Ohio
Ohio Valley cleaning up after strong winds batter region
Residents and businesses throughout the Ohio Valley are cleaning up and assessing damage after strong winds tore through the region Friday.
Everything from trees to yard items to business signs were strewn about as winds that neared hurricane force in some spots blew through.
Nothing seemed spared, even if it was tethered.
According to the National Weather Service’s Pittsburgh office, 70 mph gusts were recorded at the Zanesville Airport in Muskingum County. A high wind warning issued Friday afternoon was expected to expire at midnight.
Closer to home, winds reached speeds of 66 mph in Bellaire and 60 mph at the Ohio County Airport.
Downed trees and powerlines closed several roads and left emergency crews taxed with an overwhelming number of calls.
A downed power line sparked a house fire on Circle Avenue in St. Clairsville. There were no injuries.
At one point Friday, nearly 76,000 customers in the NEWS9 viewing area were without power.