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Microburst caused storm damage

DAMAGE — A house off Wildwood Drive just north of Colerain had extensive damage following a microburst that hit Wednesday evening.

Staff writer

COLERAIN — The storm that caused damage to several structures in Belmont County last week has been ruled a microburst.

The National Weather Service in Moon Township, Pa., said it was not wind from a tornado that blew over barns and ripped the roof off of a house Wednesday night near Colerain. Instead, a meteorologist with the NWS said Sunday it was something more common to the Ohio Valley.

“It was classified as straight-line winds, commonly referred to as a microburst,” said Pat Herald. “Microbursts are a common occurrence.”

Herald said a microburst is a localized column of sinking air (called a downdraft) that is associated with a thunderstorm and usually is less than or equal to 2.5 miles in diameter. They happen all the time, he said.

But microbursts can cause significant damage, as Belmont County residents learned at about 7:30 p.m. Wednesday.

“Microbursts can be as strong as a EF0 or EF1 tornado,” said Ty Wilson, assistant chief of Colerain Volunteer Fire Department. “That is how we end up with the damage as we did the other night.”

Wilson had said previously that wind was the main problem during the storm. It destroyed much of a farm — including two barns owned by Randy and Peggy Walker — and tore the roof off a house between Colerain and Dillonvale. It also caused flooding in parts of Pease Township and across the Ohio River in Ohio County.

Wilson said people who own the property that was damaged are waiting on insurance agencies to take pictures and complete their claims before residents can begin clean up.

“Wildwood Drive is temporarily secure,” said Wilson, referring to an area with known storm damage. “They will work with insurance and go from there.”

Judy Messenger, who owns a house on Wildwood Drive, said her house was not harmed. She said her neighbor, Michael Dlesk, wasn’t so lucky. Dlesk’s home had substantial damage to its roof, and a camper parked near the home had significant damage, too. Messenger said Dlesk is staying in a motel because he cannot remain in his home. He was not available Sunday afternoon for comment.

Meanwhile, Wilson said the Walkers, who live off Fireman’s Lane, are doing OK.

“What is good for them is they had left the barn a few minutes before it hit,” said Wilson. “They are still trying to work things out as far as clean up and insurance. It will be expensive with the two barns.”

Herald said the fact that the damage wasn’t caused by a tornado won’t affect the insurance claims.

“It is irrelevant which direction the wind is blowing,” said Herald.

In fact, he said, just because such occurrences are common does not mean they are any less dangerous.

“Always take (storm warnings) seriously, move indoors,” said Herald. “You need to have respect for what is coming.”

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