Thunderstorm Wind in Ashland County, Ohio

An intense line of thunderstorms or Derecho moved across southern Ashland County during the afternoon of June 29th causing extensive damage. Winds were estimated to be as much as 65 mph. Over 50 percent of residents in the southern third of the county lost power during this event. Power was not completely restored for several days. Hundreds of trees were downed across the county along with many utility poles forcing the closure of some of roads and streets. Damage to homes and buildings was also extensive. Dozens of homes and buildings lost roofing or siding with many other homes damaged by fallen trees. Clean up costs were extensive. The clean up was hampered by an ongoing heat wave with afternoon temperatures in the upper 90s. Significant crop losses are also expected. Damage from this storm in southern Ashland County was comparable to the remnants of Hurricane Ike in September 2008.

During the late afternoon hours of June 22nd, severe thunderstorms moved across Ashland County and caused extensive damage. The worst damage resulted from straight line winds caused by a downburst that started east of Charles Mills Lake and continued through the Mifflin area to near Hayesville. Winds were estimated to be greater than 80 mph. Up to a thousand trees were downed along this path. Near Mifflin, a 120 foot tall radio tower was knocked down. Several homes in Mifflin lost sections of roof and three garages were also destroyed. One of the homes was damaged enough to be declared uninhabitable. In Hayesville, over half the the trees in the town were blown down and many homes were damaged. Numerous roads had to be closed because of downed trees, limbs and power lines. Across the remainder of the county, trees and power lines were reported down from as far north as Polk to Loudonville in the southeast corner of the county. At least two homes were damaged by fallen trees in Loudonville. Thousands of people lost power during this event.

A thunderstorm downburst with winds estimated at 80 to 100 mph moved across Ashland County. Over 40 trees were blown down in Savannah along with several power poles. A tree fell on a moving car in Savannah but the driven was not hurt. Many trees were knocked down in Sullivan with one home losing part of a roof. A large dairy barn housing 140 cows was completely destroyed one mile east of Hayesville. A nearby house was knocked off its foundation and a house in Hayesville lost most of its roof. Many trees and power poles were downed in and around Hayesville and a car was destroyed by a fallen tree.