Zanesville, OH – A multi-day flood watch is set to impact much of eastern Ohio as heavy rain threatens to push rivers and streams beyond their banks starting Wednesday evening.
According to the National Weather Service in Pittsburgh, a Flood Watch will be in effect from 8 p.m. Wednesday through 8 a.m. Sunday for nine Ohio counties: Belmont, Carroll, Coshocton, Guernsey, Harrison, Monroe, Muskingum, Noble, and Tuscarawas. Cities included in the alert area are Zanesville, Coshocton, Cambridge, Dover, and St. Clairsville.
Forecasters say several rounds of showers and thunderstorms are expected to bring excessive rainfall, significantly increasing the risk of flooding in flood-prone zones, creeks, and low-lying areas. Water levels in smaller rivers and tributaries may rise rapidly with each new wave of storms.
Residents are urged to monitor local weather updates and prepare for potential evacuation orders. Move valuables from basements, avoid driving through high water, and have a safety plan in place. Local officials may issue additional warnings as conditions develop.
This alert comes during a season when saturated soils and persistent rain make flash flooding more likely. Residents in affected areas should remain alert through the weekend.
