Flash Flooding and Flooding in Ohio, July 10, 2003

Name: Flash Flooding and Flooding in Ohio, July 10, 2003
Start: 2003-07-10T13:00
End: 2003-07-10T23:00
Location: Ohio

July 10, 2003 · NWS ILN · 13 events in 8 counties and zones

7 flood, 3 thunderstorm wind, 3 flash flood, as filed by the National Weather Service.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 10 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

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: $859,000
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.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Wilmington, OH wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jul 10, 11:58 AM EST, 1 hour 2 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jul 10, 11:58 AM EST, 1 hour 2 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON OH
1258 PM EDT THU JUL 10 2003

ADDED WATCH TODAY

H5 PATTERN IN FAIR AGREEMENT BETWEEN MODELS THROUGH SUNDAY. UKMET IS
A LITTLE QUICKER THAN THE GFS SWINGING THE MEAN TROF TOWARDS THE
EAST COAST ON MONDAY AND EVEN HAS A BIT OF NEG TILT TO IT. CANADIEN
IS MID GROUND BETWEEN THE TWO AND HAS THE TROF E OF FCST AREA AT
THIS TIME BUT NOT AS FAR E AS THE UKMET. ECMWF IS JUST SLIGHTLY
FASTER, SO ATTM ID LEAN TOWARDS A SLIGHTLY FASTER GFS SOLUTION. AT
0Z WED...MEAN TROF IS STILL OVER GTLKS REGION AND MRF SHOWING A
REINFORCING WAVE DROPPING FROM THE NW WHICH IS SUPPORTED BY THE
CANADIEN MODEL.

AT THE SFC...BOTH 0 AND 6Z GFS SHOWING A BIT OF AN INVERTED TROF
MOVING THROUGH SERN FCST AREA AHEAD OF THE H5 TROF AS IT CUTS INTO
THE PREDOMINANT RIDGE OF SFC HIGH PRESSURE THATS SUPPOSED TO LAY
OUT SW-NE. CANADIEN IS DRY WITH THIS FEATURE AND REALLY HAS IT
FURTHER SE TOWARDS VA. I BELIEVE THAT THE FEEDBACK FROM THE TROPICAL
SYSTEM WILL CHANGE THE STRENGTH AND TRACK OF THIS WEAK SFC WAVE AND
IM GOING TO KEEP THE FCST THE SAME WITH SLIGHT CHANCE OF SHOWERS ON
SUNDAY AND PLAY DOWN THE MENTION OF THUNDER. YESTERDAYS HPC MAPS
DONT ACCOUNT FOR WEAK WAVE AND JUST HAVE THE AXIS OF THE HIGH OVER
FCST AREA. ON WED...GFS SHOWING A DECENT SFC WAVE MOVING THROUGH NRN
GTLKS AND ASSOCIATED CDFNT. WILL KEEP THE CHANCE POPS GOING HERE
(HIGHEST IN THE NORTH) FOR THIS DAY WITH THUNDERSTORMS BUT FEEL THAT
THIS SYSTEM WILL WEAKEN AS IT RUNS INTO ESTABLISHED HIGH PRESSURE.

FOR TONIGHT...WILL NOT GET TOO FANCY WITH FRONT BUT TRY TO ADD SOME
TIMING IF POSSIBLE. GRIDS WILL BE UPDATED ASAP FOR PM ISSUANCE BUT
AM NOT GOING TO ADJUST FOR THE POPS THAT I INCREASED WITH THE WATCH
THIS AFTERNOON.

.ILN...
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH UNTIL 6 PM TONIGHT...SOUTH OF BUT NOT
INCLUDING THE I-70 CORRIDOR.
FLOOD WATCH ENTIRE AREA UNTIL 12 AM EDT FRIDAY.

FRANKS

Hazardous weather outlook, Jul 10, 4:25 AM EST, 8 hours 35 minutes before

INZ050-058-059-066-073>075-080-KYZ089>100-OHZ026-034-035-042>046-
051>056-060>065-070>074-077>082-088-101115-

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON OH
525 AM EDT THU JUL 10 2003

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR EASTERN INDIANA...NORTHERN
KENTUCKY AND THE SOUTHWEST QUARTER OF OHIO.

.DAY ONE...TODAY

SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE TODAY AS A STRONG COLD FRONT
APPROACHES THE REGION.  SOME THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE SEVERE THIS
AFTERNOON AND EVENING WITH DAMAGING WINDS AND LARGE HAIL THE PRIMARY
THREATS.  HEAVY RAIN WILL ALSO BE POSSIBLE FROM ANY STORMS THAT
DEVELOP...WHICH MAY AGGRAVATE EXISTING FLOODING PROBLEMS ACROSS WEST
CENTRAL OHIO.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH THURSDAY

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED LATER THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING.

RYAN

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Jul 10, 10:00 AM EST, 3 hours before

INZ050-058-059-066-073>075-080-KYZ089>100-OHZ026-034-035-042>046-
051>056-060>065-070>074-077>082-088-102100-

SEVERE WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON OH
1100 AM EDT THU JUL 10 2003

...SEVERE WEATHER POSSIBLE THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING...

A STRONG COLD FRONT WILL MOVE INTO THE LOWER GREAT LAKES AND
OHIO VALLEY LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND INTO THIS EVENING.
A MOIST AND UNSTABLE AIR MASS REMAINS IN PLACE ACROSS THE
REGION.  THE COMBINATION OF THE APPROACHING COLD FRONT AND DAYTIME
HEATING WILL CAUSE SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS TO DEVELOP.
ANY THUNDERSTORM WILL BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING TORRENTIAL RAINFALL...
FURTHER AGGRAVATING EXISTING FLOODING PROBLEMS.

THE STORM PREDICTION CENTER IN NORMAN OKLAHOMA HAS ISSUED A SLIGHT
RISK FOR SEVERE WEATHER ACROSS THE ENTIRE REGION. THE MAIN
THREAT WILL BE DAMAGING WINDS AND LARGE HAIL. WINDS IN THE LOWER
ATMOSPHERE WILL BE CONDUCIVE FOR A FEW OF THE STORMS TO ROTATE...AND
THERE IS THE POSSIBILITY FOR ISOLATED TORNADOES.

SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL LIKELY BE NEEDED ACROSS THE REGION LATER
TODAY AND TONIGHT.  LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO...OR YOUR LOCAL
MEDIA OUTLETS FOR FURTHER UPDATES.

Local storm report, Jul 10, 10:58 AM EST, 2 hours 2 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON, OH
1158 AM EDT THU JUL 10 2003

TIME(EDT)  .....CITY LOCATION.....STATE   ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

0730 PM    DRY RIDGE                 KY   FLOOD
07/09/03   GRANT                          2.5 INCHES OF RAIN FELL AT
                                          STEVENS AND CLARKS CREEK.
                                          BOTH OUT OF BANKFULL.
                                          REPORTED BY COUNTY ROAD
                                          GARAGE.

0845 PM    CARROLLTON                KY   FLOOD
07/09/03   CARROLL                        BETWEEN 715 AM THROUGH 845
                                          AM 2 TO 3 INCHES OF
                                          RAINFALL CAUSED HIGH WATER
                                          ON ROADS AND BASEMENT
                                          FLOODING. REPORTED BY LAW
                                          ENFORCEMENT.

Local storm report, Jul 10, 12:02 PM EST, 58 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON, OH
102 PM EDT THU JUL 10 2003

TIME(EDT)  .....CITY LOCATION.....STATE   ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

0655 PM    OWENTON                   KY   WIND DAMAGE
07/09/03   OWEN                           ON SR 227 NEAR WHEATLEY
                                          TREES DOWNED.REPORTED BY
                                          LAW ENFORCEMENT.

0745 PM    AMELIA                    OH   WIND DAMAGE
07/09/03   CLERMAONT                      TREES AND POWER LINES
                                          DOWNED AT POND RUN.
                                          REPORTED BY LAW
                                          ENFORCEMENT.

0805 PM    MILFORD                   OH   WIND DAMAGE
07/09/03   CLERMONT                       3 TREES DOWNED IN EAST
                                          MILFORD. REPORTED BY LAW
                                          ENFORCEMENT.

0839 PM    2 W MT. ORAB              OH   WIND DAMAGE
07/09/03   BROWN                          2 TREES DOWNED ON EASTWOOD
                                          AND MALADY ROADS.

1230 AM    2 N OSGOOD                IN   FLOOD
07/10/03   RIPLEY                         AT NAPOLEON ROADS CLOSED
                                          DUE TO FLOODING. REPORTED
                                          BY LAW ENFORCEMENT.

0130 AM    6 W LAWRENCEBURG          IN   FLOOD
07/10/03   DEARBORN                       HIGH WATER OVER ROADS AT
                                          GUILFORD. REPORTED BY LAW
                                          ENFORCEMENT.

0500 AM    COLERAIN TWP              OH   FLOOD
07/10/03   HAMILTON                       HIGH WATER OVER ROADS.
                                          REPORTED BY LAW
                                          ENFORCEMENT.

0500 AM    FAIRFIELD BEACH           OH   FLOOD
07/10/03   FAIRFIELD                      HIGH WATER OVER ROADS.
                                          REPORTED BY LAW
                                          ENFORCEMENT.

0600 AM    VERSAILLES                IN   FLOOD
07/10/03   RIPLEY                         BETWEEN 6 AM THROUGH 700
                                          AM HIGH WATER OVER ROADS.
                                          ALSO LAUGHERY CREEK IS AT
                                          BANFULL. REPORTED BY LAW
                                          ENFORCEMENT.

0500 AM    MASON                     OH   FLOOD
07/10/03   WARREN                         BETWEEN 330 AM AND 500 AM
                                          WATER OVER ROADS. REPORTED
                                          BY LAW ENFORCEMENT.

The radar

The Cincinnati radar (KILN), 30 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 19:10 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

7 flood, 3 thunderstorm wind, 3 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Flood, Warren

When: July 10, 1:00 PM EST to 6:30 PM EST
Where: Warren forecast zone
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 39.428, -84.167 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong thunderstorms along a cold front moved across southwest and south central Ohio during the afternoon and evening. Two to three inches fell, causing localized flooding. Numerous roads were flooded and closed, and a few streams came out of their banks. The Great Miami River came out of its banks in Warren county, causing large areas of lowland flooding near Franklin. Several homes north of Dayton were evacuated when high water flowed into the Eldorado neighborhood. High water caused a culvert to collapse on State Route 41 near Peebles, leaving a large sinkhole in the road.

Flood, Brown

When: July 10, 1:47 PM EST to 3:00 PM EST
Where: Brown forecast zone
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 38.934, -83.867 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, Pike

When: July 10, 2:09 PM EST to 3:00 PM EST
Where: Pike forecast zone
Reported by: FIRE DEPT/RESCUE SQUAD
Coordinates: 39.077, -83.067 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Thunderstorm Wind, Adams

When: July 10, 2:10 PM EST to 2:14 PM EST
Where: Adams County, Peebles
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $3,000
Reported by: AMATEUR RADIO
Coordinates: 38.950, -83.400

Trees were downed.

Flood, Clermont

When: July 10, 2:15 PM EST to 3:00 PM EST
Where: Clermont forecast zone
Reported by: AMATEUR RADIO
Coordinates: 39.047, -84.152 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Thunderstorm Wind, Pike

When: July 10, 3:00 PM EST to 3:04 PM EST
Where: Pike County, 2 mi S of Piketon
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $3,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 39.033, -83.017

Trees were knocked down.

Thunderstorm Wind, Scioto

When: July 10, 3:00 PM EST to 3:04 PM EST
Where: Scioto County, Rarden
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $3,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 38.917, -83.233

Trees were downed.

Flash Flood, Pike

When: July 10, 3:00 PM EST to 3:45 PM EST
Where: Pike County, Piketon
Property damage: $700,000
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 39.077, -83.067 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Several homes were flooded along State Route 32 with two people evacuated in Jackson Township. Numerous roads were flooded and closed across the southern part of the county.

Flash Flood, Hocking

When: July 10, 3:00 PM EST to 4:00 PM EST
Where: Hocking County, Logan
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 39.497, -82.479 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High water flooded several roads in town.

Flood, Adams

When: July 10, 3:07 PM EST to 3:50 PM EST
Where: Adams forecast zone
Property damage: $100,000
Reported by: AMATEUR RADIO
Coordinates: 38.846, -83.472 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Scioto

When: July 10, 4:00 PM EST to 4:25 PM EST
Where: Scioto County, Rarden
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 38.804, -82.993 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A few roads were submerged in water upto four feet deep iin some spots.

Flood, Montgomery

When: July 10, 4:00 PM EST to 6:00 PM EST
Where: Montgomery forecast zone
Property damage: $50,000
Reported by: NEWSPAPER
Coordinates: 39.755, -84.291 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, Warren

When: July 10, 6:00 PM EST to 11:00 PM EST
Where: Warren forecast zone
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 39.428, -84.167 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Flood: Flooding that develops more slowly than a flash flood: rivers leaving their banks, or water standing over land for an extended time.
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.
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

Every storm in Ohio in 2003 Every state in 2003 This day in weather history Warnings in Ohio, July 2003

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: 5334354, 5334619, 5334620, 5334348, 5334355, 5334349, 5334350, 5334351, 5334352, 5334621, 5334353, 5334622, 5334623.