PHOTOS PROVIDED / THE VILLAGE REPORTER
FLOODED … Floodwater covers the parking lot of the Dollar General in Fayette following heavy rainfall that moved through Northwest Ohio overnight March 10 into March 11.
FELL … A large pine tree rests on top of a home in Fayette after strong winds moved through the area on Friday, March 13.
SNAPPED … Utility lines lie snapped near Edgerton after powerful wind gusts caused damage across parts of Williams County.
DOWN … A tree lies on the ground in Delta after high winds swept through Northwest Ohio, bringing down trees and power lines across the region.
By: Jacob Kessler
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
jacob@thevillagereporter.com
Northwest Ohio experienced a stretch of severe weather during the week of March 10, as heavy rainfall caused localized flooding before powerful winds moved through the region days later, bringing down trees and power lines.
Rain began late Tuesday night, March 10, and continued into Wednesday morning, with some precipitation lingering into Thursday.
According to the National Weather Service office in Northern Indiana, rainfall totals from March 10 through March 12 ranged from about 1.85 inches to more than 3 inches across parts of Northwest Ohio. The highest total recorded locally was 3.06 inches in Alvordton.
Archbold received 2.42 inches, Swanton recorded 2.05 inches, Delta measured 1.85 inches, and Bryan reported 1.55 inches.
Meteorologist Michael Skipper with the National Weather Service in Angola said the rainfall event was notable for how consistent it was across the region.
“Heavy precipitation was focused south of the Michigan border,” Skipper said. “Usually events like this are spotty, but this one was fairly consistent.”
Skipper also explained the rainfall totals from March 10 through March 12 were among the highest seen in the Angola coverage area in more than a century, noting that a comparable three-day event has only occurred twice in the past 130 years, with the last one recorded in March of 1939.
Fulton County Emergency Management Agency Director Becky Goble said several areas experienced flooding, particularly around Fayette. “The Fayette area and parts of the county saw quite a bit of flooding, mainly in the usual spots,” Goble said.
Other areas saw minor impacts, including flooding in fields near Wauseon High School and a flooded parking lot at the Dollar General in Fayette.
Williams County EMA Director Heather Mercer said her county also saw flooded roads and some flooded basements, though damage reports remained limited. Just days later, strong winds moved through the area on Friday, March 13, causing widespread issues across both counties.
Wind gusts topped 60 miles per hour in Wauseon and exceeded 42 miles per hour in Bryan, while stronger gusts of up to 77 miles per hour were reported near Van Wert.
Skipper described the wind event as unusually widespread. “I’ve been here for 25 years, and this was one of the biggest widespread wind events I’ve seen,” Skipper said.
Across Fulton County, Goble said there were numerous reports of downed trees and power lines. In Fayette, a large pine tree fell onto a home, while four utility poles were knocked down at the Fairlawn complex in Archbold, temporarily cutting power to the complex.
Williams County also saw several downed trees and poles, including a large tree that fell in the 300 block of West Curtice Street in Stryker.
Goble and Mercer both said crews across the region worked throughout the storm to clear roads, restore power, and respond to calls for assistance.