Heavy thunderstorms hit region, prompting alerts, postponements

Tornado warnings were issued twice Tuesday for this area.
VINDICATOR STAFF REPORTS
Heavy thunderstorms that blew through Portage, Trumbull and Mahoning counties Tuesday prompted numerous sightings of funnel clouds, and one possible tornado was reported.
The wild weather postponed fireworks displays in at least three communities. Niles had no information on a rain check. Austintown said its fireworks are rescheduled for Friday; Warren's will be at 9:30 tonight. Youngstown's went off on time, with residents pouring into the downtown to find the perfect viewing perch.
The possible tornado touchdown was in Deerfield Township, Portage County, near Alliance Road at 4:44 p.m., said Mike Dutter, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Cleveland. He said a farm building was damaged.
A tornado warning was also issued at that time for Mahoning County, with Canfield and Boardman in the projected path as the storm moved through. At the same time, strong thunderstorm activity hit to the north in the Craig Beach area. Dutter said the weather service doesn't believe there were funnel clouds there.
Second warnings
Tornado warnings were issued again Tuesday evening for Portage and Trumbull counties. Portage was under a warning from 8 to 9 p.m., and Trumbull from 8:45 to 9:45 p.m.
There was never a warning issued for Mahoning County, though there were reports of funnel cloud sightings in the western part, near Interstate 76.
Dutter said people reported a touchdown near Hiram in Portage County. He said, however, that there was no damage reported. "We aren't officially declaring tornadoes."
Dutter said the weather service is continuing to gather reports.