Severe Thunderstorms, Flash Flooding Strike Northeast Ohio Tuesday Night
Severe thunderstorms with 60 mph winds and flash flooding hit northeast Ohio Tuesday night, affecting Cleveland and surrounding counties.
CLEVELAND, OHIO — Severe thunderstorms with damaging winds, hail, and flash flooding swept across northeast Ohio Tuesday evening, leading the National Weather Service to issue warnings for millions of residents across seven counties.
The most significant storm system passed through the Cleveland metropolitan area around 8:50 PM EDT, producing 60 mph wind gusts and penny-sized hail. The severe thunderstorm warning covered Cuyahoga, northern Medina, northwestern Summit, and northeastern Lorain counties until 9:30 PM EDT.
Flash flooding was a major concern in southern Summit County, where Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms had already produced between 1.5 and 2 inches of rainfall by 8:54 PM EDT. The National Weather Service issued a flash flood warning until 11:45 PM EDT for the region.
Multiple Communities Under Threat
The severe weather system affected numerous communities across northeast Ohio. Areas under severe thunderstorm warnings included Cleveland, Parma, Lakewood, Cleveland Heights, Strongsville, Brunswick, Westlake, North Royalton, North Ridgeville, Avon Lake, Grafton, North Olmsted, Garfield Heights, Shaker Heights, Maple Heights, Avon, Parma Heights, Rocky River, Broadview Heights, and Brook Park.
A separate severe thunderstorm moved through Lake and Geauga counties, traveling east at 40 mph from the Cleveland area. This system threatened Painesville, Willowick, Chardon, Fairport Harbor, Euclid, Mentor, Willoughby, Eastlake, Madison, Perry, Timberlake, Lakeline, Chesterland, South Euclid, Mayfield Heights, East Cleveland, Lyndhurst, and Wickliffe.
Flash Flooding Affects Akron Area
The flash flooding warning specifically targeted southern Summit County communities, including Akron, Barberton, Green, New Franklin, Norton, Lakemore, and Portage Lakes. Weather officials reported that flash flooding was either ongoing or expected to begin shortly in small creeks, streams, urban areas, highways, streets, and underpasses.
“Additional rainfall amounts of 1 to 2 inches are possible in the warned area,” according to the National Weather Service flash flood warning issued at 8:54 PM EDT.
In Lorain County, a separate flood advisory remained in effect until 12:30 AM EDT Wednesday. Between 1 and 2 inches of rain had already fallen by 9:24 PM EDT, with an additional inch of rainfall expected. Communities facing minor flooding included Lorain, Elyria, Westlake, North Ridgeville, Avon Lake, Amherst, North Olmsted, Avon, Sheffield Lake, Sheffield, and South Amherst.
Wind Damage Expected
All severe thunderstorm warnings carried the threat of 60 mph wind gusts capable of downing trees and power lines. The storms also produced nickel-sized hail in some areas, particularly around Chardon and eastern communities.
The final severe thunderstorm warning of the evening was issued at 9:33 PM EDT for areas near Chardon, affecting Painesville, Fairport Harbor, Mentor, Willoughby, Eastlake, Madison, Perry, Timberlake, Chesterland, Mayfield Heights, Willoughby Hills, Mentor-On-The-Lake, Kirtland, Huntsburg, Mayfield, Claridon, Gates Mills, Montville, and North Perry.
All severe thunderstorm warnings expired by 9:45 PM EDT Tuesday, though flooding concerns persisted into early Wednesday morning across multiple counties in northeast Ohio.
