A powerful windstorm moving through the region Friday caused significant disruptions across Auglaize County, forcing the closure of the courthouse, creating dangerous travel conditions and knocking out power in parts of the area.

According to the Auglaize County Sheriff's Office, the Auglaize County Courthouse was closed after sustaining roof damage during the storm.

Authorities also reported multiple traffic crashes across the county due to strong winds and extremely limited visibility. The sheriff’s office urged residents to avoid unnecessary travel until conditions improve.

Several roads have been impacted by storm damage. Drivers are being asked to avoid the intersection of Ohio State Route 118 and Purdy Road due to a road closure. Officials also warned of downed power poles blocking the roadway along Burkettsville–St. Henry Road between Philothea Road and Carthagena Road.

The sheriff’s office said debris and blowing dust have created near-zero visibility on several north-south roadways in the area.

The storm has also affected local schools and transportation. Bus routes for Celina City Schools and Van Wert City Schools were canceled due to unsafe travel conditions.

In the city of Celina, Ohio, officials reported a large tree falling in the 400 block of West Auglaize Street, bringing down a power line and causing outages in the surrounding neighborhood.

The outage affected properties along Auglaize Street from the fairgrounds to the railroad tracks on the east side of the street. Homes between Willipie Street and the fairgrounds south of Auglaize Street were also impacted.

Utility crews are working to reroute power, and officials said customers south of Auglaize Street were expected to see service restored within about 30 minutes.

Authorities continue to urge residents to avoid travel if possible as crews work to clear debris and restore services.