Flash Flooding and Damaging Winds in Ohio, July 16, 2005

Thunderstorms dumped very heavy rains on the City of Lorain. The heaviest rains fell on the northeastern quadrant of the city where extensive flash flooding occurred. As much as three inches of rain fell between 3 and 4:30 pm as thunderstorms trained over the same small area. An elderly couple was killed around 4:15 pm after they drove their automobile into a flooded underpass on State Route 611 (Henderson Road) just a couple blocks east of State Route 57 (Broadway). The underpass filled with more than 12 feet of water in just a few minutes. Efforts to rescue the couple were unsuccessful. An automated rain gage just south of the underpass recorded 2.56 inches of rain between 3 and 4 pm and a total of 2.76 inches by 4:30 pm. A second underpass on State Route 57 (East 28th Street) was flooded by as much as ten feet of water. Much of Broadway Road was reported to be flowing "like a river" during the peak of the storm. Severe flooding was reported on most of the major thoroughfares in the northeastern portion of Lorain including Elyria Road, North Ridge Road, Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and Oberlin Avenue. Flood waters on Elyria Road were as much as six feet deep with two to three feet of flowing water reported at other locations. Dozens of vehicles became stranded in the flood waters and rescue efforts were severely hampered by the widespread nature of the flooding. Industrial areas south and west of the Black River were inundated by flood waters. Damage to homes and business in the City of Lorain and Sheffield Township from both flash flooding and basement flooding was extensive. At least 14 families were displaced by flooding. At least five City of Lorain police cars were destroyed by flooding. Flooding also was reported along Beaver Creek on the west side of Lorain. The creek left it's bank and damaged several homes.

Thunderstorm winds downed trees in both Chesterland and Chardon.

Thunderstorms dumped locally heavy rains on the southern portion of Seneca County. Rainfall rates with the stronger storms approached two inches per hour. Many roads including U.S. Route 224 southeast of Tiffin were closed because of flood waters over a foot in depth. Several secondary roads were also washed out. A few homes sustained damage from basement and lowland flooding.

Thunderstorm winds downed several trees and power poles in Madison and Perry Townships.

Thunderstorm winds downed several large tree limbs.

Thunderstorms dumped locally heavy rains on the central portion of Hancock County. Rainfall rates with the stronger storms approached two inches per hour. Spotters in Findlay measured 2.5 inches of rain during this event. Widespread street and lowland flooding was reported in Findlay. Most of this flooding occurred in the eastern and northern sections of the city where several roads had to be closed because of flood waters up to two feet deep. At least five motorists had to rescued from cars stranded in flood waters on Tiffin Avenue (U.S. Route 224) and Bright Road. Several stores sustained damages from flooding. Dozens of homes were also damaged by lowland and basement flooding. The Blanchard River left it's banks east of Findlay and flooded State Route 568.