Cleveland, Ohio – Severe thunderstorms could sweep across Northern Ohio by mid-afternoon Friday, with damaging winds and isolated hail threatening areas west of I-77 through 5 p.m.
According to the National Weather Service in Cleveland, a Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 7 p.m. for most of Northern Ohio and Northwestern Pennsylvania. The greatest risk west of I-77 — including cities like Toledo, Mansfield, and Lorain — will occur between now and 5 p.m., with strong gusts up to 60 mph and quarter-sized hail possible.
Storm cells are expected to push eastward into areas such as Akron, Canton, and Youngstown between 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. Crews are on alert for potential downed trees, scattered power outages, and hazardous travel along I-80, I-71, and U.S. Route 30. Drivers are urged to slow down and avoid flooded roads, while residents should secure outdoor objects and keep phones charged in case of outages.
The storms mark one of the season’s first widespread severe weather threats in the region. Similar systems brought damage to Central Ohio earlier this week, including toppled utility poles and brief outages.
More updates may follow this evening as storms continue east. Watches remain in effect until 7 p.m. — stay tuned to local alerts and be ready to take cover if warnings are issued.
