S. across the Mid Atlantic region produced a long period of steady rainfall across portions of southeast Ohio.
Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.
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.
The episode as NWS PBZ wrote it up.
A strong low pressure system tracking from the southeast U.S. across the Mid Atlantic region produced a long period of steady rainfall across portions of southeast Ohio. Storm total rainfall of 1 to 2 inches was observed over the area over a two day period on the 21st/22nd. With the ground already saturated, the heavy rain led to minor flooding issues, particularly in Monroe County, Ohio.
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 Dec 21, 12:49 PM EST, 2 hours 36 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Pittsburgh PA 1249 PM EST Fri Dec 21 2018 .SYNOPSIS... On and off rain will continue today before ending as snow tonight and Saturday. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/... Some significant short term changes made based on trends toward a more intense closed low approach, yielding much strong frontogenesis and mid level warm advection in the short term. Significantly boosted POPs (to 100%) and QPF (to 0.50 to 0.75") for the remainder of today across the eastern half of the CWA where recent trends suggest very strong mid level frontogenesis and WAA aloft will yield an elongated band of moderate rain through this afternoon, with more showery precipitation toward the higher terrain. Would not even be surprised to see enough mid level instability present to yield a rumble of thunder late today across the far SE zones. Also trended temperatures downward. We've already reached the day time high and low level frontal passage and west winds, coupled with incoming rainfall, suggests we're headed on a gradual downward trend. Lastly, trends are looking increasingly favorable for a prolonged upslope snow event once low-mid level temperatures cool off over the high terrain (Preston/Tucker/Garrett MD) this evening. An advisory for snow seems all but certain at this point with accumulations approaching 6 inches tonight/Saturday in the highest peaks of WV. Winds will also get cranking overnight as the post-frontal pressure gradient piles up against the higher terrain. More to come on this with the afternoon forecast. Bookbinder && .SHORT TERM /SATURDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/... Low pressure will be over central Pennsylvania this evening, and will continue to move northeast overnight. Upper level system steering the surface low will begin to fill tonight, as the strongest lift shifts northeastward toward New England. Colder air will move in behind the exiting low this evening, which will eventually change rain showers to snow showers. The ridges and far north will see snow first and then the rest of the area will progress toward all snow as midnight approaches. Big differences in model solutions of precipitation amounts and change over speed behind the exiting low. At this point, the NAM is on an island when compared with the other operational, hires and ensemble data. Because of this have moved away from the NAM solution tonight. There will be a short lived period of efficient snow for much of the region, as forecast soundings are showing inversions quickly lowering, leading to a saturated layer that is well below the dendritic growth zone. The exception to this will be in the ridges were upslope enhanced snow showers will continue well into Saturday. Models are not hitting very hard on much lake enhanced snow late tonight and Saturday, the winds are optimal, but the air is not cold enough to drive the growth zone closer to the surface. So as inversions lower across the north, snow efficiency will decrease there as well. Scattered snow showers will continue through much of Saturday, with most of these over the far north and ridges. Saturday will be a return to winter temperatures with lots of clouds. Expect a brief period of dry weather and decreased cloud cover late Saturday night and through the first half of Sunday. A quick moving cold front will bring another chance for scattered light snow showers late Sunday afternoon, but model differences with this front make for a low confidence forecast. && .LONG TERM /SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY/... Lingering snow showers across the north on Monday, then the area should dry Tuesday out as weak high pressure builds in. Model differences during the remainder of the long term period will mean a greater reliance on a blend of models for that portion of the forecast. && .AVIATION /18Z FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/... IFR to low MVFR conditions will continue throughout the period. Rain will continue to overspread all terminals, with the possible exception of ZZV, with times of reduce visibility and cigs around 500ft. A transition to snow will occur this evening. Snow may get heavy, greatly reducing visibility, briefly after the transition for the FKL/DUJ terminals. Confidence is low in just how long the snow will last... but rates will gradually decrease through the night. For PIT/AGC/BVI/LBE/MGW terminals, snow will be possible overnight, especially after 06z, but very little in the way in accumulation is expected-- especially with warm ground temperatures. Gusty NW winds will develop overnight and continue through much of Saturday. Outlook... Periodic restrictions and gusty winds are possible through the weekend. && .PBZ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... MD...None. OH...None. PA...None. WV...None. &&
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Pittsburgh PA 401 AM EST Fri Dec 21 2018 OHZ039>041-048>050-057>059-068-069-PAZ007>009-013>016-020>023-029- 031-073-075-WVZ001>004-012-021-509-220915- Tuscarawas-Carroll-Columbiana-Coshocton-Harrison-Jefferson-Muskingum- Guernsey-Belmont-Noble-Monroe-Mercer-Venango-Forest-Lawrence-Butler- Clarion-Beaver-Allegheny-Armstrong-Indiana-Washington-Greene- Westmoreland-Fayette-Hancock-Brooke-Ohio-Marshall-Wetzel-Marion- Monongalia- 401 AM EST Fri Dec 21 2018 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for east central Ohio, northwest Pennsylvania, southwest Pennsylvania, west central Pennsylvania, western Pennsylvania, northern West Virginia and northern panhandle of West Virginia. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight. No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday. No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time. MDZ001-PAZ074-076-WVZ510>514-220915- Garrett-Westmoreland Ridges-Fayette Ridges- Ridges of Eastern Monongalia and Northwestern Preston-Preston- Eastern Preston-Western Tucker-Eastern Tucker- 401 AM EST Fri Dec 21 2018 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for western Maryland, southwest Pennsylvania and northern West Virginia. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight. Rain will change to snow this evening. Depending on how fast temperatures fall, and how much precipitation remains, snow could accumulate quickly into early Saturday. An advisory may be needed. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday. No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time.
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
1 flood. Local standard time, as filed.
The county Department of Highways reported that Route 26 was closed due to flooding.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Ohio in 2018Every state in 2018This day in weather historyWarnings in Ohio, December 2018
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: 797551.