Toledo hit hard by fast moving storm; more possible

6/8/2007
BLADE STAFF

A strong storm with wind gusts of up to 60 miles per hour hammered Toledo this afternoon, knocking down trees and power lines and leaving 5,000 people without power. There are no reports of flooded streets, according to police.

The intense thunderstorm dumped about an inch of rain throughout northwest Ohio, according to the National Weather Service in Cleveland.

Another wave of storms that blew through Toledo this afternoon brought the total number of people without power to 25,000, said Mr. Wilkins a Toledo Edison spokesman.

All 30 Toledo Edison crews have been dispatched and are working to restore power to customers. He said 13,000 people are still without power, but expects many of those to have power restored to them sometime this evening.

Power should be completely restored by tomorrow afternoon, Mr. Wilkins said.

A tree fell into an abandoned house on Navarre and Thurston avenues knocking power lines into the house which started a fire, said Toledo police Sgt. Richard Murphy. There were no reports of injuries.

All of northern Ohio is under a severe thunderstorm watch until 7 p.m.

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