Upper Arlington residents still clearing downed trees and waiting for power face another round of severe weather: a flooding threat Aug. 14, and a Level 2 storm system Saturday afternoon that could bring gusty winds and an isolated tornado.
Central Ohio is under a Level 2 out of 5 risk for severe storms Aug. 15, according to WSYX meteorologist Andrew Buck Michael. Most of Saturday will be dry and partly cloudy before storms push into Ohio later in the day or evening. The forecast high is 87°F.
"We are under a Level 2 out of 5 risk for severe storms Saturday, with gusty winds being the main concern and an isolated tornado also possible," Buck Michael wrote Aug. 14. "Make sure you stay weather aware and have a way of being notified if a warning is issued for your location."
The storm system is expected to develop in Iowa early Saturday and move toward Ohio during the second half of the day. Timing remains uncertain.
Aug. 16 carries a Level 1 risk with scattered storms and a high near 90°F.
Friday flooding risk
Heavy rain Aug. 14 brings flooding potential, followed by spotty afternoon showers. The forecast high is 82°F. Residents should avoid driving through standing water, particularly in areas where storm debris may be blocking drainage.
Recovery still underway
The new threat arrives as the community digs out from the Tuesday, Aug. 11 derecho. The National Weather Service confirmed Aug. 13 that the damage across Upper Arlington was caused by straight-line winds estimated at 90–100 mph, not a tornado. A separate EF1 tornado struck south Columbus from the same storm system, according to the NWS preliminary survey.
The worst tree damage was concentrated just east of Upper Arlington High School along Mount Holyoke Road, Wellesley Drive, Halstead Road, Pickwick Drive and N Star Road, the NWS report stated. A city spokesperson told NBC4 that 75 homes sustained tree damage, and fire and police departments received about 225 calls for service.
As of Thursday, Aug. 13, roughly 30,000 Franklin County residents remained without power. AEP, which deployed around 3,700 crew members, said restoration could take as long as Friday, with hospitals and urgent-care facilities prioritized first, NBC4 reported.
"The city was out here right away, and AEP has been here fast, and it's been pretty awesome," Upper Arlington resident Michael Shonk told ABC6 on Aug. 11, as crews cleared Wellesley Drive near the high school. "So to get this cleared up as fast as they did was pretty remarkable."
Resources and what's next
The city's storm response page lists these cooling and charging centers through Aug. 14:
- Bob Crane Community Center, 3200 Tremont Road: 5:30 a.m.–10 p.m.
- Hastings and Jones middle school cafeterias: 8:30 a.m.–4 p.m.
- Upper Arlington Public Library branches: 10 a.m.–6 p.m.
- Northwest United Methodist Church, 5200 Riverside Drive: 9 a.m.–noon
- The Wellington School, 3650 Reed Road: 8 a.m.–3:30 p.m.
The Upper Arlington Community Foundation's Good Neighbor Fund is available for residents needing financial help. SNAP participants who lost food to power outages may qualify for spoiled-food reimbursement.
The city's curbside chipping program begins Aug. 17. Residents must have storm-related branches (no more than 10 inches in diameter, 12 feet long) at the curb by Monday morning. Crews will make one pass through the community. Upper Arlington Schools also start Monday after delaying the school year due to storm damage.
Residents can report non-emergency issues such as tree damage blocking roadways at 614-459-2800. The city has not yet issued a specific advisory about Saturday's storm; as we reported Wednesday, residents should monitor the city's alert page for updates.
