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Storms tear through area, tornado warning issued for Lycoming County

Several roadways were blocked by trees fallen as strong storms swept through the area Sunday night, including this one in the 1400 block of East New Road in Woodward Township. JESSICA WATSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent

Fire and emergency crews were kept busy as a violent line of thunderstorms ripped through the area ahead of a cold front Sunday night.

As the storms began sweeping through the county shortly after 8:30 p.m., 911 dispatchers were inundated with reports of trees blocking roadways and several instances of downed live wires.

Jersey Shore and the surrounding area appeared to be hardest hit, with local emergency personnel handling nearly a dozen calls of impassable roads.

While crews made quick work of clearing streets in town, roads in the 2000 block of Cement Hollow Road and the 1100 block of Spook Hollow Road in Piatt Township, and the 1400 block of East New Road and the 1000 block of East Emerys Church Road in Woodward Township were closed as of late Sunday night.

Other parts of the county were not spared from the storms as a truck sitting in a residential parking lot was struck by a fallen tree in the 100 block of West Village Road in Nesbit, while the intersection of Grimesville and Lockcuff roads was closed as a result of wires in the roadway, with a tree and wires blocking the roadway in the 2200 block of Wheatland Avenue, both in Old Lycoming Township.

Several roadways were blocked by trees fallen as strong storms swept through the area Sunday night, including this one in the 1400 block of East New Road in Woodward Township. JESSICA WATSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent

Just before 9 p.m., the National Weather Service issued a tornado warning for central Lycoming and Sullivan counties.

At 8:58 p.m., weather radar indicated strong rotation within a storm near Loyalsockville, moving northeast at 50 mph, according to the broadcast warning.

Areas within the path of the potential tornado included Barbours, Loyalsockville, Kettle Creek Gorge, Lincoln Falls, Dushore, Laporte, Eagles Mere, Hillsgrove, South Williamsport and surrounding communities, the warning noted.

There were no immediate reports of damage or injuries within the path of the apparent rotation, and it has yet to be confirmed if a tornado did indeed touch down.

The intersection of Spook Hollow and Martin Roads was closed by downed trees and powerlines Sunday night. JESSICA WATSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent

The intersection of Spook Hollow and Martin Roads was closed by downed trees and powerlines Sunday night. JESSICA WATSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent

JESSICA WATSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent

Fire crews respond to a tree blocking the roadway at Wylie Street and Washington Avenue in Jersey Shore following Sunday night's storms. PHOTO PROVIDED

A tree downed by Sunday night's powerful storms blocks the roadway at Wylie Street and Washington Avenue in Jersey Shore. PHOTO PROVIDED

PHOTO PROVIDED

JESSICA WATSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent

JESSICA WATSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent

Trees were blown over outside the Jersey Shore YMCA during Sunday night's storms. PHOTO PROVIDED

Downed trees were reported throughout the area following strong storms, including this one along Pine Run Road in Anthony Township. PHOTO PROVIDED

Downed trees were reported throughout the area following strong storms, including this one along Pine Run Road in Anthony Township. PHOTO PROVIDED

JESSICA WATSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent

JESSICA WATSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent

JESSICA WATSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent

Debris littered the roadway following Sunday night's violent storms. JESSICA WATSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent

Downed power lines make the roadway in the 1100 block of Spook Hollow Road in Piatt Township impassable. JESSICA WATSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent

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