CLEVELAND — Sunday morning, thousands in Northeast Ohio remain without power after high winds whipped through the area on Friday.
According to FirstEnergy, as of 8:20 a.m. on Sunday, the following counties are reporting outages:
- Ashland: 829
- Cuyahoga: 15,263
- Geauga: 1,861
- Lorain: 1,255
- Portage: 2,379
- Richland: 2,256
- Stark: 1,211
- Summit: 2,610
CLICK HERE to see outages reported by FirstEnergy.
CLICK HERE to see outages reported by Cleveland Public Power.
FirstEnergy released the following statement regarding Friday's damaging winds:
FirstEnergy crews supported by outside personnel are to restore power after winds exceeding 70 mph tore through our service area on Friday. While downed trees and road closures can slow progress, crews will work 24/7 to safely make repairs and restore service.
Due to the extent of the damage and ongoing windy conditions in some areas, restoration work is expected to continue over the next few days. Restoration times will be shared as available here on our map; you can also text STAT to 544487 for an update for your home.
If you are without power, please report your outage:Please keep safety top of mind during storm restoration:
- Call 1-888-LIGHTSS (1-888-544-4877).
- Text OUT to LIGHTS (544487).
- Online at firstenergycorp.com/outages.
Thank you for your patience. Stay safe!
- Stay at least 30 feet from downed power lines. Report them ASAP to 9-1-1.
- Don’t remove debris from electrical equipment.
- Keep generators outside. Disconnect the power coming into your home to prevent sending power back onto lines and endangering workers. View more generator safety tips.
- Use flashlights or battery-powered lanterns instead of candles.
- Never use gas stoves, grills or outdoor heaters for heat – they can produce deadly carbon monoxide.
On Friday, the National Weather Service issued High Wind Watches and Warnings for most of the News 5 viewing area, with Power of 5 Meteorologists expecting winds over 50 mph.
All watches and warnings expired by 2 a.m. on Saturday.
View our Weather Alerts page.
An 85 mph wind gust was reported at Burke Lakefront Airport Friday afternoon— the highest ever recorded, and records go back to 1972. The previous record was 79 mph during the Aug. 6, 2024, tornado outbreak/macroburst.
Damage
Reports of storm damage came in from across the area. Trees, power lines and fences are down. Traffic barrels and other items are in the street.
News 5 Meteorologist Allan Nosoff was in Avon Lake, where high winds toppled trees.
WATCH:
News 5's Mike Holden was in Parma this afternoon and spotted downed trees on houses and cars.
Crazy strong #winds in Parma. Tree just came crashing down onto a car. There’s debris blowing around and multiple down limbs. This is on Chestnut Hills Drive. Be safe! @WEWS #stormdamage #cleveland #weather #winddamage pic.twitter.com/pnca78fA6a
— Mike Holden (@MikeHoldenNews) March 13, 2026
Strong winds toppled a tree in Kamm's Corners in Cleveland.
Trees were down across Clague Road and Concord Drive in Westlake.
Damaging winds are quite common during severe thunderstorms, not so much for light rain or just cloudy conditions.
Gusts over 58 mph are the criteria for damage. That's when the National Weather Service issues Severe Thunderstorm Warnings. It's for the localized damage potential from those gusts.
Friday's forecast did not include severe thunderstorms. It did, however, include strong straight-line winds.
Viewer photos
Turnpike travel restrictions
Due to the high winds, the Ohio Turnpike issued travel restrictions until Saturday at midnight. The ban spanned across the entire 241-mile toll road, prohibiting several types of large and high-profile vehicles from using it.
RELATED: High-wind travel restriction now in place along Ohio Turnpike
Community resources
Due to the widespread power outages, some Northeast Ohio communities are offering resources to those affected.
In Cleveland, several warming centers are open on Saturday as temperatures have dropped significantly following Friday's severe weather.
The following centers will be open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.:
- Michael Zone Recreation Center located at 6301 Lorain Ave.
- EJ Kovacic Recreation Center located at 6250 St. Clair Ave.
- Frederick Douglass Recreation Center located at 15401 Miles Ave.
- Collinwood Recreation Center located at 16300 Lakeshore Blvd.
Brooklyn Heights opened up its Municipal Center on Saturday for residents who need to charge devices and medical equipment. The building's side doors are open, and the upstairs area is available to use.
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Trent Magill: Facebook & Twitter
Katie McGraw: Facebook & Twitter
Phil Sakal: Facebook & Twitter
Allan Nosoff: Facebook & Twitter
