The National Weather Service issued a Severe Thunderstorm Watch and multiple warnings across parts of Ohio Today, affecting residents in at least nine counties through the afternoon.
The watch, which covers Northeast Ohio, is in effect until 6 p.m. and applies to Ashland, Carroll, Columbiana, Coshocton, Holmes, Richland, Stark, Tuscarawas, and Wayne counties. Separate warnings were also issued for counties in central Ohio, including Franklin, Delaware, and Licking, as fast-moving storm cells tracked eastward across the state.
What the storms could bring
The NWS warned of wind gusts up to 60 mph, penny-size hail, and the potential for downed trees and power lines. A severe thunderstorm located near Sunbury at approximately 11:48 a.m. was moving east at 50 mph at the time of the central Ohio warning. A separate line of Thunderstorm extended from Lexington toward the Polaris area and was also moving east at 60 mph.
Affected locations in central Ohio included Columbus, Newark, Dublin, Westerville, Reynoldsburg, Delaware, Upper Arlington, Gahanna, Hilliard, Worthington, Bexley, Heath, Granville, Pataskala, Powell, Johnstown, Sunbury, Buckeye Lake, Hebron, and Utica. Sections of Interstate 70 and Interstate 71 were also flagged in the alert…