Hurricane remnants hit Miami Valley; winds down trees, knock out power

Hurricane Helene remnants hit the Miami Valley on Friday, with damaging winds and heavy rain felling trees and utility poles and leaving tens of thousands of residents and businesses without power.

Nearly 115,000 utility customers lost power Friday afternoon and evening across the Miami Valley — with the majority more than 56,000 AES Ohio customers in Montgomery County — as the remnants of Hurricane Helene moved through the area.

The region was under a high wind warning issued by the National Weather Service for gusts expected between 45 and 55 mph with 60 mph wind gusts possible.

Gusts were reported as high as 62 mph in Springboro and Dayton, the NWS reported.

The high wind warning activated the Ohio Emergency Management Agency’s Ohio Traveler Alert System for the first time since it was launched in May. High-profile vehicles, such as a truck, van or SUV, are more prone to being pushed out of lanes or flipping in high winds. Also, motorists must watch for blowing objects.

The high wind warning in effect through 10 p.m. was canceled early, around 6:30 p.m., and the region was under a wind advisory until 10 p.m., which also was canceled early, around 8:45 p.m., as the wind weakened over the evening hours.

There were numerous reports of trees falling onto homes and roadways in addition to utility poles and power lines down.

Rush hour traffic was detoured after a pole snapped, bringing wires down across South Keowee Street at East Fifth Street in Dayton.

The Dixie Twin Drive-in sign was toppled in the Northridge neighborhood of Harrison Twp.

In Kettering, a large hardwood tree split at the base and fell onto multiple parked cars, and another large tree came down over Shroyer Road.

A barn roof was damaged along with some corn crops near Jamestown in Greene County.

Trees and power lines also were reported down in Beavercreek, Bellbrook, Enon, Fairborn, Fairfield, Harrison and Washington townships (Montgomery County), Huber Heights, Kettering, Madison Twp. (Butler County), Miamisburg, Middletown, Piqua, Springboro, Tipp City, Trenton, Vandalia, West Carrollton and Xenia.

The rest of the weekend will be rainy, with afternoon showers expected Saturday and Sunday. The high will be near 70 for today and warmer for Sunday, with a high near 74 degrees.

Credit: Marshall Gorby

Credit: Marshall Gorby

Credit: Nick Graham

Credit: Nick Graham

Credit: Nick Graham

Credit: Nick Graham

Credit: Bill Lackey

Credit: Bill Lackey

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