COLUMBUS, Ohio – A handful of people in central and southeastern Ohio were still without power early Tuesday morning after more than 40,000 lost service during Monday’s windstorms which damaged buildings, including a Columbus high-rise, prompting officials to close a block of a key downtown street.
Strong winds blowing across Ohio knocked down utility lines, trees and disrupted power for thousands across the state.
Broad Street was closed between 3rd Street and High Street Monday afternoon and much of Tuesday morning because of concerns about the possibility of falling glass from a window on the Rhodes State Office tower that became dislodged.
A big gust of wind blew out two windows at a courthouse in downtown Toledo, injuring a man who was inside the building.
Several cities around Ohio reported wind gusts that were above 50 mph on Monday, including a 55 mph gust at Port Columbus and 58 mph gusts in London and Newark.
The Ohio Turnpike ordered a travel ban for some large trucks, motor homes and campers through Monday afternoon.
Power outages were reported in areas around Cincinnati, Dayton, Toledo, Columbus, Akron and Cleveland.
Of the 48,000 customers left without power at the height of the storm Monday, all but 3,100 American Electric Power customers and 630 South Central Power customers were still without service early Tuesday.
AEP estimated the power would be restored by 4:00 p.m. in Newark and 8:00 p.m. in Columbus and Delaware.