Flood — Meigs, Ohio

2000-02-19 to 2000-02-21 · Meigs, Ohio

Wider weather episode

Rains of 2 to 4 inches fell in about an 18 hour period. A strong frontal zone was in the vicinity, as low pressure moved up the Ohio Valley. Southerly winds pulled low level moisture north from Tennessee and Kentucky . Surface dew points were in the 55 to 60 degree range south of the frontal boundary. Carpenter of western Meigs County had 4.1 inches, Gallipolis meausred 3.7 inches, Jackson 3.45 inches, Patriot, Salem Center, and Willow wood all had around 3.3 inches, while McArthur had 3.2 inches. A spotter network in Meigs County revealed 3.9 inches at Racine and 3.6 inches at Syracuse.Preliminary damage accessment figures from emergency management officials had 3 homes in Meigs County and 2 homes inLawrence County sustaining major damage. Minor damage to homes was reported in Athens, Gallia, Meigs, and Washington Counties. In Gallia County, about a dozen homes sustained minor damage. Racoon Creek flooded and closed roads.Minor river flooding occurred after the flash flooding on the small streams. The Hocking River in Athens County crested just over its 20 foot flood stage at 20.49 feet around 0600E on the 20th. The Ohio River caused the usual backwater flooding from below Belleville Lock and Dam to the Ironton vicinity. The crest at Pomeroy was a half of a foot over the 46 foot flood stage around 0500E on the 21st. This was not high enough to affect the businesses in town. In Meigs County, a 51 year old man drowned in the flooded backwaters of the Ohio River near the mouth of Leading Creek. The area is known as Shady Cove near Hudson. A father and his son were in a small boat, ferrying across a flooded area. The boat hit a submerged object around 1430E on the 20th. The father fell out of the boat. He was not wearing a life jacket. His body was recovered that evening by the fire department.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 5129586. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.