Weak Tornado Touches Down In Northeast Ohio

Thursday, March 15th 2007, 7:11 am

By: News On 6

ELYRIA, Ohio (AP) _ A small tornado touched down briefly near a shopping mall in northeast Ohio, ripping siding from an office supply store, flattening residential garages and forcing some schools to cancel classes because of a power outage.

No injuries were reported from the tornado, which struck Wednesday evening. Elyria is about 25 miles west of Cleveland.

The tornado was weak and on the ground only a few minutes, said Jim Kosarik, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Cleveland.

Investigators will have to assess the damage to determine wind speed, said NWS meteorologist Mike Abair.

Strong winds downed power lines and trees, and tossed a shopping cart through the window of an empty building, said Lt. Bob Krugman of the Elyria Fire Department.

Classes were canceled at local schools because power was out and officials didn't know when it would be restored, school board member Kathryn Carpus said.