Trash cans lay on
their sides. Stoplights swung over the streets. Winds reminiscent
of the memorable scene in Mary Poppins blew through Owen County
early Friday morning, causing many to bundle up for the first
time this season.
December is here, and it made its presence known, as fierce
winds damaged trees, knocked out power and brought in a bone-chilling
batch of cold air.
With recent temperatures making it feel like the beginnings
of fall, it was a surprise to many to feel the significant drop
that happened, reminding everyone that winter is almost here.
Alex Beauvois, a forecaster with the National Weather Service
in Louisville, said that what started out as a light wind late
last Thursday night, quickly picked up speed after midnight.
Friday’s early morning showers brought wind speeds as
high as 55 mph.
Beauvois attributed the change in weather to the cold front
that came in and said there was scattered wind damage. There
were tornado watches in some areas and a few snowflakes.
“The strong winds are done though,” he said Friday
afternoon, adding that the temperatures this week will stay
around the 30s and lower 40s.
“It will be a cool, dry period with no major wind,”
he said, “(but) this was a major fall storm.”
Some residents of Owen County agreed, including Mildred Lynn
and her daughter Mayme Kelly. Both live on Robin Drive and had
trees fall because of the strong winds.
“I heard a noise and saw (Mayme’s) tree had fallen,”
Lynn said.
Lynn said she has never had trees fall because of the wind and
wasn’t sure who to call to come clean it up. She also
did not realize she had a tree down for some time, though she
believes it probably fell at the same time her daughter’s
did. She also said the wind had knocked down some of her neighbor’s
Christmas decorations.
“It was really bad this morning,” she said.
Judge-Executive Billy O’Banion said the county’s
road crews were ready to go if the weather got too bad. He said
boxes were in trucks and all materials were ready.
“We were anxiously awaiting in case there was snow,”
he said.
Mike Cobb, Senior Vice President of Customer Service and Marketing
at Owen Electric, said that there were about 68 people affected
with short-term power outages in Owen County, resulting from
gusty winds and tree limbs falling on utility lines.
Cobb said all outages were fixed in less than an hour.
“We wanted to make sure things were safe and secure again,”
he said.
Owen County Emergency Management Director Rick Morgan said he
did not hear of any issues with the weather, or see much damage
other than fallen trees.
While at times severe weather may cause a run on essentials
from the grocery store, Saveway store owner Malone Bourne said
the weather caused more people to stay at home.
“It was so windy you couldn’t get in or get out,”
he said, adding that the severe winds blew open the store’s
doors and caused some damage. “It was not a good day.”
