Flooding in Ohio, February 22 to 26, 2018

Name: Flooding in Ohio, February 22 to 26, 2018
Start: 2018-02-22T08:00
End: 2018-02-26T21:00
Location: Ohio

February 22 to 26, 2018 · NWS RLX · 15 events in 7 counties and zones

An oscillating surface boundary with multiple waves of low pressure brought periods of moderate to heavy rainfall from the 22nd into the 25th. This caused another round of flooding on small creeks and streams across the middle Ohio River Valley, and eventually lead to minor flooding on the Ohio River.

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: $9,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 15

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 RLX wrote it up.

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 Charleston, WV wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Feb 22, 6:16 AM EST, 1 hour 44 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Feb 22, 6:16 AM EST, 1 hour 44 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Charleston WV
616 AM EST Thu Feb 22 2018

.SYNOPSIS...
Cold front stalled across the south early this morning, and
meanders through the end of the week as surface waves pass.
Areas of significant rainfall possible into the weekend.

&&

.NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/...
As of 600 AM Thursday...

Light to moderate rainfall continues across SE Ohio, amounts are
getting into the 0.5-0.75 range. This precip is gradually
shifting north...a trend which should continue until the surface
wave starts moving across and pulling the precip shield eastward
with it.

As of 100 AM Thursday...

Surface boundary currently stalled out across southern coal
fields and southern mountains, with a surface wave beginning to
move out of the lower Mississippi Valley. Also have 500mb
shortwave trough coming out of the southern plains. All of this
is resulting in an area of precipitation stretching from Texas
into the middle Ohio River Valley. High res models seem to have
a decent handle on this, so used a blend of HRRR and NAMNest to
tighten up POP gradients. Through this morning, have an area of
100 POPs developing across SE Ohio as the surface wave
approaches and nudges the front back to the NW. As the surface
wave passes, have the higher POPs crossing the Ohio River and
gradually decreasing as the front drifts back to the SE -- away
from the better mid and upper level support -- and stalls in or near
the SE corner of the forecast area. Have 0.5-0.75 inches of rain
with the wave today, mainly along and NW of the Ohio River. Plan
to keep an eye on new data as it rolls in this early this
morning to help decide if the flood watch need to be moved
earlier -- but with the current QPF think we can handle this
first wave with no significant issues and have not changes the
watch timing.

The next surface wave in the train approaches tonight, with a
similar trend of pushing the surface boundary back north. Have
an area of high chance POPs along the front tonight. Opted to
not go likely at this time due to lack of mid and upper level
support, anticipating scattered showers.

Temperatures through the period are very tricky, as the surface
boundary provides a rather sharp gradient. Used a blend of high
res models on the hourly temps trying to capture its meandering
over the next 24 hours. However this leads to rather low
confidence, as a 20 mile change in the boundary position will
result in up to 10-15 degrees difference in temperatures at any
given spot. In general terms... it will be very mild across the
SE with highs today near 70, but much of SE Ohio and NE Kentucky
will struggle to bump above 50.

&&

.SHORT TERM /FRIDAY THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT/...
As of 200 AM Thursday...

Frontal boundary lifts back north Friday with additional waves
moving along the front, enhancing precipitation, particularly
across northern zones where flood watch is in place. The front
will sag south, and waffle around the area in vicinity of Ohio
River late Friday into Saturday, before finally lifting back
north again late Saturday, as a strong low pressure system moves
northeast out of the southern plains. Good southwesterly
flow/llj/moisture tap from Gulf, with PW values rising to over
1.4 inches. Time period of greatest precipitation looks to be
Saturday night/early Sunday, with a general inch and a half of
qpf, if not more in spots. Drying trend gradually takes place on
Sunday, as high pressure builds in behind departing cold front.

&&

.LONG TERM /MONDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/...
As of 210 AM Thursday...
High pressure in control during the period with dry and mild
conditions.

&&

.AVIATION /11Z THURSDAY THROUGH MONDAY/...
As of 600 AM Thursday...

Not a good day for non-instrument flight as low MVFR and IFR
conditions are expected across most of the forecast area through
the TAF period. A surface wave will move through today, with
rain showers. These are already in place across much of SE Ohio,
and will remain along and west of the Ohio River early this
morning before shifting eastward later this morning into this
afternoon. Winds are mostly out of the N to NE currently, but as
the wave passes winds will vary quite a bit from place to
place. Expect IFR stratus and rain/fog again tonight with a
surface boundary stalled in the region.

FORECAST CONFIDENCE AND ALTERNATE SCENARIOS THROUGH 12Z FRIDAY...

FORECAST CONFIDENCE: Medium.

ALTERNATE SCENARIOS: Timing of MVFR/IFR conditions may vary
through the TAF period.

EXPERIMENTAL TABLE OF FLIGHT CATEGORY OBJECTIVELY SHOWS CONSISTENCY
OF WFO FORECAST TO AVAILABLE MODEL INFORMATION:
H = HIGH:   TAF CONSISTENT WITH ALL MODELS OR ALL BUT ONE MODEL.
M = MEDIUM: TAF HAS VARYING LEVEL OF CONSISTENCY WITH MODELS.
L = LOW:    TAF INCONSISTENT WITH ALL MODELS OR ALL BUT ONE MODEL.

DATE               THU 02/22/18
UTC 1HRLY       10   11   12   13   14   15   16   17   18   19   20   21
EST 1HRLY       05   06   07   08   09   10   11   12   13   14   15   16
CRW CONSISTENCY  L    L    M    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    M    M
HTS CONSISTENCY  H    H    M    M    L    H    M    H    H    H    M    M
BKW CONSISTENCY  M    M    M    M    M    H    H    H    H    M    L    L
EKN CONSISTENCY  M    M    M    M    H    H    H    H    H    M    L    L
PKB CONSISTENCY  H    H    M    M    H    M    M    M    H    H    L    L
CKB CONSISTENCY  M    M    M    H    H    L    L    H    H    H    L    L

AFTER 12Z FRIDAY...
IFR possible at times in showers into the weekend.

&&

.RLX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
WV...Flood Watch from this evening through Sunday morning for
     WVZ005>011.
OH...Flood Watch from this evening through Sunday morning for
     OHZ066-067-075-076-083>087.
KY...Flood Watch from this evening through Sunday morning for
     KYZ101-103.
VA...None.

&&

SYNOPSIS...MZ/SL
NEAR TERM...MZ
SHORT TERM...SL
LONG TERM...SL
AVIATION...MZ

Hazardous weather outlook, Feb 22, 4:21 AM EST, 3 hours 39 minutes before

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Charleston WV
421 AM EST Thu Feb 22 2018

KYZ102-105-VAZ003-004-WVZ013>020-024>034-039-040-515>526-230930-
Carter-Lawrence KY-Dickenson-Buchanan-Lincoln-Putnam-Kanawha-Roane-
Wirt-Calhoun-Ritchie-Doddridge-Mingo-Logan-Boone-Clay-Braxton-Gilmer-
Lewis-Harrison-Taylor-McDowell-Wyoming-Upshur-Barbour-
Northwest Raleigh-Southeast Raleigh-Northwest Fayette-
Southeast Fayette-Northwest Nicholas-Southeast Nicholas-
Northwest Webster-Southeast Webster-Northwest Pocahontas-
Southeast Pocahontas-Northwest Randolph-Southeast Randolph-
421 AM EST Thu Feb 22 2018

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of northeast
Kentucky, southwest Virginia, and portions of central West
Virginia, northeast West Virginia, northern West Virginia,
southeast West Virginia and southern West Virginia.

.DAY ONE...Today and Tonight.

Periods of rain today and tonight, some heavy at times, are expected.
With a saturated ground in place, area creeks and streams could
overflow their banks.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday.

Periods of heavy rain are expected again Friday through the weekend.
With a saturated ground in place, area creeks and streams could
overflow their banks.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Weather spotters are encouraged to report significant weather
 conditions according to Standard Operating Procedures.

KYZ101-103-OHZ066-067-075-076-083>087-WVZ005>011-230930-
Greenup-Boyd-Perry-Morgan-Athens-Washington-Jackson OH-Vinton-Meigs-
Gallia-Lawrence OH-Wayne-Cabell-Mason-Jackson WV-Wood-Pleasants-
Tyler-
421 AM EST Thu Feb 22 2018

...FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT FROM THIS EVENING THROUGH SUNDAY MORNING...

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of northeast
Kentucky, southeast Ohio, and portions of central West Virginia,
northern West Virginia and western West Virginia.

.DAY ONE...Today and Tonight.

Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the
Internet for more information about the following hazards.

   Flood Watch.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday.

Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the
Internet for more information about the following hazards.

   Flood Watch.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Weather spotters are encouraged to report significant weather
 conditions according to Standard Operating Procedures.

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

15 flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Flood, Washington

When: February 22, 8:00 AM EST to February 23, 11:30 AM EST
Where: Washington County, 0.83 mi N of Macksburg to 0.85 mi WSW of Elba
Cause: Heavy Rain
Reported by: River/Stream Gage
Coordinates: 39.642, -81.470

Flooding along Duck Creek and the Little Muskingum River caused high water on some local roadways.

At Macksburg, the West Fork of Duck Creek rose above its 13 foot bankfull level around 8 AM on the 22nd. The creek crested at 14.3 feet around 2 PM that afternoon and returned to within its banks at 3 AM on the 23rd.

Duck Creek at Whipple rose above its bankfull level of 12 feet just before 11 AM on the 22nd and crested at 15 feet just before midnight. The creek dropped back below bankfull just before noon on the 23rd.

The Little Muskingum River at Bloomfield crested at 24 feet, 1 foot above moderate stage just before midnight on the 22nd. It had originally risen above its 16 foot bankfull level around 11 AM. It returned to its banks around 11 AM on the 23rd.

Flood, Washington

When: February 22, 8:53 AM EST to February 23, 5:18 AM EST
Where: Washington County, 0.79 mi E of Hayward to 1.57 mi NNW of Equity
Cause: Heavy Rain
Reported by: River/Stream Gage
Coordinates: 39.569, -81.655

The Muskingum River at Beverly rose above its flood stage of 29 feet early on the 22nd. It crested at 31.5 feet late that afternoon, and returned to within its banks pre-dawn on the 23rd.

Flood, Vinton

When: February 22, 9:00 AM EST to 10:00 PM EST
Where: Vinton County, 0.69 mi N of Hamden to 1.9 mi ESE of Hue
Cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: $1,000
Reported by: Department of Highways
Coordinates: 39.160, -82.530

Several roads were closed due to high water, including State Routes 278, 328 and 349.

Flood, Jackson

When: February 22, 10:00 AM EST to 3:00 PM EST
Where: Jackson County, 2.11 mi NW of Coalton to 4.28 mi WNW of Monroe
Cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: $2,000
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 39.145, -82.624

Numerous roads were closed due to high water. This included Main Street in Jackson. C H and D Road, Route 2 and Route 233 were closed east of Oak Hill. Mulga Road was closed near Wellston. Also, Pigeon Creek flooded in Coalton.

Flood, Athens

When: February 22, 10:30 AM EST to 6:30 PM EST
Where: Athens County, 1.41 mi WSW of East Clayton to 1.74 mi NNE of Broadwell
Cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: $1,000
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 39.444, -82.275

Multiple roads were closed due to flooding across the county. This included portions of State Routes 56, 356, 546 and 550.

Flood, Lawrence

When: February 22, 11:00 AM EST to 2:00 PM EST
Where: Lawrence County, 1.58 mi NW of Firebrick to 1.29 mi WSW of Firebrick
Cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: $1,000
Reported by: Department of Highways
Coordinates: 38.847, -82.649

Flooding on Hale Creek closed a section of State Route 140.

Flood, Meigs

When: February 22, 11:00 AM EST to 1:00 PM EST
Where: Meigs County, 1.14 mi NW of Midway to 1.39 mi S of Pageville
Cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: $1,000
Reported by: Department of Highways
Coordinates: 39.133, -82.012

Flooding along the West Branch of the Shade River closed a section of State Route 681 between Routes 33 and 684.

Flood, Vinton

When: February 23, 12:30 AM EST to February 26, 8:30 AM EST
Where: Vinton County, 2.12 mi SW of Hope to 0.65 mi E of Prattsville
Cause: Heavy Rain
Reported by: River/Stream Gage
Coordinates: 39.310, -82.380

Raccoon Creek at Bolins Mills had a prolonged period out of its banks. The creek rose above its bankfull level of 14 feet just after midnight on the 23rd with flooding lingering into the morning of the 26th. However, crest was only half a foot above bankfull, occurring on the afternoon of the 24th.

Flood, Gallia

When: February 24, 11:42 AM EST to 4:00 PM EST
Where: Gallia County, 4.33 mi SW of Alice to 5.2 mi NNW of Eno
Cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: $1,000
Reported by: Department of Highways
Coordinates: 38.978, -82.430

Flooding along Raccoon Creek and Symmes Creek led to several road closures. This included portions of State Route 144, 324, and 554.

Flood, Athens

When: February 24, 12:00 PM EST to 3:00 PM EST
Where: Athens County, 0.57 mi N of Torch to 0.73 mi SSW of Guysville
Cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: $1,000
Reported by: Department of Highways
Coordinates: 39.258, -81.752

Due to high water on the Ohio River, the Hocking River backed up and flooded a section of State Route 144.

Flood, Meigs

When: February 24, 12:03 PM EST to 4:00 PM EST
Where: Meigs County, 2.03 mi NW of Chester to 1.48 mi NE of Keno
Cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: $1,000
Reported by: Department of Highways
Coordinates: 39.100, -81.948

Flooding along the Shade River resulted in the closure of State Route 248 between Route 7 and Route 124.

The river gage at Chester entered moderate flood stage during this time. The river rose above its bankfull level of 17 feet very late on the 22nd and crested a few inches above its 21 foot moderate flood level mid morning on the 23rd. It returned to its banks on the evening of the 24th.

Flood, Washington

When: February 25, 9:12 AM EST to 4:00 PM EST
Where: Washington County, 0.79 mi E of Hayward to 1.57 mi NNW of Equity
Cause: Heavy Rain
Reported by: River/Stream Gage
Coordinates: 39.569, -81.655

The Muskingum River at Beverly rose above its flood stage of 29 feet during the mid morning on the 25th. It crested at 29.2 feet around noon, and returned to within its banks late that afternoon.

Flood, Meigs

When: February 25, 9:40 AM EST to February 26, 12:06 AM EST
Where: Meigs County, 2.03 mi NW of Chester to 1.48 mi NE of Keno
Cause: Heavy Rain
Reported by: Department of Highways
Coordinates: 39.100, -81.948

The Shade River at Chester rose above its bankfull level of 17 feet mid morning on the 25th, crested at 17.6 feet that afternoon and returned to its banks just after midnight on the 26th.

Flood, Lawrence

When: February 26, 1:00 AM EST to 2:45 AM EST
Where: Lawrence County, 1.81 mi NW of Aid to 1.41 mi WSW of Aid
Cause: Heavy Rain
Reported by: River/Stream Gage
Coordinates: 38.620, -82.502

Symmes Creek briefly flooded early on the 26th. The river gage showed the creek rising above bankfull level of 19 feet at 1 AM, and cresting just over 19 feet just before 2 AM. The creek was back within its banks by 2:45 AM.

Flood, Meigs

When: February 26, 7:00 PM EST to 9:00 PM EST
Where: Meigs County, 1.67 mi NW of Portland to 2.95 mi NNW of Portland
Cause: Heavy Rain
Reported by: River/Stream Gage
Coordinates: 39.019, -81.789

Very minor flooding occurred on the Ohio River, causing some water to back up onto State Route 124 near Long Bottom and Portland.

The gage on the Ohio River at Belleville Lock rose above its 35 foot flood stage very briefly around 8:30 pm on the 26th.

What these are

Flood: Flooding that develops more slowly than a flash flood: rivers leaving their banks, or water standing over land for an extended time.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Ohio in 2018 Every state in 2018 This day in weather history Warnings in Ohio, February 2018

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: 734535, 734491, 734296, 734307, 734300, 734314, 734315, 734298, 734481, 734305, 734487, 734492, 734499, 734503, 734525.