Unseasonably cool air associated with a strong upper level low over the Great Lakes region combined with warm Lake Erie waters to produce persistent, intense lake-enhanced rainfall which trained repeatedly over northern Erie County, Pennsylvania during the early morning hours of the 30th.  Over 4 inches of rain fell along the Interstate 90 corridor from near Girard to just south of Erie, with isolated locations approaching 7 inches of rain.

Flood in ERIE, PENNSYLVANIA
From 30-JUN-09 04:44:00 to 30-JUN-09 08:30:00 (EST-5)
Location: AVONIA
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 500.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Showers formed over Erie County between 4 and 5 am local daylight time, bringing two to locally three inches of rain through 7am across the Interstate 90 corridor in northern Erie County.  As the morning progressed, more and more roadways slowly became impassable, with closures reported at Higler Road, Avoinia Road (Fairview), Gunnison Road (Greene Twp), and at Interchange Road between I-79 and US-19.  Debris began to accumulate in many creekbeds due to the high water.  Rainfall rates slackened between 7am and 9am, allowing water levels to start a slow recession.

Flash Flood in ERIE, PENNSYLVANIA
From 30-JUN-09 08:30:00 to 30-JUN-09 14:30:00 (EST-5)
Location: GODDARD
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 6.25M
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

The ongoing, persistent line of lake-enhanced showers re-intensified around 9am local daylight time and shifted north of Interstate 90, inducing rapid rises along Mill Creek in the City of Erie as well as in many neighborhoods on the south side of town.  Especially hard hit were areas in Belle Valley along Mill Creek, which quickly rose out of its banks, flooding roadways and over 50 homes near East Gore Road.  The Belle Valley Fire Station, located at Norcross Road and State Route 8, flooded to a depth of 6 feet within minutes around 9:30am as Mill Creek rose out of its banks.  800 feet of Henderson Road was washed out just upstream from Belle Valley, while downstream, high water from Mill Creek flooded the Erie Zoo and Glenwood Park Avenue.  Flooding was widespread in residential areas between Interstate 79 and Mill Creek, as storm sewers were overwhelmed by the additional heavy rainfall.  Emergency personnel responded to well over 50 calls for rescue assistance from stranded motorists and homeowners.  At 10:30am, City of Erie authorities requested that non-essential travel stop due to the widespread flooding.

Flash Flood in ERIE, PENNSYLVANIA
From 30-JUN-09 09:30:00 to 30-JUN-09 14:30:00 (EST-5)
Location: GODDARD
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 1.00M
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

The ongoing, persistent line of lake-enhanced showers re-intensified around 9am local daylight time and shifted north of Interstate 90, inducing rapid rises along Fourmile Creek in Wesleyville, Harborcreek Township, and Lawrence Park.  Residences along Mindi Court in the Spring Creek Mobile Home Park were flooded as Fourmile Creek rose 4 to 5 feet out of bank.  Fourmile Creek also flooded East Lake Road (State Route 5) in Lawrence Park.

Flash Flood in ERIE, PENNSYLVANIA
From 30-JUN-09 09:30:00 to 30-JUN-09 14:30:00 (EST-5)
Location: MIDDLEBORO ARPT
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 1.50M
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Newspaper

The persistent line of lake-enhanced showers causing flooding in Erie increased in intensity westward toward Girard after 9am local daylight time, with two to four inches of rain falling in less than two hours.  Earlier rains had fallen over the headwaters of Elk Creek, creating a high water crest that reached Fairview and Girard Townships just as the additional heavy rainfall struck.   Several roads along Elk Creek were flooded, including North Creek Road near Girard, where water levels were the highest seen in over 20 years.  In Fairview Township, floodwaters from Walnut Creek rendered US Highway 20 impassable, while Trout Run inundated areas along Maple Street just north of Main Street.