News: It's a girl! Congratulations to Betsy Kling and Paul Thomas

Congratulations to Channel 3's Betsy Kling and Paul Thomas, who welcomed Josephine Frances into the world Monday evening.

Josephine Frances, Mom and Dad are doing well.

She is 8 lbs 11oz and is 21.5 inches long.

Check out our photogallery: CLICK HERE

News: Some like it hot

By WKYC Reporter Paul Thomas

CLEVELAND -- Not everyone is diving into the great indoors when the summer suns boils Northeast Ohio.

More heat means hundreds of more wet feet and more money flowing through Geauga Lake's Wildwater Kingdom each day.

And this weekend, the AST Dew Tour -- a sporting event that features freestyle motocross, BMX and skateboarding -- is expected to draw more than 50,000 people and $10 million into the local economy.

But those numbers are driven by the weather too. And 90-degree days are just fine for the competition, as long as the sun shines.

Skateboarder and snowboard Olympic Gold Medalist Shaun White is in Cleveland for the event.

Why can't some people drive in snow?

By Mike O'Mara

NORTHEAST OHIO (WKYC) -- Snow squalls provide first test of the winter and put drivers to the test too.

The big city salt trucks were out Wednesday morning in every municipality in Northeast Ohio. The rigs were back out Wednesday afternoon as waves of snow squalls blew across the open waters of Lake Erie.

But as thousands of motorists slogged through the slush and the poor visibility, many had the same thought. This is Cleveland. Why is driving on snow such a surprise for so many people?

In Avon, Tony Miceli was scraping several inches of accumulation off his car.

"I think some people just get nervous and do dumb stuff," said Miceli. "Then they realize they're in for five months of snow and ice and then they start to calm down."

Many drivers still refuse to put on their headlights in the snow, even with poor visibility. And parents with teenage drivers cross their fingers and hope the phone doesn't ring.

Leaning on his snowblower, Lee Cory said, "my son just learned to drive this year. When he left this morning I forgot to mention to him that he needs to be a little bit careful out there. Now I worry about that 'hey, dad I'm in the ditch phone call'".

And what ever happened to snow tires in the winter. The majority of drivers in Northeast Ohio use all season tires instead. Automotive experts say that's a big mistake.

Brian Beane works for Automotive Specialty Services in Avon. He's driven test cars on an ice rink to see which tire really works in slippery conditions.

"We drive on the ice with a car that has all season tires and one car that has snow tires" said Beane. "It's not even close. The snow tires provide superior traction."

Beane added, "these days "all season" tires are good for three seasons. The 4th season being winter, there is nothing as good as a snow and ice tire. But even with front wheel drive, you still need 4 snow tires and that's expensive."

One motorist in Avon had a much more succinct explanation for poor driving in the snow.

John Smith said, "one word - stupidity".

Smith added, "and just think, we've got four more months of this, at least!"

VIDEO FEATURE:
To watch Mike O'Mara's package: CLICK HERE

Meanings behind full moon names

CLEVELAND -- Saturday night is the "Full Beaver Moon" of November. How do moons get their creative names?

To answer this question, we turned to the pages of the Old Farmers Alamanc which explains that full moon names actually date back to Native Americans, of what is now the northern and eastern United States.

The tribes kept track of the seasons by giving distinctive names to each recurring full Moon.

Their names were applied to the entire month in which each occurred. There was some variation in the Moon names, but in general, the same ones were current throughout the Algonquin tribes from New England to Lake Superior.

European settlers followed that custom and created some of their own names. Since the lunar month is only 29 days long on the average, the full Moon dates shift from year to year.

November's full moon is called the "Full Beaver Moon" as it was the time of the year to set beaver traps before the swamps froze, to ensure a supply of warm winter furs.

Another interpretation suggests that the name Full Beaver Moon comes from the fact that the beavers are now actively preparing for winter.

It is sometimes also referred to as the Frosty Moon.

You can read more about the meanings behind the full moon names in the Old Farmers Almanac, CLICK HERE

News: Watch for dried out Christmas trees

by Jeff Maynor
WKYC.COM

CLEVELAND -- The drought that's affected southern states is having an affect on Christmas trees coming to market in northeast Ohio. North Carolina is the second-leading producer of Christmas trees behind only Oregon. "The trees may be a little shorter this year, and while most growers try to keep their trees well-watered, some may be drier than usual," said Jill Morgan of Lowe's Greenhouse in Bainbridge Township.

Morgan said the best way to test a cut tree for dryness is to hold a branch in one hand and, with the other hand, grasp the branch and pull along the branch to the end.

"If you see a handful of green needles, either in your hand or on the ground, you want to go on to a different tree," she said. Lowe's and many other area dealers get their Frasier Fir trees from tree farms in Portage County, not affected by the southern drought.

Prices for this popular variety will range between $50 and $100 for standard sizes, up to $300 for trees 16 feet and taller. The most popular Christmas tree variety here is also the most reasonably-priced. Scotch pine trees are selling in the $25 to $50 price range.

Brown needles near the trunk of a Scotch pine are not a concern Morgan said. "Just shake them off. This variety of tree has some dead needles near the trunk that are not a sign it's dried out"

Once you've selected a Christmas tree.....make a fresh diagonal cut across the end of the trunk to allow better water absorption, and give it plenty of water.

One fire prevention officer recommends a "mixed drink" for trees. "Some people mix soda pop with the water to get sugars up into the tree," said Chris Stacey of the Bainbridge Township Fire Department. "This will help keep your tree nice and moist."

To watch video of Jeff's story: CLICK HERE

9 months after record snowstorm, hospitals report spike in births

ELYRIA, Ohio (AP) -- Hospitals in northeast Ohio are reporting a surge in baby births this week.

And hospital staff are doing the math and theorizing that last February's record snowstorm is behind the births.

The storm that took place nine months ago forced most couples to cancel their Valentine's Day plans and stay indoors.

At the Women and Children's Center in Lorain, three babies normally are delivered in a day. But hospital spokesman Patrick Crowley says that on Wednesday, six babies were born and another eight arrived yesterday.

At EMH Regional Medical Center in Elyria, Nurse Manager Tina Bowker says 22 babies have been born since Tuesday.

She says most of the new mothers and fathers tell a common story about how they spent the blizzard.

To watch video of this story: CLICK HERE

News: Higher fares for Thanksgiving travel this year

Thanksgiving is just two weeks away...and the rush is on to finalize travel plans. If you haven't booked a flight already, brace yourself for prices higher than this time last year.

Driving won't be cheap either, thanks to rising fuel costs.

NBC reporter, Leanne Gregg reports from Denver: (Clik "Play" to watch)

Video: The Wonderful World of Cleveland

Cleveland has so many beautiful sights and sounds. We'll be adding new video for you to enjoy as we help prove to the world that Northeast Ohio is the "Best Location in the Nation."

If you can't see the video below, CLICK HERE

News: Nasty weather leads to cleaner air for Northeast Ohio

The Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency or NOACA tells us that all this nasty weather we are having is actually good for the environment.

According to NOACA Environmental Planner Amy Wainright, "NOACA reports that the cold air, wind, rain, and snow may dampen some spirits, but those conditions have cleared our air pollution. The summer's hot ozone season has ended, and fine particulates are in the 'Good' range this week."

For hourly monitor readings, you can always visit www.noaca.org

Enjoy our first snow!

News: October Warmth for Northeast OH/Western PA

October was warm across Northern Ohio and Northwest Pennsylvania. According to the National Weather Service Office in Cleveland, this is how we fared for the month:

CLEVELAND
*3rd warmest October on record at 60.2 degrees. The warmest October on record is 61.4 degrees in 1947.
*On the 8th, the temperature reached 88 degrees. This tied the record high for this date set in 1939.

AKRON CANTON
*7th warmest October on record at 58.2 degrees. The warmest October on record is 59.6 degrees in 1947.
*On the 7th, the temperature reached 86 degrees...which is a new record high. The old record high for this date was 85 degrees set in 1963.

MANSFIELD
*3rd warmest October on record at 58.6 degrees. The warmest October on record is 61.0 degrees in 1963.
*On the 4th, the temperature reached 83 degrees...which is a new record high. The old record high for this date was 82 degrees set in 1967.
*On the 5th, the temperature reached 84 degrees...which is a new record high. The old record high for this date was 76 degrees set in 1984.
*On the 6th, the temperature reached 84 degrees. This tied the record high for this date set in 1963.
*On the 7th, the temperature reached 87 degrees...which is a new record high. The old record high for this date was 85 degrees set in 1963.
*On the 8th, the temperature reached 86 degrees...which is a new record high. The old record high for this date was 78 degrees set in 1973.
*On the 21st, the temperature reached 80 degrees...which is a new record high. The old record high for this date was 79 degrees set in 1979.

YOUNGSTOWN
*2nd warmest October on record at 58.4 degrees. The warmest October on record is 59.6 degrees in 1947.
*On the 7th, the temperature reached 85 degrees. This tied the record high for this date set in 1946.
*On the 8th, the temperature reached 87 degrees...which is a new record high. The old record high for this date was 84 degrees set in 1949.
*On the 21st, the temperature reached 80 degrees. This tied the record high for this date set in 1979.

TOLEDO
*6th warmest October on record at 59.0 degrees. The warmest October on record is 61.2 degrees in 1879.
*On the 5th, the temperature reached 88 degrees. This tied the record high for this date set in 1951.

ERIE, PENNSYLVANIA
*2nd warmest October on record at 61.1 degrees. The warmest October on record is 61.5 degrees in 1947.
*On the 5th, the temperature reached 87 degrees...which is a new record high. The old record high for this date was 84 degrees set in 1951.
*On the 8th, the temperature reached 84 degrees...which is a new record high. The old record high for this date was 81 degrees set in 1916.

Information Courtesy: NWS/Cleveland

Feature Article: Alberta Clippers

What is An Alberta Clipper
An Alberta clipper, also known as a Canadian Clipper, is a fast moving low pressure area which generally affects the central provinces of Canada and parts of the Upper Midwest and Great Lakes regions of the United States. Most clippers occur between December and February, but can also occur occasionally in the month of November. Alberta Clippers take their name from Alberta, Canada, the province from which they appear to descend, and from clipper ships of the 19th century, one of the fastest ships of that time.

Formation
A clipper originates when warm, moist winds from the Pacific Ocean come into contact with the mountains in the provinces of British Columbia and then Alberta. The air travels down the lee side of the mountains, often forming a chinook in Alberta, then develops into a storm over the Canadian prairies when it becomes entangled with the cold air mass that normally occupies the region in winter. The storm then slides southward and gets caught up in the flow around the mass of high pressure which always inhabits cold polar areas, sending the storm barreling into central and eastern areas of North America.

Ironically, the chinook which in part originates the Alberta clipper usually brings extremely warm weather (often approaching 70 degrees in the depths of winter) to southern Alberta itself, and the term is therefore not in common use in Alberta.

Effects
The storms sweep in at high speed over whatever land they encounter, usually bringing with them sharp cold fronts and drastically lower temperatures. It is not uncommon for an Alberta clipper to cause temperatures to drop by 30 degrees in as little as 10 to 12 hours. Often, the storms bring biting winds with them, only increasing the effect of the newly lower temperatures. Winds in advance and during an Alberta clipper are frequently as high as 35 to 45 mph. These conditions would cause wind chill values to drop into the -20 to -50 Fahrenheit range.

Snowfall amounts with these systems tend to be small (on the order of 1 to 3 inches), as the severe lack of moisture and quick movement inhibit substantial snowfall totals. However, several factors could combine to produce somewhat impressive snowfall totals (6 inches or more). These factors include access to more moisture (which raises precipitation amounts), slower system movement (which increases snowfall duration), and colder temperatures (which increases the snow to water ratio). The southern and eastern shores of the Great Lakes often receive enhanced snowfall from Alberta Clippers during the winter, due to lake enhancement. The lake effect snow can add substantially to the overall snowfall total.

During the winter, Alberta clippers can occur somewhat frequently, with system intervals on the order of two to four days common during active periods.

Variations
Two variations of Alberta Clippers are "Manitoba Maulers" or "Saskatchewan Screamers." These two types of systems are far less common than Clippers, and even when they take place they are still often referred to as Clippers. The main difference between the three is from which Canadian province they begin their southward trek.

Courtesy: Wikipedia

Video: Lake Erie "Beyond the Surface" Part II

On the surface, it looks like any other body of water. Yet the 11th largest lake on earth has a deeper story to tell. In its currents flow a timeline of the American dream; its successes, its failures, and its future. The story of Lake Erie is one of environmental recovery, economic resurgence and diversity of purpose. Yet this is a very pivotal time for the lake and our region.

While experts believe that the quality of the lake improved dramatically from 1975 thru 1995, the past ten years have been more disturbing. Threatening invasive species, watershed problems and the need for economic utilization force us to learn how to best balance commerce, recreation, homeland security and environmental concerns.

WKYC-TV/HD presents Part 2 in our series "Lake Erie: Beyond the Surface." Shot completely in high definition, we explore the economic importance of one of our most precious natural resources.

Click on the following links to watch the show on-line, right now:

Segment #1
Segment #2
Segment #3
Segment #4

To read more about our year long series including multimedia, more video and interviews, click on the following link: http://www.wkyc.com/life/programming/shows/lake_erie/

Video: Chopper 3 Aerial Fall Colors Tour

Chopper 3 was up this afternoon and took some video of the fall colors around Northeast Ohio. Some areas are still rather green, while others are turning quickly. Click on the video below to watch. If you can't see the video on this blog page, CLICK HERE.



RELATED LINKS:
*To send us pictures of your fall colors: CLICK HERE
*To upload video of your fall colors: CLICK HERE

News: Energy Saving Tips

As the cooler days and nights set in, we have some easy tips you can use to reduce your home energy costs and keep more $$$ in your wallet this winter:

1) Adjust the setting on your hot water tanks to "warm." Get an insulating blanket for the heater to make it run more efficiently. Insulate hot water pipes where they travel through unheated areas of the basement.

2) Add a storm door to your front door. Make sure your weatherstripping around that door and all others is intact. If not, replace it.

3) Check the attic to ensure proper insulation. Since heat rises, it will go right out your attic if it's not well insulated.

4) Install a new digital thermostat to allow you to program it depending on your lifestyle. Lower it during the day if no one is home.

5) Vacuum and/or replace your furnace filters, air conditioners and heat pump filters.

News: Cold Air Funnel Clouds Spotted on Lake Erie

CLEVELAND -- The National Weather Service in Cleveland has issued a special marine for the Lake Erie shoreline from Vermilion to Ripley, New York including Ashtabula and Fairport Harbor.

The warning area also extends to five nautical miles off shore. The warning is in effect until 8:30 p.m. Friday night.

At 627 p.m., the National Weather Service says some cold air funnels were reported over Lake Erie just north of Cleveland. It is possible that some of these cold air funnels could become waterspouts.

Waterspouts are possible on Lake Erie through dark. Mariners can expect gusty winds and high waves near any waterspouts. Boaters should seek safe harbor immediately if they see a waterspout or cold air funnel.

To watch video of a cold air funnel we caught on tape: CLICK HERE

News: Light Quake Shakes Ashtabula County

There was a light, pre-dawn earthquake today off the Lake Erie shoreline in northeast Ohio.

The Ohio Seismic Network says the quake about 4:46 a.m. just off Conneaut measured 2-point-6, barely enough to rattle dinnerware.

An aftershock at 11:05 a.m. measured less at 2-point-4.

Seismic Network coordinator Michael Hansen says a quake of that magnitude is barely enough to wake up people and would be ignored in quake-prone California.

Conneaut is located in the northeast corner of Ohio between Cleveland and Erie, Pennsylvania.

News: New Records Set for 9/25/07

We tied a record high Tuesday afternoon in Cleveland, thanks to sunshine and a warm southwest wind flow.

Cleveland: Tied record of 88 degrees @ 3:54 PM - Old record was 88 in 1900.

Youngstown: New record of 91 degrees @2:52 PM - Old record was 84 degrees was in 1986.

Mansfield: New record of 88 degrees @3:08 PM - Old record was 86 degrees set in 1986.

Findlay: New record high 0f 89 degrees @ 2:38 PM - Old record was 88 degrees set in 1986.

News: Bold prediction for Cleveland winter

By Dick Russ

The Old Farmers Almanac is predicting some extraordinary weather for Northeast Ohio. How much snow will we get?

How cold, or warm is it going to be this winter? What strange weather related events will we experience?

Those questions are answered today by Janice Stillman, Editor of the Old Farmer's Almanac.

The publication is now in its 216th year, and with a track record of 80% accuracy, stands by its unusual predictions for winter and for 2008 in Northeast Ohio.

According to the Almanac, we'll get far less snow than we'd expect, and whatever does fall will melt very quickly.

The publication is also predicting a much warmer than normal winter, and in fact says the year 2008 from beginning to end may be the warmest year ever in Northeast Ohio!

But there are some variables that can affect these bold predictions, which are based on pure scientific analysis according to the Old Farmers Almanac.

For more details of the surprising answers to these questions, please click on the video link below as WKYC's Dick Russ talks with Janice Stillman about the winter weather outlook for our area.

To Watch Video:CLICK HERE

Remembering Katrina: A WKYC Reporter's Perspective

By Eric Mansfield

The nation is marking the two year anniversary of the worst natural disaster to date in the nation's history. Two years ago, Hurricane Katrina, moved ashore laying waste to New Orleans and the Gulf Coast. (Click on Photo to view Eric's Photo Gallery)

Channel 3 anchor/reporter Eric Mansfield was deployed to the region immediately following the storm's wrath. On this two year anniversary he shares his thoughts and memories.
-----------------------------------------------
I've never seen anything like what I saw in Mississippi and Louisiana two years ago. Not in my tour of duty in Iraq, not in my reporting assignments on other disasters, nothing comes close. This was absolute destruction.

I was in the Akron newsroom when the call came in that I was to report to Dayton and fly out immediately with an advanced leadership team from Ohio. We would need to be on the ground in Shelby, Mississippi, immediately, to make way for thousands of other National Guard troops who would flood the region in 72 hours time.

Our military C-130 couldn't land near Shelby because there wasn't power for runway lights and it was getting dark on our approach. We were diverted northeast to another airfield. A bus picked us up and we headed toward the coast. The bus driver warned us immediately that it we were delayed even for a few minutes, we'd likely run out of gas and be stuck in the Mississippi wilderness. I knew right then, that despair was upon us.

I remember doing double takes after seeing cars stuck in trees like a scene from "Harry Potter". I couldn't believe that a boat was wedged into a fast food drive-thru about five miles from the ocean. I remember driving around roofs that were in the middle of the road but no homes in sight.

One of the great untold stories is that Ohio National Guard soldiers were the first troops to reach the Superdome. Members of D-148th Infantry Co. from North Canton arrived in Mississippi just long enough for us to put them on choppers and deliver them to the Superdome under the cover of darkness. I was not with them, but those who were there say the crowds at the Superdome were unlike any they'd ever seen. Eventually, active duty troops arrived and local police returned, but when the Superdome was at its worst, it was Ohio boys who were first to help.

One of my jobs was to take part in a daily briefing among all responding agencies in Hancock, Mississippi, which is right on the Louisiana-Mississippi border. It's unusual for the military to be a participant rather than being totally in charge. The meeting was absolute chaos. Some of the agency leaders were becoming casualties themselves because of a lack of water. None of the groups could communicate with each other, so the meetings became gripe sessions about what worked and what didn't and who had endured the most damage. The other military officers with me just shook our heads in disbelief that when our country was in dire need of help, the heads of support agencies weren't working together.

The locals near Camp Shelby and later Stennis Airfield were just in shock. On my first day on the ground, I pulled my Hummer into a gas station to ask for directions. I didn't realize until I got out of my vehicle that all of the people at that station were stranded without fuel. Most had been living in their cars for 48 hours.

A screaming woman physically put her hands on my uniform and begged me for gas so she could keep heading north with her kids. She also asked for food. Others who were close by closed in on my driver and me. For a few seconds, I thought we were going to have a riot because our Hummer was the only vehicle running. We were also the first military folks they'd seen and they were sure we were there to help.

I promised the crowd that I would talk to the military about getting help out to their station, but I couldn't guarantee it would come soon. Fortunately, they let us go without a fight. I couldn't believe that these were American citizens and that the destruction around us was even still the United States.

We set up emergency ration supply points in the parking lots of local churches and malls. We used our Military Police and Infantry troops to search houses for the dead and injured while conducting night patrols for looting. We used our transportation folks to take whatever rations were arriving from across the country and start delivering them to the ration points. At times, survivors would just show up at the command tents begging for food. We gave them everything we had.

A few days after we arrived, I tagged along as choppers took more of our infantry soldiers into the northern portions of Louisiana. I was able to snap off quite a few pictures from inside a Chinook.

I was overwhelmed by the line of destruction. From the air, I could look for miles in each direction and not find one house still standing. I saw several churches completely gone but their crosses still standing. Thousands of trees were snapped off and down across homes and roads. It just looked like a bomb went off. The bridges were in pieces at best.

I met some amazing people during those days along the coast. The one who stands out the most is a little old guy who stayed in his home and rode out the storm. He'd stayed through Hurricane Betsy decades ago. He owned a shoe store and just refused to leave it. I remember him saying, "If Wal-Mart didn't chase me out of here, no storm will."

Eventually, larger amounts of food and water arrived and we developed routines for delivering rations to the survivors. As I left a few weeks later to return to Ohio, I couldn't imagine that Mississippi or Louisiana would ever look the same. I couldn't imagine that some of the neighborhoods would ever be livable again.

Still, the people made a lasting impression, and I remember thinking that if a disaster like this hit Northeast Ohio, I'm sure the men and women of the Gulf Coast would gladly fly north to repay the favor.

Remembering Katrina: 2 Years Later

Since early October 2005, NBC journalists have been documenting the efforts of the coastal Mississippi towns of Bay St. Louis and Waveland to rebuild from the devastation wrought by Hurricane Katrina.

Though the towns are far from the media spotlight on New Orleans (left), the intertwined fates of the people (right), businesses and institutions in these towns are emblematic of an entire region's struggle to recover from the most destructive storm in U.S. history.

NBC is looking back and ahead in an anniversary online special series called "Rising From Ruin" featuring two towns as they continue to rebuild 2 years after the storm.

CLICK HERE to begin your journey on the road to recovery.

News: Lake Erie 'Dead Zone' Studied by NOAA team

By Mike O'Mara

CLEVELAND (WKYC)-- Low oxygen levels detected are driving fish away

For the last two years, the "Laurentian", an 80 foot floating marine laboratory, has been heading out into Lake Erie.

The special team of 40 scientists from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Research Laboratory and 17 different universities are all trying to figure out what is making Lake Erie sick.

Stephen Brandt is the Director of the NOAA Great Lakes Environmental Research Lab. He is the person running the largest, most comprehensive research field operations every conducted in Lake Erie.

Said Brandt, "people need to understand that we're seeing large scale production of algae and plant life that dies off and sinks to the bottom. When it decays it begins to use up the oxygen. And if it uses up all the oxygen on the bottom, it becomes a dead zone."

Back in the 1970's, many scientists feared that all of Lake Erie was becoming a dead zone. The culprit seemed to be too much phosphates and pollution in the waters draining into Lake Erie that produced choking algae blooms.

Onboard the "Laurentian", NOAA science technician Andrew Yagiela, lowers a probe into the brownish green water.

"This gear", said Yagiela, "will automatically record the levels of sunlight, the flourometer, the oxygen, the temperature, and the conductivity. And this is just one of our tools out here."

Nearby, Mike Quigley was lowering a specially designed lake bottom sediment probe.

"We're looking for organisms near the bottom right now", explained Quigley. "They're useful for determing water quality because they live on the bottom 24-7, and if you have any contaminants or pollutants they won't be there."

Craig McLean, NOAA deputy assistant administrator for research, told Channel 3's Mike O'Mara, "if we find there is no oxygen or very low levels, we also find that it's a dead zone. The walleye and yellow perch will leave. And we know that our human activity contributes to the creation of these dead zones."

"Right now", added Stuart Ludsen, chief scientist for the Lake Erie field study, "the biggest area of concern is the central basin of Lake Erie. The deepest part of the lake is becoming a dead zone. We need to figure out why."

The data from thousands of Lake Erie water and sediment samples will be analyzed and categorized by the NOAA science team. The future of this fresh water sea may depend on the answers generated onboard the "Laurentian".

To Watch Video of Mike O'Mara's report on Lake Erie, CLICK HERE

News: Back to School in Shelby

By Dave Summers

SHELBY (WKYC) -- Now that floodwaters are receding many towns and communities in northwest Ohio are left with a mountain of clean-up and debris.

The first day of school presents its own series of challenges but in districts like Shelby pulling it off this year seemed nothing short of a miracle.

Last Tuesday flood waters filled the basements and first floors of both elementary and middle schools. Wastewater mixed with runoff made for potential health problems that could have cancelled extracuricular activities and made for a late start to the school year.

Instead residents, administrators, teachers, and students pulled together to save the school year. The cleanup started even before the building was dry. Six classrooms were flooded. Much of the life skills classroom equipment was ruined. Special needs classrooms and equipment were saturated.

The middle school lost much of its football equipment. Both gymnasiums will also have to be rebuilt. Middle School Principal Tim Tarvin says teachers will have to be more creative with their curiculum particularly in the gym classes.

Inspectors gave the school a clean bill of health so parents and students won't have to worry about their safety. Kids seem to be taking this in stride. Many of them actually helped with cleanup.

To Watch Video of Dave Summers in Shelby: CLICK HERE

News: Blanchard River Flooding Seen from Space

NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center was able to capture images by satellite taken before and after the flooding near Findlay. Blanchard River is not typically a river visible from this satellite. But with all of the flooding, it is easily visible in this top image.

Blanchard River had risen to near its record stage on August 22nd. That record flood is 18.5 feet and dates back to 1913. (CLICK IMAGE TO VIEW LARGER)



Photos are courtesy of:

NASA Goddard Space Flight Center &
National Weather Service/Cleveland




To Read More: CLICK HERE

News: Total Lunar Eclipse Tuesday Morning

As August draws to an end, watchers of the night sky will be in for a treat. In the early morning hours of August 28, sky watchers across much of the world can look on as the Moon crosses in to the shadow of the Earth, becoming completely immersed for one-hour and 30 minutes, a period of time much longer than most typical lunar eclipses. In fact, this eclipse will be the deepest and longest in 7 years. (CLICK ON PICTURES FOR LARGER VIEW)

The event begins 54 minutes past midnight PDT (3:54 a.m. EDT) on August 28. At first, there is little change. The outskirts of Earth's shadow are as pale as the Moon itself; an onlooker might not even realize anything is happening. But as the Moon penetrates deeper in to the Earth's shadow, a startling metamorphosis occurs. Around 2:52 a.m. PDT (5:52 a.m. EDT) the color of the Moon changes from moondust-gray to sunset-red. This is totality, and it lasts for almost 90 minutes.

With the Sun blocked, you might expect utter darkness, but instead the ground at your feet appears to be aglow. Why? Look back up at Earth. The rim of the planet seems to be on fire. Around the Earth's circumference you will witness every sunrise and sunset in the world- all at once. This incredible, colorful light beams into the heart of Earth's shadow, transforming the Moon into a landscape of copper moondust and golden hills. The eclipse will be visible from Australia, parts of Asia and most of the Americas, but not from Africa or Europe. The view is different from each location on the planet. Here in the United States, Pacific observers are favored.

For them the entire eclipse will unfold high in the post-midnight sky. However, on the East Coast, totality will be cut off early by sunrise.

Courtesy: NASA

Lunar Links:
NASA Eclipse Home Page
Space.Com
Astronomy.com

News: Farmer's Almanac predicts 'two-faced' winter

LEWISTON, Maine (AP) - Keep your boots, long johns and snow shovels handy this winter if you live in the East, the Farmers' Almanac's forecast suggests. Residents of the West, however, can look forward to a milder winter this time around.

"Mother Nature is going to be sort of two-faced," almanac editor Peter Geiger said.

The almanac's 2008 edition, which goes on sale Tuesday, foresees plenty of snow across the Northeast, temperatures averaging as much as 3 degrees below normal along most of the Atlantic Coast, and four major frosts as far south as Florida. The Great Lakes region will also take a pounding.

The outlook is tamer for the Great Plains, the Rocky Mountains, the desert Southwest and the Pacific Coast, but Geiger said snow in Colorado will be more than adequate for skiing.

Other predictions include a cool, wet spring in many places, active tornado and hurricane seasons and a warmer-than-normal summer in much of the country.

The forecasts are prepared two years in advance by the almanac's reclusive prognosticator, who goes by the pseudonym Caleb Weatherbee and uses a secret formula based on sunspots, the position of the planets and the tidal action of the moon. Weatherbee has already completed his 2009 forecast, Geiger said.

The 191-year-old almanac's winter forecast is at odds with the federal government's outlook, which is based largely on statistical trends. For the coming winter, those trends point to above normal temperatures in the East and the Southwest, with drier than average weather along the southern tier of states and up the East Coast into Virginia.

Last year's almanac forecast of a colder than normal winter was off the mark at first. Geiger blamed an unforeseen El Nino that made for quiet conditions in the East before a series of heavy snowstorms struck in February and March.

Even so, the almanac claims an overall 80 to 85% accuracy rate, and says readers have long relied on its forecasts in planning family reunions, company picnics and weddings.

"We've been called a bride's best friend," Geiger said.

The almanac, not to be confused with the New Hampshire-based Old Farmer's Almanac founded 26 years earlier, claims a circulation of about 5 million. Most are sold to businesses that give them away as promotions.

News: Flooding claims second life in Ohio

By Paul Thomas

HANCOCK COUNTY (WKYC) -- A 92-year-old driver, trapped by high water near Findlay, Ohio, died Thursday.

The Hancock County Sheriff's Office received an emergency call for a man in trouble in the water.

Chopper 3 captured the rescue effort on State Route 235 as firefighters tried to resuscitate the man.

In Mansfield, a 74-year-old man died of smoke inhalation after flood waters toppled a gas can in an apartment garage.

The vapors from the gas can sparked the fire after coming into contact with a pilot light on a water heater.

To Watch Video of Paul Thomas in Findlay, CLICK HERE

News: Flooding in Putnam County

By Carrie Young

PUTNAM COUNTY (WKYC) -- The water is still rising and the rain is still falling, making cleanup nearly impossible for people in Hancock and Putnam counties.

The worst could be in Findlay in Hancock county. There they have seen the worst flooding in a century.

In Putnam county, the sheriff has declared a "level 3 emergency." That means only emergency traffic is allowed on the roads. Temporary shelters have been set up and put on standby just in case.



There have been no reports of serious injuries or fatalities.

To Watch Video of Maureen Kyle in Ottawa, CLICK HERE

News: People Returning to Homes, Damage in Findlay

FINDLAY (WKYC) -- People in Findlay are returning today to flood-damaged homes and businesses.

Hancock County Sheriff Michael Heldman says about 200 people remained in a shelter this morning, and Main Street and much of the other roadways near the Blanchard River remained impassable.

But water was receding and hundreds more residents had returned home. Heldman said some homes had a foot or more water.Pumps were running Thursday in businesses and homes across the northwest Ohio city. Governor Ted Strickland says he plans to go out Thursday to see more of the flooding and what it's done. He took a helicopter tour of Findlay, which has been hit by its worst flooding in nearly a century.

News: Flooding in Shelby

By Maureen Kyle

SHELBY -- Flash flooding has closed schools and damaged the police and fire departments in Shelby, Ohio.

The elementary school and middle school were categorized as "destroyed" initially after the flooding. Some sections of the schools are ruined. The middle school gymnasium floor will need to be replaced. It warped nearly a foot during the flooding.

Dozens of volunteers spent the past 24 hours scrubbing and cleaning and pumping water out of the schools.

(Click on the picture to view a photo gallery from Shelby)

"If someone were to see either this facility or that facility last night and then compare it to today and the football field out back, it's night and day literally and figuratively," says Shelby Middle School Principal Tim Tarvin.

Shelby schools plan to open in time for the first day of class on Monday.

However, health crews are still assessing the two buildings and will make the final determination over the next couple days.

To Watch Video of Maureen Kyle in Shelby on 8/22/07: CLICK HERE

News: Flooding in Findlay

FINDLAY (WKYC) -- One resident of Findlay says it now looks as though the northwest Ohio city was built in the middle of a lake.

(Click on the picture to view a photo gallery from Findlay)

The National Weather Service says flooding from the Blanchard River is the worst in almost 100 years, and the river isn't expected to crest until Wednesday afternoon, at about 7 and a-half feet above flood stage.

Governor Strickland began a tour of the region Wednesday afternoon.Images from the air show much of northern Ohio under water after this week's heavy downpours. Record flooding has closed streets, shut down schools and forced at least 500 people to leave their water-filled homes. Strickland says he's thankful that there have been no reports of fatalities or serious injuries.

Channel 3's Dave Summers is in Findlay and tells us that rescuers have now been working 48 hours straight to get flood victims to safety.Currently, rescuers are waiting on about 30 boats to arrive from all over the state to assist in rescue operations.The last major flood in Findlay was in 1923 when the river crested at 18 and a half feet. Most expect the river to crest higher than that this time around.

To Watch Video of Dave Summers in Findlay 8/22/07: CLICK HERE

News: Tornado Touchdown Confirmed in Richland & Morrow County

A storm survey team has completed an examination of damage in extreme eastern Morrow County and western Richland County from the afternoon of August 20th and determined the damage was a combination of both downburst wind damage and a tornado.

There was clear evidence of a tornado touchdown in at least two locations along an intermittent 6 mile long path.

The initial EF-1 tornado touch down with near 100 mph winds most likely occurred in extreme northeast Morrow County just northeast of Shauck. The National Weather Service says the tornado moved quickly into western Richland County near Kings Corners.

Tornado damage was also noted to a home near the corner of Mock road and Mill Run.

After this point, the National Weather Service says the damage appeared to have more of a downburst characteristic as it moved southeast along Mock Road to near Bellville.

....TORNADO EF1...

COUNTY: RICHLAND AND EXTREME EASTERN MORROW
CITY: 3 SW OF LEXINGTON (KINGS CORNERS)
TIME: 3:10 - 3:30 PM
PATH LENGTH:INTERMITTENT PATH 6 MILES LONG
PATH WIDTH: 30-50 YARDS
WINDS: 90-100 MPH
EF SCALE: EF1

Extreme Rainfall Amounts

Here is the "official" tally of 24 hour rainfall reports collected by the National Weather Service Office in Cleveland, ending at 8 AM this morning.

Our Nexrad Radar (pictured) shows where the heaviest rain fell. Purple is the heaviest, green is the lighter amounts:

...CRAWFORD COUNTY...
BUCYRUS: 8.68"
GALION: 6.11"

...CUYAHOGA COUNTY...
CLE AIRPORT: 2.23"

...GEAUGA COUNTY...
CHARDON: 1.70"

...HANCOCK COUNTY...
FINDLAY: 6.00"
FINDLAY AIRPORT: 5.28"

...HOLMES COUNTY...
KILLBUCK: 2.00"

...HURON COUNTY...
NORWALK: 4.14"
FITCHVILLE: 3.80"

...KNOX COUNTY...
GREER: 6.00"

...LORAIN COUNTY...
ELYRIA: 3.03"

...LUCAS COUNTY...
TOLEDO AIRPORT: 1.46"

...MEDINA COUNTY...
CHIPPEWA LAKE: 4.30"

...PORTAGE COUNTY...
RAVENNA: 2.30"

...RICHLAND COUNTY...
MANSFLD ARPT: 6.24"
POSSUM RUN: 4.30"

...SENECA COUNTY...
TIFFIN: 3.62"

...SUMMIT COUNTY...
CAK AIRPORT: 2.25"

...TRUMBULL COUNTY...
YNG AIRPORT: 1.59"

...WAYNE COUNTY...
WOOSTER: 2.63"
CONGRESS: 2.30"

...WOOD COUNTY...
BOWLING GREEN: 2.65"

...WYANDOT COUNTY...
UPPER SANDUSKY: 9.35"

News: Severe Flooding in Richland County

MANSFIELD (WKYC)-- Several roads are closed throughout the county and more than 50 residents had to be evacuated from their homes.

Doppler Radar estimated as much as 7-9 inches or rain in part of Richland County, and more expected.

Downtown Mansfield is experiencing heavy flooding in the area, making it extremely difficult to travel from one area of the city to another. The north end of the city is also deluged with high water. (Photo to the right courtesy of Dave Polcyn/Mansfield News Journal)

Nearby in Shelby, Ohio, some 50 residents had to be evacuated with more expected today. Two shelters have been established for those residents. (Click on the picture below to view our photo gallery from Shelby)

For residents on the west side needing shelter, you can go to Shelby High School located at 109 W. Smiley Ave. For residents on the east side, go to Dowds Elementary located at 18 Seneca Drive.

Richland County Emergency Management Agency would like to remind people to be safe and abide by high water signs that may be posted.

To Watch Video of Paul Thomas in Shelby at 6 PM: CLICK HERE
To Watch Video of Dave Summers in Mansfield at 6 PM: CLICK HERE
To Watch Video of Kristin Anderson in Shelby at 11 PM: CLICK HERE
To Watch Coast Guard Video of Richland County Rescues: CLICK HERE

Interactive Storm Wrap Up: 8/20/07

Map of Storm Reports from August 20, 2007:


Your Storm Pictures:

Other Storm Photos:
To View Other Storm Photos: CLICK HERE

Storm Video:

To Watch Video of Channel 3's coverage at 6 PM: CLICK HERE
To Watch Video of Channel 3's coverage at 11 PM: CLICK HERE

Storm Reports:

5:59 p.m. It was reported earlier that Brookpark Road was closed at Big Creek Parkway due to flooding. The waters have receded and this and all other roadways in Parma are now open.

5:15 p.m. Part of the Cuyahoga Valley National Park has been closed.

4:33 p.m. Bill Omert, Emergency Management Agency Director for Huron County, says they have had over 1.5 inches of rain since 8 a.m. Many roads closed have been closed around the county, but we don't have a list yet.

4:32 p.m. Flooding has caused the Huron County Emergency Management Agency to declare a state of emergency.

4:29 p.m. Standing water is blocking Route 250 in Milan.

1:16 p.m. Heavy flowing water has closed 16th Street at Shannon in Barberton.

1:09 p.m. Per a photo from a Channel 3 viewer, a shopping plaza on North Main has flooded in Rittman.

12:40 p.m. Brookpark Road at Big Creek Parkway and Big Creek Parkway itself has been closed due to high water.

12:37 p.m.: A man was rescued from a car stranded on W. 150th, just north of Brookpark Road Crews are cleaning out sewers to reduce standing water.

12:34 p.m.: Caller reports flooding at retail plaza on Cleveland-Massillon Road in Norton.

12:33 p.m.: Caller says condo complex off Glenmount in Coventry Twp. is flooded past ankles.

12:25 p.m. Viewer call says Sprague Road flooded in North Royalton. No further details at this time.

12:20 p.m.: Sandbagging occurring at Cornerstone Elementary School in Norton.

12:06 p.m.: Waterloo & Main in Akron closed due to high water.

11:59 a.m.: Some Barberton residents are being evacuated because of flooding. More details shortly.

11:31 a.m.: Norton Police telephone lines are down, calls are being routed to the Barberton Police department.

News: Hurricane Tracking Charts Available

Track Hurricanes right along with us!

Just click on the link to any of the Hurricane Tracking Maps below to start plotting the course of the next storm:

Eastern Pacific Tracking Map

Full Atlantic Tracking Map

Western Atlantic Tracking Map

Feature: On the Road with the National Weather Service Storm Team

By Jeff Maynor

In the wide swath of storm damage in north central Ohio, the National Weather Service says some was the result of tornadoes; other damage was caused by severe thunderstorms with high winds.

"Preliminarily, the roof damage at Black River Elementary School and the destruction of barns west of Lodi appears to be the work of an EF-1 tornado, which would have had winds over 90 miles an hour," said Gary Garnet (pictured), Warning Coordination Meteorologist with the National Weather Service.

Garnet and his storm assessment team toured the area damaged by Thursday afternoon's storms, accompanied by Jeff Maynor and a Channel 3 news crew.

To Watch Jeff's Story: CLICK HERE

Feature: Touch Down Map

Here is a map of where the confirmed tornadoes touched down according to the Channel 3 Weather Plus Team and the National Weather Service based on assessments so far.

News: Damage in Wayne County Due to Downburst, Not A Tornado

A survey team determined that damage across northern portions of Wayne County to be caused by downburst winds.

A National Weather Service team surveyed damaged areas across Northern Wayne County this afternoon and determined that the damage was caused by downburst or straight line thunderstorm winds with speeds of 75 to 85 mph.

(Photo is from Wayne County)

An additional survey team will look at some scattered damage in the Portage Lakes area of Summit County Saturday afternoon.

News: Tornado Touchdown Confirmed in Medina County

The National Weather Service conducted a storm survey this morning in southern Medina County near Lodi just North of Route 224.

The damage was determined to be caused by a weak tornado. Three barns were destroyed by the tornado (See Photo). Some farm animals were killed or had to be put down. Microburst wind damage was also observed in the area.

Trees were downed. Significant crop damage occurred due to hail.....

...TORNADO EF1...

COUNTY: MEDINA
CITY: APPROXIMATELY 2 MILES NORTH OF LODI
TIME: 435 PM EDT
PATH LENGTH: 1 MILE
PATH WIDTH: 50 YARDS
WINDS: 100 MPH
EF SCALE: EF1

News: Tornado Touchdown Confirmed in Ashland County

The National Weather Service conducted a storm survey in northeastern Ashland County this morning. The damage was determined to be caused by a weak tornado.

A brief tornado touchdown occurred northeast of Sullivan along Black River School road. Two school buildings were damaged by a tornado in this area (See Picture). A house nearby also sustained minor damage.

The tornado was on the ground for approximately one half mile and had a damage path of 20 to 30 yards wide.

Based on the damage...winds were estimated to be near 90 mph making this an EF1 tornado.

....TORNADO EF1...

COUNTY: ASHLAND
CITY: APPROXIMATELY 3 MILES NORTHEAST OF SULLIVAN
TIME: 430 PM EDT
PATH LENGTH: 1/2 MILE
PATH WIDTH: 20-30 YARDS
WINDS: 90 MPH
EF SCALE: EF1

News: Tornado Touchdown Confirmed in Richland County

The National Weather Service conducted a storm survey in Richland County. The damage was determined to be caused by a weak tornado.

A brief tornado touchdown occurred in the city of Shelby shortly after 4 PM Thursday. The tornado was on the ground intermittently for about one mile, with a damage path of 10 to 20 yards wide. Minor damage occurred to several homes.

One factory (see picture) had roof damage and a wall partiallly collapsed. Numerous trees were either damaged or blown down.

Based on the damage, winds were estimated to be near 80 mph making this an EF0 tornado.

...TORNADO EF0...

COUNTY: RICHLAND
CITY: SHELBY
TIME: 4:06 PM
PATH LENGTH: 3/4 MILE
WINDS: 80 MPH
EF SCALE: EF0

Feature: Tornado Classifications

By Frank Macek

Forecasters and researchers use a wind damage scale to classify tornadoes. The original Fujita scale was developed by T. Theodore Fujita and was put into use in 1973.

The scale was further enhanced in 2007, with rankings running from EF (Enhanced Fujita) - 0 through 5. These ratings are based on the amount and type of wind damage.

Click Here to view a scale graphic from the Storm Prediction Center.

THE RATINGS ARE:

EF-0. Light damage. Wind 65 to 85 mph. Causes some damage to siding and shingles

EF-1. Moderate damage. Wind 86 to 110 mph. Considerable roof damage. Winds can uproot trees and overturn single-wide mobile homes. Flagpoles bend.

EF-2. Considerable damage. Wind 111 to 135 mph. Most single-wide mobile homes destroyed. Permanent homes can shift off foundation. Flagpoles collapse. Softwood trees debarked.

EF-3. Severe damage. Wind 136 to 165 mph. Hardwood trees debarked. All but small portions of houses destroyed.

EF-4. Devastating damage. Wind 166 to 200 mph. Complete destruction of well-built residences, large sections of school buildings.

EF-5. Incredible damage. Wind above 200 mph. Significant structural deformation of mid- and high-rise buildings.

The Enhanced F-scale is a set of wind estimates (not measurements) based on damage. It uses three-second estimated gusts estimated at the point of damage which vary with height and exposure. Forensic meteorologists use 28 damage indicators and up to 9 degrees of damage to assign estimated speeds to the wind gusts.

Note: The Fujita scale is different from the Saffir-Simpson scale of hurricane strength in one very important way. Fujita scale numbers are assigned to tornadoes only after the fact; after the National Weather Service inspects the damage.

Feature: Strange storm clouds are rare for our area

By Betsy Kling

A large, rotating storm moves across areas of Northeast Ohio leaving a path of damage and a stack of great photos.

The storm photos almost look fake ... almost. The storms that moved through areas of Northeast Ohio on Thursday were not only severe, but got the attention of many amateur photographers in the area. Some folks got out their cameras, while others captured the images by cell phone. No matter the method, the pictures are impressive.

One particular part of the storm system got a little more attention than some of the others. A supercell (a very well organized and notably intense thunderstorm) formed in northern Richland County, moved east toward Ashland County and then suddenly instensified as it moved through far southern Medina County, far northern Wayne County and continued into Stark County (US 224 and US30 are a pretty good locators).

In storm circles it is known as a "Mothership Mesocyclone". The thunderstorm is rotating (known as a mesocyclone, which is typically rotation noted on a 2 to 6 mile diameter), and as the winds pull the clouds around they take on a layered look. The mesocyclone rotation is much larger than the rotation of a smaller, but stronger, cyclone that can come from it ... a tornado. There were several reports of tornados from this particular storm.

For storm chasers these amazing cloud formations are only second to tornados for great moments.Storms like these are more typically seen in supercell thunderstorms in the Plains States. Usually for us those spectacular cloud formations are hidden by other storms, rain or just never have the chance to form.

Today the atmosphere was just bursting with moisture and heat and plenty of energy to get it all going. Whether it was the perfect combination of viewing conditions, moisture, heat and wind shear, it was certainly a sight that many hope they don't have to witness again.

Interactive Storm Wrap Up - 8/9/07

Click on the markers on the map to view the available storm pictures:


"Fair Weather Fans" Storm Photos:

Photos: Salem storm damage
Photos: Barn collapse in Lodi
Photos: 'Tidal wave' of clouds over North Canton, Massillon
Photos: Clouds over North Canton, Canton
Photos: Storm over Akron
Photos: Clouds over Hartville
Photos: Storm front over Doylestown
Photos: Sign flattens car
Photos: The storm from Brunswick
Photos: Possible tornado in Wayne
Photos: More from Channel 3 viewers

To Watch Video of Channel 3's coverage at 6 PM: CLICK HERE
To Watch Video of Channel 3's coverage at 11 PM: CLICK HERE

The Day's Storm Reports:

10:30 p.m. First Energy reports about 4500 customers in the Medina/Akron areas without power. First Energy hopes to have power to Akron/Medina restored by noon Friday. Hartville customers are expected to have power back by Friday afternoon. First Energy says it will take until Saturday to restore power to Massillon area.

10:30 p.m. Reports of two cows and one horse killed at collapse of dairy barns in Lodi. Neighbors came together to help rescue the other animals.

10:30 p.m. Roof damage at Black River Elementary-Middle School. Winds peeled back a portion of the roof over the gymnasium. Volunteers worked to save the wood flooring. Classrooms and bleachers on the grounds also suffered damage. Officials do not expect the opening of school to be delayed

Report of a tree on top of a car and boat at Manchester Road south of Stump.

Report of a tree down on Greensburg Road in Akron. Traffic lights out at Archwood & Kelly.

Reports of an accident at the intersection; no injuries reported.

Unconfirmed report from caller of a funnel cloud at Cleveland-Massillon Road near Spring Hill Golf Course. Reports of damage near the Upper Deck in the Portage Lakes.

6:19 p.m. Reports of trees, wires and telephone poles down in Creston. Wooster reporting tree limbs down and side streets blocked by trees and wires.

6:03 p.m. Unconfirmed report of a tornado touch down in Columbiana County near Beaver Creek State Park.

5:55 p.m. Report of a tree down on Woodland Avenue in west Akron. Report of wires down on Trenton Road in Ellet. Report of a tree down on Massillon Road.

5:45p.m. Amateur radio operators reporting roof off of Black River High School and trees down.

5:45 p.m. Amateur radio operators reporting several damaged buildings and trees down in Medina.

5:45 p.m. Amateur radio operators reporting roof of a factory blown off in Shelby in Richland County.

5:45 p.m. Amateur radio operators reporting 2 trees down on houses in Rittman as well as numerous trees, electric lines and poles down.

5:42 p.m. Channel 3's Paul Thomas reports that a huge gas station sign, the ones placed near the highway, has collapsed onto a car near Lodi.

5:35 p.m. Unconfirmed report of a funnel cloud spotted on Sandava and Granite Street in North
Canton in Stark County.

5:33 p.m. Hopkins International Airport says it is running at a full schedule with no major delays. Akron-Canton Airport says there are minor delays and says pilots are waiting out theh storm, but a spokesman does not expect major flight delays.

5:29 p.m. Unconfirmed report from tip caller of a barn collapsed near Richman & Kennard Road near Lodi. Also receiving unconfirmed report of a house hit by lightning on Branch Road west of Medina.

5:27 p.m. Channel 3's Paul Thomas confirms reports at mile marker 206 on I-71 South a large tree (100'-125') has fallen onto the highway and is blocking one lane, not two. Traffic is being impacted because of the blocked lane. Mile marker 206 is near Lodi.

5:24 p.m. Doylestown reporting trees and tree limbs down following storm.

5:22 p.m. Richmond Heights reporting flooding on Richmond Road. Police asking drivers to avoid the area.

5:20 p.m. Reports of a possible, unconfirmed report of a tornado touch down near Massillon in Stark County.

5:19 p.m. Summit County Sheriff receiving reports of a tornado spotted in the Portage Lakes area south of Akron.

5:14 p.m. Lodi reported wires and trees down, and power outages. Rittman reporting minor damage including tress down and some power outages. Seville reporting widespread damages including trees down and power outages. Wadsworth reporting flooded streets.

5:13 p.m. Medina Highway Patrol reports 2 of the 3 southbound lanes of I-71 closed near Lodi because trees are down on the highway.
Wooster Ohio Highway Patrol post reports a tree down across the road at SR 58 north of Mankin

5:07 p.m. Medina Ohio Highway Patrol post tells Channel 3 News it has received a report of a tornado spotted near Lodi.

4:47 p.m. Tip caller reports tornado sirens going off in Fairlawn. NWS issues Tornado Warning for Summit & Stark until 5:45 p.m.

4:47 p.m. Mansfield Ohio Highway Patrol post says its received report of tornado spotted in Shelby

4:35 p.m. Gates Mills reportingn flooding on SR 91

4:35 p.m. LaGrange reporting flooding around Commerce West

4:35 p.m. Ashland County Sheriff reports tress and wires down in northern half of the county concentrated in the Savannah and Bailey Lakes areas. The county had been under a tornado warning.

4:30 p.m. National Weather Service is reporting a roof has been blown off in the city of Shelby in Richland County. Richland is under a tornado warning until 4:45 p.m.

3 p.m. Damage reports from Columbiana County from first round of storms that moved through in the mid-morning and early afternoon hours. City of Salem reporting worst damage. Caller tells Channel 3 the storm caused a gas/propane leak and blew out windows at two car dealerships. Some businesses in Salem have shut down. Worst damage reported along State Street.

Interactive Storm Wrap Up - 8/7/07

Click on the markers on the map to view the available storm pictures:



"Fair Weather Fans" Storm Pictures:

Photos: I-480 East flood
Photos: Rescue workers pull driver from car
Photos: Little Italy flooding
Photos: Bay Village flooding
Photos: Big Creek flooding
Photos: Parma apartments flood
Photos: Brook Park flooding
Photos: W. 117th flooding
Photos: Flooding at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo
Photos: Huron and East 9th

The Day's Storm Reports:

1:40 p.m. Video from Chopper 3 shows the Berea Fairgrounds submerged. The opening of the Cuyahoga County fair moved back from noon until 5 p.m. Tuesday.

12:41: Chopper 3 video show gridlocked back up stretching for miles at I-480 and Brook Park Road.

12:00 p.m. Cars submerged on I-480 East at the Brook Park Road ramp. I-480 is closed between Brook Park Road and State Road. Traffic is backed up for miles

12:00 p.m. ODOT reports that I-77 in both directions between I-480 and I-490 has reopened.

11:10 a.m. First Energy reports that 20,000 people are without power throughout Greater Cleveland area.

10:55 a.m. Reports of apartments being evacuated in Parma. Flooding reported at Brookpark and Big Creek Parkway.

10:45 a.m. Weather delays opening of Cuyahoga County fair; pushed back from noon until 5 p.m.

10:30 a.m. Reports of possible pavement buckling and washed away on Shore Way, Lakeside Avenue and Dead Man's Curve

10:26 a.m. Rescue underway in Independence after reports that a vehicle was struck by lightning trapping the driver inside.

10 a.m. Water rescue underway at MLK Boulevard and Superior Avenue. Police and fire trying to help multiple cars stranded in at least four feet of water.

9:15 a.m. Various flooding reports across the area including:
Hamlet Avenue near Broadway
Columbia in Westlake near medical center complex
South Shore in Vermilion flooded
East 40th & Payne motorist stuck on roof of car trapped by water
1400 block of Ridgeview is flooded
West 150th street underpass flooded by the National City Center
West 117th past Lorain avenue flooded

Feature: Heat Index Charts

The following our "Heat Index Charts" used to calculate how hot it really feels on your skin when you factor temperature with the relative humidity.

(Click on either to see it fullscreen)

News: Two Possible Tornadoes Sunday Night

At 7:59 PM, high winds possibly associated with a tornado caused damage to a barn just south of Bettsville in Seneca County. A second report of a barn damaged was received about 4 miles east, near State Route 53. No injuries were reported.

At 8:42 PM, a tornado was sited on the ground on the south side of Carey in Wyandot County. Numerous sightings of funnel clouds & tornado touchdowns were reported by trained spotters as it continued east to near Tymochtee through 9:42 pm. There was one report of property damage on the south side of Carey this time. No injuries were reported.

Interactive Storm Wrap Up: 8/2/07

Downtown Cleveland streets and highways were overwhelmed after torrential rains from strong storms created flash floods. Cars and other vehicles are slogging through several feet of standing water on city streets. Highways were bumper to bumper. Getting in and out of downtown was nearly impossible in many areas.

First Energy reported that 4,700 people were without power as a result of lightning and wind from the severe storms. Most of the outages were on the east side.

6:05 p.m. Reports that the workers at the City Water Department on Lakeside are stuck at their workplace because the parking lot is flooded and no one can get to their cars.

5:55 p.m. Other buildings downtown, including 2530 Superior Avenue, reported flooding.

5:28 p.m. Reports of two helicopters damaged at Burke Lakefront Airport from high winds created by the storm.

5:23 p.m. Flooding situation improving however slightly hear at the Channel 3 Studios. At the height of the flash floods more than a foot of water had poured into the station's underground parking garage. Station employees were unable to get to their cars. Now we can report that the water has subsided to about five inches. The parking lot has drained off the flood water that at one point was several inches deep. Lakeside Avenue remains under water. City crews are now on site clearing storm drains to help the waters recede faster.

5:12 p.m. Cleveland police are urging people to be cautious as they attempt to navigate the flooded streets and highways. Here are the areas reporting the most problems:Dead Man's CurveShorewayMarginal RoadsPolice are asking people to stay off the above roadways until the water subsides. The police also caution that there are numerous traffic lights that are out and remind drivers to treat such intersections as four-way stops. Many signals are reported down on East 55th Street.

5 p.m. Reports from tip caller says two cars and a bus partially submerged in the parking lot of Browns Stadium. John Carroll and CSU downtown campus cancel Thursday evening classes due to flooding.

4:40 p.m. Reports of two feet of water on South Marginal road. Reports of cars stuck at the Amtrak station also on South Marginal.

4:20 p.m. Report of people trapped in a car in lot at Browns Stadium.

4:15 p.m. Scattered reports of a pole down on East 47th and fires at East 99th and the Amtrak and Muni Lot. (Not known if fires weather related.)

4 p.m. ODOT reports that the Shoreway has flooded between East 55th and East 72nd. The Shoreway remains open at this time but ODOT says traffic is moving very slowly.

4 p.m.: Channel 3 Studio parking lot and garage flooded as storm drains overwhelmed. High water on Lakeside Avenue is up to the middle of the tires on cars, making traffic slow-going if not impossible.

Click here to see photos of the flooded Channel 3 garage

Feature: What Is A Heat Wave?

Here is the Channel 3 Weather Plus Definition of a "Heatwave:"

Feature: Heat Wave Preparedness

It looks like we will officially have a heat wave this week in the Greater Cleveland area...which means 3 days in a row of 90 degree weather. This could begin as early as Tuesday and last through Thursday or Friday when temperatures drop back a little.

Here are some tips for Heat Wave Safety:

*Slow down. Strenuous activities should be reduced, eliminated, or rescheduled to the coolest time of the day. Individuals at risk should stay in the coolest available place, not necessarily indoors.

*Dress for summer. Lightweight light-colored clothing reflects heat and sunlight, and helps your body maintain normal temperatures.

*Put less fuel on your inner fires. Foods (like proteins) that increase metabolic heat production also increase water loss.

*Drink plenty of water or other non-alcohol fluids. Your body needs water to keep cool. Drink plenty of fluids even if you don’t feel thirsty. Persons who (1) have epilepsy or heart, kidney, or liver disease, (2) are on fluid restrictive diets or (3) have a problem with fluid retention should consult a physician before increasing their consumption of fluids.

*Do not drink alcoholic beverages.

*Do not take salt tablets unless specified by a physician.

*Spend more time in air-conditioned places. Air conditioning in homes and other buildings markedly reduces danger from the heat. If you cannot afford an air conditioner, spending some time each day (during hot weather) in an air conditioned environment affords some protection.

*Don’t get too much sun. Sunburn makes the job of heat dissipation that much more difficult.

Feature: Lake Erie Continues to Get Warmer Each Year

Lake Erie continues to get warmer and water levels continue to drop.

And while the lake is much healthier than it was 20 years ago, it's still attracting the attention of scientists who worry that Lake Erie will go back to its unhealthy ways.

Robert Heath, head of the Water Resources Research Institute at Kent State University, says the average water temperature of Lake Erie has increased by about three-fourths of a degree over the last two decades. He says climate models predict further increases in air and lake water temperature.

National Wildlife Federation staff scientist Michael Murray says warmer, shallower water would allow toxins to survive and would allow more invasive species to thrive.

Courtesy: AP

Feature: The Upper Level Low

Usually weather in our hemisphere moves in a westward to eastward fashion in what is known as the "prevailing westerlies" - that's near the surface.

This week, we are dealing with an upper level system high in the atmosphere that is moving in the opposite direction - from east to west.

This will increase our chances of cloud cover and showers as we move through the next couple of days in Northeast Ohio as a pocket of trapped cold air above a lower layer of warm air leads to instability and showers.

News: May Sets Several New Records In Northern Ohio

A few records were broken across Northern Ohio in May...

Cleveland...
*2nd driest may on record with 0.66 of an inch. (Record is 0.58 of an inch in 1934)

Mansfield...
*6th warmest May on record at 62.9 degrees. (Record is 67.5 degrees in 1991.)
*2nd driest May on record with 1.68 inches. (Record is 1.50 inches in 1961.)
*May 1st, the temperature reached 83 degrees (Ties record for date set in 2003.)
*May 24th, the temperature reached 85 degrees (Old record was was 84 degrees set in1991.)

Toledo...
*May 24th, the temperature reached 90 degrees (Old record was 88 degrees in 1991.)

Youngstown...
*6th driest may on record with 1.70 inches. (Record is 0.78 of an inch set in 1977.)
*May 31st, the temperature reached 88 degrees (Tied old record set in 2006.)

Courtesy: NWS