NEW MADISON — An early morning storm caused damage at a number of properties in Darke County Thursday.
Most damage was reported in southern portions of the county.
High winds tore the roof from a barn at a New Madison, Ohio, residence in the 3400 block of Ohio Route 722, about three miles west of Castine, Ohio. Debris from the roof hit a parked car and damaged trees at the home. The house and garage remained largely unscathed.
“It happened between 2:10 and 2:15 a.m.,” said Ken Fink, who was in the house with his wife Shirley at the time.
“It got real windy,” he said. “The rain was hitting hard against the windows.”
Emergency crews throughout the county, including those from Ansonia, Arcanum, Greenville and New Madison, were busy throughout the morning, dealing with fallen trees in roadways and downed power lines.
The storm caused sporadic power outages throughout the Miami Valley, including some areas in Darke County. Warren, Fayette and Clinton Counties were particularly hard hit.
The National Weather Service (NWS) in Wilmington, Ohio, confirmed that a tornado touched down in Fayette County, 3.5 miles west of Washington Court House, Ohio. Winds there were estimated as at least 80 miles per hour. NWS also confirmed a second tornado touched down in Clinton County, three miles southwest of Wilmington.
In addition, a flash flood watch was issued for Darke and surrounding counties effective until 6 p.m. Thursday.
The storm that rolled through was part of a larger system that hit the upper Midwest late Wednesday and early Thursday.
