Central Ohio has paid the price for relief from the stifling heat and a dousing of much-needed rain.

A storm front carrying hurricane-force winds of more than 80 mph barreled through the Columbus area early this evening.

At least 200,000 central Ohioans are without electricity amid neighborhoods littered with downed trees and power lines. AEP reported 145,000 outages in Franklin County, 15,300 in Delaware County, 8,600 in Licking County and 5.600 in Fairfield County.

South Central Power reported outages numbering 10,000 in Pickaway County, 8,100 in Fairfield County and 900 in Franklin County.

Thousands face the sweltering prospect of a 97-degree day without air conditioning on Saturday. As of 9:45 p.m., AEP had not returned telephone calls seeking comment on repair efforts and estimates when power may be restored. Based on outages of this magnitude, some could be waiting for days. Nearly 29 percent of AEP's Franklin County customers are without power.

A wind gust of 82 mph was recorded at Don Scott Field on the Northwest Side and large parts of the Dublin area, including Sawmill Road, were in the dark.

Street and traffic lights were out and streets were strewn with limbs and fallen trees throughout the Columbus area. People left their darkened homes in search of dinner at nearby restaurants only to find they also were without power.

The National Weather Service received a report that a dozen utility poles were toppled along N. Hamilton Road, with one person receiving injuries when one of the poles fell on their car. An aerial shot from the WBNS-TV (Channel 10) helicopter showed dozens of people trapped in their cars while crews worked to safely remove the downed power lines.

See more weather updates, including Doppler 10 radar.

Southwest of Columbus, the Fayette County sheriff's office received multiple reports that a tornado touched down in the Jeffersonville area.

Both lanes of I-71 were largely closed, but for a slow trickle of traffic on the shoulders, after high winds blew over several tractor-trailers near the outlet malls, a dispatcher said. No injuries were reported.

The dispatcher said many had reported roofs sheared off of buildings, along with fallen trees and power lines. Deputies still are assessing the damage, but the dispatcher said it is "extensive."

In downtown Marysville, the storm stripped the roof off the building housing the Fiesta Grande Mexican restaurant and partially collapsed the third floor, sending bricks showering onto  W. Fifth Street. The building, constructed in 1883, could be a total loss.

City spokeswoman Anna Krutowskis said an employee of the business called police dispatchers about 5 p.m. and said he heard a loud noise and water rushing in the building. Restaurant employees got everyone out of the building and police and fire crews safely evacuated the other businesses in the block.

Damage to buildings was reported in Mount Sterling in Madison County. The roof of one building was peeled off and deposited on top of an adjacent hardware store.

Two-inch hail was reported in Marysville and Delaware was hard hit by the straight-line winds accompanying the violent thunderstorms. Several large trees are reported down on the Ohio State University campus.

Trees were toppled into structures in some areas and there were scattered reports of roof damage.

Winds of 75 mph were recorded in the Dublin area and Rickenbacker Airport caught a 66-mph gust. Winds approaching 70 mph were reported in the Lancaster and Newark areas.

Widespread wind damage is reported throughout west central Ohio. A gust of 82 mph was measured in Dayton, where structural damage is reported to a shopping mall, and 80 mph winds hit Bellefontaine.

The temperature fell from 98 degrees to 80 degrees in less than an hour as the storms moved in. The temperature had fallen to 72 degrees by 6 p.m. at Port Columbus. Slightly more than .40 of an inch of rain was measured at the airport.

The worst of the storms passed shortly before 6 p.m. and the severe-thunderstorm warning was allowed to expire.

A severe-thunderstorm watch remains in effect for much of the Columbus area until 10 p.m.

The rain brought but a temporary cool-down. A high of 97 is forecast for Saturday.

Dispatch reporters Collin Binkley, Holly Zachariah and Lydia Coutre contributed to this story.

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After a 100-degree high yesterday, the first triple-digit temperature in Columbus in nearly 13 years, the worst of the warmth is behind us — but not by much.

The weather will remain miserably hot for days to come, with sunny skies and highs in the mid-90s forecast by the National Weather Service for the next week. It was 98 degrees at Port Columbus shortly before 4 p.m.

The Columbus area, which has received 2 inches less rain than normal this month, is rated as experiencing a moderate drought.

The weather service late this morning issued an excessive-heat warning for central Ohio through 8 p.m. People are warned to take it easy outdoors and to drink plenty of water to avoid heat-related illnesses. The heat index, which factors in humidity, could reach 105 degrees.

It didn't cool off much overnight. The low only fell to 79 degrees, which will be a new record for the warmest "low" unless temperatures cool below that mark by midnight. The record poised to fall is 77 degrees.

Whether with fans, air conditioning or cooling escapes to the water, Columbus tried to keep its cool yesterday as the thermometer hit the 100-degree mark for the first time since July 31, 1999.

The 100-degree reading, however, fell short of the record of 102 degrees set in 1944. Days of 100-degree readings or higher in Columbus are unusual. There have only been 15 days with triple-digit temperatures since 1950.

Other highs recorded yesterday: Delaware, 101; Circleville and Lancaster, 100; Newark, 99; and London, 98.

The air also will remain smoggy, posing a potential risk for people with respiratory-related illnesses. The Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission issued an air-quality alert for elevated ozone levels yesterday and today.

Mayor Michael B. Coleman announced yesterday morning that four fire hydrants were being opened to give city residents an additional option for beating the heat.

Hydrants also will be opened and supervised by city employees from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. today at 180 N. Ohio Ave. on the Near East Side; 1100 Rhodes Ave. in Driving Park; 1254 Briarwood Ave. in Linden Park; and at Wicklow and S. Hampton streets in Westgate Park.

Air-conditioned city recreation centers are open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays to provide another spot to cool off. Seven city swimming pools also are available for those seeking refuge from the heat. The Faith Mission, 315 E. Long St., also is opening its doors during the day to allow the homeless to escape the heat.

Accompanying the low humidity and dry vegetation, there’s also a “red-flag warning” signaling a high risk for outdoor fires that could spread rapidly.

Authorities are warning central Ohioans not to set off fireworks or pitch lit cigarette butts because of the dry conditions. Pataskala officials warned that those caught illegally setting off fireworks in the Licking County city will be ticketed by police.

Del-Co Water Co., which serves 135,000 customers, largely in Delaware and Morrow counties, yesterday imposed a ban on lawn watering until July 6 to allow its water-storage towers to recover from heavy water use.

Columbus was not the hottest spot in the state, as Dayton and Cincinnati dealt with temperatures reaching up to 103 degrees. A 106-degree reading was recorded in Defiance in northwestern Ohio.

Excessive-heat warnings and heat advisories were in effect throughout the state, and cooling centers were designated in many parts of the state to help those Ohioans needing to escape the heat.

State health officials urged people not to spend too much time outdoors and to drink plenty of water to avoid heat-related illness over the next several days.

Information from the Associated Press was included in this story.

rludlow@dispatch.com

@RandyLudlow