Thunderstorm Wind — Erie, Ohio

2016-06-05 · near Sandusky, Erie, Ohio

Event narrative

A thunderstorm downburst caused widespread wind damage in the northeast portion of Sandusky. The damage swatg was a half mile wide and approximately 2.25 miles long. Numerous large trees and limbs were brought down across the city with some falling on buildings causing roof damage. Numerous large trees were also downed at Battery Park and the Marina. Approximately 30 power poles were blown over on the causeway to Cedar Point. Some power lines landed on cars trapping 15 to 20 people in their vehicles. Power outages due to the downed lines caused Cedar Point to be closed for the following day. At least one site measured a wind gust to 76 mph. Estimated wind speeds based on damage were 70 to 80 mph in downtown Sandusky and as high and greater than 80 mph on the causeway.

Wider weather episode

Showers and thunderstorms developed ahead of a cold front moving east across Ohio on the afternoon of June 5. Storms were scattered in northwest Ohio but consolidated into bowing line segments as they reached northeast Ohio. Significant damage occurred with the first severe storm of the day that brought a microburst to Sandusky Ohio. The microburst damaged trees and buildings in Sandusky and downed approximately 30 large power poles on the Causeway leading to Cedar Point, trapping some people in cars. Scattered pockets of wind damage continued to the east across northern Ohio into the evening.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (41.4600, -82.7100)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 643574. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.