Flood Warning Issued for Tiffin River as Northwestern Ohio Braces for Rising Waters
National Weather Service warns Tiffin River will crest at 13.7 feet Saturday, flooding farm buildings and roads near Stryker after severe storms.
STRYKER, OHIO — The National Weather Service issued a flood warning Monday morning for the Tiffin River at Stryker, affecting Defiance, Williams, and Fulton counties as minor flooding is forecast to begin late Wednesday night.
The river is expected to rise above flood stage early Thursday morning and continue rising to a crest of 13.7 feet Saturday evening, according to the National Weather Service in Northern Indiana. Flood stage for the Tiffin River is 11.0 feet.
At 10:00 AM EDT Tuesday, the stage measured 6.4 feet, well below the flood threshold but rising steadily toward the predicted flood levels.
Expected Flood Impacts
When the river reaches 13.0 feet, flood waters will begin affecting farm buildings near Stryker and inundate some secondary roads, according to the weather service. The predicted crest of 13.7 feet Saturday evening represents minor flooding conditions.
The flood warning remains in effect from late Wednesday night until further notice, with officials monitoring conditions closely as the river continues to rise.
Severe Weather Precedes Flood Threat
The flooding threat follows strong thunderstorms that moved through the region Sunday evening, bringing wind gusts of 50 to 55 mph across northwestern Ohio. Doppler radar tracked the storm line extending from near Stryker to near Van Wert, moving east at 40 mph.
The severe weather impacted multiple communities including Defiance, Napoleon, Ottawa, Archbold, Bluffton, Columbus Grove, Leipsic, Deshler, Kalida, Liberty Center, Continental, Pandora, Holgate, Glandorf, Ottoville, McClure, Hamler, Fort Jennings, Texas, and Dupont.
Gusty winds from the storm system knocked down tree limbs and blew around unsecured objects throughout the affected areas. Interstate 75 between mile markers 139 and 141 was also within the storm’s path.
Safety Preparations Underway
Local authorities are advising residents in flood-prone areas to monitor conditions closely and prepare for potential evacuations if water levels exceed predictions. The combination of recent heavy rainfall from thunderstorm activity and continued precipitation forecasts has created conditions favorable for river flooding.
Emergency management officials are coordinating with the National Weather Service to track the river’s progress and issue updates as conditions change. Residents can access current flood safety information and river level updates through the National Weather Service website.
The Tiffin River flood warning represents the latest weather challenge for northwestern Ohio communities, which experienced significant storm damage from Sunday evening’s severe thunderstorm system before facing the current flood threat.
