Flash Flood in Cuyahoga County, Ohio

During the early afternoon of July 5 thunderstorms with torrential rain fell across portions of Cuyahoga County. Radar estimates put storm total rain amounts between 2.5 and 3 inches in the City of Parma. However the public reported a measurement near Ridge and Pleasant Valley Road of 4.12 inches. Another nearby rain gage supports this estimate with a measurement of 2.6 inches during the storm. Rainfall rates averaged 2 inches an hour during this event, peaking around 256 PM with rates estimated 4 to 6 inches an hour for approximately 15 minutes dropping over an inch of rain. A storm spotter in North Royalton reported 2 inches in 30 minutes around 230 PM. Flooding started to effect low lying and poor drainage areas around 230 PM, but the increase in intensity near the top of the hour resulted in rapid flash flooding. By 315 PM some water was inundating homes in North Royalton, mainly in basements. In Parma, the majority of heavy rainfall was in the southwest corner of the City, South of Pleasant Valley Road. The flooding was mostly concentrated along Big Creek headwaters with extensive damage to homes and businesses. At least two homes on Stormes Drive foundations gave way and are no longer inhabitable. Other homes were inundated in their first floor by 2 to 3 feet of water on Stormes Drive. It's estimated that in Parma alone, more than 1000 homes and businesses were flooded, primarily in the area located south of Ridgewood Drive to Sprague Road, as well as between State Road and West 130th Street, several of which had never experienced flooding before. A nursing home near Pleasant Valley Road and Ridge Road sustained over 6 million dollars in damages with nearly 100 residents displaced and 17 cars in the parking lot totaled. Parking lot and garage of University Hospital flooded and resulted in several cars damaged or destroyed.

A warm and moist airmass was draped across Ohio on July 5th. Slow moving showers and thunderstorms developed along the afternoon lake breeze and outflow boundaries. With dewpoints in the mid 70s and precipitable water values around 2 inches the environment was favorable for torrential rain. Some of the storms along Cuyahoga County produced rainfall rates 2 to 4 inches, with a local rain burst in Parma Ohio with measured rates around 4 to 6 inches an hour. Flash flooding was localized to northern Ohio and northwest Pennsylvania. The hardest hit areas were Parma, Parma Heights, Bedford Heights, and North Royalton.