Flood — Medina, Ohio

2019-06-17 to 2019-06-19 · near Hometown, Medina, Ohio

Event narrative

The Chippewa Creek, a tributary for the Tuscarawas River measured an estimated 7.34' between the 11th and 17th of June, again with 3 to 5 inches falling on the 16th and 17th. Heavy rain over the headwaters of the Tuscarwas River were averaged 7.65' for from June 11 through the 17th, with 3 to 5 inches falling on the 16th and 17th. The Tuscarawas River basin average rainfall for June 11 through June 17th was 7.58' with 3 to 5' falling during the 16th and 17th. As a result of concurrent major flooding on the tributary Chippewa Creek and the headwaters of the Tuscarawas River resulted in a flood near the 0.2 percent or 500 year flood level at the confluence in Canal Fulton and Clinton. Downstream of Canal Fulton the Tuscarawas River reached a near 1 percent recurrence flood, or 100 year event in the City of Massillon.

The Chippewa Creek, a headwater to the Tuscwarawa River in Medina and Wayne Counties, came out of its banks on the 16th. The additional rain on the 17th cause the river to overtop the gage, with a height estimated at 10.53 feet around 10 am on the 17th. The USGS field crew was able to estimate flows exceeding 1450 cfs, making it the most significant flood since the gage was installed in 2001. Rainfall estimates for the watershed were 7.34' between the June 11th and 17th, with 3 to 5 inches falling on the 16th and 17th. The Chippewa Creek confluence with the Tuscarawas River occurs in Rittman in Wayne County. Rittman sustained significant damages from the flooded Chippewa Creek.

In Clinton the flood waters at the confluence of the Chippewa Creek and Tuscarawas River produced between a 1 and a 0.2 percent flood levels, also known respectively as a 100 and 500 year flood plain. The majority of the impacts occurred along Main Street and North Street west of Donnenwirth Street with two to three feet deep on part of Main Street and six to eight feet deep on North Street. Most of the floodplain was part of the Erie Canal park system and trails, but at least 5 homes were surrounded and partially inundated by flood waters. Two businesses on Main Street did have an estimated 2 feet of water on the first floor, one of which was an auto repair shop with about 20 vehicles inundated with up to 3 feet of water. 25 people have been forced out of their homes or businesses. Flood levels were the worst since the flood of 1913, exceeding the floods of 1969 and 1977. Luna Lake levels rose by almost 4 feet in the month of June, resulting in widespread flooding of over a dozen homes and cabins along the lakeshore during the week of the 18th resulting the worst flooding since 1978.

Wider weather episode

A stationary front supported widespread showers and thunderstorms across northern and central Ohio. During the overnight of June 16th into the morning of the 17th heavy showers developed along this boundary. Warm and humid conditions with precipitable water values around 1.75-2.0' supported very efficient rainfall with rainfall rates exceeding 3 inches per hour. Three day totals in this area were 3 to 6 inches with saturated ground conditions and already swollen rivers and creeks. The National Weather Service had a flood watch in effect for the entire region. Numerous flash floods on the 16th and continued wet ground conditions supported rapid runoff with the rainfall during the early morning of the 17th. The additional rainfall 1.5 to 2.5 inches triggered flash floods and significant river flooding across the Tuscarawas watershed. Hundreds of homes and businesses in southern Summit County were flooded in Norton, Barberton, Clinton, New Franklin, and Copley Township. Canal Fulton (Stark County), Rittman (Medina and Wayne County), Chippewa Lake (Medina County), and Massillon (Stark County) also sustained major damage.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (40.9583, -81.8083)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 839387. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.