COLUMBUS, Ohio – Respite from bitter cold, snow and ice only means worries about flooding in Ohio.
Central Ohio is under a Flash Flood Watch from 3:00 p.m. Thursday through late tonight as a warm front brings showers along the I-70 corridor which could bringing as much as an inch of rain to areas where snow has been melting rapidly.
The area is also under a slight risk of severe weather, according to the National Weather Service Storm Prediction Center (see below).
Rainwater will not be absorbed by the hard, frozen surface of the ground, so it will run off into lakes, streams and rivers, causing them to swell out of their banks, said Mark Bruce, of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources communications office.
Another concern of emergency officials is the presence of “ice dams” on many rivers and streams. Ice dams are created when frozen water forms a blockage consisting of several small chunks of ice — a “breakup” — or a more solid appearing dam called a “freezeup,” Bruce says. Flooding occurs upstream from the jam and a rapid thaw may trigger a sudden break, releasing both ice and water, Bruce said.
“Prolonged periods of subfreezing temperatures have caused the creation of many ice jams throughout the state. Minor flooding has already occurred in some areas, particularly in northern Ohio,” said Christopher Thoms, Ohio Department of Natural Resources’ Floodplain Management program manager.
Bruce says minor flooding has already occurred on the Scioto, Olentangy, Maumee, Rocky, Chagrin, Grand, Muskingum and Tuscarawas rivers.
Bruce says landowners near a water source should take the following precautions:
Monitor ice conditions and water levels.
Secure any structures and materials located in high-risk areas.
Create a plan to leave high-risk areas in case of emergency.
Avoid ice jams; do not walk or drive on or below the affected areas.
Some communities attempt to weaken jams, but Bruce says that “should be left to professionals.”
The National Weather Service estimates that ice jams and the flooding they cause are responsible for about $125 million in damage across the country each year.
Another flood watch will be in effect from Thursday afternoon through Friday morning Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lucas and Ottawa counties.
The weather service’s Wilmington office has issued no flood watches for southern Ohio but meteorologist Andy Latto warns there could be some heavy rain with a chance of flooding.
While damage caused by rain, hail, lightning and tornadoes are generally covered by standard insurance policies and an auto insurance policy’s comprehensive coverage, flood insurance is not, but is available through the federal National Flood Insurance Program, Ohio Insurance Director and Lt. Gov. Mary Taylor said.