Flooding in Ohio, November 15 to 16, 2018

Name: Flooding in Ohio, November 15 to 16, 2018
Start: 2018-11-15T21:22
End: 2018-11-16T22:00
Location: Ohio

November 15 to 16, 2018 · NWS RLX · 3 events in 2 counties and zones

Several rivers in Southeast Ohio flooded on the 16th. This followed a couple rounds of moderate rain as waves of low pressure moved by.

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: $5,000
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 happened

The episode as NWS RLX wrote it up.

Several rivers in Southeast Ohio flooded on the 16th. This followed a couple rounds of moderate rain as waves of low pressure moved by. Rainfall totals in the 48 hours leading up to the flooding were around 1.5 inches.

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 Nov 15, 9:04 PM EST, 18 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Nov 15, 9:04 PM EST, 18 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Charleston WV
904 PM EST Thu Nov 15 2018

.SYNOPSIS...
Winter weather system continues affecting the area through tonight.
High pressure builds to begin the weekend. A series of weak fronts
crosses Sunday through Tuesday. High pressure midweek.

&&

.NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 AM FRIDAY MORNING/...
As of 900 PM Thursday...

Have gotten some reports of 0.5 to 1 inch of snow in NE KY so
did a quick update to add a bit more snow accumulation with the
area of better reflectivity currently crossing the Tug Valley.
This should push through southern WV over the next several hours
with generally 0.5-1 inch of snow. Would expect this to mainly
be on grassy and raised surfaces.

As of 240 PM Thursday...

Winter low pressure will cross the area from west to east
tonight. Radar imagery and high resolution model data suggest a
lull in pcpn, associated with a dry slot, spreading from south
to north across extreme southwest VA, and the KY and WV border this
evening. Although pcpn coverage and intensity is expected to
decrease through 00Z Friday, additional pcpn, associated with
wrapped around moisture from the low center, is expected over
portions of southeast OH, spreading west over WV, and lingering
over the northeast mountains through early Friday morning.
Temperatures will drop a degree or two overnight. Models
consensus suggest CAA at H850, with the minus 5C line well south
of our cwa by 06Z Friday. These temperatures will likely switch
P-Type to all snow over the central and northeast mountains,
with lesser amounts over portions of southeast OH and lowlands
of WV through 12Z Friday.

As the cold air arrives, areas of pcpn will diminish in coverage
and begin exiting the central and northeast mountains towards
mid morning Friday. Upslope snow accumulations will range from
from 1 to 4 inches over the northeast mountains, with locally
heavier amounts over the highest peaks.

Winter Storm Warning continues in effect for the eastern slopes
of WV due to pockets of FZRA through 00Z Friday.

Went with NBM temperatures through the period. Expect sub
freezing temperatures area wide overnight. This will tend to
freeze any runoff water over roads.

&&

.SHORT TERM /6 AM FRIDAY MORNING THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT/...
As of 235 PM Thursday...

Lingering low level moisture beneath a stout inversion may keep
stratus around for much of Friday, especially across northern
counties. Just enough lift in the morning for some light precip
across the northern mountains. Model soundings suggest crystal
growth conundrums amid the aforementioned subsidence inversion. I
will leave it as snow for now, but freezing drizzle may have to be
eventually added.

Dry air will overwhelm much of the column Friday night, though the
lingering inversion should allow for fog and/or stratus to redevelop
across much of the region.

Any fog/stratus should dissipate later Saturday morning, with
sunshine returning for what should be splendid afternoon.
Temperatures will still run a bit below average, however.

After a chilly night, mid and high level clouds will stream in ahead
of the next s/w trof. Lift will increase as the trof and cold front
approaches Sunday night, with a frontogenetically forced band
of light precip developing across the area. Some of this may
take the form of a mix with wet snow across northern counties,
but should not amount to much. A coating is possible across the
northern mountains, however.

This system pushes out Monday with sunshine returning. Temperatures
to remain below normal.

&&

.LONG TERM /MONDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/...
As of 211 PM Thursday...

High pressure nestles its way back into Central Appalachia on
Wednesday in the wake of Tuesday's moisture starved cold front.
Clear skies overnight will allow for ample radiational cooling
to occur, leading to chilly mornings each day. Models are
hinting at a warm up for the end of the period, as southerly
flow invites warmer temperatures back into the forecast.

&&

.AVIATION /02Z FRIDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/...
As of 630 PM Thursday...

As a low pressure system passes by and then an upper level
system crosses, expect MVFR to IFR in stratus and rain changing
to snow. Precip will gradually taper off from west to east
overnight, lingering the longest across the northern mountainous
counties of WV. Clouds should gradually break up and lift during
the pre-dawn into Friday morning. Do expect some gusty winds
overnight and again Friday afternoon.

FORECAST CONFIDENCE AND ALTERNATE SCENARIOS THROUGH 00Z SATURDAY...

FORECAST CONFIDENCE: Medium.

ALTERNATE SCENARIOS: Timing of restriction changes may vary.

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                                                                 FRI
UTC 1HRLY       00   01   02   03   04   05   06   07   08   09   10   11
EST 1HRLY       19   20   21   22   23   00   01   02   03   04   05   06
CRW CONSISTENCY  H    H    H    H    M    M    H    H    H    H    H    H
HTS CONSISTENCY  H    H    M    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H
BKW CONSISTENCY  H    H    H    H    M    H    M    M    L    M    H    H
EKN CONSISTENCY  H    H    H    M    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    M
PKB CONSISTENCY  H    H    H    H    H    M    M    M    M    M    M    H
CKB CONSISTENCY  H    H    H    H    H    L    H    H    H    M    H    H

AFTER 00Z SATURDAY...
IFR possible in stratus and/or fog Saturday and Sunday mornings.

&&

.RLX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
WV...Wind Advisory from midnight tonight to 9 AM EST Friday for
     WVZ523-524-526.
OH...None.
KY...None.
VA...None.

&&

SYNOPSIS...ARJ/30/MEK
NEAR TERM...ARJ/MZ
SHORT TERM...30
LONG TERM...MEK
AVIATION...MZ

Hazardous weather outlook, Nov 15, 7:18 PM EST, 2 hours 4 minutes before

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Charleston WV
718 PM EST Thu Nov 15 2018

WVZ523-524-526-170030-
Northwest Pocahontas-Southeast Pocahontas-Southeast Randolph-
718 PM EST Thu Nov 15 2018

...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO 9 AM EST
FRIDAY...

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of northeast West
Virginia.

.DAY ONE...Tonight.

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

  Wind Advisory.

.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.

  Wind Advisory.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Weather spotters are encouraged to report significant weather
conditions by calling the toll-free spotter hotline, or by other
methods detailed at www.weather.gov/rlx/reports.

KYZ101>103-105-OHZ066-067-075-076-083>087-VAZ003-004-WVZ005>011-
013>020-024>034-039-040-515>522-525-170030-
Greenup-Carter-Boyd-Lawrence KY-Perry-Morgan-Athens-Washington-
Jackson OH-Vinton-Meigs-Gallia-Lawrence OH-Dickenson-Buchanan-Wayne-
Cabell-Mason-Jackson WV-Wood-Pleasants-Tyler-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 Randolph-
718 PM EST Thu Nov 15 2018

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for northeast Kentucky, southeast
Ohio, southwest Virginia and much of West Virginia.

.DAY ONE...Tonight.

Light rain will transition briefly into mixed precipitation, before
changing to all snow early tonight. Very little of snow accumulation
expected. However, this light snow could produce slippery roads and
associated travel hazards tonight.

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

No hazardous weather is expected at this time.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Weather spotters are encouraged to report significant weather
conditions by calling the toll-free spotter hotline, or by other
methods detailed at www.weather.gov/rlx/reports.

In the hours before

Local storm report, Nov 15, 4:03 PM EST, 5 hours 19 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON WV
403 PM EST THU NOV 15 2018

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

1257 AM     FREEZING RAIN    ATHENS                  39.32N  82.10W
11/15/2018  E0.00 INCH       ATHENS             OH   PUBLIC

            FREEZING DRIZZLE.

0144 AM     NON-TSTM WND GST 2 SE STANAFORD          37.79N  81.12W
11/15/2018  M42 MPH          RALEIGH            WV   ASOS

0151 AM     FREEZING RAIN    2 SE STANAFORD          37.79N  81.12W
11/15/2018  E0.02 INCH       RALEIGH            WV   ASOS

            FREEZING RAIN AMOUNT ESTIMATED DUE TO TRANSITION TIME.

0315 AM     NON-TSTM WND GST 2 SE STANAFORD          37.79N  81.12W
11/15/2018  M48 MPH          RALEIGH            WV   ASOS

0750 AM     FREEZING RAIN    GHENT                   37.62N  81.11W
11/15/2018  M0.15 INCH       RALEIGH            WV   BROADCAST MEDIA

0808 AM     FREEZING RAIN    STOCKPORT               39.55N  81.80W
11/15/2018  E0.06 INCH       MORGAN             OH   TRAINED SPOTTER

            ICE ACCRETION ON TREES AND POWERLINES.

0830 AM     FREEZING RAIN    TALLMANSVILLE           38.91N  80.18W
11/15/2018  E0.10 INCH       UPSHUR             WV   PUBLIC

            RELAYED THROUGH BROADCAST MEDIA.

0900 AM     FREEZING RAIN    2 SE STANAFORD          37.79N  81.12W
11/15/2018  M0.34 INCH       RALEIGH            WV   ASOS

            MEASURED ON THE FREEZING RAIN SENSOR.

0900 AM     FREEZING RAIN    BECKLEY                 37.79N  81.19W
11/15/2018  E0.25 INCH       RALEIGH            WV   TRAINED SPOTTER

0930 AM     FREEZING RAIN    BOWDEN                  38.91N  79.71W
11/15/2018  E0.25 INCH       RANDOLPH           WV   TRAINED SPOTTER

0930 AM     FREEZING RAIN    DUNMORE                 38.36N  79.88W
11/15/2018  M0.12 INCH       POCAHONTAS         WV   TRAINED SPOTTER

            HALF AN INCH OF SLEET ALSO MEASURED ON THE GROUND.

0930 AM     FREEZING RAIN    MARLINTON               38.22N  80.09W
11/15/2018  E0.30 INCH       POCAHONTAS         WV   TRAINED SPOTTER

0930 AM     FREEZING RAIN    NETTIE                  38.22N  80.69W
11/15/2018  M0.12 INCH       NICHOLAS           WV   TRAINED SPOTTER

0930 AM     FREEZING RAIN    DANIELS                 37.72N  81.13W
11/15/2018  M0.10 INCH       RALEIGH            WV   TRAINED SPOTTER

1015 AM     FREEZING RAIN    COOL RIDGE              37.66N  81.10W
11/15/2018  M0.33 INCH       RALEIGH            WV   TRAINED SPOTTER

1051 AM     FREEZING RAIN    GHENT                   37.62N  81.11W
11/15/2018  E0.25 INCH       RALEIGH            WV   BROADCAST MEDIA

&&

EVENT NUMBER RLX1800359 RLX1800361 RLX1800360 RLX1800362 RLX1800363
RLX1800364 RLX1800365 RLX1800371 RLX1800372 RLX1800366 RLX1800367
RLX1800368 RLX1800369 RLX1800370 RLX1800374 RLX1800373

HART

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

3 flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Flood, Washington

When: November 15, 9:22 PM EST to November 16, 1:07 PM EST
Where: Washington County, 0.75 mi N of Macksburg to 1.1 mi SE of Macksburg
Cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: $500
Reported by: River/Stream Gage
Coordinates: 39.641, -81.471

The West Fork of Duck Creek spilled from its banks, flooding lowland along the river. Broad Street also started to flood near the bridge. The stream gage on Duck Creek showed the flooding started late on the 15th as the creek rose above its bankfull level of 13 feet. The creek crested just under 13.5 feet mid morning on the 16th, and returned to its banks shortly after noon.

Flood, Washington

When: November 15, 9:43 PM EST to November 16, 9:41 AM EST
Where: Washington County, 0.47 mi WNW of Bloomfield to 0.89 mi NNE of Moss Run
Cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: $2,000
Reported by: River/Stream Gage
Coordinates: 39.574, -81.208

The Little Muskingum River near Bloomfield flooded, closing a section of Route 26 near its intersection with Route 260. The nearby river gage showed the river rose above its 16 foot bankfull level late on the 15th, and crested around 18 feet during the pre-dawn hours on the 16th. The river returned to its banks later that morning.

Flood, Meigs

When: November 16, 7:00 AM EST to 10:00 PM EST
Where: Meigs County, 0.48 mi ENE of Hemlock Grove to 1.31 mi W of Sumner
Cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: $2,000
Reported by: River/Stream Gage
Coordinates: 39.123, -81.972

The Sugar Run Creek Bridge was closed due to flooding along the Shade River. The river gage on the Shade River near Chester showed the river rose above its 17 foot bankfull level around sunrise on the 16th. The river crested at 17.7 feet late that afternoon and returned to its banks late that evening.

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, November 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: 789111, 789110, 789112.