Flood warnings lifted as dry weather heads for southeast Ohio

Following widespread flooding earlier this week in southeast Ohio counties, residents may be seeing the tail end of the current wet weather.

The National Weather Service Charleston has dropped all flood warnings for the southeast counties, meteorologist Simone Lewis said. There were flood warnings in place Sept. 22 for Meigs and Vinton counties and parts of Athens County, Lewis said. Vinton County was the hardest hit, with flooding shuttering public buildings such as the Vinton County Courthouse.

Showers and thunderstorms are expected for the afternoon and evening of Sept. 23, but Lewis said if flash flooding occurs, it will be more isolated.

However, a stretch of dry weather is expected starting mid-to-late tomorrow morning, Lewis said.

Gov. DeWine declares state of emergency for 18 Ohio counties

Ohio Gov.

Mike DeWine declared a state of emergency for 18 Ohio counties Sept. 22 due to severe flooding and damage from heavy rains.

The 18 counties under a state of emergency are: Vinton, Pickaway, Athens, Clermont, Gallia, Highland, Jackson, Logan, Meigs, Mercer, Montgomery, Morgan, Muskingum, Perry, Pike, Preble, Ross and Van Wert.

"We've seen significant flooding and damage across several Ohio counties," DeWine said in the announcement. "The state is working closely with local officials to provide the resources needed to help communities respond and recover."

The Ohio Department of Transportation and the Ohio State Highway Patrol are assisting local authorities, and the Ohio Emergency Management Agency is also working with county and state officials to assist communities.

Dispatch Reporter Nora Igelnik can be reached at [e-mail].

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Flood warnings lifted as dry weather heads for southeast Ohio