A surge of warm air with high moisture content moved into the region during the early morning hours of the 12th. Moderate to heavy rain showers developed over north central Ohio extending into northwest Pennsylvania with several locations receiving over an inch of rainfall. This first round of heavy rain waned by late morning, with light to moderate rainfall persisting through midday as temperatures climbed into the mid 60s. A secondary line of heavier rain, with isolated thunder and strong winds, developed early afternoon. This second line of showers produced around another inch to an inch and half of rain as it moved east.
The combination of two round of moderate to heavy rainfall and saturated to partially frozen top soils resulted in rapid runoff. Rivers across the region rose quickly following the first round of rainfall, but it was the contribution of the second round of rainfall that resulted in some rivers reaching moderate to major flood stages. Widespread flooding away from the mainstem rivers was common, though the damage to property was limited to basements and road closures in most instances. The flooding was limited to areas where rainfall totals exceeded 1.50���, with the hardest hit areas in Stark and Portage Counties in Ohio and Erie and Crawford Counties in Pennsylvania. Temperatures dropped during the evening of the 12th into the 30s and runoff gradually diminished.  Rivers flooded portions of the Scioto, Mohican, Muskingum, Black, Cuyahoga, Mahoning River Basins as well as the French Creek in Pennsylvania.

Flood in TRUMBULL, OHIO
From 12-JAN-17 11:00:00 to 12-JAN-17 15:00:00 (EST-5)
Location: NILES
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Broadcast Media

Heavy rainfall with estimates around 2 inches fell across the upper Mahoning River Basin on January 12th. Flooding across Trumbull County produced damages to MetroParks in Braceville and Warren Townships. Numerous local roads were closed due to flooding.
Road Closures.
Roads in Warren City and Township, Farmington, Lordstown, Weathersfield, Southington, Hubbard City and Township, Johnston, Brookfield, Vienna and Champion, were reported flooded.
Addison Road, between Route 82 and Route 62 in Brookfield
State Route 87 between State Route 543 and State Route 45
Pine Avenue SE in Warren
Several roads near Eagle Creek Road, including a portion of Barclay-Messerly, Nelson Mosier Road, and Braceville-Robinson Road
Route 45, just north of Calla Road in Beaver Township
Western Reserve Road, between Youngstown-Salem Road and Knauf Road in Canfield
The Salt Springs Road exit off of Interstate 680 northbound
The Mahoning River was elevated with flooding reported at the Eagle Creek at Braceville (Phalanx Station) which crested at 12.9'. Leavittsburg and Warren reached moderate flood stages.

Flood in STARK, OHIO
From 12-JAN-17 19:00:00 to 13-JAN-17 03:00:00 (EST-5)
Location: CANTON
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 500.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Heavy rainfall averaging 1.5-2.84 across the Nimishillen Creek basin resulted in major flooding in the Canton and Perry township areas. In all six homes were inundated displacing families. The river rose quickly along with it's tributaries the East, West, and Middle Branches during the afternoon on the 12th. Water quickly surrounded apartment buildings in a low-lying area at the Gazebo Garden Apartments on Constitution Avenue in Louisville. About a dozen families were evacuated. The city parks in Canton were closed. In Perry Township two houses were surrounded by water off of Navarre Road SW. In Canton twenty families were evacuated from a mobile home park off Cleveland Avenue. The flood levels reached in this event were comparable with one in 2004 and 2011, yet due primarily to mitigation efforts the impacts were significantly less.

Flood in RICHLAND, OHIO
From 12-JAN-17 09:30:00 to 12-JAN-17 16:00:00 (EST-5)
Location: SHELBY ARPT
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 25.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Fire Department/Rescue

Numerous roads were flooded across Richland County as 1.75 of rain fell between Wednesday Night the 11th and Thursday the 12th. The ground was partially frozen, especially in the higher terrain, which added to the rapid runoff and enhanced the subsequent flooding. The fire station in Shelby was evacuated as the Black Fork waters rose. The primary flooding from the Black Fork was downstream as roads were cut off including St Route 13 near Olivesburg. Numerous roads were closed including the Park Avenue East subway area in Mansfield. Home Road was closed at Deer Park, and Trimble and Marion roads were closed, as well as Champion Road on the county's north end between Hazelbrush and London roads. Ontario police reported road closings including Ohio 309 at Ohio 314 near Cole Tool & Die, Park Avenue West by the subway and cemetery. The Ohio Highway Patrol said Ohio 314 in the area of Flowers Road was flooded. By late afternoon, the water began receding.
River Gauge Crests:
Black Fork-Shelby 13.68', Melco 12.65'
Clear Fork-Lexington 9.11', Bellville 8.98'
Mohican River-Loudonville reached 10.01'.

Flood in CUYAHOGA, OHIO
From 12-JAN-17 18:00:00 to 13-JAN-17 13:00:00 (EST-5)
Location: ALEXANDERS
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Park/Forest Service

The Cuyahoga River just touched major flood stage of 18.5 feet at the Independence River during the evening hours of the 12th. Heavy rainfall of an inch to an inch and half fell over the Tinkers Creek and lower Cuyahoga River basin on the morning of the 12th. The lingering snowpack was minimal due to temperatures in the 50s the day before. However, the ground conditions were saturated and estimated to be partially frozen 2 deep. The main impact was to the Valley View area where there were numerous road closures. In past floods a stage of 18.5 feet would result in homes being cut off and some properties inundated. Due to flood mitigation work, the addition of an emergency access road, and variations from this event compared to past flood events in rainfall intensity resulted in no reports of property damage.

Flood in CRAWFORD, OHIO
From 12-JAN-17 11:30:00 to 12-JAN-17 16:00:00 (EST-5)
Location: SPORE
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 1.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

The Upper Sandusky River headwaters in Bucyrus Ohio received between an inch and a half and an inch and three quarters of an inch of rainfall on the 12th. Low lying roads flooded across Crawford County with one man's car in Marmon having to be pushed out of flood waters. In Galion the water was up to the buildings' doors on 7th Street. The river gauge in Bucyrus reached 8.33' resulting in Lane and River Streets flooding.

Flood in PORTAGE, OHIO
From 12-JAN-17 09:30:00 to 12-JAN-17 14:30:00 (EST-5)
Location: MANTUA CORNERS
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 5.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Numerous road closures occurred across Portage County after around 2 inches of rainfall fell on January 12th. This rainfall, on top of partially frozen ground cover, caused widespread flooding. The hardest hit communities were Mantua, Shalersville, Garrettsville, Palmyra, Nelson, Suffield, and Deerfield. Flooding in Streetsboro cut off about 24 apartments. There was one washed out road, Coit Rd. in Shalersville Township.