Published Saturday, June 1, 2002
SHENANGO VALLEY
Shower KO's powerA freak thunderstorm, which matched brevity with ferocity, knocked out electricity to about 450 Pennsylvania Power Co. customers Friday afternoon, said company spokesman Randy Coleman.
The driving rain, hail and wind hit at about 4:15 p.m. and knocked down trees and utility lines throughout Sharon and Hermitage, according to Mercer County 911.
Sharon firefighters said they blocked off areas of Taylor Street, East State Street and Bon Air Drive for fallen electric, telephone and cable wires and trees until crews could arrive.
Coleman said about 200 customers were without power around the Sharon County Club due to a tree that fell on lines along Yahres Road.
Coleman added that wires down in Grove City knocked out power for 23 customers.
The storm picked out the Shenango Valley like a surgical strike. While eastern Brookfield got dumped on, the National Weather Service observation station at the Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport in neighboring Vienna reported only light rain and thunder at 3 p.m., and no precipitation afterward.
The observation stations in Butler, Franklin and Meadville also reported no precipitation, only nearby thunder.