Heavy thunderstorms battered northeast Indiana Monday night, damaging buildings and leaving thousands without power just as record high temperatures showed up in the area.
Three rounds of storms began Monday afternoon, but the biggest roared through around 10 p.m. That storm has been declared a derecho by the National Weather Service’s Storm Prediction Center.
A derecho is a widespread, sustained straight line wind storm often accompanying fast-moving thunderstorms.
A record-setting wind gust was recorded at the Fort Wayne International Airport, measuring at 98 mph. The last record-setting wind was measured on June 30, 2012, which was also the last time a derecho hit the area.
Monday night’s storms knocked trees across roadways, and dropped hail measuring up to 1.75 inches in Huntertown. Two inches of rain was measured at the airport.
No tornadoes were confirmed, according to the National Weather Service.
As of Wednesday morning, area utility companies issued the following updates to estimated restoration times:
I&M/AEP power outage updates
- Fort Wayne area: 17,00 still out, estimated restoration 11 p.m. Thursday.
- Avilla area: 2,400 still out, estimated restoration 11 p.m. Wednesday.
- Decatur area: 200 still out, estimated restoration 3 p.m. Wednesday.
Northeastern REMC
Two-thirds of those out of power are restored. Officials are likely power will be restored by the end of the day on Wednesday.
Noble REMC
Roughly 2 percent of their customers remain without power as of Wednesday morning.
The City of Fort Wayne has extended hours for biosolid drop-offs to accomodate those who need to get rid of tree debris.
Those extended hours at its Biosolids Facility, 6202 Lake Ave., are from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m. tonight-Thursday. Fees will be waived through Sunday. Friday and Saturday hours will be 8 a.m.-6 p.m. and noon-6 p.m. Sunday.
Also Republic Services will start accepting tree debris at their compost site at the landfill, 6231 MacBeth Road, beginning Thursday morning.
Cooling stations are open for the public around the area, including the lobby of the Foellinger-Freimann Botanical Conservatory is open from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. through Thursday. The Fort Wayne Salvation Army is available from 9 a.m.- 4 p.m. through Thursday.
Northeastern REMC is providing a cooling station at its Columbia City headquarters beginning at 10 a.m. Wednesday.
