MiddletownJournal.com

There has been no major damage reported in Warren County from the strong storms that pelted the area Tuesday night except for reports of downed tree limbs, authorities said Wednesday, June 4.

Tornado warning sirens sounded across the county throughout the night and funnel clouds were reported near South Lebanon; rotating walls of clouds were reported near Springboro, but no tornados were spotted on the ground, authorities said.

Two Waynesville women hit by lightning were rushed to the hospital Tuesday night, WKRC-TV Local 12 reported. They were struck around 8:30 p.m. in the 900 block of Windfield Way in Waynesville. The attic of a house there also caught fire.

It's not clear if the women were inside or outside of the house when the lighting struck, Local 12 reported. Their names and conditions are not available.

In Mason, a lightning strike in the Carmelle Woods subdivision was reported Wednesday morning and the Mason Fire Department responded.

High water was reported in Waynesville at Ohio 73 and Smith Road, and Turtle Creek is rising in the Lebanon area. The Little Miami River at Kings Mills is expected to overflow its banks later today, said Rick Murray with Warren County Emergency Services.

In Lebanon, emergency workers searched the creek behind the fire station on Silver Street Wednesday morning after a man reported he thought he heard a child calling for help. Police Sgt. Chuck Duerre said officers contacted all parents in the area and no one was reported missing.

Tornado watch continues

The National Weather Service extended its tornado watch for Warren County until 4 p.m. today. A watch means that conditions are right for the formation of violent storms. A tornado warning means that people should take shelter immediately.

Showers and thunderstorms are expected to continue today with an additional quarter to half-inch of rain. The low temperature overnight will be about 69.

The worst showers and thunderstorms should end by early this afternoon, according to the weather service. The high is expected to be near 83 with west wind between 10 and 13 mph with gusts as high as 23 mph.

There's a 50 percent chance of more showers and thunderstorms tonight ending mainly before 2 a.m. Thursday, June 5.

Temperatures will reach the year's high at 90 degrees on Thursday. The weather service predicted partly cloudy and hot weather through the weekend, falling to 87 degrees after Thursday's peak.

The heat is expected to continue through Monday, June 9, with highs the mid-80s, the weather service said.

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