Sylvania feels wrath of fast-moving storm

A shopper makes a mad dash for his car in a parking lot at Lewis Avenue and Alexis Road during one of the downpours that have swept through the area intermittently in the last several days. The forecast calls for partly sunny skies and more pleasant conditions with less humidity at least through Monday.

Sylvania was pummeled last night by a fast-moving thunderstorm that largely spared the rest of the Toledo area.

The storm uprooted trees, blocked streets, and downed power lines.

Downed lines trapped one family inside their home, Sylvania police said.

The family members, none of whom was hurt, were trapped for more than an hour in the 6700 block of Maplewood Avenue, officers said.

Toledo Edison Co. customers in Sylvania who experienced scattered power outages were among 6,400 utility customers from the Indiana border to Port Clinton whose service was disrupted at the height of the storm.

By 10 p.m., utility crews restored power to most of them and were working to bring the service back to the remaining 300, according to a recorded message by the utility.

Streets in Sylvania affected the most by fallen trees and downed utility poles and power lines included Summit Street, Maplewood Avenue, Silica Drive, Westcliffe Court, Allen Street, Long Street, and Brint Road.

Some utility poles and at least seven trees caught fire, and several transformers were pulled off the poles, police said.

The storm, which came from Indiana and featured heavy rain and hail, moved over the area between 9 and 9:30 p.m.

Conditions in Sylvania were similar to those in the nearby Berkey, where winds reaching 73 mph, half-inch-size hail, and downed trees were reported at 9:10 p.m., said Bill Randel, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Cleveland.

The storm was part of a cluster that developed in front of a cold front that was expected to move over the northwest Ohio and southeast Michigan early today, Mr. Randel said.

Today, there may be showers in the morning.

It will be partly cloudy and less humid, with highs around 80, he said.