Flash Flooding and Damaging Wind in Pennsylvania, July 21 to 22, 2003

Heavy rain began falling during the morning hours and continued into the afternoon. Rainfall rates exceeded two inches per hour during the early afternoon hours. Spotters reported 2.5 inches of rain in Saegertown between 1:00 and 2:30 p.m. and 2.2 inches of rain in Titusville between 2 and 3 p.m. Total rainfall amounts through late afternoon generally ranged from 2 to 4 inches in Crawford County. Rapid rises of streams and creeks occurred as the ground was already saturated from persistent rains earlier in the month. Devastating flooding occurred in Cochranton, Titusville, Meadville and Saegertown. A bridge just outside of Cochranton on State Route 285 washed out around 2 p.m. Three cars were swept off of the bridge and into French Creek. One person drown, but emergency personnel were able to rescue the occupants of the other vehicles. Dozens of homes and businesses were damaged in Cochranton and many people were evacuated. In Titusville, Church Run a tributary of Oil Creek left it's bank. Residents on North Franklin and West Mount Vernon Streets were evacuated from their homes. Dozens of homes and businesses were damaged in the town. Widespread street and lowland flooding occurred elsewhere in the county with water is some areas up to 5 feet deep. Many roads and culverts were washed out and over 50 people were rescued from their homes and vehicles.

Heavy thunderstorm rains fell on the southeastern corner of Erie County during the afternoon hours. One to three inches of rain fell on soil already saturated from persistent rains earlier in the month. Runoff from the heavy rains caused French Creek to leave it's banks and flood much of Mill Village, a small town south of Waterford. One to two feet of water was reported on many streets in the village. Several homes and vehicles were damaged.

Thunderstorm winds downed many trees and large limbs across the county.

A second round of heavy rain fell on Crawford County during the evening hours. Rainfall rates well in excess of an inch per hour combined with soil saturated from the earlier rains led to a second round of flash flooding. More roads and culverts were washed out, especially across the southern half of county. Evacuations initiated during the afternoon storms continued through the evening hours. Hundreds of people were displaced from their homes. Rainfall totals for the day were generally four to six inches. 4.07 inches of rain was measured at the Meadville Airport with 4.90 inches at Linesville and around 4 inches at both Saegertown and Cambridge Springs. Bucket surveys in the Cochranton area indicated that at least 5 to 6 inches of rain fell during the day. Several hundred homes and businesses were damaged or destroyed by flooding and damage to roads was extensive.