A warm front over central Ohio on the morning of Saturday March 28, 2020 was the focus for several rounds of elevated thunderstorms through the early afternoon hours. The main area for these thunderstorms were the US 30 and I-76 corridors through the morning and early afternoon hours as storms remained parallel to the warm front and moved with the 850 mb jet. These storms well utilized the steep mid-level lapse rates and hail in excess of 2 inches fell over portions of Medina, Summit, and Portage Counties. These storms began to train along this I-76 corridor and most of these areas received 1 to 2 inches of rain by the afternoon of the 28th, resulting in some minor flooding.
Convection that developed across the Mississippi Valley grew downstream and made its way east across the area between 11pm Saturday and 4am Sunday. A warm/stationary west-east oriented front stayed south of Lake Erie, which allowed additional convection to develop downstream from the line of aforementioned thunderstorms. Despite the very fast moving storms, a moist atmosphere, persistent moisture advection with a strong low level jet, and training convection with efficient rainfall allowed for a wide area of minor flooding from Hancock County to Crawford, PA County where 1-2��� of rain was observed. The hardest hit area was Cuyahoga County where Big Creek and Cuyahoga River went into major flood stage and there were numerous reports of flash flooding.

Flash Flood in CUYAHOGA, OHIO
From 29-MAR-20 02:00:00 to 29-MAR-20 06:00:00 (EST-5)
Location: SHORT LINE JCT
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 10.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Significant flash flooding on the Big Creek. Roads and businesses were flooded including Tiedeman and Brookpark.
USGS 412624081450700 East Branch Big Creek at Brooklyn reached a stage of 10.77 feet and flow of 3,120 cfs at 425 AM.
USGS 04208502 Big Creek at Cleveland at 530 AM reached a stage of 12.03 feet with a flow of 5,240 cfs. At that stage flooding occurs in the Cleveland Zoo. This is approximately the flow of a 10 year flood.

Flash Flood in CUYAHOGA, OHIO
From 29-MAR-20 02:00:00 to 29-MAR-20 06:00:00 (EST-5)
Location: MAPLE HGTS
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 1.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Fire Department/Rescue

Several blocks around 160th Street and Miles Ave flooded due to flash flooding.

Flash Flood in CUYAHOGA, OHIO
From 29-MAR-20 02:47:00 to 29-MAR-20 06:00:00 (EST-5)
Location: GARFIELD HGTS
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Significant flooding occurred on the Mill Creek in eastern Cuyahoga County. The USGS gage 04208460 Mill Creek at Garfield Heights reported the highest flow and stage of record (2001- present day ) at 8.47 feet and a flow of 4,750cfs at 310 AM. Public safety officials reported significant flooding with flooded roads and cars stranded in Garfield Heights.

Flash Flood in CUYAHOGA, OHIO
From 29-MAR-20 04:00:00 to 29-MAR-20 05:00:00 (EST-5)
Location: CHAGRIN FALLS
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Chagrin Falls police department recorded fast flowing water several feet deep rushing down neighborhood streets.

Flash Flood in LAKE, OHIO
From 29-MAR-20 05:24:00 to 29-MAR-20 07:30:00 (EST-5)
Location: MENTOR
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 20.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Department of Highways

A portion of Interstate 90, a main throughway, was closed between State Route 306 and State Route 615 due to flooding. Several disabled semi trucks that stalled in high water.

Flash Flood in CUYAHOGA, OHIO
From 29-MAR-20 04:00:00 to 29-MAR-20 06:30:00 (EST-5)
Location: UNIVERSITY HGTS
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Flash flooding occurred around University Circle on the morning of the 29th. Backwater from Doan Brook along the MLK Parkway caused flooding in University Circle, mainly from combined sewer overflows. A water rescue was needed for a resident in a basement apartment. The creek reached a 10 year flood at 9 feet and 4,690 cfs around 530 AM on the 29th.

Flood in KNOX, OHIO
From 28-MAR-20 20:55:00 to 28-MAR-20 23:00:00 (EST-5)
Location: MARTINSBURG
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Numerous local road closures across Knox County due to flooding.

Flash Flood in CUYAHOGA, OHIO
From 29-MAR-20 03:30:00 to 29-MAR-20 06:00:00 (EST-5)
Location: BEDFORD
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Local Official

At the USGS Tinkers Creek gage at Bedford, Ohio (No. 04207200), on March 29th the Creek crested at 530 am with a stage of 8.44 feet and a flow of 4690 cfs as a 10-year flood, which put it just below the flood of February 28, 2011. Backwater from the Cuyahoga River exasperated flooding near the confluence near Valley View.

Flash Flood in CUYAHOGA, OHIO
From 29-MAR-20 01:35:00 to 29-MAR-20 03:30:00 (EST-5)
Location: BROOKLYN HGTS
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 60.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Local Official

West Creek runs from Parma to Brooklyn Heights. The USGS 412453081395500 West Creek at Brooklyn Heights near the confluence of the Cuyahoga River crested at 235 AM at a stage of 7.23 feet and a flow of 2,390 cfs comparable to the flood of May 12, 2014, or between a 50 and 100-year flood. Widespread street flooding along with basement flooding was reported.

Flash Flood in CUYAHOGA, OHIO
From 29-MAR-20 01:44:00 to 29-MAR-20 06:00:00 (EST-5)
Location: PARMA HGTS
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 20.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Multiple reports of flash flooding and water entering into basements across Parma from urban flooding and the Big Creek. The city of Parma ordered a do not travel advisory due to widespread flooding of roadways and a compromised bridge over the Big Creek. The Big Creek flooded portions of the Cleveland Zoo, which was closed at the time. Conditions noted which compound flood problems include restrictions generally by older bridges.

USGS 412624081450700 East Branch Big Creek at Brooklyn reached a stage of 10.77 feet and flow of 3,120 cfs at 425 AM.
USGS 04208502 Big Creek at Cleveland at 530 AM reached a stage of 12.03 feet with a flow of 5,240 cfs. At that stage flooding occurs in the Cleveland Zoo. This is approximately the flow of a 10 year flood.

Flash Flood in CUYAHOGA, OHIO
From 29-MAR-20 02:15:00 to 29-MAR-20 06:00:00 (EST-5)
Location: SOUTH PARK
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 60.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Fire Department/Rescue

The Cuyahoga River reached the seventh-highest level in recorded history. Most of the properties impacted were businesses along the ���Flats��� portion of the Cuyahoga River in Cleveland, most of which were vacant on a Sunday morning and the result of statewide stay at home orders. Some homes were flooded in Valley View and Independence areas, mainly basement and garage flooding. The Cuyahoga Valley National Park was inundated along the canal system, railroad station, and widespread flooding of nature trails and access roads near the river.
The USGS 04208000 Cuyahoga River at Independence reached its 7th highest crest/flow on record since 1922. The peak occurred at 930 AM with a stage of 21.62 feet and a flow of 14,700 cfs. The estimated return period is a 10- year event.
The USGS gage 04208504 Cuyahoga River near Newburgh Heights is downstream of the official forecast point at Independence and closer to the industrial portion of Cuyahoga County. The gage reached a stage of 74.3 feet at 6 PM on the 29th. This stage is above the rating curve so no flow data is available.