Fort Wayne, IN – Drivers and residents across northeastern Indiana and northwest Ohio are facing a burst of severe weather Tuesday afternoon as a fast-moving line of thunderstorms pushes east with damaging wind potential.
According to the National Weather Service in Northern Indiana, a Severe Thunderstorm Warning remains in effect until 3:30 p.m. Tuesday for northeastern Allen County in Indiana and Defiance and Paulding counties in Ohio. Radar detected storms stretching from south of Bryan, Ohio, to near Paulding around mid-afternoon, racing east at roughly 50 mph.
The strongest cells could produce wind gusts up to 60 mph, strong enough to bring down tree limbs, damage roofs and siding, and cause scattered power outages. Communities in the warning area include Defiance, Hicksville, Paulding, Antwerp, Woodburn, Payne, Ney, Melrose, and Haviland, along with smaller towns such as Cecil, Latty, and Brunersburg.
Travel could become hazardous as the storms move through, especially along U.S. 24 and State Route 49, where sudden wind gusts and heavy rain may reduce visibility. Residents are urged to secure loose outdoor items and remain indoors until the storms pass.
Emergency officials encourage anyone who observes damage or severe weather to report it through local law enforcement so the information can reach the National Weather Service.
The storm line should clear the region by late afternoon, but additional advisories may be issued if more storms redevelop across northern Indiana and northwest Ohio.
