Severe storms bring damaging winds, hail to Northeast Ohio
COLUMBUS — Severe thunderstorms swept across Northeast Ohio on Sunday, bringing damaging winds and large hail that caused property damage and power outages throughout the region on the final day of March.
The National Weather Service issued multiple severe thunderstorm warnings as the storm system moved through the area Sunday afternoon and evening. Wind gusts reached up to 70 mph in some areas, while hail stones as large as golf balls were reported across several counties.
Cleveland Hopkins International Airport recorded wind gusts of 68 mph during the height of the storms, according to weather service data. The severe weather prompted officials to issue tornado watches for portions of the region, though no tornadoes were confirmed.
Widespread Damage Reported
FirstEnergy reported more than 15,000 customers lost power at the peak of the outages across Northeast Ohio. Crews worked through the night to restore service, with most customers having power restored by Monday morning.
Trees were downed throughout the region, blocking roadways and damaging vehicles and structures. In Cuyahoga County, emergency management officials received multiple reports of large tree limbs falling on homes and cars.
“We had significant tree damage across the county,” said Cuyahoga County Emergency Management spokesperson Lisa Martinez. “Fortunately, we haven’t received reports of any serious injuries related to the storm damage.”
Airport Operations Affected
Cleveland Hopkins International Airport experienced flight delays and cancellations due to the severe weather conditions. Airport officials reported that ground operations were temporarily suspended during the most intense portion of the storm for safety reasons.
The airport resumed normal operations Sunday evening after the storms passed through the area. Passengers were advised to check with their airlines for updated flight information.
Weather Service Issues Warnings
The National Weather Service office in Cleveland issued the first severe thunderstorm warning at 2:45 p.m. Sunday as the storm system approached from the west. Meteorologists warned residents to seek shelter indoors and avoid windows during the passage of the storms.
“This was a particularly strong early-season storm system,” said National Weather Service meteorologist David Chen. “The combination of strong upper-level winds and surface heating created ideal conditions for severe weather development.”
The storms marked an active end to March, which had been relatively quiet weather-wise across the region. Cleanup efforts continued Monday as residents and businesses assessed damage from the severe weather.
Emergency management officials reminded residents to stay away from downed power lines and to report outages to their utility companies. They also advised caution when driving, as debris may still be present on some roadways.
Sources: News 5 Cleveland WEWS, National Weather Service, FirstEnergy, Cuyahoga County Emergency Management
