CLEVELAND – A severe storm front hit northeast Ohio on Thursday evening, flooding parts of Geauga, Portage and Summit counties. Two days earlier, heavy rains and winds swept through the region, leaving hundreds of thousands of residents without power.
The National Weather Service reported that more than 120 millimeters of rain fell in several communities within two to four hours, including 171 millimeters in Hudson.
The weather service issued a flash flood warning after the storms made landfall late Thursday. Drivers were stranded in Cuyahoga Falls as rainwater engulfed cars and trucks, WKYC reported. Residents in Hudson faced a similar fate as raging waters gushed down streets.
The storms also flooded three lanes of the eastbound Ohio Turnpike in Summit County. At the Blossom Music Center, John Legend and the Cleveland Orchestra had to stop early because of rain and lightning.
The station reported that parts of West Akron as well as Barberton, Solon, Twinsburg, Streetsboro, South Russell, Aurora and Bainbridge suffered from standing water.
Parts of Medina, Holmes and Wayne counties were also hit by heavy rains.
In addition to the 6.98 inches in Hudson, the weather service reported, 5.62 inches fell in Wooster, 5.25 inches in Reminderville, 4.86 inches in Cuyahoga Falls and 4.65 inches in Aurora. Several other communities, such as Twinsburg and Fairlawn, saw 2 inches or more fall.
The heavy rain stopped around midnight.
Thursday night’s storms added to the damage caused by Tuesday’s strong winds and heavy rain. Up to four tornadoes ripped through the region, and winds of up to 140 km/h tore down trees, knocked down power lines and destroyed roofs. Days later, more than 200,000 residents are still without power.
By 11 a.m. Friday, the flooding had largely subsided and parts of the region were sunny again. The weather service reported that the next chance of rain is expected on Sunday.
The storms have moved east and appear to be approaching central Pennsylvania, according to the weather service.
