Storm brings gusts of 60 mph
6/15/2005A fast-moving storm yesterday produced wind gusts of up to 60 mph across parts of northwest Ohio, blowing vehicles off roads and downing trees and power lines but causing no serious injuries.
Some storm-related problems were also reported in southeast Michigan.
The storm, an outgrowth of a cold front from the eastern Plains, passed from west to east between 3 and 5 p.m. just south of Toledo at up to 50 mph, said John Dlugoenski, a meteorologist with AccuWeather Inc., a private forecasting firm in State College, Pa.
About 3 p.m., the storm knocked out a transformer, causing a power outage in parts of Findlay, police said.
About 3:45 p.m., wind gusts blew two tractor-trailer rigs off State Rt. 163 just east of State Rt. 51 in Ottawa County's Clay Township, injuring one of the drivers, the Ohio Highway Patrol said.
The semis were traveling east, about a half-mile apart, when a strong gust pushed them off the road and they overturned, troopers said.
Christopher Byndom of Elyria, Ohio, the driver of one of the trucks, was treated in St. Charles Mercy Hospital, troopers said.
About the same time, wind gusts felled trees and downed power lines on Route 51 at several locations between Route 163 and State Rt. 105.
As a result, Route 51 between Routes 163 and 105 was closed to traffic for 2 1/2 hours.
At 3:53 p.m., a tree split up and fell across southbound U.S. 23 south of Rt. 105 near Pemberville, Ohio. The tree was removed, and the southbound traffic resumed about 4:30 p.m., a Wood County sheriff's dispatcher said.
The storm also knocked out power in Woodville for about an hour beginning about 4 p.m., an Ottawa County sheriff's dispatcher said.
Hail was reported in Elmore.
Wind gusts brought down several power lines in Michigan's Hillsdale County at about 3:50 p.m., but no major power outages were reported, Michigan State Police said.
The storm never hit Toledo. But winds from the storm produced gusts up to 35 mph, Mr. Dlugoenski said.