COLUMBUS, Ohio – Drivers from Dayton through Columbus should prepare for rapidly rising water Wednesday evening and overnight as repeated thunderstorms move across soil already saturated by recent rain.
According to the National Weather Service in Wilmington, a Flood Watch takes effect at 4 p.m. EDT Wednesday and continues through Thursday morning across 21 Ohio counties and Wayne, Fayette and Union counties in east-central Indiana. A complex of thunderstorms is expected to develop Wednesday afternoon before continuing overnight.
Columbus, Dayton, Springfield, Newark, Lancaster, Delaware, Marysville, Troy and Xenia are among the Ohio communities covered. Richmond and Connersville are included on the Indiana side.
Repeated rounds of heavy rain could produce excessive runoff into rivers, creeks and streams while flooding low-lying and flood-prone locations. Saturated soil increases the risk because additional rainfall may run off quickly instead of soaking into the ground.
The National Weather Service specifically urges people to avoid low-lying areas and use caution around highway dips and underpasses. Motorists should never attempt to cross a road covered by water and should seek an alternate route if flooding develops.
The greatest concern builds Wednesday evening and continues overnight into Thursday morning. Residents should keep weather alerts enabled because Flash Flood Warnings could be issued with little notice if storms repeatedly cross the same communities.
