Flash Flood and Flood in Ohio, June 21, 2020

Name: Flash Flood and Flood in Ohio, June 21, 2020
Start: 2020-06-21T14:48
End: 2020-06-21T23:00
Location: Ohio

June 21, 2020 · NWS CLE · 12 events in 9 counties and zones

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: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 12

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 CLE wrote it up.

Low-level convergence along an eastward-moving surface trough axis contributed to the development of scattered thunderstorms over northern Ohio during the afternoon and early evening of the 21st. Vertical wind shear was weak. However, moderate instability and DCAPE amidst steep low-level lapse rates near 7.5C/km to 9.5C/km allowed multiple thunderstorms to generate damaging straight-line winds. There were also several instances of penny to quarter-size hail. In addition to the severe winds and hail, heavy rain over Holmes and Wayne Counties produced flooding as observed rainfall totals reached as much as 4 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 Cleveland, OH wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jun 21, 12:44 PM EST, 2 hours 4 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jun 21, 12:44 PM EST, 2 hours 4 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Cleveland OH
144 PM EDT Sun Jun 21 2020

.SYNOPSIS...
Low pressure will move northeast across the Upper Great Lakes
region on Sunday. Another shortwave trough will move northeast
out of the central Great Plains on Tuesday. An associated area
of low pressure will move across the area on Tuesday, moving a
cold front across the area Tuesday night. High pressure will
build across the area for Thursday and Friday.

&&

.NEAR TERM /THROUGH MONDAY/...
Plenty of sunshine for the first part of the day with
temperatures reaching mid 80s across much of the area by noon.
Have bumped temps up a degree or two for highs, especially at
ERI where temps were already 87. Still anticipate a lake breeze
to kick in this afternoon that will help generate convection.
Meanwhile across the area temperatures continue to approach the
convective temp so would expect discrete convective cells to
develop over the next couple hours. Should storms sustain a
strong updraft, than strong gusty winds with heavy rain are the
main threats given DCAPES >1000J and LCLs > 1500 m. PWATs will
be under 1.5" for much of the area until the disturbance to the
sw moves into the area later this evening/overnight.

Prev Discussion...
Looking at a warm start to the first full day of summer with
highs in the upper 80s. Convective temperatures are in the low
to mid 80s, so would expect discrete cells to pop up by around
to just after noon and expand in coverage as the afternoon
progresses. The main focus for development will likely be along
a well defined lake breeze this afternoon, with subsequent
outflow boundaries triggering additional development. Overall
expect widely scattered showers and thunderstorms today with
increasing coverage into the afternoon and early evening given
weak but sufficient forcing in a moist and unstable airmass.
Lapse rates and deep layer shear magnitudes will limit storm
strength, but with boundary interactions could support some
strong updrafts or two. Main threat will be gusty downpours.
General flow is light out of the SW, so looking at slow storm
motions and storm propagations opposite storm motions. This
could favor some repeating/training storms especially focused on
boundaries.

For this evening focus will be on upstream convection. Broad
cyclonic flow aloft over the northern plains with weak ridging
over the area drifting east. A weak disturbance over IL this
morning will move northeast into OH later today and tonight.
This weak feature will continue convection overnight with
increase moisture advection push PWATs to 1.75". However, the
best instability will have waned after dark so only elevated
convection expected. The remnants of this feature will linger
over the area on Monday, focusing additional convection
tomorrow, mainly from I-71 east.

&&

.SHORT TERM /MONDAY NIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY NIGHT/...
A pre-frontal trough supported by a lead shortwave will bring a
round of showers and likely thunderstorms across the area late
Monday night and through midday Tuesday. The atmosphere recovers for
Tuesday afternoon for the advancement of the surface cold front.
Marginal to fair instability and marginal lapse rates may be enough
for strong to possibly severe storms depending on how the morning
plays out.  The cold front reaches the OH/PA border around midnight.
We retain the upper trough into mid week and with shortwave energy
rotating through it, will have a diurnal uptick in
shower/thunderstorms for Wednesday afternoon (scattered).
Temperatures will be seasonable. The cold front will take the
mugginess down a notch.

&&

.LONG TERM /THURSDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/...
Have a slight chance to chance mention of afternoon
showers/thunderstorms Thursday and Friday as we will still be under
the influence of broad upper trough across the Great Lakes. Surface
ridging will attempt to extend up the Ohio Valley. After a brief
break Friday evening, a possibly active warm front will lift across
the IN/MI/OH region toward Saturday morning. As of now, a cold
frontal passage is targeted for Sunday. Broadly speaking guidance is
similar with the mid level pattern to support this. For now through,
precip chances are broad brushed over the weekend until finer
details can be extracted. Temperatures will nudge warmer Thursday
into Friday with lower and mid 80s common across the area. Dewpoints
will be on the rise too.

&&

.AVIATION /18Z Sunday THROUGH Friday/...
Mainly VFR outside of showers and storms through the period. Cloud
decks should remain VFR even in some of the weaker storms, but
visibilities could drop to MVFR. Vicinity thunderstorms for the
afternoon/evening at all the sites. A weak storm complex will
lift northeast this evening and overnight, bringing continues
rain chances and isolated thunder. Redevelopment expected Monday
mainly in the central and eastern terminals in the afternoon.

Outlook...Periods of non-VFR possible Monday and through
Tuesday with scattered thunderstorms.

&&

.MARINE...
Will get another lake breeze to develop today and Monday so expect
onshore flow during the afternoons across the nearshore waters.
Winds will still remain at 10 knots or less. Tuesday winds will
increase with and behind a cold front to cross the lake and will
likely average around 15 knots.  This will bring waves up, but still
not expecting Small Craft Advisory conditions. West-southwest flow
continues through Thursday with waves of 3 feet or less. A couple
rounds of widespread thunderstorms are expected; one for Monday and
another round Tuesday.

&&

.CLE WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
OH...None.
PA...None.
MARINE...None.

&&

SYNOPSIS...Campbell
NEAR TERM...Jamison
SHORT TERM...Oudeman
LONG TERM...Oudeman
AVIATION...Jamison
MARINE...Oudeman

Hazardous weather outlook, Jun 21, 3:57 AM EST, 10 hours 51 minutes before

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Cleveland OH
457 AM EDT Sun Jun 21 2020

LEZ061-142>149-162>169-OHZ003-006>014-017>023-027>033-036>038-047-
089-PAZ001>003-220900-
Lake Erie open waters from Ripley to Buffalo NY-
Lake Erie nearshore waters from Maumee Bay to Reno Beach OH-
Lake Erie nearshore waters from Reno Beach to The Islands OH-
Lake Erie nearshore waters from The Islands to Vermilion OH-
Lake Erie nearshore waters from Vermilion to Avon Point OH-
Lake Erie nearshore waters from Avon Point to Willowick OH-
Lake Erie nearshore waters from Willowick to Geneva-on-the Lake OH-
Lake Erie nearshore waters from Geneva-on-the-Lake to Conneaut OH-
Lake Erie nearshore waters from Conneaut OH to Ripley NY-
Lake Erie open waters from Maumee Bay to Reno Beach OH-
Lake Erie open waters from Reno Beach to The Islands OH-
Lake Erie open waters from The Islands to Vermilion OH-
Lake Erie open waters from Vermilion to Avon Point OH-
Lake Erie open waters from Avon Point to Willowick OH-
Lake Erie open waters from Willowick to Geneva-on-the-Lake OH-
Lake Erie open waters from Geneva-on-the-Lake to Conneaut OH-
Lake Erie open waters from Conneaut OH to Ripley NY-Lucas-Wood-
Ottawa-Sandusky-Erie-Lorain-Cuyahoga-Lake-Geauga-Ashtabula Inland-
Hancock-Seneca-Huron-Medina-Summit-Portage-Trumbull-Wyandot-Crawford-
Richland-Ashland-Wayne-Stark-Mahoning-Marion-Morrow-Holmes-Knox-
Ashtabula Lakeshore-Northern Erie-Southern Erie-
457 AM EDT Sun Jun 21 2020

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for central Lake Erie, eastern
Lake Erie, western Lake Erie, north central Ohio, northeast Ohio,
northwest Ohio and northwest Pennsylvania.

.DAY ONE...Today and tonight.

No hazardous weather is expected at this time.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday through Saturday.

No hazardous weather is expected at this time.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation is not expected at this time.

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Jun 21, 1:36 PM EST, 1 hour 12 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Cleveland OH
236 PM EDT Sun Jun 21 2020

OHZ014-211900-
Ashtabula Inland-
236 PM EDT Sun Jun 21 2020

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT SOUTHERN ASHTABULA COUNTY...

At 235 PM EDT, a strong thunderstorm was located 7 miles northwest of
Orwell, or 15 miles east of Chardon, moving northeast at 10 mph.

Wind gusts up to 50 mph and pea size hail are possible with this
storm. Heavy rain is also occurring with this storm.

Locations impacted include...
Orwell, Andover, Austinburg, Hartsgrove, Roaming Shores, Cherry
Valley, Rock Creek and Plymouth Center.

Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with this storm.
Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe
shelter inside a building or vehicle.

LAT...LON 4151 8051 4150 8052 4150 8101 4173 8100
      4185 8074
TIME...MOT...LOC 1835Z 243DEG 7KT 4164 8093

Jamison

Special weather statement, Jun 21, 2:23 PM EST, 25 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Cleveland OH
323 PM EDT Sun Jun 21 2020

OHZ009-019-212000-
Huron-Erie-
323 PM EDT Sun Jun 21 2020

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT NORTHERN HURON AND ERIE
COUNTIES...

At 323 PM EDT, a strong thunderstorm was located 8 miles northwest of
Willard, or 11 miles southwest of Norwalk, moving northeast at 20
mph.

Wind gusts up to 50 mph and pea size hail are possible with this
storm.

Locations impacted include...
Norwalk, Bellevue, Milan, Northern Milan, Wakeman, Monroeville and
Berlin Heights.

Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with this storm.
Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe
shelter inside a building or vehicle.

LAT...LON 4143 8262 4140 8256 4124 8237 4106 8283
      4125 8284
TIME...MOT...LOC 1923Z 230DEG 17KT 4115 8279

Jamison

Special weather statement, Jun 21, 2:46 PM EST, 2 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Cleveland OH
346 PM EDT Sun Jun 21 2020

OHZ014-PAZ003-212015-
Ashtabula Inland-Crawford-
346 PM EDT Sun Jun 21 2020

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT SOUTHEASTERN ASHTABULA AND
SOUTHWESTERN CRAWFORD COUNTIES...

At 346 PM EDT, a strong thunderstorm was located over Andover, or 20
miles west of Meadville, moving east at 10 mph.

Wind gusts of 50 to 55 mph and pea size hail are possible with this
storm.

Locations impacted include...
Andover, Linesville, Pymatuning North, Pymatuning Central,
Conneautville, Conneaut Lake, Hartstown and Conneaut Lakeshore.

Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm, and may cause
localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.

Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with this storm.
Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe
shelter inside a building or vehicle.

LAT...LON 4154 8061 4169 8065 4179 8036 4155 8030
TIME...MOT...LOC 1946Z 255DEG 10KT 4164 8054

Jaszka

The radar

The Cleveland radar (KCLE), 113 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 19:48 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

7 thunderstorm wind, 3 hail, 1 flash flood, 1 flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Ashtabula

When: June 21, 2:48 PM EST
Where: Ashtabula County, 2 mi NE of Andover
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 41.641, -80.543

Multiple trees down two miles NE of Andover.

Hail, Geauga

When: June 21, 4:18 PM EST
Where: Geauga County, 2.12 mi SW of South Russell
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: Social Media
Coordinates: 41.411, -81.362

Hail up to penny-size reported two miles SE of Chagrin Falls.

Thunderstorm Wind, Medina

When: June 21, 4:25 PM EST to 4:34 PM EST
Where: Medina County, 1.15 mi ENE of Blake to 2.06 mi NNE of Wadsworth
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Social Media
Coordinates: 41.057, -81.800

Several large tree branches snapped and shingles blown off building at Wadsworth Road and River Styx Road in River Styx. Farther east, a power pole was snapped on OH 94, near Kasai Japanese Restaurant, on the north side of Wadsworth.

Hail, Medina

When: June 21, 4:36 PM EST
Where: Medina County, 2.31 mi S of Sharon Center
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 41.067, -81.733

Nickel to quarter-size hail at Northside Christian Church, located about three miles north of Wadsworth.

Hail, Geauga

When: June 21, 4:43 PM EST
Where: Geauga County, 5 mi E of Bainbridge
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: Social Media
Coordinates: 41.380, -81.234

Pea to penny-size hail reported five miles east of Bainbridge.

Thunderstorm Wind, Geauga

When: June 21, 4:51 PM EST to 4:56 PM EST
Where: Geauga County, 1.16 mi SSW of Akron City Res to 1.76 mi ESE of Akron City Res
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Social Media
Coordinates: 41.364, -81.225

Tree down and blocking the southbound lanes on OH 44 near Bartholomew Road in Auburn. Another tree down at 1855 Shaw Road in Auburn.

Thunderstorm Wind, Summit

When: June 21, 5:05 PM EST to 5:09 PM EST
Where: Summit County, 1.06 mi E of Montrose to 1.41 mi N of Fairlawn
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Utility Company
Coordinates: 41.127, -81.610

First Energy reported power outages due to damaged trees in downtown area of Fairlawn. Farther to the northeast, one tree was reported down at Hampton Ridge Drive and Smith Road in Fairlawn.

Thunderstorm Wind, Portage

When: June 21, 5:49 PM EST
Where: Portage County, 2.03 mi SSW of Freedom Liberty Arpt
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 41.205, -81.189

Route 88 closed between Ravenna and Freedom Township due to downed trees and power lines. Location approximated.

Thunderstorm Wind, Knox

When: June 21, 5:59 PM EST
Where: Knox County, Centerburg
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 40.300, -82.700

Two trees down in Centerburg.

Thunderstorm Wind, Wyandot

When: June 21, 6:00 PM EST
Where: Wyandot County, Sycamore
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Social Media
Coordinates: 40.950, -83.170

A small walking bridge across a culvert was lifted and flipped over. Person who tweeted report noted the bridge was heavily anchored into the ground.

Flash Flood, Holmes

When: June 21, 6:22 PM EST to 11:00 PM EST
Where: Holmes County, Berlin to 0.63 mi ENE of Charm
Cause: Heavy Rain
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 40.570, -81.800

Law enforcement reported water was across SR-39 near Berlin with about 3 feet of water in the parking lot of the Amish country flea market. Public reported high water along SR 241 near the Holmes-Wayne county line. At 1030 PM Doughty Creek out of its banks at TR-356 and TR-375 south of Berlin. Measured rainfall observations of 3.96 near Berlin between 7:50 PM and 10:00 PM, mostly between 7:55 PM and 9:20 PM.

Flood, Wayne

When: June 21, 9:22 PM EST to 11:00 PM EST
Where: Wayne County, 0.5 mi SSW of Moreland to 1.47 mi ESE of Lattasburg
Cause: Heavy Rain
Reported by: Broadcast Media
Coordinates: 40.714, -81.934

Road closed at Rte 83 and Friendsville Rd. Flooding on roads, lots of washed out ditches. Minor flooding in Wooster. Radar estimated rainfall of 1.5 to 2.5 inches from Wadsworth to Wooster and south. Most of that rain fell between 9 and 10 PM.

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.
Hail: Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
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.
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 2020 Every state in 2020 This day in weather history Warnings in Ohio, June 2020

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: 895738, 895747, 895743, 895745, 895748, 895754, 895757, 895763, 895765, 895764, 895774, 895775.