Flooding and Damaging Winds in Ohio, July 9, 2003

Name: Flooding and Damaging Winds in Ohio, July 9, 2003
Start: 2003-07-09T02:00
End: 2003-07-09T19:34
Location: Ohio

July 9, 2003 · NWS ILN · 14 events in 9 counties and zones

9 flood, 5 thunderstorm wind, as filed by the National Weather Service.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 9 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: $513,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 14

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 8, 10:24 PM EST, 3 hours 36 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jul 8, 10:24 PM EST, 3 hours 36 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON OH
1124 PM EDT TUE JUL 8 2003

UPDATED TO REMOVE SVR TS WATCH FROM ALL BUT CVG AND PMH AREAS.  HAVE
NOT HAD ANY SEVERE REPORTS FROM THESE TSTMS IN THE LAST HOUR AND A
HALF.  ATMOSPHERE HAS BEEN WORKED OVER SO MUCH FROM ALL OF THE AFTN
AND EVNG CONVECTION...THAT NOT MUCH INSTABILITY LEFT ACRS NORTHERN
1/2 FCST AREA.  HERE...TSTMS HAVE QUICKLY TRANSITIONED INTO STRICTLY
HVY RAINERS.  ALSO HAVE EXTENDED FLOOD WATCH TO COVER ENITRE I-70
CORRIDOR INCLUDING CMH AND DAY METROS.  ALTHOUGH IT APPEARS HEAVIER
ACTIVITY TO OUR WEST MAY DIVE TOWARDS NRN KY LATE TONIGHT...CAN NOT
RULE OUT ADDL TSTMS WITH HVY RAIN PRIMARY THREAT ACRS WATCH AREA.

UPDATE OUT SHORTLY.

.ILN...NONE.

OH...FLOOD WATCH THROUGH 8 AM WED FOR WEST CENTRAL AND CENTRAL
OHIO...AND THE MIAMI VALLEY.  HEAT ADVISORY FOR HAMILTON COUNTY
THROUGH TONIGHT.  SVR TSTM WATCH UNTIL 1 AM SOUTHWEST AND SOUTH
CENTRAL OHIO.
IN...FLOOD WATCH THROUGH 8 AM WED FOR PORTIONS OF WHITEWATER VALLEY.
KY...SEVERE TSTM WATCH UNTIL 1 AM.

RYAN

Hazardous weather outlook, Jul 8, 4:54 AM EST, 21 hours 6 minutes before

INZ050-058-059-066-073>075-080-KYZ089>100-OHZ026-034-035-042>046-
051>056-060>065-070>074-077>082-088-081145-

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON OH
554 AM EDT TUE JUL 8 2003

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

.DAY ONE...TODAY
STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE THIS AFTERNOON AND
TONIGHT.  DAMAGING WINDS AND LARGE HAIL WILL BE THE PRIMARY SEVERE
THREATS.  FLOODING RAINS WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH ANY OF THE
THUNDERSTORMS...ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE ALONG AND NORTH OF INTERSTATE
70.  THE FLOOD WATCH FOR WEST CENTRAL OHIO WILL EXPIRE AT 8 AM.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH TUESDAY
STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE MOST AFTERNOONS AND
INTO THE OVERNIGHT HOURS THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT.  ANY OF THESE
THUNDERSTORMS COULD CONTAIN HEAVY RAINFALL.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE REQUIRED THIS AFTERNOON INTO TONIGHT.

RYAN

In the hours before

Local storm report, Jul 8, 8:12 PM EST, 5 hours 48 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON OH
0912 PM EDT TUE JUL 08 2003

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

0911 PM    ROSSBURG                  OH   FLASH FLOOD
07/08/03   DARKE                          MANY ROADS CLOSED ACROSS
                                          THE NORTHERN PART OF THE
                                          COUNTY DUE TO HIGH WATER.

AR

Local storm report, Jul 8, 8:17 PM EST, 5 hours 43 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON OH
0917 PM EDT TUE JUL 08 2003

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

0914 PM    JACKSON CENTER            OH   FLASH FLOOD
07/08/03   SHELBY                         EVACUATIONS OF HOMES DUE
                                          TO HIGH WATER. SANDBAGGING
                                          OPERATIONS IN PORT
                                          JEFFERSON.

AR

Special weather statement, Jul 8, 9:08 PM EST, 4 hours 52 minutes before

OHZ026-034-035-042>044-051-052-090415-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON OH
1008 PM EDT TUE JUL 8 2003

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH HAS BEEN CANCELLED...

THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH THAT WAS IN EFFECT FOR WEST CENTRAL
OHIO HAS BEEN CANCELLED.  COUNTIES THAT HAVE BEEN REMOVED FROM THE
WATCH INCLUDE...AUGLAIZE...CHAMPAIGN...DARKE...HARDIN...LOGAN...
MERCER...MIAMI...AND SHELBY.

THUNDERSTORMS HAVE WEAKENED OVER THE LAST HOUR OR SO...AND HAVE NOW
MOVED EAST OF THESE AREAS.  THEREFORE...THE WATCH HAS BEEN
CANCELLED.

RYAN

Special weather statement, Jul 8, 10:33 PM EST, 3 hours 27 minutes before

INZ050-058-059-OHZ045-046-053>056-060>065-070>072-090430-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON OH
1133 PM EDT TUE JUL 8 2003

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH HAS BEEN CANCELLED...

THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH THAT WAS IN EFFECT FOR THE WHITEWATER
AND MIAMI VALLEYS...AND MUCH OF CENTRAL OHIO HAS BEEN CANCELLED.
THUNDERSTORMS HAVE WEAKENED OVER THE LAST TWO HOURS...AND HAVE NOW
MOVED EAST OF THESE AREAS.  THEREFORE...THE WATCH HAS BEEN
CANCELLED.

RYAN

Special weather statement, Jul 8, 11:29 PM EST, 2 hours 31 minutes before

INZ066-073>075-080-KYZ089>100-OHZ073-074-077>082-088-090500-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON OH
1229 AM EDT WED JUL 9 2003

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH HAS BEEN CANCELLED...

THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH THAT WAS IN EFFECT FOR THE TRI STATE
AREA...AND SOUTH CENTRAL OHIO HAS BEEN CANCELLED. THUNDERSTORMS
HAVE WEAKENED OVER THE LAST TWO HOURS...AND HAVE NOW MOVED EAST OF
THESE AREAS. THEREFORE...THE WATCH HAS BEEN CANCELLED.

RYAN

Local storm report, Jul 9, 12:00 AM EST, 2 hours before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON OH
100 AM EDT WED JUL 09 2003

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

1155 PM    CELINA                    OH   FLASH FLOOD
07/08/03   MERCER                         MANY ROADS AND HIGHWAYS
                                          CLOSED DUE TO WATER COUNTY
                                          WIDE. STATE OF EMERGENCY
                                          CONTINUES DUE TO FLOODING

MBP

The radar

The Cincinnati radar (KILN), 108 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 23:22 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

9 flood, 5 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Flood, Logan

When: July 9, 2:00 AM EST to 3:00 AM EST
Where: Logan forecast zone
Property damage: $100,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 40.388, -83.766 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Thunderstorms with heavy rain moved across portions of western Ohio during the early morning. Another two to three inches fell on many areas that had seen six to twelve inches over the last week. This caused many road closures due to high water, and small streams to rise out of their banks again. The most serious flooding occurred from northern Darke county through Shelby and Logan counties. Communities along the swollen Great Miami River from Indian Lake downstream through Lakeview, DeGraff, Port Jefferson and Sidney dealt with flooded homes and businesses. A mobile home park near Russells Point was flooded and evacuated. Sandbagging occurred in Port Jefferson in an effort to keep water out of homes.

Flood, Darke

When: July 9, 2:00 AM EST to 3:00 AM EST
Where: Darke forecast zone
Property damage: $40,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 40.133, -84.619 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, Shelby

When: July 9, 2:30 AM EST to 3:10 AM EST
Where: Shelby forecast zone
Property damage: $80,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 40.332, -84.205 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, Darke

When: July 9, 3:45 AM EST to 4:30 AM EST
Where: Darke forecast zone
Property damage: $40,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 40.133, -84.619 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, Logan

When: July 9, 4:00 AM EST to 6:15 AM EST
Where: Logan forecast zone
Property damage: $100,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 40.388, -83.766 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, Preble

When: July 9, 4:45 AM EST to 6:45 AM EST
Where: Preble forecast zone
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 39.742, -84.648 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, Shelby

When: July 9, 5:00 AM EST to 6:15 AM EST
Where: Shelby forecast zone
Property damage: $100,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 40.332, -84.205 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, Montgomery

When: July 9, 5:00 AM EST to 7:00 AM EST
Where: Montgomery forecast zone
Property damage: $20,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 39.755, -84.291 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, Butler

When: July 9, 5:00 AM EST to 7:00 AM EST
Where: Butler forecast zone
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 39.439, -84.576 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Thunderstorm Wind, Butler

When: July 9, 6:20 PM EST to 6:24 PM EST
Where: Butler County, Ross
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $3,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 39.317, -84.633

Several trees were downed, some on roads.

Thunderstorm Wind, Hamilton

When: July 9, 6:30 PM EST to 6:35 PM EST
Where: Hamilton County, Indian Hill Vlg
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $3,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 39.250, -84.317

Trees and powerlines were knocked down.

Thunderstorm Wind, Clermont

When: July 9, 6:45 PM EST to 6:49 PM EST
Where: Clermont County, 4 mi N of New Richmond
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $3,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 39.000, -84.283

Trees and powerlines were downed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Clermont

When: July 9, 7:05 PM EST to 7:10 PM EST
Where: Clermont County, Milford
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $2,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 39.167, -84.283

Three trees were knocked down.

Thunderstorm Wind, Brown

When: July 9, 7:30 PM EST to 7:34 PM EST
Where: Brown County, 5 mi NW of Mt Orab
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $2,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 39.100, -83.983

Two trees were downed.

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.

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: 5329587, 5329589, 5329588, 5329590, 5329639, 5329641, 5329640, 5329642, 5329719, 5329507, 5329508, 5329509, 5329510, 5329511.