Flooding in Ohio, May 20 to 23, 2020

Name: Flooding in Ohio, May 20 to 23, 2020
Start: 2020-05-20T07:45
End: 2020-05-23T10:25
Location: Ohio

May 20 to 23, 2020 · NWS RLX · 8 events in 5 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: $34,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 8

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.

A slow moving low pressure system positioned over Tennessee and Kentucky caused multiple heavy bands of rain to move into southeast Ohio through the majority of the work week. These rounds of showers led to rainfall amounts of two to three inches across this portion of the state, with the ground already saturated due to antecedent rain from days prior. Flooding consisted of impassable roadways and local rivers and creeks flowing out of their banks. This multi-day event finally came to a close on the 23rd once the low pushed over the Atlantic Ocean.

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 May 20, 5:54 AM EST, 1 hour 51 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 20, 5:54 AM EST, 1 hour 51 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
National Weather Service Charleston WV
654 AM EDT Wed May 20 2020

.SYNOPSIS...
Slow moving stacked low pressure brings rounds of showers and
storms through much of the remainder of the work week. System
pulls out Friday night. Warmer and more humid for the weekend.

&&

.NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/...
As of 650 AM Wednesday...

Adjusted for south edge of rain moving northward early this
morning, as the feed has pivoted, or backed, a bit. Another wave
slowly approaching from the south should start to fill that area
again by late morning though. Meanwhile, the downslope flow has
resulted in drying and warming over northeast portions of the
forecast area.

As of 405 AM Wednesday...

Stacked low pressure spinning about north central Tennessee
this period maintains wet weather over the area, as deep layer
moisture feeds from the south and east, converge over the area
in the northeast quadrant of the upper level low.

Northeast portions of the forecast area reside on the northeast
edge of the richer moisture, and, with the shadow effect of the
low to mid level southeast flow, highest QPF, one to one and a
half inches, is across southwest portions of the forecast area,
where a Flash Flood Watch remains in effect.

Strong winds aloft of 45 to 55 kts have had time mixing through
even to the higher elevations due to a strong inversion, so
the wind advisory was canceled a bit early. However, this may
lead to low level wind shear.

Central guidance temperatures looked good, which reflect a
cooler afternoon in the rain across the middle Ohio Valley, but
close to previous forecast in the favored downslope areas in the
southeast flow.

&&

.SHORT TERM /THURSDAY THROUGH SATURDAY NIGHT/...
As of 245 AM Wednesday...

As the blocking pattern falls apart through Thursday, the
stationary upper level low will slowly move out of the southwest
driving due north. The moisture influx from the south due to
cyclonic southerly flow over the area will ensure elevated
chances of precipitation into Friday. Another half of inch with
slightly higher localized amounts in the lowlands are to be
expected into Friday. A slight warming will commence as the low
shifts further north and precipitation chances for the lowlands
will start to fade for the rest of Friday leaving thunderstorm
potential on the table. Left higher chances for along the
mountains due to westerly upslope flow on the windward side
enhancing clouds and subsequently shower potential. Still
looking at only generally a quarter inch or less, especially
over the low elevations going into Saturday. The first half of
Saturday looks good for a break until a short wave trough slides
over the area lowering confidence and promoting some rain
showers. The day does not look like a complete washout courtesy
of an upper level ridge sliding in right behind the short wave.

&&

.LONG TERM /SUNDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/...
As of 245 AM Wednesday...

The aforementioned feature will promote a short drying out of
the area until what models hint at as a vast baroclinic zone
developing just to the west of us on Sunday. As the ridge
passes by to the east, this will allow that zone to inch into
the area and proved unsettled weather due to this frontal system
into midweek. Thereafter, models diverge slightly on timing,
but overall have a decent handle on the rest of the week and
suggest it to be a semi-active one, picking up on another
potential system at the end of the work week.

The Canadian was kind of an outlier with the 1st frontal system
and in the fact it was not picking up on the system that good
and had a slightly different solution. The GFS was the most
aggressive with precipitation than the EURO/NAVGEM/Canadian.
With it being toward the end of the model runs I did not put too
much weight on the GFS since it was by far the most aggressive.
Accepted guidance since it was modest and I added diurnal
thunderstorm chances for the afternoons and for the anticipation
of the frontal system depicted by the models during the new
work week. Temperatures will be back to normal and even above
by the end of the weekend making way for the potential of
daily afternoon thunderstorms.

&&

.AVIATION /12Z WEDNESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/...
As of 650 AM Wednesday...

Stacked low pressure will keep much of the area wet this period.
Flight conditions will be VFR much of the time in intermittent
light rain at PKB, CKB and EKN, and MVFR conditions or lower in
either ceilings or visibilities with heavier rain showers
farther south, with IFR conditions bouncing up to MVFR at times
at HTS and CRW this morning, and MVFR lowering to IFR in
ceilings at BKW at times today.

Surface flow will be gusty east to southeast in the mountains,
with gusts around 25 kts most persistent at BKW, and 20 kts at
times at EKN. Surface flow out across the lowlands will
generally be east to northeast 5 to 10 kts, with higher gusts at
times during the day today. Flow aloft will be moderate to
strong southeast. The inversion and associated wind shear do
not appear to be quite sharp enough to code low level wind
shear outside the mountains. In the mountains, gusty surface
flow should preclude low level wind shear.

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

FORECAST CONFIDENCE: Medium.

ALTERNATE SCENARIOS: IFR conditions may be more persistent
southern sites today than currently forecast. Category changes
in general are likely to vary this 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.

UTC 1HRLY       10   11   12   13   14   15   16   17   18   19   20   21
EDT 1HRLY       06   07   08   09   10   11   12   13   14   15   16   17
CRW CONSISTENCY  M    M    L    M    H    H    H    H    H    L    M    M
HTS CONSISTENCY  H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    L    M    L
BKW CONSISTENCY  M    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H
EKN CONSISTENCY  H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H
PKB CONSISTENCY  H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H
CKB CONSISTENCY  H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H    H

AFTER 12Z THURSDAY...
IFR at times in rain through Friday.

&&

.RLX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
WV...Flash Flood Watch through Thursday morning for WVZ005>007.
OH...Flash Flood Watch through Thursday morning for OHZ083-086-087.
KY...Flash Flood Watch through Thursday morning for KYZ101>103-105.
VA...None.

&&

SYNOPSIS...TRM/JZ
NEAR TERM...TRM
SHORT TERM...JZ
LONG TERM...JZ
AVIATION...TRM

Hazardous weather outlook, May 20, 2:35 AM EST, 5 hours 10 minutes before

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Charleston WV
335 AM EDT Wed May 20 2020

OHZ066-067-075-076-084-085-VAZ003-004-WVZ008>011-013>020-024>034-039-
040-515>526-210745-
Perry-Morgan-Athens-Washington-Vinton-Meigs-Dickenson-Buchanan-
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 Pocahontas-
Southeast Pocahontas-Northwest Randolph-Southeast Randolph-
335 AM EDT Wed May 20 2020

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of southeast Ohio,
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.

Rounds of showers are expected today and can be heavy at times.
Repetitive rounds of rain may cause drainage issues and water issues
in low lying areas.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday.

Rounds of showers and possible storms are expected through the week.
Repetitive rounds of rain may cause drainage issues and water issues
in low lying areas.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation is not expected at this time.

KYZ101>103-105-OHZ083-086-087-WVZ005>007-210745-
Greenup-Carter-Boyd-Lawrence KY-Jackson OH-Gallia-Lawrence OH-Wayne-
Cabell-Mason-
335 AM EDT Wed May 20 2020

...FLASH FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT THROUGH THURSDAY MORNING...

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for northeast Kentucky, portions
of southeast Ohio 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.

   Flash Flood Watch.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday.

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

   Flash Flood Watch.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation is not expected at this time.

In the hours before

Local storm report, May 20, 7:18 AM EST, 27 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON WV
818 AM EDT WED MAY 20 2020

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

0730 AM     FLOOD            OAKWOOD ESTATES         39.30N  81.46W
05/20/2020                   WOOD               WV   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            LAUREL CREEK RD CLOSED DUE TO HIGH WATER

0730 AM     FLOOD            WORTHINGTON MEADOWS     39.29N  81.51W
05/20/2020                   WOOD               WV   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            OLD ST MARY'S PIKE NEAR NEWBANKS ROAD CLOSED DUE TO
            HIGH WATER

0730 AM     FLOOD            SUNRISE                 39.27N  81.50W
05/20/2020                   WOOD               WV   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            CORE ROAD CLOSED DUE TO HIGH WATER

&&

EVENT NUMBER RLX2000921
EVENT NUMBER RLX2000922
EVENT NUMBER RLX2000923

HART

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

8 flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Flood, Athens

When: May 20, 7:45 AM EST to 7:45 PM EST
Where: Athens County, 2.16 mi SE of Jacksonville to 1.65 mi ESE of Plantsville
Cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: $6,000
Reported by: Department of Highways
Coordinates: 39.452, -82.047

State Road 550 was closed on the morning of the 20th in Amesville due to flooding, and remained shut down into the afternoon and evening due to additional rounds of rain. Near the town of Sharpsburg, US Route 377 was flooded and impassable in both directions. State Road 550 near Lathrop Road in the town of Lathrop was also closed in both directions due to flooding.

Flood, Washington

When: May 20, 9:00 AM EST to 12:00 PM EST
Where: Washington County, 2.79 mi WNW of Dale to 2.68 mi NNE of Dale
Cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: $3,000
Reported by: Department of Highways
Coordinates: 39.489, -81.821

Near the town of Dale, State Road 676 in Washington County was closed in both directions due to flooding.

Flood, Morgan

When: May 20, 10:30 AM EST to 2:30 PM EST
Where: Morgan County, 1.99 mi S of Chesterhill to 2.17 mi S of Bishopville
Cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: $3,000
Reported by: Department of Highways
Coordinates: 39.452, -81.876

State Road 377 near the town of Plantsville was closed in both directions due to flooding. Other county roads that were temporarily closed due to flooding included County Road 56 near Malta and County Road 39 in Westland.

Flood, Perry

When: May 20, 11:00 AM EST to 3:00 PM EST
Where: Perry County, 0.68 mi NNE of Glenford to 1.94 mi E of Ziontown
Cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: $3,000
Reported by: Department of Highways
Coordinates: 39.888, -82.313

Heavy rainfall resulted in State Road 204 in Glass Rock to close for a period of time on the afternoon of the 20th due to flooding.

Flood, Washington

When: May 20, 1:46 PM EST to May 23, 10:25 AM EST
Where: Washington County, 0.32 mi N of Macksburg to 1 mi E of Willow Farm
Cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: $4,000
Reported by: River/Stream Gage
Coordinates: 39.635, -81.470

Along Duck Creek, the gage in Whipple indicated the creek rose out of its twelve foot bankfull level during the early evening hours of the 20th. It oscillated in and out of its banks for the next several days, but eventually crested at 13.22 feet on the evening of the 22nd, then returned to its banks on the morning of the 23rd. White out of its banks, sections of State Routes 26, 821, and 145 were under water.

On the West Fork of the Duck in Macksburg, the gage showed the creek rose out of its thirteen foot bankfull level during the early afternoon hours on the 20th. It peaked just under 14 feet before briefly returning to its banks on the morning of the 21st. A few hours later, the creek rose out of its banks once more, cresting at 14.28 feet that evening, and returning to its banks early in the morning on the 23rd. While out of its banks, Broad Street began to flood near the creek as well as surrounding campgrounds and parking lots.

Flood, Washington

When: May 20, 2:22 PM EST to May 22, 12:00 PM EST
Where: Washington County, 1 mi W of Beverly to 1.47 mi NE of Beverly
Cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: River/Stream Gage
Coordinates: 39.553, -81.648

On the Muskingum River, the gage at Beverly showed the giver rose out of its 29 foot flood stage on the afternoon of the 20th. The river crested at 32 feet late that night, and returned to its banks on the morning of the 22nd. While out of its banks, a few low lying areas, farmland, and homes near the river became flooded.

Flood, Meigs

When: May 21, 8:04 AM EST to May 23, 2:15 AM EST
Where: Meigs County, 1.23 mi WNW of Bashan to 1.68 mi N of Bashan
Cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: $3,000
Reported by: River/Stream Gage
Coordinates: 39.060, -81.889

Along the Shade River, the gage near Chester showed the river rose out of its seventeen foot bankfull level on the morning of the 21st. The river crested at 19.82 feet on the morning of the 22nd before returning to its banks early in the morning on the 23rd. While out of its banks, the river caused the Sugar Run Creek Bridge and the Shade River Bridge to become submerged.

Flood, Washington

When: May 22, 11:23 AM EST to 10:55 PM EST
Where: Washington County, 0.57 mi WSW of Bloomfield to 1.03 mi E of Bloomfield
Cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: $2,000
Reported by: River/Stream Gage
Coordinates: 39.568, -81.210

Along the Little Muskingum River, the gage in Bloomfield showed the river rose out of its sixteen foot bankfull level during the early afternoon on the 22nd. By that evening, the river crested at 17.92 feet before returning into its banks just after midnight. While out of its banks, Route 26 near the intersection with Route 260 began to be inundated with high water.

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 2020 Every state in 2020 This day in weather history Warnings in Ohio, May 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: 885735, 885745, 885777, 885778, 885784, 885789, 885790, 885786.