COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – Over 4,500 AEP customers are experiencing power outages after early Thursday morning storms caused heavy damage throughout central Ohio.

According to the AEP outage tracking map, the company is reporting 104 outages affecting 2,372 customers as of 2 p.m.  Those totals include 1,510 customers in Franklin County, 50 customers in Delaware County, 39 in Licking County, 34 in Athens County and 204 in Ross County.

Storms rolled into Franklin County from the north, causing flood advisories and damage from falling branches and trees. Thomas Worthington High School is closed Thursday due to flooding in its basement classrooms.

Early morning storms caused local roads to flood and power outages throughout central Ohio. (NBC4/Ronald Clark)

An update on AEP’s Facebook page said that crews are assessing damage and restoring power as quickly as possible. An AEP spokesperson also told NBC4 that the majority of Franklin County residents without power are in the Grove City area.

Restoration times are estimated for the following central Ohio areas:

  • Grove City: 1 p.m.
  • Southeast Columbus: 4 p.m.

NBC4 will have updates throughout the day.