GROVE CITY— The National Weather Service has confirmed multiple tornadoes touched down in central and western Ohio Tuesday, knocking down trees and power lines and causing property damage in Grove City and other communities.
UPDATE 4/4/18 11:20 a.m.: This article has been updated to show that a tornado was confirmed in Grove City
[10:53 AM] Our survey team has preliminarily determined that an EF1 tornado with estimated wind speeds between 100-110 MPH was responsible for damage in the Grove City, Ohio area. More detailed info to follow later today: https://t.co/uDssG5T5DK.
— NWS Wilmington OH (@NWSILN) April 4, 2018
The weather service says its investigators determined that an EF1 twister with wind speeds over 100 mph caused damage in Grove City during storms that brought record rains, high winds and hail. The weather service will also be examining sites in western Fairfield County to determine if damage there was the result of a twister.
Another shot of the tornado-warned storm at the Franklin-Pickaway Co line just south of Columbus. #ohwx pic.twitter.com/QnulJxsvGC
— Matt Bruning (@mbruning81) April 3, 2018
Investigators also confirmed a tornado was responsible for damage along Ludlow Road in eastern Beavercreek Townhip and western Xenia Township. Authorities reported a barn was destroyed in South Charleston in Clark County and significant damage near Yellow Springs to near South Charleston.
Just an inch of water can damage property, and flash floods can bring waves of water many feet high. Here are safety tips for driving in wet weather from the AAA:
Avoid cruise control: Cruise control is designed for dry road conditions and doesn’t know when the pavement is wet. You’re more likely to hydroplane when using cruise control, because you’re not really in complete control of your vehicle. With some cars the wheels actually spin faster when cruise control is engaged and the vehicle hits a slick spot.
Never drive through high water: A car can lose control in just a few inches of water. Six inches of water will reach the undercarriage of most vehicles and can damage vehicle components or even stall a car’s engine. Just a couple feet of water can carry away most vehicles.
Several schools including Grove City High School were closed, and hundreds of people were without power, mostly in the southern part of Grove City where American Electric Power predicted electricity would not be restored until Wednesday night or Thursday morning.
Sections of Hoover and Orders Roads were closed Wednesday while crews worked to restore power. A shelter for those without electric service was opened at the Evans Center, 4330 Dudley Avenue. Emergency transportation for residents needing assistance getting to or from their homes was available by calling 614-277-1859.
TRAFFIC ALERT ROADS CLOSED
Due to downed power lines, @AEPOhio and Service & Building Staff is assessing damage throughout @GroveCityOhio
• Hoover Road between Holton Road and White Road
• Orders Road between SR 62 and Hoover Road pic.twitter.com/nPETyA4PqG— GroveCityOhio (@GroveCityOhio) April 4, 2018
John Glenn Columbus International Airport recorded 1.95 inches of rainfall, eclipsing the previous record of 1.5 inches, set in 2000. Dayton received 2.88 inches, which broke the old record of 1.75 inches set in 1957, the weather service reported.
Firefighters in Fairfield County near Lancaster shuttled out at least a dozen people early Wednesday after neighborhoods were surrounded by several feet of water.
In the Springfield area, crews rescued a woman trapped in her car by high water and a man who came to help after she drove around a road closed sign.
High waters are reported in the Cincinnati region, where temperatures that reached the high 70s Tuesday are expected to plunge to below freezing late Wednesday.
The Ohio Department of Transportation reported that 50 routes across the state, 37 of them completely closed. Here is a partial list:
Franklin County
US 23 (High St.) in both directions at I-270 (South Side), ramps from I-270 East to US 23 North and I-270 West to US 23 South.
Delaware County
SR 257 between Home Rd. and US 42
Pickaway County
SR 752 between Ashville Pike and Reynolds, Ashville (pictured)
SR 762 between SR 104 and US 23
Commercial Point Road between Florence Chapel Pike and SR 104
Canal Road between SR 104 and Mill Road
Union County
SR 245 between McColly Rd. & W. Darby Rd.
Flood warnings continue for the Big Darby Creek at Darbyville until late Thursday night and until this afternoon for the Licking River below Newark and the North Fork of the river at Main Street in Newark.
At 6:00 a.m. the Big Darby was 0.7 feet above flood stage which is where lowland flooding occurs along the creek in Pickaway, Franklin and Madison Counties. Portions of Darby Creek Road north of Darbyville also become flooded.
In Licking County, Flooding was reported on Sleepy Hollow Road, portions of Nathaniel Avenue and Southeast Summit Road. There was also some flooding of Wildcat Park in Newark.
Flood warnings were also in effect until Saturday and into early next week for the Scioto River at Prospect and LaRue in Marion County and for Circleville and Piketon.
High winds could make problems worse on Wednesday. A wind advisory was in effect until 1:00 p.m. with winds forecast to reach 20 to 35 mph, accompanied by 50 mph gusts which could additional tree and power line damage along with some minor property damage. Winds this strong can make driving difficult as well.