High Winds Lash Northeast Ohio, Cause Damage

Crews are working overtime to clean up the mess.

NORTHEAST OHIO — Powerful winds swept across Northeast Ohio on Friday as a strong storm system moved through the Great Lakes, knocking out power, damaging buildings, and scattering debris across communities from the lakeshore to inland counties.

Wind gusts reached extreme levels during the afternoon, with measurements of about 85 mph at Cleveland Burke Lakefront Airport and roughly 77 mph at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport, among the strongest recorded during the event.

The force of the wind caused widespread disruptions across the region. Trees and large branches were blown down in many neighborhoods, bringing down power lines and blocking roads. Several communities reported street closures because of fallen wires or debris, while some buildings suffered structural damage, including roof problems at facilities near the Cleveland airport.

Electrical outages spread rapidly as the storm intensified. By late afternoon, utilities reported more than 255,000 customers without power across Ohio, with more than 100,000 outages in Cuyahoga County alone. Crews worked through the day responding to damaged lines and restoring service as conditions gradually improved.

The winds were driven by a strong pressure difference across the Midwest created by a powerful low-pressure system moving north of the region. Meteorologists warned that the same system was producing damaging winds across much of the state and other parts of the Great Lakes.

By evening, the most intense gusts had begun to subside, leaving communities to deal with fallen branches, scattered debris, and the slow process of restoring power. The storm served as a reminder of how quickly late-winter weather across the Great Lakes can turn severe when powerful systems move through the region.