Over 15k customers without power as strong winds hit Greater Cincinnati

Thousands of Duke Energy customers are without power Saturday afternoon as strong winds sweep through the region.

As of 3:30 p.m., 15,701 Duke customers were without power, according to the company's online outage map. Most of those customers were concentrated in Butler, Clermont and Hamilton counties.

Stores and restaurants at the Rookwood Commons & Pavilion shopping center lost power and closed Saturday afternoon, with those that remained open accepting only cash.

No estimated restoration times are listed but Duke Energy says repairs and damage assessment are underway.

Greater Cincinnati remains under a wind advisory until 8 p.m., according to the National Weather Service in Wilmington, Ohio.

The agency has warned of 25-35 mph winds and wind gusts up to 55 mph.

Gusty winds may blow around unsecured objects and knock down tree limbs, the weather service said, adding power outages are possible.

Drivers, especially those of high-profile vehicles, are urged to use caution.