Flash Flood — Summit, Ohio

2006-07-31 · near Countywide, Summit, Ohio

Event narrative

Heavy thunderstorm rains fell on Summit County during the late afternoon and early evening hours of July 31st. An automated sensor at the Akron Fulton Airport measured a storm total of 3.84 inches of rain. Of this total, 2.14 inches fell between 3 and 4 p.m. with another 1.41 inches between 4 and 5 p.m. A spotter in Cuyahoga Falls measured an inch of rain during an eight minute period just before 5 p.m. A storm total of around 6 inches was measured in Lakemore. Significant urban flooding occurred across the county as sewer systems quickly became overwhelmed. Runoff from the rain also caused rapid rises in area streams and rivers. The Akron, Tallmadge, Cuyahoga Falls and Lakemore areas were especially hard hit as dozens of roads including Interstates 76 and 77 became flooded. Hundreds of homes were damaged by flooding and numerous vehicles were stranded in the flood waters which were up to three deep at some locations. The worst flooding in the county occurred in Lakemore and surrounding Springfield Township. About three quarters of the streets in the village were flooded. Front Street was closed for 12 blocks and was reported to be flowing like a "river." Significant flooding also occurred on Lakeside Drive, Lake Road, Sanitarium Road, First Street, Seventh Street, Seneca Trail, Pawnee Boulevard, Main Street, Meadows Drive, Chelsea Drive and Michaels Drive. Around 50 homes had to be evacuated in Lakemore where two homes were classified as being destroyed. Another 10 homes in Lakemore had major structural damage with about 100 more sustaining lesser damages. Several hundred homes elsewhere in the county sustained damage, mainly from basement flooding. Traffic in Summit County was brought to a standstill during the evening rush hour because of this event.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 5527120. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.