Power Outage in Mount Vernon, OH

An Arctic cold front swept through the area shortly before midnight 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 light to moderate snow occurred behind the front across the county through the morning hours of December 23rd before tapering to flurries. 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 35 MPH through the day. A peak wind gust of 43 MPH was recorded at Knox County airport at 4:55 AM December 23rd. Sporadic tree damage and power outages resulted. Wind gusts very gradually subsided into December 24th, though gusts didn���t drop below 25 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. Several minor accidents, slide-offs and disabled vehicles were reported throughout the county on December 23rd and 24th. The Knox County Sheriff declared a Level 3 snow emergency the evening of December 23rd which closed all roads in the county to non-emergency travel. This was not lifted until close to midday on December 24th. The sheriff mentioned that blowing and drifting snow was leading to some roads being impassable. The number of disabled vehicles put a strain on emergency services. Wind chills plunged below 0 by 5 AM December 23rd and did not rise above 0 until late in the evening on December 25th. A wind chill of -35F was recorded at 9:55 AM December 23rd at the Knox County Airport. A CoCoRaHS observer measured 2.0��� of snow in Mount Vernon with this storm.

As the tornado continued moving southeastward, trees and power poles were damaged along the tornado's path in Green Valley. A detached garage was destroyed with cinderblocks thrown about 20 yards into a nearby field. In addition, a barn was destroyed and farm equipment was displaced about 200 to 300 yards to the southeast. The tornado dissipated near Cochran Road, just south of Green Valley Road. Estimated peak tornadic winds were 105 mph.

Numerous trees and power lines downed in Mount Vernon.

Scattered downed trees and power lines across the southern-half of Knox County. Law enforcement was unable to give specific times or locations. Thus, report time and location (3 miles SSE of Mount Vernon) were estimated via radar.

Trees and power lines were downed across the area, including in the Mount Vernon area. Scattered power outages were also reported in the area.

Thunderstorm winds downed several trees on the northern side of Mt. Vernon. Scattered power outages were also reported in the area.

Thunderstorm winds downed several trees on the northern side of Mt. Vernon. Scattered power outages were also reported in the area.

Thunderstorm winds of at least 60 mph downed many trees and power lines across southern Knox County. A home just northwest of Homer was damaged by a fallen tree. On second home west of Gambier was also struck by a fallen tree.

Thunderstorm winds of at least 60 mph downed many trees and power lines across southern Knox County. A home just northwest of Homer was damaged by a fallen tree. On second home west of Gambier was also struck by a fallen tree.

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

The Sheriff reported a tree down across Rangeline Rd with another tree down resting on powerlines on Johnson Ave in Mount Vernon.

Thunderstorm winds downed trees and power lines throughout Knox County.

A few trees and power lines were downed. A car was crushed by a tree east of Mount Vernon.

High winds downed several trees across Knox County. Scattered power outages were also reported with several hundred homes and businesses affected.

A mixture of freezing rain and sleet fell on Knox County during the early morning hours of February 1st. Up to a quarter inch of ice accumulation was reported by daybreak. A second round of freezing rain and drizzle began during the afternoon hours and continued into the early morning hours of the 2nd. Some sleet mixed with the freezing rain at times. A few power outages resulted from the freezing rain early on the 1st. Power outages were more numerous on 2nd. Wrap around snow behind the low affected northern Ohio during the daylight hours of the 2nd. Some of the snow was locally heavy with visibilities at times less than a quarter mile. Much of the area saw between one and three inches of snow. The snow quickly ended from west to east during the evening hours. Strong winds also accompanied the precipitation. Many schools were closed on the 1st, 2nd and 3rd because of residual thick ice on parking lots, sidewalks and secondary roads. This ice resulted from the combination of two days of mixed freezing rain, sleet and snow and was up to two inches thick in some areas. Removing the ice from sidewalks and driveways was nearly impossible.

Thunderstorm winds toppled a large tree which knocked some power lines down.

Thunderstorm winds downed a few trees and power lines.

A strong cold front moved across Knox County around midday on December 9th. Southwest winds behind the front rapidly increased with gusts in excess of 45 mph by early afternoon. Gusts continued to increase the remainder of the afternoon with peak gusts of around 60 mph reported during the late afternoon hours. Winds continued to gust to as much as 50 mph through 10 pm. A spotter in Centerburg measured a 57 mph gust just after 1 pm. The high winds downed a few trees, utility poles and power lines in Knox County. A few power outages were reported.

A strong cold front moved across Knox County during the evening of February 11th. West to southwest winds gusted to more than 60 mph behind the front. A peak gust of 62 mph was measured at Centerburg around 11 pm. Winds finally diminished a couple hours before daybreak on the 12th. Hundreds of trees and a few utility poles were downed in the county causing scattered power outages. Many buildings in the county sustained damage. Most of this was from lost shingles, but a few buildings lost gutters or sections of siding.

Snow began during the afternoon hours of the 27th, and continued overnight and through the morning of the 28th. The snow finally tapered off during the afternoon of the 28th. However, during the early morning hours, the snow changed over to freezing rain and lasted through the mid morning. As the low pressure pulled away from the area, colder air moved back into the area changing the freezing rain back to snow before ending. While snowfall accumulations were only in the 5.0 to 8.0 inch range, freezing rain accumulated to around a quarter of an inch in some locations. Fortunately there were no major problems such as widespread power outages or downed trees with the freezing rain, however, a few accidents were reported. Gusty westerly winds accompanied the precipitation and caused some blowing and drifting snow.

A mixture of sleet and freezing rain developed during the overnight hours of the 19th and continued through daybreak before changing over to all rain. Around a quarter of an inch of ice was reported across the area, but quickly melted as temperatures rose above freezing during the morning hours, and especially into the afternoon. The impact from the ice was minimal due to temperatures initially right around freezing, as well as the quick warm up during the late morning hours. A few accidents were reported, but there were no reports of power outages during this event.

High winds associated with the remnants of Hurricane Ike began late in the afternoon of September 14th and then continued through much of the evening. Wind gusts were estimated to be as much as 70 mph. Damage in the county was extensive with thousands of trees and many utility poles downed. Widespread power outages occurred as well with some customers without power for as much as ten days. Home and building damage across the county was also extensive. The damage ranged from a few shingles torn off to significant structural damage caused by fallen trees landing on roofs. Awnings and gutters were torn off of some homes. Numerous vehicles were damaged by fallen trees and limbs and also from flying debris. This storm hampered travel as downed trees and power lines forced the closure of many roads. Substantial clean up costs were incurred by local governments. Many of the schools in the county were forced to close on Monday the 15th because of the power outages. A college in Mt. Vernon was also forced to close on Monday after suffering a campus wide power outage and minor damage to several buildings. Significant crop losses occurred as well. Corn yields were reduced between 3 and 5 percent in many areas with lesser losses to the soybean crop.

Freezing rain began in Know County before daybreak on March 4th. The freezing rain continued into the evening hours with a brief lull during the early afternoon hours. Thunder and lightning were reported during the late afternoon hours and conditions quickly deteriorated after sunset as surface temperatures dropped off a few degrees. Over a quarter inch of ice accumulation was reported by early evening with up to a half inch of accumulation for the entire storm. The freezing rain eventually changed to light snow just after midnight on the 5th. The snow finally ended around daybreak on the 5th. Many accidents and scattered power outages were reported during this event. Many trees and limbs were reported down across the county as well.

Numerous trees and power lines were reported down across the county.

Several trees and power lines were reported down.

Freezing rain spread into Knox County during the early morning hours of March 15th. The freezing rain transitioned to light snow around daybreak. Around a quarter inch of ice accumulated along with a dusting of snow. A few power outages and accidents were reported.

Several large limbs were reported down across Mt. Vernon. One tree fell onto a house causing damage. Several streets were closed in the city during the evening hours due to fallen limbs and power lines.

Severe thunderstorms moved across Knox County during the afternoon hours of June 22nd. Damage was reported from Fredericktown to Mt. Vernon. Dozens of trees came down in Fredericktown and several homes suffered major damage from fallen trees. There was also a report of a barn heavily damaged during the storm. In Mt Vernon, numerous trees were reported down and one house was damaged by a downed tree. A car was crushed by another fallen tree. Utility poles and lines were downed at several locations in the county with approximately twenty thousand customers affected by outages. Downed trees and power lines also forced several county and town roads in and around Mt Vernon to be closed.

A line of severe thunderstorms moved across Knox County and caused widespread damage and scattered power outages. The Gambier area was the hardest hit with over 100 trees downed and several homes damaged. There was also a lot of damage in the Mount Vernon, Apple Valley, Danville and Howard areas with many homes damaged. Several automobiles in the county were also damaged by fallen trees and limbs.

Thunderstorm downburst winds estimated to be around 70 mph caused widespread damage. A 60 mph gust was measured by spotters in Mount Vernon at 8:10 p.m. Well over 100 trees were downed in the county with 30 in Mount Vernon alone. Homes were damaged in both Mount Vernon and Centerburg. Widespread power outages occurred and many roads and highways were blocked by fallen trees.

A tornado moved through the very southern part of Knox County. The damage path was nearly 10 miles in length, ranged from 50 to 100 yards in width and moved through Miller and Morgan Townships. The tornado lifted in Morgan Township just east of Morgan Center Road after downing many large trees and flattening sections of several large corn fields. Minor damage occurred to four homes and a barn was destroyed. A small storage shed was also damaged and several dozen trees and power poles were downed.