Cleveland, Ohio – Drivers across northern Ohio could face hazardous crosswinds on major highways by early Friday as a powerful storm system strengthens over the Great Lakes, with wind gusts strong enough to knock down tree limbs and disrupt power.
According to the National Weather Service in Cleveland, a High Wind Watch remains in effect from early Friday morning through Friday evening for all of North Ohio and northwest Pennsylvania. Sustained southwest winds of 20 to 30 mph are expected to shift westerly during the day, with peak gusts reaching 50 to 60 mph.
Those winds could create travel issues along Interstate 90, Interstate 71, Interstate 77 and the Ohio Turnpike, particularly for semi-trucks, buses and other high-profile vehicles. Bridges and open areas near Lake Erie from Toledo through Cleveland to Ashtabula may experience the strongest gusts.
Utilities across the region are also preparing for potential outages as saturated ground and strong winds increase the chance of downed trees and power lines.
Residents should secure outdoor furniture, trash bins and decorations before winds increase overnight Thursday. Charging mobile devices and preparing flashlights may help if outages develop.
The strongest winds are expected from late Friday morning into the afternoon, with conditions gradually easing Friday night. Additional advisories or warnings could be issued if confidence in damaging winds increases.
