Strong winds during the overnight thunderstorm damaged a hackberry tree in Frankfort Square, putting City of Columbus crews to work early on Wednesday morning.
City Public Works Director Chuck Sliva said the winds ended up snapping a branch on the tree located in close proximity to 26th Avenue, splitting the whole tree in half and making it unstable while tearing down a nearby powerline.
Clint Aegerter, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service based out of the Omaha/Valley office, said that a line of thunderstorms went through the Columbus area early Wednesday morning. Wind gusts as high as 40 mph were recorded at Columbus Municipal Airport at approximately 12:49 a.m. Wednesday, so it’s possible the winds could have caused damage throughout town.
City crews were hard at work well before 7 working on removing the debris. The City Parks and Recreation Department is going to consult with a contractor about safely removing the tree without harming others.
(ABOUT THE PHOTO: City crews working on removing the debris after a storm damaged a hackberry tree in Frankfort Square near 26th Avenue.)