Major flooding expected in Findlay

The Blanchard River at Findlay is expected to crest at 15.5 feet this afternoon, a foot above major flood stage. Flood stage is 12 feet. Major flood stage is 14.5 feet. A crest of 15.5 feet would make it the 10th worst flood in the city's history, breaking a record of 15.42 feet set on June 2, 1997. The National Weather Service office in Cleveland issued the flood warning at noon Thursday, calling for major flooding of the river. A flood warning is issued to inform the public that flooding is imminent and to take action. Moderate flooding had been predicted on Wednesday. At 15.5 feet, the flooding will reach downtown Findlay, and several streets near the center of the city will be closed due to high water, according to the weather service. The combination of heavy rainfall and extensive snowmelt has caused significant rises in area streams and rivers, according to the weather service. This week's rapid warmup may also cause ice jams and additional flooding of local waterways. The forecast showed the river climbing above flood stage overnight Thursday. It is expected to drop below flood stage early Saturday morning. At 4 p.m. Thursday, the Blanchard River at Findlay was measured at 8.28 feet, up about 6 feet since 8 p.m. Wednesday. According to the weather service, inundation of city streets is expected to occur as follows: • At 9 feet, the river is elevated and will begin coming out of banks in a few low-lying locations. Howard Street will be flooded at Broad Avenue. • At 10 feet, South River Road will flood from Broad Avenue to Stanford Parkway. County Road 140, west of Findlay, will be inundated. • At 11 feet, minor flooding can also be expected near Country Club Drive. • At 12 feet, flooding will impact areas near Riverside Park and East Main Cross Street. Flooding can also be expected on County Road 223 and portions of Howard Street. Water will approach some properties on Liberty Street and Apple Alley. • At 13 feet, North Cory Street will be flooded from Washington to High Street, including Meeks and Seneca avenues. Roads south of Clinton Court will be flooded between South Blanchard Street and McManness Avenue. East Main Cross Street, from Marcelle Avenue to Bright Road, will also flood. County Road 236, near the Little Red Schoolhouse, to County Road 568 will also be inundated. • At 13.5 feet, flooding will impact River Street and Apple Alley on the west side of Findlay, Blanchard Street between Sandusky and Main Cross streets, and several streets south of Clinton Court near Riverside Park. • At 14 feet, floodwaters will approach Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway, from Clinton Court to Blanchard Street. Backwater may also cause flooding problems from both Lye and Eagle creeks. • At 15 feet, West Main Cross Street will be flooded and detours will be likely around downtown Findlay. East Main Cross Street will be impassable. Flood water will extend farther north of the river on Blanchard Street to Center Street. Defiance Avenue through County Road 223 will be impacted, including the Walmart property at 1161 Trenton Ave. • At 15.5 feet, several businesses will be impacted downtown, with many roads near the river closed. County Road 236 to Ohio 568 will be inundated. The following streets are likely to be flooded: Main Cross Street, from Western Avenue to Eagle Township Road 180; Broad Avenue; streets along Eagle Creek, from Central Avenue to Rockside Road; and streets along Lye Creek, from Wedgewood Drive to Strong Avenue. A storm system which tracked out of the Ohio Valley late Wednesday night brought rainfall across northern Ohio into northwest Pennsylvania on Thursday. The rain transitioned to snow Thursday evening, with ice accumulation affecting the evening commute, according to the weather service. The combination of heavy rainfall is causing significant rises in area streams and rivers. The weather service also issued a flood warning for Eagle Creek, above Findlay. The creek was expected to drop back below flood stage during the overnight hours. Hancock County was placed under a Level 1 road advisory on Thursday evening. Seneca, Putnam and Wood counties were also under Level 1 advisories. It was heavy rain and quick thaw of the snowpack that led to the worst flood in Findlay's history, when the Blanchard River hit a record-high flood level of 18.5 feet on March 25, 1913. Ice jams on the river were blamed for making the flooding much worse. The 1913 flood barely topped the flood of Aug. 22, 2007, which was measured at 18.46 feet. That flood was caused by very heavy rain attributed to the remnants of a hurricane. In March 2021, the weather service raised flood stages for the Blanchard River at Findlay. Minor flood stage was raised from 11 feet to 12 feet. Moderate flood stage was raised from 12 feet to 13.5 feet, and major flood stage was raised from 13.5 feet to 14.5 feet. The changes were made due to mitigation efforts already in place in the city. Grant: 419-427-8412