Dense Fog, Thunderstorms Impact Northeast Ohio
Dense fog with quarter-mile visibility blankets Northeast Ohio this morning after strong thunderstorms with 50 mph winds swept the region Wednesday evening.
CLEVELAND, OHIO — Dense fog with visibility as low as one-quarter mile covered areas near Lake Erie early Thursday morning, while strong thunderstorms moved across Northeast Ohio Wednesday evening, according to multiple Special Weather Statements from the National Weather Service Cleveland office.
The fog advisory, issued at 3:23 a.m. Thursday, cautioned drivers about hazardous conditions as the dense fog spread inland from Lake Erie into parts of Northeast Ohio and Northwest Pennsylvania. Area surface observations and highway cameras confirmed the widespread fog.
“If driving early this morning, use your headlights, allow extra time to reach your destination, give extra distance between you and the car in front of you, and be prepared for rapid changes to visibility,” the National Weather Service advised.
Multiple Thunderstorms Track Across Region
The fog followed an active evening of severe weather Wednesday, as strong thunderstorms moved through the region with wind gusts up to 50 mph and hail. The most recent thunderstorm was tracked over Garrettsville at 9:26 p.m., moving east at 40 mph with wind gusts up to 40 mph and half-inch hail.
That storm affected Cortland, Garrettsville, Kinsman, North Bloomfield, West Farmington, Bristolville, Parkman, Mecca, Johnston, Hiram, Orangeville, and Champion Heights, according to Doppler radar tracking.
Earlier Wednesday evening, another strong thunderstorm passed over Medina at 8:22 p.m., moving east at 45 mph with similar wind and hail conditions. That system impacted a larger area including Akron, Medina, Ravenna, Cuyahoga Falls, Kent, Hudson, Wadsworth, Tallmadge, Streetsboro, Mogadore, Chippewa Lake, Stow, Aurora, Norton, Brimfield, Fairlawn, Munroe Falls, Richfield, Silver Lake, and Seville.
Western Ohio Also Affected
The storm system initially developed over western Ohio, with the National Weather Service tracking a cluster of thunderstorms at 6:28 p.m. Wednesday near Fostoria. Those storms produced wind gusts up to 50 mph as they moved east at 40 mph.
Communities impacted by the western Ohio storms included Fremont, Fostoria, Port Clinton, Bellevue, Clyde, Gibsonburg, Woodville, Elmore, Green Springs, Ballville, Pemberville, Luckey, Bradner, Wayne, Bettsville, Risingsun, Lindsey, Helena, West Millgrove, and Burgoon.
The weather service warned that gusty winds from all the storm systems could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects, with minor hail damage to vegetation possible in affected areas.
Storm Pattern Extends Into Pennsylvania
The severe weather pattern also extended into northwestern Pennsylvania, where strong thunderstorms with 50 mph wind gusts moved through the Meadville area Wednesday afternoon. Those storms affected Meadville, Corry, Edinboro, Union City, Cambridge Springs, Waterford, Wattsburg, Riceville, Lincolnville, Canadohta Lake, Saegertown, Mill Village, Blooming Valley, Townville, Spartansburg, Venango, Elgin, and Woodcock.
Another storm system tracked near Andover, Pennsylvania, at 3:08 p.m. Wednesday, moving northeast at 50 mph and impacting Edinboro, Cambridge Springs, Orwell, Albion, Andover, Linesville, Harmonsburg, Pymatuning North, Pymatuning Central, Roaming Shores, Pierpont, Saegertown, Cherry Valley, Conneautville, Cranesville, Rock Creek, Springboro, Platea, Mill Village, and McKean.
The storm activity represented a typical spring weather pattern for the Great Lakes region, with multiple cells developing and tracking eastward across Ohio and into Pennsylvania throughout Wednesday afternoon and evening before giving way to the overnight fog conditions near Lake Erie.
