Severe storms leave thousands without power
Post-Tribune staff report June 29, 2012 12:52PM
A worker clears debris from a crush SUV after a tree was blown down, trapping the driver during a mid-morning storm in Valparaiso Friday June 29, 2012. | Stephanie Dowell~Sun-Times Media
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Updated: August 1, 2012 6:09AM
Storms with hail and winds topping 90 mph moved through northern Indiana on Friday afternoon, leaving thousands of businesses and homes in the region without power.
A 91 mph wind gust was measured at Fort Wayne International Airport shortly before 3 p.m. The National Weather Service said the top 40 feet of a 100-foot radio tower was blown down in Whitley County northwest of Fort Wayne.
Meteorologists reported no other significant damage beyond some leaves and branches down due to hail.
Hail up to 2.5 inches in diameter was observed across Northwest Indiana, and baseball-sized hail was reported in Dyer.
Valparaiso Police Sgt. Mike Grennes said a woman sustained minor injuries when a tree fell on her car.
In Elkhart, WSBT-TV reported a large tree limb fell on an ice cream van and the driver was taken to a hospital as a precaution.
Northern Indiana Public Service Co. reported scattered power outages in Northwest Indiana. About 26,600 customers were still without electricity as of 4 p.m., the utility said.
Another line of storms was roling through the area Friday night.
Saturday’s forecast calls for partly sunny skies with a 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, with highs in the low 90s.
Elsewhere in the state, temperatures again soared into the triple digits in some areas.
In Indianapolis, the temperature hit 103 degrees at 4:31 p.m., breaking the record of 100 set in 1934. After the storm, the temperature dropped to a mild 74. Temperatures hit 106 in Evansville, 105 in Terre Haute and 101 in Shelbyville.
AP contributed to this report.
