Wind knocks down trees, wires Thursday
Strong winds late Thursday knocked down tree limbs and wires in locations across Butler County, keeping emergency responders busy removing hazards from wet, windswept highways.
Winds measured a steady 24 mph with gusts approaching 40 mph just before 9 p.m. at Pittsburgh-Butler Regional Airport, when calls of fallen wires and trees began to inundate the Butler County 911 Center.
Wires were reported down on Dick Road in Connoquenessing Township at 8:38 p.m. Downed wires were reported a few minutes earlier on Meridian Road in Penn Township.
Downed trees and shrubs were blocking part of the highway at 134 Leisie Road in Forward Township at 8:55 p.m. Maintenance workers there were requesting chainsaws and other brush-clearing equipment.
A tree was reported fallen across Fleming Road near Sarver. It was removed quickly.
Another tree was blocking Coal Hollow Road near Ekastown Road, Clinton Township, just south of the Saxon Golf Course.
In Mercer Township, emergency crews were responding to a report of a vehicle crashed into a fallen tree on Route 8 near Boyers Road. Damage and injury reports were not available. The crash was reported about 9:40 p.m.
In Buffalo Township, a fallen tree was reported blocking traffic at 170 Bear Creek Road around 9:40 p.m.
The National Weather Service office in Pittsburgh on Thursday said a high wind warning remained in effect until 10 a.m. Friday, with forecast winds from the northwest measuring a steady 15 to 25 mph with gusts of up to 60 mph.
The weather service said widespread power outages could be expected, and travel might be difficult, particularly for high-profile vehicles like tractor-trailer rigs.
