Flash Flood in Summit County, Ohio

Torrential rainfall with rates around two inches per hour brought around 4 to 6 inches of rain to Summit County. The heaviest rain fell from Akron and to the north and western part of the county. The maximum daily total precipitation that was reported by an official NWS cooperative weather observer was 4.84 inches at the Akron-Canton Airport (CAK). CAK Automated Surface Observing System (ASOS) recorded the rain between 2:00 AM and 4:00 AM of around 4 inches, with additional rainfall thereafter. This rainfall event frequency falls around a 500 year recurrence interval, or 0.2% chance of occurring in a single year. The town of Copley also experienced significant flooding along the Pigeon Creek where the heaviest rain fell. An apartment complex was inundated and rescues were made. Hundreds of homes and businesses experienced basement flooding with a few first floors inundated as well. In the town of Green residents testified to a historic flood in Spade Road area.

During the early morning hours of July 19th a dissipating storm complex over Michigan reintensified as it moved over Lake Erie. These strong storms produced a narrow swath of 3 to 6 inches of rain fell over north central Ohio. The rainfall rates of around two inches per hour produced significant flash flooding. The most severely effected areas were Cuyahoga, Summit, Medina, and Stark Counties. The flooding was caused by runoff from torrential rainfall that exceeded the capacity of the small streams and storm water systems of several communities. Water depth in the flooded areas was 1 to 3 feet deep, enough to fill basements and inundate the first floor of hundreds of homes and businesses. Despite being located on a hill, the Akron-Canton airport flooded due to the intensity of the rainfall.