Flood of June 14-15, 1990, in Belmont, Jefferson, and Harrison counties, Ohio, with emphasis on Pipe and Wegee Creek basins near Shadyside

A series of violent thunderstorms caused severe floods and consequent damage in the central part of Ohio during June 14-15, 1990. The eastern part of the State, particularly Belmont, Harrison, and Jefferson Counties, sustained the most damage. In the Pipe and Wegee Creek basins near Shadyside, Belmont County, at least 24 people died and property damage exceeded $10 million. An indirect measurement of discharge on Pipe Creek made near the mouth, indicates a peak discharge of 15,000 ft? /s (cubic feet per second) for the drainage area of 11.3 mi? (square miles) and a unit discharge of 1,330 (ft? /s)/mi? (cubic feet per second per square mile). The recurrence interval for this peak discharge is greater than 100 years. An indirect measurement of discharge of Wegee Creek, made 3 miles upstream from the mouth, indicates a peak discharge of 2,200 (ft? /s) /mi? . The recurrence interval for this peak discharge also is greater than 100 years. Longitudal water-surface profiles showed depths ranging from 7 ft. to 22 ft. The severity of flooding was highly variable. For example, the recurrence interval of the peak discharge at one U.S. Geological Survey streamflow-gaging station was only 2 years, whereas the recurrence interval for the peak discharge was greater than 100 years at another gaging station about 22 miles away.