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Thousands Without Power After Storms Roar Through State

screengrab via national weather service pittsburgh

Thousands of utility customers across Pennsylvania were without power early Wednesday after severe thunderstorms roared through the state, knocking down trees and utility lines and possibly spawning a tornado.

The storms containing heavy rains, hail, lightning and strong winds hit early Wednesday but had mostly left the state by late morning.

The National Weather Service said a possible tornado touched down around 1:20 a.m. near Apollo in Armstrong County, and the agency said a team would be sent to the area later Wednesday to survey the damage. The storm also tore the roof off of St. Mary of Czestochowa Church in the Westmoreland County community of New Kensington.

Roughly 61,000 utility customers were without service, mostly in western areas of the state. Most customers were expected to have their power restored sometime Wednesday.

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