High wind warning for area tonight

YOUNGSTOWN — The National Weather Service in Cleveland has issued a high wind warning for the Mahoning Valley. The warning will be in effect from 7 p.m. Wednesday and will expire Thursday morning at 10.

According to the National Weather Service’s Web site, strong winds will develop this afternoon due to a cold front approaching the region. Sustained winds of 30 to 40 mph are expected, with occasional gusts of 60 mph possible.

Electrical companies, such as Ohio Edison, anticipate little impact on power equipment, but are prepared for wind storms.

“When you have a system that is out in the elements 24/7 you try to make it robust as possible,” said Mark Durbin, spokesman for FirstEnergy, the parent company of Ohio Edison.

The easiest way to ensure the power stays on is to eliminate the possibility of lines being damaged by trees, Durbin said.

“When this type of situation comes up, the best things that we can do is prepare beforehand,” he said. “Trees and limbs falling into the equipment is the leading cause of outages.”

Durbin said tree limbs are the No. 1 cause of power outages. He recommends homeowners make sure all lines are clear of overhanging trees or other obstructions.

He added if outages do occur, the company will be ready.

“When the power goes out it is our job to restore it as soon as possible.”