Flash Flood — Lorain, Ohio

2005-09-17 · near Lorain, Lorain, Ohio

Wider weather episode

During the early morning hours of the 17th, lake effect showers developed and moved onshore over northern Lorain County. The band of heavy rainfall stretched from offshore of Lake Erie into central Lorain County. This area of showers quickly intensied causing substantial flooding in the City of Lorain and some minor flooding in Amherst. In Lorain, the heavy rain band set up over Millers Run Creek and caused it to rise out its banks. At least three feet of water flooded streets near, and just to the east of the creek. Water quickly flowed into the basements of homes near the creek filling them with several feet of water. Homes along Sherwood Road and Windsor Court sustained the worst flood damage. Flood waters rose enough to get on to the ground floor of six homes. Many other homes nearby had three to four feet of water accumulate in their basements. Water penetrated most of these homes through basement windows. A lot of flooding was also reported along West 23rd Street. Many residents near and away from the creek were forced to evacuate from their homes. Tower Boulevard, a major road in Lorain, had around three feet of water on it. Some rainfall amounts in and around Lorain ranged from 2.07 inches in Lorain to 1.06 inches at the Lorain County Airport. Amherst received 1.18 inches, and Sheffield Villiage picked up 1.36 inches. Hundreds of homes, most of them in Lorain, reported serious basement flooding from sewer backups. No injuries were reported as a result of the flooding.

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Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 5475217. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.