Flash Flood — Ashtabula, Ohio

2006-07-28 · near Countywide, Ashtabula, Ohio

Event narrative

A second round of thunderstorms moved across Ashtabula County during the early morning hours of July 28th. Rainfall rates exceeded two inches per hour at times. Some rainfall totals from late afternoon on July 27th through the early morning hours of the 28th included: 5.88 inches in Trumbull Township; 4.30 inches in Geneva; 3.45 inches at New Lyme and 3.33 inches at Jefferson. Widespread flooding occurred across the county as runoff from this rain made it into area streams and rivers. Coffee Creek went into flood in Austinburg and caused extensive damage. At least five homes in the town were destroyed and another 20 sustained severe damage. Three homes in Jefferson had water on their ground floors after a small creek left it's banks. Flood waters on Hillyer Drive were reported to be over three feet deep. At least nine homes in the Geneva area sustained major damage after Cowles Creek left it's banks. Several families in the area had to be evacuated. Many roads including State Routes 45, 307 and 46 and U.S. Route 20 had to be closed because of flooding. In Harpersfield Township, Cold Springs Road was washed out by Bronson Creek. At least four roads were washed out elsewhere in the county and there were multiple road closures reported in Trumbull, Geneva, Saybrook, Morgan, Austinburg and Monroe Townships. Around 40 homes in the county suffered major damage from flooding with dozens more sustaining lesser damages. Most of these were in Jefferon, Austinburg and Geneva Townships. Damage to roads, bridges, culverts and other public infrastructure from the flash flooding events of July 22nd and 28th totaled nearly $2 million. Crop losses are also expected to be substantial as standing water was reported in many areas.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 5526613. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.