Flash Flood — Medina, Ohio

2014-05-12 to 2014-05-13 · near Brunswick Arpt, Medina, Ohio

Event narrative

Doppler Radar estimated between 2 and 4.5 inches of rain fell over Medina County on the evening of May 12th between 9 and 11 pm. The rainfall intensity caused rapid runoff and widespread flash flooding in the western and central parts of the county. In North Royalton the Cambridge Village properties were flooded. There was water reported over the Akins Road Bridge and dozens of roads and intersections were flooded from overflowing creeks. Flowing water removed pavement from main and side streets in North Royalton, Strongsville, Medina, and Brunswick Hills. State Route 162, between the Interstate 71 overpass and River Styx Road in Montville Township, sustained major damage when a large culvert under the roadway was damaged. A fire truck sustained major damage when driving over a water covered and washout road in Medina along the River Styx. In Brunswick Hills 4.5' of rain was measured during the storms. Almost three feet of water flooded the Police Station. Small portions of State Route 303 and 252 damaged.

The East Branch of the Rocky River, along with other tributaries to the Rocky River, were primarily responsible for the majority of the damage. The Plum Creek came out of it's banks inundating an off-ramp from I-71 onto Ohio SR 3. Two water rescues were conducted at this site. The River Styx Overall a dozen water rescues were conducted in western and central Medina County that evening, and an estimated 100-200 homes sustained water damage. A dozen homes were substantially damaged on the first floor in Granger Road area in Medina.

Wider weather episode

On the evening of May 12th a warm front tracking north over Lake Erie, reversed itself and moved back inland over northern Ohio. An organized convective complex with embedded supercells developed over north-central Ohio. Two confirmed tornadoes, one in Medina and the other in Lorain Counties, developed within this supercells. The slow movement of the storms combined with intense rainfall rates produced destructive flash floods across dozens of communities.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (41.3182, -81.8736)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 510221. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.