Tornadoes and Flash Flooding in Ohio, May 12 to 13, 2014

Hail the size of quarters was observed.

Penny sized hail was observed.

Penny sized hail was observed.

Thunderstorm winds downed some utility poles along State Route 83 south of North Ridgeville. Some trees were downed along Island Road as well.

An EF0 tornado touched down in Eaton Township along Butternut Ridge Road and tracked southeast across mainly farmland for a little over a mile. The tornado crossed State Route 83 and lifted just north of Cooley Road. The damage path was up to a 100 yards in width and consisted of mainly downed trees. A couple of buildings lost sections of roofing. No injuries occurred.

An EF0 tornado touched down in Montville Township about three and half miles southeast of the city of Medina near the intersection of State Route 3 and Autumn Run Drive. The tornado travel east for about two tenths of mile and caused minor roof damage to a business and a few homes along Autumn Run Road. Most of the damage was from lost roofing or fascia. No injuries occurred.

Penny to half dollar sized hail was observed.

Hail the size of quarters was observed.

Heavy rainfall, measured at 6.5 inches in 3.5 hours was measured by the Sheffield Village service department on the evening of May 12th. Runoff combined with routed water upstream from North Ridgeville and Avon caused the French Creek to rise 10 to 15 feet above flood stage in Sheffield Village. A half dozen buildings were flooded form the French Creek along with eight homes. The creek crested around 1230 am. State Route 201 was closed for eight hours. There were no water rescues and the infrastructure did not sustain any notable damages.

Penny to quarter sized hail was observed.

Penny sized hail was observed.

Quarter to half dollar sized hail was observed.

Penny sized hail was observed.

Quarter sized hail was reported.

Between 800 and 1000 pm on the evening of May 12th rainfall observations in Olmsted Falls show 2.5-4.44 inches of rain. The rainfall rates were measured at 2.52 inches per hour. A dozen water rescues were conducted however no significant injuries were reported. In all nearly 1,000 homes were inundated in the towns of Olmsted Falls, North Olmsted, and Westlake. The City Hall in Olmsted Falls sustained significant flood damage to their basement. At the Great Northern Mall in North Olmsted 15 cars were submerged and a department store sustained significant damage. Dozens of roads and intersections were closed due to flooding with several feet of water. The major thruway Interstate 480 was closed around 1019 PM. Lewis Road in Olmsted Falls was damaged due to embankment failures.

Measured rainfall of 4 to 4.5 fell over Cuyahoga Falls on the evening of May 12th between 930 and 1130 pm. Doppler Radar Dual Pol estimated rainfall rates were in excess of 4 per hour around 945 pm. There was significant urban flooding as storm drains were overwhelmed by the excessively high rates. The return frequency for a rainfall event of this magnitude and duration is estimated around a 500 year event. Two adults needed to be rescued from a flooded basement on Dwight Street. Despite dozens of water rescues in the city proper, there were no fatalities or significant injuries. Most intersections in the city were impassable. Some roads near the Cuyahoga Valley sustained significant damage from overflowing creeks. |The City Hall sustained major damage as an estimated 30,000 gallons of water entirely from urban runoff filled their basement damaging $500,000 worth of computers. Approximately 1,000 homes sustained water damage, primarily to basements. Six homes were condemned due to extreme water damage. The flood was similar to the flash flood in 2003.

Doppler Radar estimated between 2 and 4.5 inches of rain fell over Medina County on the evening of May 12th between 9 and 11 pm. The rainfall intensity caused rapid runoff and widespread flash flooding in the western and central parts of the county. In North Royalton the Cambridge Village properties were flooded. There was water reported over the Akins Road Bridge and dozens of roads and intersections were flooded from overflowing creeks. Flowing water removed pavement from main and side streets in North Royalton, Strongsville, Medina, and Brunswick Hills. State Route 162, between the Interstate 71 overpass and River Styx Road in Montville Township, sustained major damage when a large culvert under the roadway was damaged. A fire truck sustained major damage when driving over a water covered and washout road in Medina along the River Styx. In Brunswick Hills 4.5 of rain was measured during the storms. Almost three feet of water flooded the Police Station. Small portions of State Route 303 and 252 damaged. |The East Branch of the Rocky River, along with other tributaries to the Rocky River, were primarily responsible for the majority of the damage. The Plum Creek came out of it’s banks inundating an off-ramp from I-71 onto Ohio SR 3. Two water rescues were conducted at this site. The River Styx Overall a dozen water rescues were conducted in western and central Medina County that evening, and an estimated 100-200 homes sustained water damage. A dozen homes were substantially damaged on the first floor in Granger Road area in Medina.

Penny sized hail was observed.

The City of North Ridgeville sustained significant and widespread damage from a flash flood on the evening of May 12th. An estimated 300 homes and 1,000 businesses sustained damage from the flood waters. Heavy rain, measured at 6 in two locations in town, fell within two hours. The intensity and magnitude of the rain has a return frequency of every 500 years. The storm drains were overwhelmed leading to backwater into area basements. The sewage plant on the French Creek sustained $20,000 in damages. The Mill Creek flooded condos on Mill Creek Boulevard resulting in 15 people rescued from the second floor or their homes. The Mill Creek shopping plaza was inundated from backup on storm drainage backups. The local schools sustained flood damage along with many recreational parks in low lying areas. The worst of the flooding occurred around 1030 pm through midnight. Several structures sustained major damage.

Quarter sized hail was observed.

Heavy rain fell between Munroe Falls and Akron Ohio on the evening of May 12th. In Akron 70 homes sustained basement flooding along with the Summit County Public Health Center. In Munroe Falls there was approximately $250,000-300,000 in damages to city property. Numerous homes had sewer backup of 6 to 7 feet in basements. On Lindsey Road a house lost it’s foundation. A family was rescued from their home when flooded on Hiwood Road. Numerous water rescues were conducted in both Munroe Falls and Akron between 1030 pm and midnight.

The Stow/Silver Lakes region was significantly damaged by flash floods on the evening of May 12th. The Mayor reported that area raingages measured 4 to 4.5 inches of rainfall in an hour and a half between 930 pm and 1100 pm. The magnitude and intensity of the rainfall have a return frequency of a 500 year event. Infrastructure was overwhelmed by the runoff throughout the community. The hardest hit area was near State Route 91 and State Route 59 intersection where several businesses were damaged including a car dealership with 70 cars. The Holy Family Church and School sustained $3,000,000 in damages. Two homes suffered structural failures, one estimated as 4,000 square feet in size. There was a debris slide at the Silver Lakes Condominium Complex on SR 59 covering the parking lot with several feet of mud. North River Road sustained a complete washout. There was a sinkhole at Wilbur Drive covering half the road. A fire station and business was inundated with several inches of water on Hudson Drive. The Silver Lake Elementary Schools, Bolich Middle and High Schools were all damaged and closed. In all, at least 100 homes were damaged. A number of water rescues were conducted by no serious injuries reported. The flood was comparable to the 2003/2004 floods, but was expected to result in the worst monetary damages than either of those significant events.

On the evening of May 12th torrential rainfall dropped an estimated 5 inches of rainfall in 90 minutes over Avon in northern Lorain County. The French Creek flooded from local runoff and routed water from upstream North Ridgeville where the heaviest rain fell. The French Creek, which runs from southeast to northwest through town, flooded several roads and damaged the Mill Road with a washout. 50 to 75 homes sustained basement flooding.

Heavy rainfall around 2 per hour caused the Plum Creek to come out of it's banks and flood Tallmadge Road. Law enforcement reported fish remaining on the road after the creek returned to it's banks. The road was reopened around 2 am. Several basements flooded in the area.