So, how windy was it? Forecasters release data on strong winds that hit Greater Cincinnati

Strong winds swept through Greater Cincinnati following a bout of bad weather that began Friday night and lasted into the pre-dawn hours Saturday. But just how windy was it?

The National Weather Service in Wilmington, Ohio recorded winds as high as 61 mph at Lunken Airport Saturday morning, the highest wind speed recorded locally.

At the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport, wind speeds reached up to 59 mph, the agency's data shows.

The full list of wind speed measurements can be found online.

The weather service placed all of Greater Cincinnati under a high wind warning until 6 p.m., as forecasters warned of 20-30 mph winds and wind gusts up to 60 mph. Winds at those speeds can blow around unsecured objects, knock down tree limbs and cause power outages, the agency said.

Thousands of Duke Energy customers across Greater Cincinnati, but largely in Clermont County, lost power, with the company blaming power outages and slower restoration times on the gusty conditions.

On Friday, the region braced for strong storms, with straight-line winds - some in excess of 70 mph - being the primary threat, accompanied by the possibility of tornadoes.

Though there weren't any twisters, severe thunderstorm warnings were issued early Saturday morning in several Southwest Ohio, Northern Kentucky and Southeast Indiana counties.

At least 21 people were killed following confirmed or suspected tornadoes in at least eight states that tore through the South and Midwest beginning Friday night.

U.S. power outages spiked to over 900,000 customers on Saturday afternoon, as bad weather moved toward the Northeast.

USATODAY contributed to this report.