Flash Flood — Seneca, Ohio

2011-02-28 · near Tiffin, Seneca, Ohio

Event narrative

Portions of the Heidelberg University campus in Tiffin and the local YMCA were flooded as Rock Creek came out of it's banks. Waist deep water was reported in the Clinton Mobile Home park. The Riverbend Apartments experienced flooding in the lower-level apartments. At least 30 vehicles were damaged by flooding on the Heidelberg campus. Two drivers were rescued from submerged vehicles on county road 16 in Bloomville. One rescue occurred at US 224 just east of county road 17. Additional water rescues occurred at SR 19, CR 16, and TR 218.

Wider weather episode

A strong area of low pressure moved northeast across Ohio on February 28th. Heavy rain fell over northern Ohio in association with this low. Rainfall totals of between one and three inches were reported. Up to ten inches of heavy snow was one the ground at daybreak on the 27th. Temperatures warmed into the 40s on the 27th and eventually reached the 50s on the 28th. This resulted in a rapid snow melt that released up to another inch of liquid equivalent rainfall. The snow melt and the rain combined to create widespread flooding. Rapid rises in area streams and rivers occurred with near record crests eventually reported at some river locations. Some flash flooding was also reported. A woman was killed near Norwalk after her car was swept off of the road by flood waters. Dozens of water rescues were reported and hundreds of people had to be evacuated from their homes. Dozens of roads had be closed because of flooding and washouts were reported in several counties. Over a thousand homes were damaged by flooding. Damage estimates from northern Ohio topped $30 million for this event.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (41.1000, -83.3044)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 282087. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.