Flash Flooding and Hail in Ohio, May 21, 2004

Thunderstorm winds downed two trees.

Thunderstorm winds downed several trees. A business in Wakeman was damaged by a fallen tree.

Thunderstorm winds downed a large tree west of Oberlin.

Thunderstorm winds downed two trees.

Thunderstorm winds downed a large tree.

Thunderstorm winds downed two trees.

Thunderstorms dumped torrential rains on Summit County during the early morning hours of May 21st resulting in widespread street and lowland flooding. The heaviest rain fell between 2 and 5 a.m. Over two inches of rain fell across much of northern Summit County. The worst flooding occurred in Cuyahoga Falls and Stow where many roads were either flooded or washed out. Over 200 homes were damaged by flooding in Cuyahoga Falls after the Cuyahoga River left it's banks. Dozens of additional homes were damaged in Stow. Flood waters on some roads were over two feet in depth. Many cars became stranded in the flood waters.

Thunderstorms dumped between two and three inches of rain on Crawford County during the early morning hours of May 21st. Spotters measured 1.1 inches of rain in 30 minutes during the peak of the storm. This rainfall combined with ground already saturated from heavy rains the previous few days led to widespread flooding. Dozens of homes in the county sustained flood damage and several roads were either washed out or flooded.

Thunderstorms dumped up to three inches of rain on Wyandot County during the early morning hours of May 21st. This rainfall combined with ground already saturated from heavy rains the previous few days led to widespread flooding. Over a dozen roads in the county were either washed out or flooded. Many homes sustained flood damage.

Thunderstorms dumped between two and three inches of rain on Seneca County during the early morning hours of May 21st. A cooperative observer in Tiffin measured 2.36 inches of rain. This rainfall combined with ground already saturated from heavy rains the previous few days led to widespread flooding. Several roads in the county were either washed out or flooded. Many homes sustained flood damage.

Thunderstorm winds downed a few large tree limbs across the county.

Thunderstorm winds downed several large tree limbs.

Thunderstorm winds downed several large trees.

Penny size hail was observed.

Thunderstorms dumped torrential rains on Medina County during the early morning hours of May 21st resulting in the worst flooding seen in the county since 1969. The northern portion of the county including the Brunswick area was especially hard hit. Heavy rain fell between 2 and 5 a.m. and caused several small streams to leave their banks. Rainfall rates were between one and two inches per hour with storm totals of up to three inches measured by spotters in both Brunswick and Hinckley. Bucket surveys indicate that as much as 4 to 5 inches of rain may have fallen in some areas. This rainfall combined with ground already saturated from heavy rains the previous few days led to widespread flooding. Over 120 homes sustained significant damage from flooding in Brunswick. Residents of several of these homes had to be evacuated around 5 a.m. Dozens of roads had to be closed in the northern portion of the county with water on some Brunswick streets as much as two and a half feet deep. Many automobiles became trapped in the flood waters. Rainfall totals of two to three inches were also reported near Chippewa Lake where extensive flooding occurred at Gloria Glens Park. Approximately 25 people had to be evacuated from Gloria Glens Village. Flood waters were up to two feet deep on the ground floors of some of the homes in the village. Widespread street flooding was also reported in Medina where at least three automobiles became stranded. Hundreds of homes elsewhere across Medina County experienced basement flooding.

Thunderstorm winds caused considerable damage in Alliance and adjacent Washington Township. Dozens of trees were downed in these areas. A house just south of Alliance was heavily damaged by a fallen tree. Several barns in Washington Township lost portions of roof and a couple mobile homes were also damaged.

Thunderstorms dumped torrential rains on Lorain County during the early morning hours of May 21st resulting in the worst flooding seen in the county since 1969. The southern portion of the county and especially the Wellington, Oberlin and Lagrange areas were very hard hit. Heavy rain between 2 and 5 a.m. caused the west branch of the Black River and it's tributaries to leave their banks. Rainfall rates were in excess of two inches per hour during the peak of the storm. Just over five inches of rain was measured at the water treatment plant in Lagrange with numerous three inch reports received from both the Wellington and Oberlin areas. Bucket surveys from the area indicate that as much as six inches of rain may have fallen in some parts of the county. This rainfall combined with ground already saturated from heavy rains the previous few days led to widespread flooding. Dozens of roads in southern Lorain County had to be closed. State Route 18 near Wellington was under as much as three feet of water at times. Dozens of people had to be evacuated from their homes along the Black River due to the rapidly rising water levels. Several residents had to be evacuated from their homes along Baumhart Road near Amherst. Just over 500 homes were damaged by flooding in the county. Major damage occurred to 27 homes with six others damaged enough to be declared destroyed. Hundreds of additional homes suffered basement flooding. Many roads and culverts were washed out and at least three school buildings sustained flood damage. The worst damaged of the schools was Firelands High School which had part of it's roof collapse.