Flash Flooding and Damaging Wind in Ohio, June 20 to 21, 2015

Name: Flash Flooding and Damaging Wind in Ohio, June 20 to 21, 2015
Start: 2015-06-20T14:04
End: 2015-06-21T20:00
Location: Ohio

June 20 to 21, 2015 · NWS PBZ · 5 events in 3 counties and zones

The remnants of tropical System Bill moved across the upper Ohio valley bringing scattered severe thunderstorms and isolated flash flooding.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it. 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: $22,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 5

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 happened

The episode as NWS PBZ wrote it up.

The remnants of tropical System Bill moved across the upper Ohio valley bringing scattered severe thunderstorms and isolated flash flooding.

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 Pittsburgh, PA wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jun 20, 1:28 PM EST, 36 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jun 20, 1:28 PM EST, 36 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA
228 PM EDT SAT JUN 20 2015

.SYNOPSIS...
THE REMNANTS OF TROPICAL STORM BILL WILL BRING SHOWERS AND STORMS
TO THE AREA TODAY AND TONIGHT. A STRONG COLD FRONT WILL BRING A
RISK FOR STRONG STORMS ON SUNDAY.

&&

.NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/...
REMNANTS OF TS BILL CONTIUNE TO MOVE ACROSS THE AREA.
DESTABILIZATION IN THE WARM SECTOR S-SE OF PIT HAS ALLOWED FOR
SUFFICIENT INSTABILITY...ALONG WITH MARGINAL SHEAR...FOR A SEVERE
WEATHER POTENTIAL. A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR
THIS REGION...MOSTLY FOR A DAMAGING WIND THREAT. WITH THE
POTENTIAL FOR HEAVY RAIN IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME...WILL KEEP THE
FLASH FLOOD WATCH AS IS FOR NOW ALSO. THE HEAVIEST RAIN IS
EXPECTED IN THUNDERSTORMS AND AS THE SURFACE WAVE CROSSES THIS
EVENING. USED A GFS/ECMWF BLEND.

&&

.SHORT TERM /SUNDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/...
A COLD FRONT IS PROGGED TO CROSS THE REGION SUNDAY. GOOD
INSTABILITY AND SHEAR IS FORECAST AND SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL
AGAIN BE POSSIBLE AREA WIDE. CAPPING EARLY IN THE DAY MAY INHIBIT
STORM FORMATION EARLY BEFORE CAP EROSION TAKES PLACE JUST AHEAD OF
THE FRONT. WILL MATINTAIN HWO MENTION FOR THIS. SURFACE RIDGING
BUILDS IN SUNDAY NIGHT AND MONDAY. A WEAK SHORTWAVE MAY BRUSH
AREAS NORTH OF I 80 MON NIGHT BEFORE THE NEXT WEAK COLD FRONT
CROSSES TUESDAY. USED A BLEND OF GFS/ECMWF THROUGH THE PERIOD.

&&

.LONG TERM /TUESDAY NIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY/...
THE NEXT COLD FRONT WILL CROSS THE AREA LATE TUESDAY...BRINGING
ANOTHER ROUND OF SHOWERS AND STORMS. HIGH PRESSURE WILL PROVIDE A
DRY REPRIEVE WEDNESDAY...BEFORE SHOWERS AND STORMS RETURN ON
THURSDAY.

&&

.AVIATION /18Z SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/...
MOSTLY VFR CEILINGS, BUT A FEW LOCATIONS WITH MVFR THIS AFTERNOON.
WARM SECTOR OVER NORTHERN WEST VIRGINIA ALLOWING HEATING AND LOW
LEVEL DEWPOINT OF 70 PLUS TO KICK OFF THUNDERSTORMS THERE.
THUNDERSTORMS WILL LEAD TO RESTRICTIONS THROUGH THE AFTERNOON AND
EVENING. MOISTURE AVAILABILITY WILL REMAIN THE BEST OVER THE
SOUTHERN PORT WHERE EVENTUALLY IFR IS EXPECTED LATER IN THE
PERIOD. EXPECTING IFR AREA-WIDE TONIGHT AS THE REMNANT LOW RAPIDLY
TRACKS JUST SOUTH OF THE FORECAST AREA.

.OUTLOOK.../SATURDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/...
FURTHER RESTRICTIONS SUNDAY WITH MORNING LOW CLOUDS LIFTING BY
NOON THEN SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS LATER IN THE AFTERNOON WITH
PASSAGE OF COLD FRONT.

&&

.HYDROLOGY...
THE MOISTURE ASSOCIATED WITH REMNANTS OF TROPICAL STORM BILL
IS WORKING ITS WAY THROUGH SOUTHERN OHIO TODAY. EXPECT A PERIOD
OF HEAVY RAIN SATURDAY AFTERNOON AND SATURDAY NIGHT TO PARTS OF
THE AREA.
FORECAST CHANGE: THE REMNANTS OF TS BILL IS TAKING A MORE
NORTHERLY TRACK THAN PREVIOUSLY FORECAST YESTERDAY, AND IT IS
LIKELY TO NOW BRING AN AREA OF HEAVIER RAIN OVER OHIO AND PENNSYLVANIA.

IT IS ESTIMATED THAT THE MONONGAHELA BASIN WILL RECEIVE BETWEEN 1.00 AND
1.50 INCHES. THE CHEAT BASIN AROUND 1.00 INCH. BETWEEN 1.50 AND
2.00 INCHES IS EXPECTED IN THE IMMEDIATE PITTSBURGH AREA WITH
LESS THAN 0.50 INCH OVER THE NORTHERN PART OF THE ALLEGHENY BASIN.

THE STEADY AND HEAVY RAIN IS MOVING EASTWARD AND WILL QUICKLY END BY
SUNDAY MORNING.

HEIGHTENED AWARENESS IS NEEDED THROUGH EARLY NEXT WEEK AS RIVER
LEVELS/FLOWS WILL BE ELEVATED.

CURRENTLY NO RIVER FLOODING IS EXPECTED ON THE ALLEGHENY, OHIO OR
MONONGAHELA BUT STREAMS AND CREEKS COULD EXPERIENCE FLOODING
WHERE THE HEAVY RAINS FALL. A FLASH FLOOD WATCH FOR STREAMS AND
CREEKS IS POSTED FOR AREAS NEAR AND SOUTH OF PITTSBURGH.

THE CHEAT RIVER AT PARSONS IS EXPECTED TO REACH AROUND 5 FEET GRAYS
LANDING IS PROJECTED TO CREST JUST ABOVE 13 FEET. PITTSBURGH WILL
REMAIN IN POOL THROUGH THE ENTIRE PERIOD.

&&

.PBZ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
MD...FLASH FLOOD WATCH THROUGH LATE TONIGHT FOR MDZ001.
OH...FLASH FLOOD WATCH THROUGH LATE TONIGHT FOR OHZ049-050-057>059-
     068-069.
PA...FLASH FLOOD WATCH THROUGH LATE TONIGHT FOR PAZ021-029-031-
     073>076.
WV...FLASH FLOOD WATCH THROUGH LATE TONIGHT FOR WVZ001>004-012-
     021>023-041.

&&

07/22

Hazardous weather outlook, Jun 20, 1:34 PM EST, 30 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA
234 PM EDT SAT JUN 20 2015

OHZ039>041-048-PAZ007>009-013>016-020-022-023-211845-
TUSCARAWAS-CARROLL-COLUMBIANA-COSHOCTON-MERCER-VENANGO-FOREST-
LAWRENCE-BUTLER-CLARION-JEFFERSON PA-BEAVER-ARMSTRONG-INDIANA-
234 PM EDT SAT JUN 20 2015

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR EAST CENTRAL OHIO...NORTHWEST
PENNSYLVANIA...SOUTHWEST PENNSYLVANIA AND WEST CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA.

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT.

HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY.

THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS SUNDAY AFTERNOON.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER
CONDITIONS ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES.

OHZ049-050-057>059-068-069-PAZ021-029-WVZ001>003-211845-
HARRISON-JEFFERSON OH-MUSKINGUM-GUERNSEY-BELMONT-NOBLE-MONROE-
ALLEGHENY-WASHINGTON-HANCOCK-BROOKE-OHIO-
234 PM EDT SAT JUN 20 2015

...FLASH FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT THROUGH LATE TONIGHT...

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR EAST CENTRAL OHIO...SOUTHWEST
PENNSYLVANIA AND NORTHERN PANHANDLE OF WEST VIRGINIA.

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT.

PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE
INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS.

   FLASH FLOOD WATCH.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY.

THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS SUNDAY AFTERNOON
AND EARLY EVENING.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER
CONDITIONS ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES.

MDZ001-PAZ031-073>076-WVZ004-012-021>023-041-211845-
GARRETT-GREENE-WESTMORELAND-WESTMORELAND RIDGES-FAYETTE-
FAYETTE RIDGES-MARSHALL-WETZEL-MARION-MONONGALIA-PRESTON-TUCKER-
234 PM EDT SAT JUN 20 2015

...FLASH FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT THROUGH LATE TONIGHT...
...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 317 IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 PM EDT THIS
EVENING...

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR WESTERN MARYLAND...SOUTHWEST
PENNSYLVANIA...NORTHERN WEST VIRGINIA AND NORTHERN PANHANDLE OF
WEST VIRGINIA.

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT.

PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE
INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS.

   FLASH FLOOD WATCH.
   SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY.

THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS SUNDAY AFTERNOON
AND EVENING.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER
CONDITIONS ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES.

07

The radar

The Pittsburgh radar (KPBZ), 130 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 19:04 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

4 flash flood, 1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Noble

When: June 20, 2:04 PM EST
Where: Noble County, 2.53 mi ESE of Berne
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $5,000
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 39.730, -81.330

Law enforcement reported trees down.

Flash Flood, Muskingum

When: June 20, 2:47 PM EST to June 21, 8:00 PM EST
Where: Muskingum County, 0.87 mi SW of North Zanesville to 0.84 mi SW of North Zanesville
Cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: $2,000
Reported by: NWS Employee
Coordinates: 39.970, -82.010

One foot of water was reported flowing over Route 60.

Flash Flood, Coshocton

When: June 20, 7:49 PM EST
Where: Coshocton County, 0.54 mi N of Blissfield to 0.18 mi NNE of Blissfield
Cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: $5,000
Reported by: 911 Call Center
Coordinates: 40.408, -81.970

Law enforcement reported flash flooding on Route 60 near Blissfield.

Flash Flood, Muskingum

When: June 20, 7:51 PM EST to 8:15 PM EST
Where: Muskingum County, 0.69 mi N of Adams Mills to 0.41 mi N of Adams Mills
Cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: $5,000
Reported by: 911 Call Center
Coordinates: 40.160, -81.950

Law enforcement reported flash flooding on Route 16 at Adams Mills.

Flash Flood, Coshocton

When: June 20, 7:54 PM EST to 9:00 PM EST
Where: Coshocton County, 0.87 mi NE of Willowbrook to 3.12 mi NNW of Willowbrook
Cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: $5,000
Reported by: 911 Call Center
Coordinates: 40.230, -81.920

Law enforcement reported County Road 6 closed due to flash flooding.

What these are

Thunderstorm Wind: Winds from a thunderstorm of 50 knots (58 mph) or more, or lower winds that caused damage or casualties. Measured gusts are marked MG, estimated EG.
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 2015 Every state in 2015 This day in weather history Warnings in Ohio, June 2015

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: 587131, 587125, 587126, 587127, 587128.