Strong wind gusts swept through Carrollton and surrounding areas Saturday, March 7, damaging homes, trees and outbuildings, though no injuries were reported, according to county officials.
Carroll County Emergency Management Agency Director Tom Cottis said sustained winds were around 25 mph across the county, with gusts reaching between 58 and 62 mph during the storm.
Cottis said the damage appears to have been caused by shear winds rather than a tornado.
“We had quite a bit of tree damage,” Cottis said.
Several trees were knocked down throughout the Carrollton area, with some falling onto homes, vehicles and power lines.
Four homes sustained damage after trees fell on or near the structures. A small barn also was damaged in the Queensboro area between Dellroy and Sherrodsville, at the intersection of State Route 39 and Dutches Road, where winds ripped the roof off of the building.
Despite the damage, no injuries were reported.
The storm system had been closely monitored in the days leading up to Saturday. The National Weather Service issued alerts beginning Thursday warning of the potential for severe weather. Carroll County officials shared those updates on social media Friday to help residents prepare.
While the county was placed under a tornado watch, a tornado warning was never issued.
Power outages were reported in several areas after trees and limbs knocked down lines. Cottis said power was restored by late Saturday evening.
Carrollton’s street department spent much of Saturday clearing debris from roadways, allowing traffic to resume in affected areas.
“They did an excellent job getting the roads cleared,” Cottis said.
Some downed trees remain in a few locations as cleanup efforts continue.
Visible storm damage was also reported in the village’s public square, where the flagpole was affected by the high winds. Additional tree damage was reported along East Main Street near the homes that were impacted.
Officials said crews will continue monitoring conditions and assisting with cleanup as the community recovers from the storm.
