles were lifted off the pavement.

Thunderstorm Wind, Gallia

When
August 17, 1:40 PM EST
Where
Gallia County, Gallipolis
Property damage
$15,000
Coordinates
38.820, -82.200

Thunderstorm Wind, Lawrence

When
August 17, 2:10 PM EST
Where
Lawrence County, Proctorville to Scottown
Property damage
$20,000
Coordinates
38.430, -82.380

Numerous trees were fallen along Route 775. Wind gusts were estimated at 60 to 65 mph.

Thunderstorm Wind, Meigs

When
August 17, 3:30 PM EST
Where
Meigs County, Rutland
Property damage
$2,000
Coordinates
39.050, -82.130

Thunderstorm Wind, Lawrence

When
August 17, 3:48 PM EST
Where
Lawrence County, Proctorville
Property damage
$2,000
Coordinates
38.430, -82.380

Flash Flood, Perry

When
August 17, 7:30 PM EST to August 18, 2:00 AM EST
Where
Perry County, New Straitsville
Property damage
$175,000
Coordinates
39.737, -82.236 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The community of Corning was most affected by the flooding along Sunday Creek. Five houses sustained major damage. About 100 citizens were evacuated , while 25 residents were sheltered. Flooding also occurred along Federal and Wolf creeks.

Flash Flood, Athens

When
August 17, 7:30 PM EST to 11:30 PM EST
Where
Athens County, Buchtel
Property damage
$250,000
Coordinates
39.334, -82.045 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flooding took place along streams in the northern reaches of the county. Some of the streams affected include Snow Fork, plus Sunday and Monday Creeks. Chauncey was one of the hardest hit areas as waters from Sunday Creek were slowed by the swollen Hocking River. Other communities that received flooding included Nelsonville, Glouster, Hollister, Trible, and Doanville. The stream flooding lead to minor river flooding along the Hocking River. The county emergency management agency listed one single family dwelling and 1 mobile home destroyed for the whole flood event. Twentyfive dwellings had major damage.

Flash Flood, Morgan

When
August 17, 8:00 PM EST to 11:00 PM EST
Where
Morgan County, Morgansville
Property damage
$15,000
Coordinates
39.620, -81.853 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Headwaters of the West Branch flooded many secondary roads.

Flood, Athens

When
August 18, 6:00 AM EST to August 20, 7:00 AM EST
Where
Athens forecast zone
Property damage
$100,000
Coordinates
39.334, -82.045 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

After the small stream flooding, the Hocking River at Athens crested near 22 feet during the afternoon of the 19th. Flood stage is 20 feet. However, most of the town is protected until levels reach over 25 feet. County roads along the river were blocked.

What these are

Thunderstorm Wind
Winds from a thunderstorm of 50 knots (58 mph) or more, or lower winds that caused damage or casualties. Measured gusts are marked MG, estimated EG.
Hail
Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
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.
Flood
Flooding that develops more slowly than a flash flood: rivers leaving their banks, or water standing over land for an extended time.

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

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Ohio in 1997Every state in 1997This day in weather historyWarnings in Ohio, August 1997

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: 5614666, 5614667, 5614668, 5614669, 5614670, 5614671, 5612980, 5612982, 5612981, 5612984, 5612985, 5612983, 5612986.