COLUMBUS, Ohio – The calendar says it’s still winter but central Ohio got a taste of the worst kind of spring weather overnight as a strong storm left a woman trapped by debris, damaged buildings and knocked down power lines in Delaware County.
A Wind Advisory is in effect until 6:00 p.m. with a chance of wind gusts up to 40mph.
A Flood Warning will be in effect for western Franklin County until Saturday evening.
The National Weather Service predicts the Big Darby Creek will rise a foot above flood stage around midnight Friday before starting to recede. Temperatures in the 60’s Thursday caused snow to melt rapidly and combine with heavy rain to swell creeks and rivers.
UPDATE:The National Weather Service confirmed that an EF0 tornado touched down 2 miles south of Kilbourne, in Delaware County, damaging a barn, home and shed and damaging trees and a utility pole.
A severe thunderstorm rolled through Delaware County at approximately 1:00 Friday morning, prompting tornado watches and warnings, and leaving structural damage and flooded roads in its wake, but no reports of serious injuries according to the Delaware County Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management.
Tri-Township Fire Department personnel and Delaware County Sheriff’s deputies rescued a woman trapped in a vehicle by storm debris near Howard and N. Old State roads, EMA spokeswoman Sandy Mackey said.
In Brown Township, a barn was destroyed and debris was strewn across roadways Old State Road, closing the road between Bowtown and Howard, Mackey said.
There were several road closures in the county early Friday morning, including Leonardsburg Road near Pittman and Troy Road between Radnor and Troutman in Troy Township, due to high water.
Downed power lines left more than 3,300 residents without electricity, though American Electric Power indicated all the power had been restored by 5:00 a.m.
A wind gust of 53 mph was recorded in Powell at 12:50 a.m., according to the Weather Service.