If it felt like the rain would never stop on Wednesday, the numbers back that up.
Central Ohio was hit with multiple rounds of heavy rain and thunderstorms on May 27, leading to flash flood warnings, flooded roadways, overwhelmed storm drains, and plenty of soaked basements across the region. By Wednesday afternoon, Columbus had already shattered a decades-old rainfall record.
ohn Glenn Columbus International Airport recorded 2.12 inches of rain by 1:51 p.m., blowing past the previous May 27 rainfall record of 1.44 inches set back in 1991.
The storms rolled through after an already soggy Memorial Day weekend, leaving the ground saturated before another round of intense rainfall arrived midweek. A flash flood warning was issued Wednesday afternoon for Franklin, Fairfield, and Licking counties after forecasters warned some areas could receive an additional 2.5 to 3 inches of rain in a short period of time.
For many Columbus residents, the flooding wasn’t just happening outside.
Social media quickly filled with photos and videos of water pooling in basements, overflowing gutters, flooded intersections, and yards turning into temporary ponds.
Some neighborhoods saw streets partially underwater as storm drains struggled to keep up with the volume of rain. Drivers across central Ohio reported standing water on highways, entrance ramps, and side streets throughout the day.
Even after the heaviest rain moved out of Franklin County Wednesday evening, flood advisories remained active across parts of central Ohio as creeks, drainage systems, and low-lying areas continued dealing with runoff.
The National Weather Service also warned that some of the storms could produce damaging winds across portions of central and southwest Ohio.
The good news is that Thursday’s forecast looks significantly calmer, giving central Ohio a chance to dry out after one of the wettest weather days the region has seen this spring.
Still, if your basement spent Wednesday impersonating a swimming pool, you’re definitely not alone.
