TOLEDO, Ohio — Wednesday's First Alert Day brought strong storms, damaging hail and winds that reached 75 mph in some counties in the viewing area, all of which were under Severe Thunderstorm Watches and some Warnings throughout the afternoon.
Part of the State Theatre in Sandusky collapsed in the storm, bricks and rubble littering the street in its aftermath.
The storm started to exit the Sandusky area around 7 p.m., in a quick but violent burst.
The State Theatre has been a landmark in Sandusky since 1928, showing all manner of entertainment there in its 92 years. On Wednesday, those historic bricks were scattered across the street.
It's suspected a microburst or a straight-line wind led to the damage, as no tornado rotations were noted on radar at the time. Officials asked people to stay away from the area.
The mayor of Tiffin tweeted Wednesday night that his city saw widespread damage, including downed trees, power outages, and a traffic light that fell at State Route 18 and Market Street. Tiffin recorded winds of over 66 mph.
The Perkins Twp. Fire Department Station #3 sustained extensive damage during the storm, according to a Facebook post by the department.
Ottawa County also had downed power lines and other damage, including a massive tree that was snapped in Port Clinton on Madison Street, spanning the street and crushing a truck.
Be prepared to track any weather coming your way with the free First Alert Weather App, which you can download here: http://onelink.to/firstalertwx
You can read the developments of Wednesday's storms here:
6:35 p.m.
Trees and powerlines are down at State Route 19 near Oak Harbor after reported 75 mph winds hit the area. At the Ottawa and Sandusky county line, the estimated 75 mph wind was 8 minutes duration at 6:05 p.m. Multiple tree limbs up to 3 inches in diameter are down in the area.
6:30 p.m.
The storm is in the Bellevue/Clyde area with a track toward Sandusky. People in the path are advised to move to their place of shelter.
Winds in excess of 60 mph have been recorded and damage has occurred due to the gusts.
6:13 p.m.
Power outages noted in Bryan and Archbold, Oak Harbor, Wauseon, and Gibsonburg. Scattered outages in Maumee also were noted by FirstEnergy. Damage reports include:
- Findlay, where a large sign at a Kroger and part of the back of the building blew off
- North Baltimore, where extensive tree damage was observed
- Bryan, where hail damaged buildings and vehicles
- Bryan, where trees in diameter of 12 and 16 inches were toppled
- Putnam County, where power poles and trees are down
- Ottawa County, where powerlines were down at State Route 19. Winds of about 66 mph were noted.
Additionally in Bryan, a Wendy's sign blew over in the storm.
PHOTOS | June 10, 2020 Storm Damage
6 p.m.
5:50 p.m.
Severe thunderstorm was located near Weston, or 10 miles southwest of Bowling Green, moving north at 60 mph.
5:46 p.m.
First Alert Meteorologist Robert Shiels advises residents in Seneca and Fulton counties to get to your places of shelter as the strong storm heads your way right now.
As of right now, nothing on radar indicates tornado-like rotation, according to First Alert Meteorologist Ryan Wichman.
5:38 p.m.
5:27 p.m.
Severe Thunderstorm Warnings are now issued for Lucas County, Wood County, Ottawa County, western Sandusky County until 6:30 p.m.
A 62 mph wind gust was reported just west of Hancock County in Ottawa, Ohio. Winds are coming towards the I-75 corridor. Lightning reported in Findlay.
5:15 p.m.
A severe thunderstorm warning is issued for Hancock County until 6 p.m. Findlay to see big winds heading your way in the next 20-30 minutes.
5 p.m.
Toppled trees reported in Montpelier, widespread wind damage seen in much of the western part of Ohio.
4:34 p.m.
First Alert Chief Meteorologist Robert Shiels:
Storms over the west end of our viewing area have become hung up with steering winds holding them in the same corridor. Bad news for DEFIANCE, WILLIAMS, HILLSDALE, LENAWEE counties.
Storms near Dayton are picking up in intensity. They are moving very quickly and we are tracking them into the area.
4:25 p.m.
4:16 p.m.
In Defiance County, First Alert Meteorologist Chris Vickers reports tree limbs 4-inches thick are snapped and backyard toys have been blown into a field across the street from his location.
4 p.m.
Bryan Fire Department says multiple roads have blocked lines and downed trees in the roadways. This includes US 127 from County Road F to including County Road G and County Road H.
3:52 p.m.
First Alert Chief Meteorologist Robert Shiels: The atmosphere is unloading across eastern Indiana, extreme northwest Ohio and southeast lower Michigan. Numerous reports of wind gusts over 60 mph. The latest report from Hillsdale county is "numerous trees and power lines down across the county." We are tracking eastward progress right now.
3:40 p.m.
Worst storm is now in southeast Hillsdale county moving into western Lenawee county. Numerous trees and power lines are down there. - First Alert Chief Meteorologist Robert Shiels.
3:35 p.m.
Reports are coming in from Williams County of 2-inch diameter hail in Bryan. The hail has damaged vehicles there.
First Alert Meteorologist Chris Vickers is in Defiance County, where an 18-wheeler flipped on its side. The truck tipped over on Route 6, just east of Route 127. No injuries were reported from this, though a resident in a nearby house was shaken up.
3:15 p.m.
2:50 p.m.
The NWS Storm Prediction Center has issued a Severe Thunderstorm Watch until 10 p.m. for the Lake Erie region and much of western and central Ohio.
Primary threats include:
- Widespread damaging winds and isolated significant gusts to 75 mph likely
- Scattered large hail events to 1.5 inches in diameter possible
- A tornado or two possible
This includes the counties of: Hancock, Lucas, Ottawa, Sandusky, Seneca, Wood and Wyandot.
This includes the cities of Ashland, Bowling Green, Bucyrus, Cleveland, Findlay, Fremont, Lorain, Mansfield, Marion, medina, Millersburg, Mount Gilead, Mount Vernon, Norwalk, Port Clinton, Sandusky, Tiffin, Toledo, Upper Sandusky, and Wooster.
2:40 p.m.
National Weather Service advises residents in Ohio's northwestern Defiance and western Williams counties to seek shelter now, as a Severe Thunderstorm Watch is in effect.
"This is a dangerous situation. These storms are producing widespread wind damage across. Seek shelter now inside a sturdy structure and stay away from windows."
2 p.m.
We're always curious to see what the weather conditions are like in your area. If you happen to snap a photo or capture a video you want us to see, you can send them to us via text at 419-248-1100. Please only take a photo if you can do so safely, and include your name and location so we can give you credit.
1:20 p.m.
When will storms reach your town? First Alert Meteorologist Robert Shiels breaks down the timing, hour by hour:
Hour-by-hour storms on this First Alert Day
12:40 p.m.
Lenawee and Monroe counties are currently under a Severe Thunderstorm Watch until 8 p.m.
11:55 a.m.
The National Weather Service in Cleveland has issued a Severe Thunderstorm Watch until 6 p.m. for the Ohio counties of Allen, Defiance, Fulton, Henry, Paulding, Putnam, Van Wert and Williams.
11:35 a.m.
If you have not already secured outdoor furniture, do so now before the predicted 70 mph gusts hit our area. A severe thunderstorm watch is likely to be issued as storms start to develop early this afternoon in Indiana and move our way.
Think about securing the following items before the storms arrive:
- Outdoor furniture
- Trampolines
- Hanging baskets
- Flags/lawn signs
- Lighter flowerpots
Move vehicles inside to avoid the possibility that they are struck by debris.
Storms are predicted to begin developing by 2-3 p.m. and will move quickly across most of the area. Winds of 70 mph or more are very possible.