Power Outage in Ashtabula, OH

An Arctic cold front swept through the area around 4 AM December 23rd. Low pressure along this front tracked over Lake Erie early in the morning on December 23rd and rapidly intensified through the day while slowly lifting northeast across Ontario. With the frontal passage rain changed to snow with temperatures dropping from the upper 30s and lower 40s to sub-zero in about 8 hours. A period of moderate to heavy snow, with rates briefly up to 1��� per hour, occurred behind the front into the morning hours of December 23rd with the snow trending lighter by midday. The period of snow and rapidly falling temperatures led to a flash freeze and icy conditions on area roadways. While the falling snow became lighter through the daytime hours of December 23rd, winds began increasing during the pre-dawn hours and gusted over 45 MPH through the day. A peak wind gust of 51 MPH was measured at 6:41 AM December 23rd at the Ashtabula County Airport. Sporadic tree damage and power outages resulted. Wind gusts very gradually subsided into December 24th, though gusts didn���t drop below 30 MPH until that evening. This led to a prolonged period of widespread blowing and drifting snow beginning early in the morning December 23rd and continuing through the afternoon and evening, with some patchy blowing and drifting snow continuing all the way through Christmas Eve. The greatest impact from this storm was to travel due to the flash freeze and extensive blowing and drifting snow, to go along with low visibility. Numerous minor accidents, slide-offs and disabled vehicles were reported throughout the area on December 23rd and 24th. A few of these accidents resulted in at least minor injuries. The Ashtabula County Sheriff declared a Level 2 snow emergency on December 23rd which persisted into December 24th, which strongly discourages non-essential travel due to the winter weather conditions. Wind chills plunged below 0 around 7 AM December 23rd and did not warm back above 0 until the morning of December 26th. A minimum Wind Chill of -29 degrees was reported at 5:35 PM December 23rd at the Ashtabula County Airport. In response to these conditions, a warming center was opened in Ashtabula during the storm. A number of burst pipes were reported across northern Ohio due to this cold, with temperatures remaining in the single digits until Christmas morning. A trained spotter measured 6.0��� of snow in Monroe Township with this storm. Elsewhere, a spotter measured 4.3��� in Harpersfield Township, with other spotters measuring 3.0��� in Cherry Valley and Pierpont.

Power poles were broken in Ashtabula.

Rain changed over to snow during the evening hours of November 30 in Northeast Ohio, as low pressure moved just east of the area. During the early morning hours of December 1, heavy, wet snow overspread the region with visibility dropping to one-quarter of a mile or less and snowfall rates up to one inch per hour. Travel was severely disrupted by this storm as heavy snow quickly accumulated on area roadways and any pre-treatment efforts were hampered by rain earlier on November 30. Due to the heavy, wet nature of the snow and only modest wind speeds of 10 to 15 mph, blowing and drifting snow was not a big issue during this event. However, snow easily collected on area trees, especially area evergreen trees, and the weight of the snow allowed for trees to fall onto area roads, power lines, and even some buildings. Tree damage was notable across Ashtabula County and up to 6,000 customers were without power by the late morning of December 1 due to trees falling onto power lines. Power was not restored to some residences for several days. Schools and several businesses closed on December 1 and 2 due to the weather conditions. In Ashtabula County, snowfall totals ranged from 11 to 22 inches of snow for the event. A peak total of 22 inches of snow was observed in Trumbull Township. Other selected snowfall totals include: 21.4 inches in Cherry Valley, 20.4 inches in Orwell, 17.6 inches in Harpersfield Township, 17.5 inches in Pierpont, 14.1 inches in Jefferson, 13 inches in Kelloggsville, and 11.3 inches in Monroe Township.

Minor wind damage was reported in portions of Ashtabula County due to wind gusts up to 50 mph. Trees and power lines were noted down in portions of Austinburg and Monroe Townships. An automated wind sensor at Ashtabula County Airport measured a peak non-thunderstorm wind gust of 48 mph.

Trees and power lines were downed across the area. A large metal auto dealership sign was blown down in Jefferson. All school districts in Ashtabula County were closed on the 25th due to the impacts from the strong winds.

Thunderstorm wind gusts knocked a tree down along Central Avenue. The tree landed on a house causing some damage. A second tree and some power lines were reported down south of Orville.

An area of deepening low pressure moved up the Ohio Valley on March 1st. The low moved across the southeastern corner of Ohio during the afternoon hours. A large area of precipitation fell to the north of the low track. The precipitation initially began as rain but changed to snow during the early evening hours as cold air filtered into the region on the backside of the low. Light to moderate snow then continued for much of the night. The heaviest snow fell during the late evening and early morning hours with visibilities a half mile or less. Winds gusted to more than 45 mph during the event. Peak gusts occurred around 8 pm and included 53 mph at Cleveland Burke Lakefront Airport and 48 mph at Cleveland Hopkins Airport. The snow tapered to flurries a couple hours before daybreak. Wind gusts dropped off quickly after midnight on the 2nd and by daybreak were no more than 20 mph. Accumulations of 6 to 10 inches of snow were reported across Cuyahoga, Summit, Geauga and Ashtabula Counties. The strong winds caused a lot of blowing and drifting and made driving difficult. Scattered power outages were also reported from the strong winds. In Ashtabula County a peak total of 11.0 inches was reported in Jefferson with 9.0 inches at both Conneaut and Kellogsville. Other totals from the county included 8.5 inches in Ashtabula; 6.5 inches in Dorset and 6.0 inches south of Geneva. Many accidents were reported.

An EF0 tornado touched downed in a field in rural Wayne Township near the southern border of Ashtabula County. The initial touchdown occurred along Hayes Road about half way between U.S. Route 322 and the county line. A few trees were downed in the area. The tornado continued east northeast across mainly farm land while quickly intensifying to EF1 intensity. The tornado eventually reached the Williamsfield area and crossed State Route 7 just south of its intersection with U.S. Route 322. It then intensified to EF2 strength and roughly followed U.S. 322 for close to two miles. The tornado then took a turn to the northeast as it crossed Simons South Road and lifted just as it reached the Pennsylvania state line. The worst damage was observed along U.S. 322 east of State Route 7. Around 20 properties were affected by the tornado. At least four homes were destroyed with eight more sustaining major damage. The other homes along the damage path sustained lesser amounts of damage. The four destroyed homes were all within a third of mile from each other on U.S. 322. A couple garages along U.S. 322 were also leveled and tree damage was extensive. Debris was observed scattered in fields across the area. The damage path was over six and a half miles in length and up to 200 yards in width. It took several days for power to be restored in the Williamsfield area. No injuries were reported.

An EF0 tornado touched downed in a field in rural Wayne Township near the southern border of Ashtabula County. The initial touchdown occurred along Hayes Road about half way between U.S. Route 322 and the county line. A few trees were downed in the area. The tornado continued east northeast across mainly farm land while quickly intensifying to EF1 intensity. The tornado eventually reached the Williamsfield area and crossed State Route 7 just south of its intersection with U.S. Route 322. It then intensified to EF2 strength and roughly followed U.S. 322 for close to two miles. The tornado then took a turn to the northeast as it crossed Simons South Road and lifted just as it reached the Pennsylvania state line. The worst damage was observed along U.S. 322 east of State Route 7. Around 20 properties were affected by the tornado. At least four homes were destroyed with eight more sustaining major damage. The other homes along the damage path sustained lesser amounts of damage. The four destroyed homes were all within a third of mile from each other on U.S. 322. A couple garages along U.S. 322 were also leveled and tree damage was extensive. Debris was observed scattered in fields across the area. The damage path was over six and a half miles in length and up to 200 yards in width. It took several days for power to be restored in the Williamsfield area. No injuries were reported.

An area of low pressure moved from the Gulf Coast up the west side of the Appalachians and across western Pennsylvania on February 15th and 16th bringing the first heavy synoptic snow of the season to northeastern Ohio. The snow spread into southern Mahoning County during the early evening and by midnight had reached Ashtabula County. The snow intensified overnight as the low approached Pittsburgh with a heavy wet snow falling in an arc from Canton to Youngstown and continuing into northwest Pennsylvania. Visibilities from late evening on the 15th through daybreak on the 16th were less than a mile and at times less than one half mile. The snow quickly ended from west to east during the late morning hours. More than six inches of snow fell east of a line from Portage County to central Ashtabula County. The peak total in the county was 8 inches at Dorset. Numerous accidents were reported during this event along with a few power outages. Many schools were closed on the 16th.

Wind gusts estimated to be at least 60 mph downed trees, large limbs and power lines throughout the county. Scattered power outages were reported.

Mixed precipitation spread across the area early on the 12th and then transitioned to snow from west to east. Much of the area also saw a period of freezing rain. The snow increased in intensity during the late morning hours with visibilities less than one half mile. North to northeast winds increased as the low passed to the south of the area. Winds gusted to more than 40 mph during the early afternoon hours. Winds continued to gust to more than 30 mph through the evening hours. The strong winds combined with the snow to create significant blowing and drifting and very treacherous driving conditions. Snowfall totals of up to 6 inches were reported along with a glaze of ice in some areas. Schools across most of northern Ohio were closed on the 12th and the evening commute was very difficult. Dozens of accidents and a some power outages were reported.

A four to six hour period of freezing rain occurred across inland Ashtabula County. Up to a quarter inch of ice accumulation was reported across the southern third to half of the county. The ice accumulated mainly on trees and grassy surfaces. Some trees and limbs were toppled by the ice and there were also a few reports of power outages. A few accidents were reported.

Winds across inland Ashtabula County gusted to as much as 60 mph for a few hours. Hundreds of trees were downed in the county with scattered power outages reported. There were reports of trees on houses and vehicles. Some homes also lost sections of roofing and siding.

A few trees and power lines were downed.

Three waves of wintry precipitation were associated with this storm across northern Ohio. Snow began in Ashtabula County around midnight on February 1st. A four to six hour period of moderate to heavy snow occurred with accumulations of 5 to 7 inches. Most of the daylight hours of the 1st were quiet with just some light snow and patchy freezing drizzle reported. The second wave of precipitation began during the late afternoon and evening hours. Most of this was mixed freezing rain and sleet. Ice accumulations of over a quarter inch along with an inch or more of sleet accumulation occurred. This mixture coated area roads and streets and resulted in treacherous travel. A few power outages were reported on 2nd. Wrap around snow behind the low affected northern Ohio during the daylight hours of the 2nd. Much of the area saw between one and three inches of snow. Many schools were closed on the 1st and 2nd.

High winds downed trees and large limbs across northern Ashtabula County. A few power outages were also reported.

A strong cold front moved across Ashtabula County during the early afternoon hours of December 9th. A cluster of showers developed in advance of this front and produced brief wind gusts in excess of 50 mph. Southwest winds behind the front rapidly increased during the afternoon hours with peak gusts of around 60 mph reported late in the day. Winds continued to gust to as much as 50 mph through 10 pm. The high winds downed trees, utility poles and power lines in Ashtabula County. Scattered power outages were reported across inland Ashtabula County with more widespread outages reported north of Interstate 90. Some homes and buildings in the county sustained minor damage. Most of this was from lost siding or roofing. Some of this damage was associated with the showers that moved through early in the afternoon.

Strong winds were reported across inland Ashtabula County. Peak wind gusts were estimated to be around 45 mph. A few trees and power lines were downed resulting in a couple power outages.

A strong cold front moved across Ashtabula County during the evening of February 11th. West to southwest winds gusted to more than 60 mph behind the front. A 60 mph gust was measured at the Ashtabula County Airport near Jefferson at 6:38 am. Winds finally diminished just after daybreak on the 12th. Dozens of trees and a few utility poles were downed in the county causing scattered power outages. At one point, up to 25,000 customers were without power in the county. Many buildings in the county sustained damage. Most of this was from lost shingles, but a few buildings lost gutters or sections of siding. A few homes were damaged by fallen trees. All but one of the school districts in the county were closed on the 12th because of power outages.

Several large limbs were reported down. Power outages were also reported in the area.

High winds associated with the remnants of Hurricane Ike began during the early evening hours of September 14th and continued through late evening. Wind gusts were estimated to be around 60 mph with the strongest winds occurring between 7 and 9 pm. A 53 mph gust was measured by an automated sensor at the Ashtabula County Airport near Jefferson at 8:51 PM EDT. Damage in the county was extensive with hundreds of trees and many utility poles downed. Widespread power outages occurred with some customers without power for a couple days. Homes and buildings were damaged throughout the county. The damage ranged from a few shingles torn off to significant structural damage caused by fallen trees landing on roofs. Numerous vehicles were damaged by fallen trees and limbs and also from flying debris. Substantial clean up costs were incurred by local governments. Some of the schools in the county were forced to close on Monday the 15th because of the power outages.

A mixture of sleet and snow began in Ashtabula County before daybreak on March 4th. This mixture quickly changed to freezing rain which then continued into the early morning hours of March 5th. Conditions quickly deteriorated after sunset as surface temperatures dropped off a few degrees. Over a quarter inch of ice accumulation was reported on roads and sidewalks by early evening. By the time the freezing rain changed to light snow during the early morning hours of the 5th, as much as three quarters of an inch of ice had accumulated on parts of the county. Thunder and lightning were reported between 7 and 9 pm. The snow tapered to flurries during the morning hours of the 5th after an inch or so of accumulation. Widespread power outages occurred across Ashtabula County as a result of the freezing rain. Some electric customers in the county were without power for as much as four days. Extensive tree damage was reported in the county as well. Many accidents were reported during this event.

A line of severe thunderstorms moved across Ashtabula County and downed hundreds of trees and caused widespread power outages. Several homes and vehicles in the county were damaged by fallen trees.

Thunderstorm winds estimated at 60 to 70 mph caused considerable damage across the county. Several hundred trees and 55 power poles were downed. Widespread damage was reported in Ashtabula, Pierpont, Andover, Jefferson and Geneva on the Lake. Major damage occurred at a campground just north of Andover where five homes were severely damaged by fallen trees. Over 50 trees were downed at the campground.