Strong summer wind s came in early this morning through Middlesex Township and parts of southern Butler County, downing tree limbs and utility lines and causing electrical outages and closed roads. The overnight storm that brought high winds, rain, hail and lightning left four roads closed in Middlesex in a five-minute period. Between 3:54 and 3:59 a.m., township police and volunteer firefighters closed Overbrook, Bowers, Leslie and Deer Creek roads. “A big oak tree got knocked down and ended across Bowers Road,” Glenn Pfeifer, the assistant chief with the Middlesex Township Volunteer Fire Company. The same tree, he said, took down an electrical pole and wires on Overbook Road, which intersects with Bowers Road. Wind gusts also were believed responsible for felling trees that in turn brought down wires on Leslie and Deer Creek roads. Middlesex volunteer firefighters and police were assisted by Penn Township firefighters and police in closing the roads. The Middlesex road crew joined in the emergency call and used a high lift to clear debris. About 12:33 a.m., wires were reported down on Browns Hill, Deer Creek and Bowers roads in Middlesex and about 1 a.m. on Monks Road in Clinton Township. Penn Power reported this morning that 300 customers lost service with most of those in Middlesex. As of 8 a.m., 273 homes in Middlesex had no electricity. Several homes in neighboring Adams and Clinton townships in Butler County and West Deer Township in Allegheny County also lost power.
