STORMS DOWN TREES, KNOCK OUT POWER
Montgomery County Fair shut down temporarily.
Strong storms with heavy rain and powerful winds nearing 70 mph toppled trees, damaged houses and left roughly 30,000 local customers without power Tuesday afternoon, according to DP&L spokesperson Mary Ann Cabel.
The utility company had extra crews out Tuesday working to repair power lines and restore power, according to Cabel.
Storm Center 7 Chief Meteorologist Eric Elwell said uprooted trees are likely caused by the combination of over-saturation due to rainfall and strong winds, making it easier for trees to topple.
Storms were severe enough to cause the 165th Montgomery County Fair, which opened Monday, to shut down temporarily.
A large tree in Miamisburg took out a power line, leaving one resident searching for a place to stay.
“I may have to go and sleep over at one of my daughters’ houses tonight or something, I don’t know,” Dan Fant said.
Fant said he went out to run errands, left his keys in his locked home and figured he would just get back in through the garage, but the power went out.
A downed tree on a home in the 3400 block of Arlene Avenue in Dayton narrowly missed hitting a woman when it came crashing down on her home and into one
of her favorite sitting places.
Preble County saw a lot of damage as well with several reports of downed trees. A tree was uprooted on Maple Street and one toppled over and snapped on Cherry Street in Eaton.
On Somes Gratis Road in Preble County, fire crews were dispatched to a report of a tree on top of a house with occupants possibly trapped inside. On U.S. 127 near Interstate 70, a semi overturned.
About 4,000 customers were without power in Preble County after the storm.
In Darke County, there were multiple other reports of downed trees due to high winds including the 700 block of Ohio 503, Ohio 49 at Schnorf Jones Road, and New Garden Road just south of New Madison.
Tuesday’s storms were preceded by a tornado Monday evening in Mercer County, the National Weather Service confirmed. The NWS has not specified the tornado’s category, but no injuries or fatalities were reported.
According to Storm Center 7 Meteorologist McCall Vrydaghs, weather today will be very different with highs around 90 degrees and heat index values in the middle 90s.
“Take steps to protect yourself from the heat if you work outside or are planning on spending time outdoors,” Vrydaghs said. “Drink plenty of water and take frequent breaks.”
Vrydaghs said there’s a chance for storms to the north of Dayton later today.
Thursday, expect wet weather to return with more chances for storms throughout the day before drying out for the weekend.