Update, 8 p.m. Severe storm warnings are being allowed to expire, but a severe thunderstorm watch remains in effect for several counties in Greater Cincinnati until midnight Saturday.
In Indiana, the watch includes: Dearborn, Franklin, Fayette, Ripley, Switzerland, Union, and Wayne counties.
In Kentucky, the watch includes Boone, Bracken, Campbell, Carroll, Gallatin, Grant, Kenton, Lewis, Mason, Owen, Pendleton and Robertson counties.
In Ohio, the watch area includes Adams, Brown, Butler, Clermont, Clinton, Fayette, Greene, Hamilton, Highland, Montgomery, Pike, Preble, Ross, Scioto and Warren counties.
Duke Energy is reporting more than 8,000 customers are without power, most in Butler, Hamilton, and Clermont counties in the wake of the storms. The power company’s website says repairs and damage assessment are underway. There was no estimate as to when power would be restored.
Update, 7:15 p.m.: The National Weather Service Office at Wilmington has issued a severe thunderstorm warning until 7:30 p.m. for northeastern Hamilton County and northern Clermont County in Southwest Ohio.
At 7:01 p.m., a severe thunderstorm was located over Remington, moving east at 35 mph. The storm can have 60 mph wind gusts and penny-size hail. Locations impacted include Cincinnati, Norwood, Sharonville, Blue Ash, Loveland, Springdale, Reading, Montgomery, Madeira, Wyoming, Milford, Deer Park, Dayton, Finneytown, Mariemont, Terrace Park, Batavia, Camp Dennison, Highpoint, and Remington.
Duke Energy is reporting almost 8,000 customers are without power, most in Butler, Hamilton, and Clermont counties in the wake of the storms. The power company’s website says repairs and damage assessment are underway. There was no estimate as to when power would be restored.
Update 7 p.m.: The National Weather Service Office at Wilmington has issued a severe thunderstorm warning until 7:15 p.m. for eastern Butler County and Warren County in southwestern Ohio and southwestern Greene County and southern Montgomery County in west central Ohio
At 6:40 p.m., the weather service said severe thunderstorms were located along a line extending from near Carlisle to Middletown to near Springdale, moving east at 35 mph.
Locations impacted include Hamilton, Middletown, Fairfield, Mason, Miamisburg, Lebanon, Springboro, Sharonville, Monroe, Loveland, Trenton, Franklin, Bellbrook, Carlisle, South Middletown, West Chester, Waynesville, Morrow, Hunter, and Kings Island.
Update: 6:45 p.m.: The National Weather Service Office at Wilmington has issued a severe thunderstorm warning until 6:45 p.m. for eastern Butler County and Warren County in southwestern Ohio and southwestern Greene County and southern Montgomery County in west central Ohio.
Locations impacted include Hamilton, Middletown, Fairfield, Mason, Miamisburg, Lebanon, Springboro, Sharonville, Monroe, Loveland, Trenton, Franklin, Bellbrook, Carlisle, South Middletown, West Chester, Waynesville, Morrow, Hunter, and Kings Island.
Continuous cloud-to-ground lightning and torrential rainfall is occurring with these storms and may lead to flash flooding, the weather service said.
Update, 6:21 p.m.: The National Weather Service Office at Wilmington has issued a severe thunderstorm warning until 6:45 p.m. for Butler County in Southwest Ohio and southeastern Preble County and southwestern Montgomery County in west central Ohio. At 6:20 p.m., severe thunderstorms were located along a line extending from near Camden to near Harrison, moving east at 45 mph.
At 6:30 p.m., severe thunderstorms were located along a line extending from near Gratis to near Ross, moving east at 45 mph. The storms may produce 70 mph wind gusts. Locations impacted include Hamilton, Middletown, Fairfield, Monroe, Trenton, Springdale, South Middletown, West Chester, Ross, Camden, Gratis, Seven Mile, Williamsdale, Olde West Chester, Wetherington, Darrtown, FourBridges, Dunlap, Germantown, and New Miami.
Update, 5:45 p.m.: The National Weather Service Office at Wilmington has issued a severe thunderstorm warning until 6:30 p.m. for Franklin County in southeastern Indiana, Northern Ripley County in southeastern Indiana, Union County in east central Indiana, Dearborn County in southeastern Indiana, Southeastern Fayette County in east central Indiana, Northwestern Hamilton County in southwestern Ohio, Southwestern Preble County in west central Ohio and Western Butler County in southwestern Ohio.
Locations that may be affected include Batesville, Lawrenceburg, Greendale, Brookville, Bright, Hidden Valley in Indiana and Hamilton, Oxford, Harrison, Ross, Cleves, Liberty, Milan, West College Corner, Oldenburg, Shawnee, Moores Hill, Taylor Creek, Blue Jay, and Darrtown in Ohio.
At 5:37 p.m., severe thunderstorms were located along a line extending from near Connersville, Indiana, to 6 miles north of Oldenburg, Indiana, to 7 miles southwest of Greensburg, Indiana, moving east at 45 mph. The storm may bring 70 mph wind gusts and nickel-size hail.
Update, 5:30 p.m.: The National Weather Service Office at Wilmington has issued a severe thunderstorm watch until midnight Saturday for several counties in southeast Indiana, Northern Kentucky and Southwest Ohio.In Indiana, the counties are Dearborn, Fayette, Franklin, Ohio, Ripley, Switzerland, Union, and Wayne. In Kentucky, affected counties are: Boone, Bracken, Campbell, Carroll, Gallatin, Grant, Kenton, Lewis, Mason, Owen, Pendleton, and Robertson. In Ohio, the watch covers Adams, Brown, Butler, Clermont, Clinton, Fayette, Greene, Hamilton, Highland, Montgomery, Pike, Preble, Ross, Scioto, and Warren counties.
A severe thunderstorm watch means weather conditions favor the development of thunderstorms capable of producing hail and damaging winds in and near the watch area. Stay informed and be ready to act if a severe thunderstorm warning is issued.
More:Severe weather possible: What do thunderstorm and tornado watches and warnings mean?
Previous reporting: A special weather statement was issued by the National Weather Service Saturday afternoon.
A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of east central Dearborn County in Indiana, northern Boone County in Kentucky and western Hamilton County in Ohio Saturday afternoon, the statement read.
The National Weather Service has not issued any storm watches or warnings.
At 2:46 p.m., a strong thunderstorm was located near Bright, Indiana, moving east at 35 mph, the Wilmington weather office reported. The storm may bring wind gusts up to 45 mph, frequent cloud-to-ground lightning and very heavy rain.
The storm is expected to impact Cincinnati, Harrison, North College Hill, Cheviot, Mount Healthy, Lawrenceburg, Greendale, Aurora, Hidden Valley, Bright, Burlington, Cleves, Shawnee, Taylor Creek, Bridgetown, Delhi Township, Miami Heights, Dry Ridge, Skyline Acres and Blue Jay.
The National Weather Service advises those affected to seek shelter inside a sturdy building. Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects, and lightning can cause serious injury or death, the office said.
Motorists are advised to slow down and use extra caution. Visibility will be poor and hydroplaning is possible, the office said.