Heavy overnight rain triggered a flood warning for southern Delaware County on Aug. 20 sending families navigating the first day of Olentangy Local School District classes into a waterlogged morning commute.
The National Weather Service Wilmington office issued the flood warning for southern Delaware County, replacing an earlier flood advisory. That warning expired at 7:15 a.m., but a subsequent alert for south-central Delaware County extended through 1:30 p.m., according to NWS alerts compiled by Forth News.
Rainfall of 1.5 to 3 inches had already fallen across central Ohio, including Delaware County, by early Thursday morning, with the broader region potentially seeing totals exceeding four inches, NBC4 reported.
Olentangy schools opened on schedule
Thursday marked the first day of school for all K-12 students in the Olentangy Local School District, according to the district's posted calendar. The district did not appear on NBC4's list of closings and delays for Aug. 20, as we reported Tuesday when the district finalized its e-bike and scooter rules ahead of Thursday's start.
Nearby Genoa Christian Academy in Delaware County announced a two-hour delay, while Westerville City Schools also delayed by two hours. Gahanna-Jefferson and Reynoldsburg schools closed entirely.
Regional flooding prompted rescues, road closures
The storm's worst impacts landed in Franklin County. Columbus police closed Interstate 71 between I-70 and I-270 due to high water. Emergency crews responded to water rescue incidents near downtown Columbus, North Linden, Grove City and Gahanna. The Ohio Department of Transportation tracked up to nine traffic incidents in Franklin County alone.
The Scioto River rose from 22.1 feet early Thursday to an expected crest of 24.2 feet, surpassing the 24.0-foot flood stage. Columbus activated the Franklinton floodwall and installed floodgates on Greenlawn Avenue and Harmon Avenue.
A separate flash flood emergency covered Franklin, Fairfield and Licking counties from approximately 4:45 a.m. until 8 p.m.
Safety guidance
The NWS urged drivers to turn around at flooded roads. Most flood deaths occur in vehicles.
ODOT advised motorists not to drive through standing water. Residents can report flooding to the NWS Wilmington office at weather.gov/iln.
