Storms, High Winds Sweep Across Northern Ohio on July 4th
Strong thunderstorms and fast-moving gust fronts swept dozens of northern Ohio communities during the Fourth of July holiday weekend, with wind gusts reaching up to 50 mph.
CLEVELAND, OHIO — Strong thunderstorms and fast-moving gust fronts swept across northern Ohio during the Fourth of July holiday weekend, prompting multiple Special Weather Statements from the National Weather Service office in Cleveland.
The storm activity began the evening of July 3 and continued into the early morning hours of July 4, bringing wind gusts of up to 50 mph and hail to dozens of communities across the region.
Early Evening Storms on July 3
At 6:23 p.m. EDT on July 3, the National Weather Service issued its first alert of the evening, tracking strong thunderstorms along a line stretching from near Monroe to near McClure, moving southeast at 50 mph. Radar indicated wind gusts up to 50 mph threatened Toledo, Bowling Green, Fremont, Fostoria, Port Clinton, Put-In-Bay, Perrysburg, Oregon, Sylvania, Rossford, Waterville, Northwood, Whitehouse, North Baltimore, Oak Harbor, Gibsonburg, Genoa, Woodville, Holland, and Weston.
About an hour later, at 7:06 p.m. EDT, a separate strong thunderstorm near Garrettsville — approximately 14 miles northeast of Ravenna — was moving southeast at 15 mph. That storm carried wind gusts up to 50 mph along with pea-size hail, according to the National Weather Service. Communities in its path included Newton Falls, Garrettsville, Mantua, West Farmington, Bristolville, Leavittsburg, Parkman, Windham, Hiram, South Canal, Turnpike Interchange, and Champion Heights.
Gust Fronts Push East Into the Night
By 8:32 p.m. EDT, the National Weather Service was tracking a gust front racing ahead of a line of thunderstorms, extending from 7 miles southeast of North Royalton to 7 miles west of Wooster, moving east at 50 mph. Radar indicated wind gusts up to 50 mph for Akron, Canton, Mansfield, Warren, Medina, Wooster, Ashland, Ravenna, Cuyahoga Falls, Brunswick, Massillon, Kent, Barberton, Green, Hudson, Wadsworth, Tallmadge, North Canton, Streetsboro, and Louisville.
Five minutes later, at 8:37 p.m. EDT, forecasters issued another statement for a second gust front tracking east at 45 mph along a line from near Painesville to near Macedonia. That alert covered Painesville, Ashtabula, Willowick, Chardon, Fairport Harbor, Geneva-On-The-Lake, Mentor, Solon, Willoughby, Hudson, Twinsburg, Eastlake, Streetsboro, Macedonia, Geneva, South Russell, Madison, North Kingsville, Middlefield, and Garrettsville.
In both instances, the National Weather Service warned that gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects.
Holiday Morning Storm Near Findlay
As residents prepared for Independence Day celebrations, another strong thunderstorm emerged early in the morning of July 4. At 4:43 a.m. EDT, the National Weather Service tracked a storm near Bluffton moving east at 30 mph. This storm carried wind gusts up to 40 mph and half-inch hail, with radar indicating the potential for minor hail damage to vegetation.
Communities in the path of that storm included Findlay, Bluffton, Arlington, Rawson, Vanlue, Mount Blanchard, Jenera, Mount Cory, and Williamstown.
All alerts were issued by the National Weather Service office in Cleveland based on Doppler radar data. Residents across northern Ohio were advised to secure loose outdoor items and remain aware of changing weather conditions throughout the holiday.
