High Winds Damage Trees in East Cleveland and a Facade in Ashtabula, February 24, 2012

A front passed through Northeast Ohio mid to late afternoon, Friday, February 24, 2012.  Winds were generally out of the west to southwest.  A cursory check of peak wind speeds (gusts) across the area at the National Weather Service and Weather Underground (wunderground.com) websites found 55 MPH at Cleveland Hopkins Airport, 47 MPH at a station in Ashtabula, and 45 MPH at a station in East Cleveland.  A few trees were reported to be downed in East Cleveland.  One local television station (WOIO) reported that a portion of a brick facade had fallen in Ashtabula.