Planes Flipped at Ohio Airport Hit by Severe Storms

Hurricane force winds flipped planes at a Cleveland lakefront airport as a series of storms pounded northern Ohio on Tuesday, while a heat wave that has produced temperatures in the 90s was blamed for the death of a 48-year-old woman in Cincinnati.

The woman's body temperature was 107 when she found in her apartment Tuesday morning, said Dr. O'dell Owens, the Hamilton County coroner. Authorities said windows were open, but the blinds were down in the apartment, which did not have air conditioning.

Cincinnati authorities declared a heat emergency on Tuesday as temperatures were expected to reach 95. Heat warnings also were posted for other parts of Ohio.

Heat gave way to high winds in northern Ohio, downing power lines and toppling trees. At least 30,000 FirstEnergy Corp. customers were without power Tuesday night.

A wind gust ripped three airplanes from their tie down positions at Burke Lakefront Airport and flipped them over, said Khalid Bahhur, the airport's commissioner.

At least two other planes sustained damage. All the damaged planes were empty and there were no injuries, Bahhur said. A helicopter used by WOIO-TV for traffic and news coverage also was damaged.

National Weather Service meteorologist Gary Garnet said 75-mph winds were recorded at the airport at 4:56 p.m. Winds of 74 mph or higher are considered hurricane force.

Cincinnati authorities activated their heat alert communication system, and health officials were monitoring emergency room visits and rescue runs and temperatures in senior citizen residential buildings and other selected buildings. Air-conditioned community centers were open around the city.

Relief was expected on Wednesday from a cool front that was forecast to drop high temperatures into the 70s.