Flood — Sandusky, Ohio

2005-01-01 to 2005-01-15 · Sandusky, Ohio

Wider weather episode

Heavy rain and runoff from snowmelt caused widespread lowland flooding in Sandusky County during the first half of January. The worst flooding in the county occurred along the Portage and Sandusky Rivers. Flooding along the Portage River at Woodville was the worst since the late 1970s. The river went above the 9 foot flood stage on January 1st and remained in or just below flood into the 16th. Major flooding occurred in Woodville with a crest of 14.25 feet early on January 14th. Significant damage was done to homes along Riverside Drive and Water, South, Erie, Bridge, Cherry and Spring Streets. The Sandusky River went into flood on January 6th and remained either in flood or just below flood through the 15th. At Fremont, the river crested at 12 feet on the 13th. At Tiffin, the river crested at 9.58 feet on on the 7th. For the most part, flooding along the river was confined to low lying areas, but a few homes and businesses in both Tiffin and Fremont were damaged by flooding. Significant flooding was also reported in Clyde on January 11th through the 13th. Flood waters in portions of the city came within 12 inches of exceeding the 100 year flood plain. January 2005 was among the wettest January's on record with 5.99 inches measured at Tiffin and 6.55 inches measured at Fremont. In addition to this rain, extensive snowpack existed over Sandusky County at the beginning of the month. Temperatures in the 40s and 50s the first three days of the month caused a rapid snowmelt and brought area streams and creeks to bankfull just in time for a significant winter storm on the 5th and 6th. Then, just as things began to return to normal, heavy rains fell on the area on the 11th, 12th and 13th causing conditions to once again worsen. Hundreds of homes in the county sustained damage from river, basement or nuisance flooding. Several streets were closed by flooding in Woodville with over a dozen roads closed elsewhere in the county.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 5435325. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.