Flash flood warning issued for Sandusky, Ottawa counties

5/27/2009

A line of storms moving through northwest Ohio is dumping up to two inches of rain an hour, according to the National Weather Service which has issued severe thunderstorm warnings for several area counties, including Wood, Ottawa, Seneca, and Sandusky.

The storms could produce damaging winds of more than 60 miles per hour and penny-sized hail. Residents in the warning areas should seek shelter inside and stay away from windows.

A flash flood warning has been issued for northern Sandusky County and southeastern Ottawa County until 8:30 p.m. Wednesday.

Radar Wednesday afternoon indicated slow-moving thunderstorms with heavy rainfall across the warning areas, and the radar indicated up to three inches of rain has soaked the area during a two-hour period.

Runoff from the heavy rainfall will cause flash flooding, and street flooding has been reported in Port Clinton and in eastern Ottawa County, according to the National Weather Service.

Other areas where strong storms are predicted until 4 p.m. include North Baltimore, Jerry City, Gibsonburg, and Woodville Weather observers reported rainfall of at least two inches an hour just north of Fremont.