Storms pummel Midwest, Atlantic states

DETROIT, Aug. 10 (UPI) -- Heat and humidity rising into the U.S. Midwest and mid-Atlantic spawned a line of powerful storms from the Texas panhandle to Maryland, authorities said.

Tornadoes were seen near Rushford, N.Y., and Penfield, Pa., while strong winds flipped grain wagons and damaged crops near Van Horne, Iowa.

At least 65,000 homes and businesses in southeastern Michigan were without power Monday, with isolated outages reported in Illinois, Wisconsin, Ohio and Pennsylvania, Accuweather.com reported.

"We've had a cool, dry summer so far but that changed over the weekend," National Weather Service Meteorologist Dave Gurney told The Detroit News.

In Lycoming County, Pa., storms Sunday night downed large trees throughout the county, damaging homes and forcing the closure of Route 44. Trees fell across Cecil County, Md., while storms sparked several fires near Sparta. Mich.

In St. Louis, classes that were to begin at some local high schools were canceled after Sunday storms knocked out power and air conditioning, the St. Louis (Mo.) Post-Dispatch reported Monday.