News & Media

Wind storm causes widespread damage From Midwest to Northeast

Written by John Clark | Nov 16, 2020 6:00:00 AM

A strong cold front brought damaging winds and thunderstorms from the Midwest to the Northeast on Sunday. As of Monday morning, more than 400,000 homes and businesses are still without power, according to Poweroutage.us. 

The National Weather Service recorded 483 High Wind reports as a result of the storm. Straight line winds of up to 74 MPH caused extensive damage including downed trees, widespread power outages, and flash flooding. The storm is also responsible for one fatality in Ohio, when a falling tree hit a woman in Harrison Township. 

Tornado watches and warnings were reported in New York and Connecticut, which are rare for the northeast.  The storm’s strong winds also caused Lake Erie’s levels to rise sharply along the eastern side of the lake; a phenomenon known as a “seiche.” Lake levels rose 7 feet above flood stage, flooding parts of southern Buffalo, New York. 

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