A surface trough was oriented south to north across northeast Ohio during the afternoon and early evening of August 8th, 2024, with then Tropical Depression Debby centered over the Carolinas. Strong tropical moisture advection northwestward into the area and modest mixed layer CAPE (1000 j/kg) allowed for thunderstorm development throughout the mid afternoon into the early evening hours, with…
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 CLE wrote it up.
A surface trough was oriented south to north across northeast Ohio during the afternoon and early evening of August 8th, 2024, with then Tropical Depression Debby centered over the Carolinas. Strong tropical moisture advection northwestward into the area and modest mixed layer CAPE (1000 j/kg) allowed for thunderstorm development throughout the mid afternoon into the early evening hours, with thunderstorm coverage and intensity increasing near sunset. Deep layer sheer was minimal with slow moving/stationary thunderstorms and intense rainfall rates producing extreme rainfall amounts and flash flooding from eastern Wayne County northeast through Summit County into extreme southeast Cuyahoga and southwest Geauga counties. A narrow axis of 3 to 5 inches of rainfall was estimated by radar across these areas, with rain gauge reports of 5 to 6.6 inches of rainfall within the axis of heaviest rainfall. A majority of the rain fell in about a three hour period, with precipitation frequency estimates equating this amount of rain in a three year period at an average recurrence interval of 1000 years, or about a 0.1% chance of occurrence in any given year.
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 Aug 8, 6:37 PM EST, 43 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Cleveland OH 737 PM EDT Thu Aug 8 2024 ...00z TAF Aviation and Near Term Forecast Update... .SYNOPSIS... A trough extends from Tropical Storm Debby across the eastern Great Lakes. A cold front will move east across the area on Friday as the remnants of Debby move north towards New York. Another trough will remain across the eastern Great Lakes through the weekend. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT/... 700 pm update... No forecast changes were needed with this early evening update. Previous discussion... Humidity is on the increase again today as dewpoints reach the lower 70s. Isolated showers have started to develop along and east of a trough axis that extends from near Ashland to Medina towards Chardon. This inverted trough extends from Tropical Storm Debby still well south of the area over the Carolinas. Instability is building with ML CAPE values of around 1000 J/kg. Showers and possibly a few thunderstorms are expected to increase in coverage through the late afternoon and early evening hours along this boundary and where any outflow boundaries may kick off additional activity. Model soundings do initially show some warming near 600mb which could inhibit vertical growth until mid levels moisten and cool more into the evening. Any thunderstorm that develops will be capable of producing heavy rainfall with slow storm motion. Coverage and duration will likely be limiting factors for a flooding but can not rule out a Flood Advisory if a persistent cell develops. A decrease in coverage is expected overnight as we lose instability, especially after midnight. On Friday the remnants of Debby will track north across western Pennsylvania into New York. At the same time an upper level through will move into the Central Great Lakes shunting the deep layer moisture generally east of our forecast area. We will hold onto a chance of rain across portions of Northeast Ohio and a little higher in Northwest Pennsylvania as a cold front sweeps from west to east. Conditions will tend to dry out from west to east with highs only reaching around 80 degrees. with a little higher pop in NW Pennsylvania but conditions will tend to dry out from the west. Humidity will trend much lower behind the front into Friday night. Breezy northwest winds on Friday will also allow for a much more comfortable feel with winds of 10-15 mph and gusts to 20-25 mph. && .SHORT TERM /SATURDAY THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT/... An upper level trough will dig into the northeast this weekend, bringing a period of relatively cooler and less humid weather. As various shortwaves and surface troughs drop through they may focus increases in clouds and perhaps a few showers, especially downwind of Lake Erie. Overall am expecting a mainly dry weekend with highs in the 70s and lows in the 50s/near 60 but there are some low POPs in at times, especially Saturday night and Sunday downwind of Lake Erie from far northeast OH into northwest PA. && .LONG TERM /MONDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/... Troughing will persist over the northeast through much of next week with confluence behind it encouraging a mainly quiet week of weather. Temperatures will start the week on the cooler side of average (highs on either side of 80 with lows on either side of 60) and will modestly warm through the period back to near seasonal values (highs in the low-mid 80s, lows in the 60s). POPs are generally below forecast inclusion for the long term period. && .AVIATION /00Z Friday THROUGH Tuesday/... Conditions will vary from VFR to MVFR ceilings tonight into Friday morning. There will be some low end MVFR ceilings for CLE, CAK, YNG, and ERI. There are some scattered showers and thunderstorms near CLE and CAK where VCTS is mentioned in the TAF this evening. Ceilings will become VFR later on Friday and scattered out over NWOH. There is an inverted surface trough across NEOH this evening. Winds on the east side of this trough are from the southeast and east 5 to 10 knots. Winds on the west side of this trough are from the north and northwest 5 to 10 knots. All winds will become from the west and northwest on Friday 10 to 15 knots with gusts up to 25 knots. Outlook....Non-VFR possible with periodic and isolated to scattered showers/thunderstorms Friday night through Monday. && .MARINE... Northwest winds will increase to 15 or so knots on Friday as the remnants of Debbie pass well to our east, with winds shifting to the west-northwest and increasing to near 20 knots Friday evening and night. Winds remain generally west-northwest in the 15-20 knot range through Sunday before shifting more westerly and becoming lighter (less than 15 knots) Sunday night into next week. A period of Small Craft Advisories and Beach Hazards Statements will likely be needed Friday evening and night with conditions flirting with criteria through the weekend. Will wait one more cycle before issuing the headlines since the conditions don't begin until 24 or so hours from now and since the end times of any headlines is uncertain. With that said, choppier conditions will develop during the day Friday. && .CLE WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... OH...None. PA...None. NY...None. MARINE...None. && SYNOPSIS...FZ NEAR TERM...KEC/Griffin SHORT TERM...Sullivan LONG TERM...Sullivan AVIATION...Griffin MARINE...Sullivan
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Cleveland OH 412 PM EDT Thu Aug 8 2024 LEZ061-142>149-162>169-OHZ003-006>009-013-014-017>023-027>033- 036>038-047-PAZ001>003-092015- Ripley to Buffalo NY extending from 5NM off shoreline to US- Canadian border-Maumee Bay to Reno Beach OH- Reno Beach to The Islands OH-The Islands to Vermilion OH- Vermilion to Avon Point OH-Avon Point to Willowick OH- Willowick to Geneva-on-the Lake OH-Geneva-on-the-Lake to Conneaut OH- Conneaut OH to Ripley NY- Detroit River Lt. to Maumee Bay OH to Reno Beach OH beyond 5NM offshoreline to US-Canadian border- Reno Beach to The Islands OH beyond 5NM off shoreline to US- Canadian border- The Islands to Vermilion OH beyond 5 nm off shoreline to US- Canadian border- Vermilion to Avon Point OH beyond 5 nm off shoreline to US- Canadian border- Avon Point to Willowick OH beyond 5 nm off shoreline to US- Canadian border-Willowick to Geneva-on-the- Lake OH beyond 5NM off shoreline to US-Canadian border-Geneva-on-the- Lake to Conneaut OH beyond 5 nm off shoreline to US-Canadian border- Conneaut OH to Ripley NY beyond 5 nm off shoreline to US- Canadian border-Lucas-Wood-Ottawa-Sandusky-Erie-Geauga- Ashtabula Inland-Hancock-Seneca-Huron-Medina-Summit-Portage-Trumbull- Wyandot-Crawford-Richland-Ashland-Wayne-Stark-Mahoning-Marion-Morrow- Holmes-Knox-Northern Erie-Southern Erie- 412 PM EDT Thu Aug 8 2024 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for Lake Erie, north central Ohio, northeast Ohio, northwest Ohio and northwest Pennsylvania. .DAY ONE...Tonight. No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday. No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time. OHZ010>012-089-092015- Lorain-Cuyahoga-Lake-Ashtabula Lakeshore- 412 PM EDT Thu Aug 8 2024 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for north central Ohio and northeast Ohio. .DAY ONE...Tonight. No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday. There is a moderate swim risk for Lake Erie beaches on Friday due to potential for rip currents. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time.
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Cleveland OH
220 PM EDT Thu Aug 8 2024
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0452 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 2 WNW Middlefield 41.46N 81.11W
08/06/2024 Geauga OH Law Enforcement
Several trees or large branches down in the
Burton and Middlefield area.
&&
PSPreliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Cleveland OH
244 PM EDT Thu Aug 8 2024
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0500 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg Rootstown 41.10N 81.25W
08/06/2024 Portage OH Public
A number of trees were blown down over
several acres along Industry Rd north of
Tallmadge Rd.
&&
JSPreliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Cleveland OH
253 PM EDT Thu Aug 8 2024
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0449 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 1 SW Aquilla 41.53N 81.19W
08/06/2024 Geauga OH Public
Numerous trees reported downed near 44 and
322.
&&
JSPreliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Cleveland OH
258 PM EDT Thu Aug 8 2024
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0445 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 3 SW Chardon 41.55N 81.24W
08/06/2024 Geauga OH Public
Numerous trees reported downed near Wilson
Mills Rd and Auburn Rd in Munson Township,
including some on houses.
&&
JSSpecial Weather Statement National Weather Service Cleveland OH 641 PM EDT Thu Aug 8 2024 OHZ021-082315- Summit OH- 641 PM EDT Thu Aug 8 2024 ...SHOWERS WITH HEAVY RAINFALL WILL IMPACT CENTRAL SUMMIT COUNTY THROUGH 715 PM EDT... At 634 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a cluster of showers with heavy rainfall over Cuyahoga Falls, or near Akron. These showers were drifting north. HAZARD...Heavy rainfall with rates near an inch an hour. SOURCE...Radar indicated. IMPACT...Heavy rainfall could cause nuisance street flooding. Locations impacted include... Akron, Cuyahoga Falls, Hudson, Tallmadge, Stow, Fairlawn, Munroe Falls, Richfield, Silver Lake, Peninsula, and Montrose-Ghent. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm and may lead to localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways. && LAT...LON 4110 8140 4110 8163 4122 8162 4123 8140 TIME...MOT...LOC 2234Z 179DEG 4KT 4115 8151 MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN MAX WIND GUST...<30 MPH
The Cleveland radar (KCLE), 40 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 00:22 UTC.
21 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.
Hudson Park Drive between Blue Heron Drive and Leeway Drive closed due to flooding.
Several flooded roadways that were closed and impassable due to flooding, including Portage Trail Extension and Valley Road, and State Road near Bath Road.
Liberty Road and Cannon Road in Twinsburg closed due to flooding.
Multiple flooded roadways impassable and closed in Cuyahoga Falls, with several cars stalled in the flooded roadways. This includes Graham Road east of State Road, Silver Lake Avenue at Norma Street, and Portage Trail east of State Road. Several basements flooded as well.
Road flooding in Bainbridge, including Bainbridge Road and Chillicothe Road at US-422. Yard and minor road flooding near McFarland Creek on Chagrin Road near Westhill Drive.
Car stranded in flooded roadway on Pine Street in Orrville, requiring water rescue.
Flash flooding in West Akron. Multiple streets flooded with car stranded, including Mull Avenue near South Hawkins Avenue and near Schneider Park. Reports of basement flooding as well.
Reports of flooded and impassable roadways in northeast Hudson, including Pine Trails, Alexandra Drive, Huntington Road, Mayapple Drive, Herrick Park Drive, and Deerpath Trails. Ponds overflowing on Stow Road. Vehicles stuck in water in front of Hudson High School and on Woodspring Lane and Stow Road. 34 homes reported flooding, mainly basement flooding. One partial basement collapse was reported, with 11 rescues from cars stuck in water.
Around 20 basements flooded, some street flooding with road closures, including OH-82 between Cannon Road and Depot Road in Twinsburg.
Road flooding with several feet of water inundating the road in Reminderville on Aurora Lake Road at Trentstone Circle.
US-30 flooded, likely due to Sugar Creek overflowing its banks, near Kidron Road. Road was closed and impassable for a period of time.
Report of nearly first floor flooding in home on Edgeview Drive in Hudson.
Widespread flash flooding in Barberton. Several basements were flooded with multiple cars stranded on flooded roadways. Wooster Road at 9th Street NW closed due to flooding. One basement wall collapse reported on 17th Street NW. Two families required water rescue from flooded homes on 15th Street NW.
I-76 closed due to flooding near Summit Street.
Road closures due to flooding, including Nautilus Trail and Pirates Trail, in Reminderville. A few reports of basement flooding as well.
House flooding on Jefferson Street in Orrville, two residents were trapped requiring rescue.
Reports of multiple basements flooded and street flooding with stranded vehicles in Orrville.
Widespread flash flooding in Orrville. Several basements flooded, multiple basement wall collapses, including a home on Hostetler Road. Multiple water rescues from vehicles driving into flooded roadways, including Crown Hill Road and Mineral Springs Street, where the water department experienced flooding.
Significant flash flooding in the Merriman Valley area north of Akron and west of Cuyahoga Falls. Canyon Brook Drive near Timber Top Apartments washed out due to flash flooding of Sand Run, with multiple lower level apartment units flooded. Extensive flooding of businesses along Merriman Road and North Portage Path near the Cuyahoga River, with dozens of flooded vehicles. Flooding of basements also reported in this area. The Cuyahoga River at Old Portage crested at 11.53 feet during the onset of the flash flooding impacts in the Merriman Valley.
Christmas Run flooded out of its banks at Wayne County Fairgrounds in Wooster, flooding portions of West Old Lincoln Way and much of the fairgrounds. Several barns were flooded with one water rescue of a person trapped in a camper.
Standing water flooding all three eastbound lanes of I-80 near Hudson.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Ohio in 2024Every state in 2024This day in weather historyWarnings in Ohio, August 2024
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: 1214969, 1214366, 1214978, 1214370, 1214995, 1214257, 1214302, 1214973, 1214986, 1214992, 1214255, 1214975, 1214295, 1214296, 1214991, 1214259, 1214267, 1214288, 1214365, 1214254, 1214977.