Trees tumble during storm, damaging Lorain County properties

AVON LAKE — High winds tore through Lorain County early Wednesday evening, causing damage to properties, power lines and innumerable trees but no known injuries as of 9:30 p.m. The northernmost areas of Lorain County seemed particularly hard-hit by the weather. Drivers traversing Lake Road had to avoid debris that ended up in the roadway. Part of a fallen tree obstructed some of the westbound lane in Sheffield Lake near The Perch on Lake apartments. In Avon Lake, police blocked off a section of Lake Road near the GenOn power plant where a utility pole had been blown to a diagonal angle and wires lay across the roadway. Damage to trees also led to detours for southbound motorists on state Route 83. The storm felled multiple trees and branches and whipped around pieces of trash cans at Miller Road Park. One large branch landed across a path near the garden and a tree fell on a bench overlooking the water. National Weather Service meteorologist Mike Griffin said radar estimates predicted hurricane-level winds at 80 to 85 mph. Reports from the Lorain Harbor Lighthouse after the storm moved through from 4:30 to 6 p.m. measured gusts around 53 mph, while farther east at Edgewater Beach in Cleveland registered gusts at 64 mph. Griffin said there was reported damage in Vermilion, Sheffield Lake, Bay Village and Avon Lake. Barb and Tom Tomson of Avon Lake were inside the Timberlane Drive home where they've lived 44 years when they heard a loud cracking noise. Tom Tomson recalled hearing his wife screaming as one of their old oak trees came crashing down onto the roof. "I thought it was coming through, I honestly did," Barb Tomson said. Luckily, the tree did not completely crush the home, although she said water was pouring into their kitchen from holes in the roof. Neighbors and members of the Tomsons' family came out to help clean up the property after the trees fell. Brian Tomson, the homeowners' son, said he received a call from his dad "scared to death" telling him what happened and asking him to come help. Tom Tomson said he made a call to their insurance company to report the damage. He said they used to have more trees on the property but have had many removed through the years. "I've got these big oaks now, and those things worry me," he said. The oaks were in pretty good condition last time they were told, Barb added. A big chunk of another tree in their backyard fell during the storm but did not hit the house, instead landing across Durrell Avenue. Family and neighbors helped cut and clear pieces of wood from the roadway. The Tomsons weren't the only residents in their neighborhood to have problems during the storm. At least four trees — or large parts of trees at least — fell within a few blocks around their residence. It was not clear how serious the damage was from the other fallen trees but at least one appeared to have made contact with a home on its way down. Thunderstorms are expected through the rest of the work week. On Wednesday evening, the next line of storms was brewing to the northwest in Michigan and Wisconsin, Griffin said. While Wednesday's storms were a fast-moving squall line, bringing little rain, those expected early this morning were expected to be slower, with heavier rain and lightning feeding off the humid, tropical air hanging over Northeast Ohio. A cold front is expected to move through Friday evening, pushing out the last of the severe weather by Saturday. Contact the reporters Dylan Reynolds at (440) 329-7123 or dreynolds@chroniclet.com, and Carissa Woytach at (440) 329-7245 or cwoytach@chroniclet.com.