OHIO — The National Weather Service has issued a Flood Watch for a large portion of Ohio beginning late Tuesday night and continuing through Wednesday night as multiple rounds of heavy rain and thunderstorms move across the state.
Forecasters warned that excessive rainfall could lead to flash flooding, especially in low-lying and flood-prone areas. Rivers, creeks and streams could rise quickly as storms repeatedly move over the same locations.
The watch includes much of central, southern and western Ohio, including Franklin, Hamilton, Montgomery, Butler, Warren, Clermont, Greene, Clark, Miami, Delaware, Ross, Scioto, Pike, Fairfield, Pickaway and Licking counties, among many others.
In southeast Ohio, counties under the watch include Athens, Gallia, Jackson, Lawrence, Meigs, Morgan, Perry, Vinton and Washington counties. Parts of eastern Ohio, including Belmont, Guernsey, Monroe, Muskingum and Noble counties, are also included.
The National Weather Service office in Wilmington said widespread rainfall totals of around 1 inch are expected, with isolated areas potentially seeing 2 to 3 inches of rain. Additional watches issued by the Charleston and Pittsburgh forecast offices cited already saturated ground conditions as a concern for rapid runoff and flash flooding.
Officials said the threat will increase overnight into Wednesday as a warm front lifts north through the Ohio Valley, bringing repeated rounds of showers and thunderstorms.
Residents living in flood-prone areas are urged to closely monitor forecasts and be prepared to act if flood warnings are issued.
