Flash Flooding in Ohio, July 31, 2006

Name: Flash Flooding in Ohio, July 31, 2006
Start: 2006-07-31T00:30
End: 2006-07-31T21:30
Location: Ohio

July 31, 2006 · NWS CLE · 3 events in 3 counties and zones

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

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 3 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: $4.8 million
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 3

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 Cleveland, OH wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jul 31, 12:14 AM EST, 16 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jul 31, 12:14 AM EST, 16 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CLEVELAND OHIO
114 AM EDT MON JUL 31 2006

.AVIATION (06Z-06Z)...
CONVECTION HAS PERSISTED ACROSS THE FAR EASTERN COUNTIES THIS
EVENING WITH STILL A FEW SHOWERS HEADING TOWARD ERIE AND YOUNGSTOWN.
OUTSIDE OF THESE LOCATIONS...WILL BE GOING WITH A DRY FORECAST WITH
SOME IFR FOG TOWARD DAYBREAK...EVENTUALLY GIVING WAY TO HAZY VFR
SKIES AND VSBYS BY NOON. AS FOR ERIE AND YOUNGSTOWN...AM EXPECTING
THESE STORMS TO DISSIPATE AND MOVE OUT OF THE FORECAST AREA BY 3 OR
4 AM...LIKEWISE EXPECTING FOG AT THESE LOCATIONS BY DAYBREAK AND
HAZY CONDITIONS THIS AFTERNOON.

&&

.SHORT TERM(TNT-TUE)...
MAIN FOCUS OF THE VERY SHORT TERM IS LINE OF SHRA/TS COMING OUT OF
MI.  ENVIRONMENT THAT STORMS ARE MOVING INTO IN OHIO IS
FAVORABLE...WITH PLENTY OF CAPE/INSTABILITY.  IT IS POSSIBLE THAT
LINE WILL REGAIN SOME STRENGTH.  SEE LATEST SPC PRODUCTS AND LOCAL
WARNINGS.  FOR THE REMAINDER OF TONIGHT...HAVE CHC AND SLT CHC POPS
WHILE WE ARE IN NW FLOW.

NEXT BIGGEST WEATHER STORY WILL BE THE HEAT THE NEXT FEW DAYS.  HEAT
ADV IN EFFECT FOR MON AND TUE.  DEWPOINTS HANGING OUT AROUND 73 AND
HIGHS IN THE 90S WILL GIVE US HEAT INDICES ABOVE 100.  TEMPS TUE ARE
FORECAST TO BE NEAR RECORD HIGHS WHICH ARE GENERALLY IN THE MID90S.
NOT EXPECTING THE UPPER 90S/AROUND 100 AS SUGGESTED BY THE
MAV...WITH ITS POOR PERFORMANCE AS OF LATE ESPECIALLY WITH TEMPS ABV
90 AND FORECASTED H5 RIDGE AND H8 TEMPS NOT QUITE SUPPORTIVE OF
TEMPS OF 100.  ALL OF THIS IS DUE TO AN INFLUX OF WARM AIR UNDER A
593DM RIDGE WHICH WILL CENTER ITSELF OVER KY.  SUBSIDENCE/CAP TO
SHUNT PRECIP CHCS.
&&

.LONG TERM(WED-SUN)...
A PAIR OF PACIFIC SHORTWAVES WILL TRAVERSE THE CANADIAN/U.S. BORDER
THROUGH MID WEEK PULLING A COLD FRONT ACROSS THE GREAT LAKES AND
OHIO VALLEY...THU LOOKS LIKELY FOR OUR CWA.  OP GFS IN LINE WITH
ENSEMBLES AND ECMWF...THEREFORE ADJUSTED GRIDS SLIGHTLY TO MORE
SQUARELY PLACE FRONTAL TIMING AND ASSOCIATED PRECIPITATION ON THU.
SOME CHANCE LINGERS INTO FRI...AS FRONT SLOWS AS IT RUNS INTO
SOUTHERN STATES HIGH AND UPPER TROUGH WILL BE MAKING ITS WAY
ACROSS.  TEMPERATURES AFTER THE FRONT WILL DROP BACK TO NORMALS...OR
SLIGHTLY BELOW.  WE WILL GET ON THE BACKSIDE OF THE HIGH LATE IN THE
WEEKEND AND WITH RETURN FLOW TEMPS WILL CREEP BACK UP INTO THE MID
80S.

&&

.CLE WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
.OH...HEAT ADV ALL COUNTIES MON AND TUE AFTN AND EARLY EVE.
.PA...HEAT ADV ALL COUNTIES MON AND TUE AFTN AND EARLY EVE.

&&

SHORT TERM...OUDEMAN
LONG TERM...OUDEMAN
AVIATION...LEINS

Hazardous weather outlook, Jul 30, 9:17 AM EST, 15 hours 13 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CLEVELAND OH
1017 AM EDT SUN JUL 30 2006

LEZ142>149-162>169-OHZ003-006>014-017>023-027>033-036>038-047-089-
PAZ001>003-311430-
MAUMEE BAY TO RENO BEACH OH-RENO BEACH TO THE ISLANDS OH-
THE ISLANDS TO VERMILION OH-VERMILION TO AVON POINT OH-
AVON POINT TO WILLOWICK OH-WILLOWICK TO GENEVA-ON-THE LAKE OH-
GENEVA-ON-THE-LAKE TO CONNEAUT OH-CONNEAUT OH TO RIPLEY NY-
MAUMEE BAY OH TO RENO BEACH OH BEYOND 5 NM OF SHORE-
RENO BEACH TO THE ISLANDS OH BEYOND 5 NM OF SHORE-
THE ISLANDS TO VERMILION OH BEYOND 5 NM OF SHORE-
VERMILION TO AVON POINT OH BEYOND 5 NM OF SHORE-
AVON POINT TO WILLOWICK OH BEYOND 5 NM OF SHORE-
WILLOWICK TO GENEVA-ON-THE-LAKE OH BEYOND 5 NM OF SHORE-GENEVA-ON-
THE-LAKE TO CONNEAUT OH BEYOND 5 NM OF SHORE-
CONNEAUT OH TO RIPLEY NY BEYOND 5 NM OF SHORE-LUCAS-WOOD-OTTAWA-
SANDUSKY-ERIE OH-LORAIN-CUYAHOGA-LAKE-GEAUGA-ASHTABULA INLAND-
HANCOCK-SENECA-HURON-MEDINA-SUMMIT-PORTAGE-TRUMBULL-WYANDOT-
CRAWFORD-RICHLAND-ASHLAND-WAYNE-STARK-MAHONING-MARION-MORROW-
HOLMES-KNOX-ASHTABULA LAKESHORE-NORTHERN ERIE-SOUTHERN ERIE-
CRAWFORD PA-
1017 AM EDT SUN JUL 30 2006

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF LAKE ERIE...
NORTH CENTRAL OHIO...NORTHEAST OHIO...NORTHWEST OHIO AND
NORTHWEST PENNSYLVANIA.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

SOME OF THE THUNDERSTORMS THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING COULD BE
SEVERE WITH DAMAGING WINDS AND POSSIBLY LARGE HAIL. BRIEF PERIODS
OF HEAVY RAIN IS ALSO POSSIBLE.

HEAT INDICES COULD APPROACH 100 OVER NORTHWEST OHIO THIS AFTERNOON.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY

HOT AND HUMID AIR WILL AFFECT NORTHERN OHIO AND NORTHWEST
PENNSYLVANIA THROUGH THE MIDDLE OF THE WEEK. AFTERNOON HIGHS WILL
BE IN THE 90S WITH HEAT INDICES BETWEEN 100 AND 104. HEAT
ADVISORIES MAY BE NEEDED.

A COLD FRONT THAT WILL MOVE THROUGH THE REGION WEDNESDAY NIGHT AND
THURSDAY COULD CAUSE STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION COULD BE NEEDED THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING.

KIELTYKA

In the hours before

Local storm report, Jul 30, 8:15 PM EST, 4 hours 15 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CLEVELAND OH
915 PM EDT SUN JUL 30 2006

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0555 PM     TSTM WND DMG     2 W VERMILION           41.41N 82.36W
07/30/2006                   ERIE               OH   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            3 TREES DOWN

0625 PM     TSTM WND DMG     PENINSULA               41.24N 81.55W
07/30/2006                   SUMMIT             OH   PARK/FOREST SRVC

            TREE DOWN

0630 PM     TSTM WND DMG     BRECKSVILLE             41.31N 81.62W
07/30/2006                   CUYAHOGA           OH   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            2 TREES DOWN

0643 PM     TSTM WND DMG     MUNROE FALLS            41.14N 81.44W
07/30/2006                   SUMMIT             OH   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            TREE DOWN

0645 PM     TSTM WND DMG     KENT                    41.15N 81.36W
07/30/2006                   PORTAGE            OH   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            COUPLE TREES DOWN

0830 PM     TSTM WND DMG     CANFIELD                41.03N 80.77W
07/30/2006                   MAHONING           OH   FIRE DEPT/RESCUE

            COUPLE TREES DOWN

&&

RANDEL

The radar

The Cleveland radar (KCLE), 106 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 05:30 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

3 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Flash Flood, Ashtabula

When: July 31, 12:30 AM EST to 3:30 AM EST
Where: Ashtabula County, Southwest Portion
Property damage: $150,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 41.896, -80.759 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Thunderstorms dumped locally heavy rains on the southwestern corner of Ashtabula County. Some flooding was reported in the Windsor area. Flood waters crept into the ground floor of a nursing home. Several residents had to be removed from their rooms. No injuries were reported but the facility did suffer some damage. Homes in the area also were damaged, mainly from basement flooding.

Flash Flood, Cuyahoga

When: July 31, 3:47 PM EST to 6:00 PM EST
Where: Cuyahoga County, Southeast Portion
Property damage: $150,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 41.479, -81.678 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Thunderstorms dumped locally heavy rain on the southeastern corner of Cuyahoga County. Some flooding was reported in the Broadview Heights area where several roads had to be closed because of flooding. Houses in a subdevelopment along Broadview Road were surrounded by water. Many homes in this area sustained damage from basement flooding.

Flash Flood, Summit

When: July 31, 4:25 PM EST to 9:30 PM EST
Where: Summit County, Countywide
Property damage: $4.5 million
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 41.126, -81.532 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy thunderstorm rains fell on Summit County during the late afternoon and early evening hours of July 31st. An automated sensor at the Akron Fulton Airport measured a storm total of 3.84 inches of rain. Of this total, 2.14 inches fell between 3 and 4 p.m. with another 1.41 inches between 4 and 5 p.m. A spotter in Cuyahoga Falls measured an inch of rain during an eight minute period just before 5 p.m. A storm total of around 6 inches was measured in Lakemore. Significant urban flooding occurred across the county as sewer systems quickly became overwhelmed. Runoff from the rain also caused rapid rises in area streams and rivers. The Akron, Tallmadge, Cuyahoga Falls and Lakemore areas were especially hard hit as dozens of roads including Interstates 76 and 77 became flooded. Hundreds of homes were damaged by flooding and numerous vehicles were stranded in the flood waters which were up to three deep at some locations. The worst flooding in the county occurred in Lakemore and surrounding Springfield Township. About three quarters of the streets in the village were flooded. Front Street was closed for 12 blocks and was reported to be flowing like a "river." Significant flooding also occurred on Lakeside Drive, Lake Road, Sanitarium Road, First Street, Seventh Street, Seneca Trail, Pawnee Boulevard, Main Street, Meadows Drive, Chelsea Drive and Michaels Drive. Around 50 homes had to be evacuated in Lakemore where two homes were classified as being destroyed. Another 10 homes in Lakemore had major structural damage with about 100 more sustaining lesser damages. Several hundred homes elsewhere in the county sustained damage, mainly from basement flooding. Traffic in Summit County was brought to a standstill during the evening rush hour because of this event.

What these are

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 2006 Every state in 2006 This day in weather history Warnings in Ohio, July 2006

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: 5526831, 5527119, 5527120.