INDIANAPOLIS — Severe storms caused damage across central and southern Indiana Thursday and left more than 56,000 electricity customers without service.

Duke Energy reported more than 50,000 customers without service Thursday evening, including more than 15,000 in Monroe County, over 2,000 where left without power for a while here in our area in the Wabash Valley.

The storm downed trees, blocking some roads here in our area and in other parts of southern Indiana.

The National Weather Service says that a trained spotter measured a 61-mph wind gust northeast of Indianapolis.