It was six years ago today that the remnants of a hurricane cut short the MotoGP at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The race was shortened by eight laps from high winds and a soaking track.
On September 14, after Ike became extratropical and was enhanced by an upper level shortwave trough of low pressure, a major wind event took place across the lower and middle Ohio Valley and lower Great Lakes, and significant rainfall and flooding took place to the west.
The St. Louis area experienced hurricane conditions. A state of emergency was declared in Chicago. Hurricane-force wind gusts were reported to the east of the center across parts of Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio and Pennsylvania with significant wind damage including structural damage to buildings and trees. The Louisville area declared a state of emergency due to major damage and power outages, and the Louisville International Airport was closed temporarily.
Wind gusts of 75 miles per hour were recorded in both Cincinnati and Columbus, which is equivalent to sustained wind levels found in a Category 1 hurricane. Salem, Indiana and Scottsburg, Indiana reported wind gusts up to 81 miles per hour. In Indiana, high winds caused more than 200,000 customers to be without power throughout the state. Wind gusts of 63 miles per hour were reported at the Indy Airport.
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