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Baldwin Today
By the People, for the People
High Winds Cause Power Outages and Damage Across Midwest
Hundreds of thousands left without power as wild March weather sweeps through region
Mar. 14, 2026 at 8:21pm
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Powerful winds raked across the Midwest on Friday, leaving hundreds of thousands without power and causing substantial property damage. Nearly 600,000 customers were still affected at midday in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Michigan, with gusts reaching up to 85 mph in some areas. The high winds also fueled wildfires in Nebraska, resulting in at least one death.
Why it matters
The severe weather highlights the increasing frequency and intensity of extreme weather events driven by climate change. Power outages and property damage can have significant impacts on communities, and the wildfires in Nebraska demonstrate the growing threat of climate-related disasters.
The details
The high winds took down trees, power lines, and structures across the region. A 66 mph gust at Pittsburgh International Airport was deemed the fourth-strongest on record not caused by a thunderstorm. In Ohio, a gas station canopy was taken down, while in Pennsylvania, an auto parts store sign was damaged. The roof of a school building in Illinois was also severely damaged.
- The high winds hit the region on Friday, March 13, 2026.
- As of midday on Saturday, March 14, 2026, nearly 600,000 customers were still without power.
The players
PowerOutage.us
A website that tracks power outages nationwide.
National Weather Service
The federal agency responsible for weather forecasting and issuing weather warnings.
Nebraska Emergency Management Agency
The state agency responsible for coordinating emergency response and disaster recovery efforts in Nebraska.
What they’re saying
“It's definitely a very active weather weekend, that's for sure. It's a highly amplified pattern, which means you get a lot of extremes. Also, not just the Lower 48, but Hawaii's getting hit hard right now with some very heavy rain.”
— John Feerick, Senior Meteorologist, AccuWeather
What’s next
Utility companies are working to restore power to affected areas, and emergency responders are assessing the extent of the damage. Authorities in Nebraska are continuing to battle the wildfires and investigate the cause of the fatality.
The takeaway
The severe weather event underscores the need for communities to be prepared for the increasing frequency and intensity of extreme weather driven by climate change. Investing in resilient infrastructure, emergency response planning, and public education can help mitigate the impacts of these types of events.
