Bluffton’s flood experiences require news outlines like the Icon to select with care words fitting the weather conditions of the day.

To call Tuesday’s waterflow a flood might be overkill. To call it a deluge, well, that too, is in question. Same with torrent, saturation of water, flash flood and even high waters.

To view the bank of the Riley overflowing into the Buckeye once upon a time was a rare and frightful experience. Not so in 2020. Tuesday’s rain blocked roadways, but hardly touched East College Avenue at Harmon Field. Same to Vance Street and Cherry.

So, we will simply call it a very heavy rain and viewers may choose to call it what they wish.  

We’ve taken two sets of photos showing water, the first flowing at a danger clip along the Riley. That set taken at 8 a.m. Tuesday, May 19, compares with the second set, taken at 8 a.m. on Wednesday, May 20. Six scenes make up this photo comparison feature.

These “during and after” photos demonstrate how quickly, at least on May 19 and 20, water is here one day and gone the next.