PORT CLINTON — Eric Langermeier frolicked in the water that flooded the Fisherman’s Wharf in Port Clinton on Friday, after days of rain.
“I was trying to look like a creature from the Black Lagoon [1954 horror] movie coming out from the river,” Mr. Langermeier, 29, of Port Clinton, a captain at Fisherman’s Wharf, said.
Mr. Langermeier did it for a flood update video he then posted on the wharf’s website, he said.
Rising waters of the Portage River and Lake Erie flooded the pier and the surrounding areas in downtown Port Clinton, according to the city police.
“I had to close my salon for today because they have closed down North Madison Street for high water,” Roseann Hickman, owner of the Perfect Color Hair & Tan salon said. “I had sandbags on standby but fortunately I did not have to use them.”
Ms. Hickman said she expected the salon to be open for business today.
Northwest Ohio has been drenched with nearly 2.61 inches of rain the past few days, and there is a chance of more rain today, according to AccuWeather Inc., the private weather forecasting service based in State College, Pa.
Rain fell almost consistently for about 40 hours at Toledo Express Airport by Friday night, which is not unusual for this time of the year, Randy Adkins, a meteorologist for the weather service said.
“While this weather pattern we are in does not happen every May, it is not unusual to have it happen on any given year,” Mr. Adkins said.
Toledo spokesman Janet Schroeder said the city received 62 calls for water in the streets by midafternoon Friday and had responded to these by clearing outlets to restore normal water flow. Additionally, 35 people reported water in the basement, of which 29 were because of issues on private property, according to the city spokesman.
Crews were to remain in duty throughout Friday evening and today to respond to calls, she said.
Residents are asked to continue to monitor their streets and notify Engage Toledo at 419-936-2020 of any water in basements of street flood conditions.
Flood warnings remain in effect for essentially the entire northwest Ohio area, including the Portage River at Woodville, the Blanchard River near Findlay, the Maumee River at Waterville, and Eagle Creek above Findlay.
On Friday, the Maumee River was at 10.4 feet, and it is expected to rise above flood stage to 12.4 feet this evening, according to the National Weather Service. At 12 feet, flooding is typically reported in Side Cut Metropark, and at 13 feet, floodwaters can back up through storm drains onto Water Street in Waterville.
In Wood County, the Portage River at Woodville is expected rise to about 10 feet by this morning and fall below flood level by Sunday, the National Weather Service reported. At 9 feet, the river inundates the lower portions of Trail Marker Park.
Eagle Creek was just at flood stage Friday, according to the weather service. It was expected to recede Friday evening. The Blanchard River near Findlay is expected to crest near 11.8 feet by this morning, with the flood stage at 11 feet, according to the National Weather Service.
The city of Findlay will keep sandbags available at the city's employee parking lot at 224 W. Crawford St., according to a tweet by the mayor’s office.
Floodwaters can also back up through storm drains and onto roads, making them inaccessible.
Residents are reminded to never drive their vehicle through flooded roadways, as the water may be deeper than it appears.
AccuWeather predicts that Northwest Ohio and Southeast Michigan will have 50 to 60 percent of rainfall throughout the day today, with light rainfall amounts of less than .1 inch, and with northwesterly wind of up to 20 mph, and temperature highs between 55 and 58 degrees.
Temperature lows tonight are expected to drop to the near-freezing temperature of between 34 and 38 degrees, which is about 10 degrees lower than average for this time of the year, according to Mr. Adkins of AccuWeather.
Contact Mike Sigov at: sigov@theblade.com, 419-724-6089, or on Twitter @mikesigovblade.
First Published May 6, 2017, 4:00 a.m.
