Alert archive / Pennsylvania / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1997
Severe Thunderstorm Warning 33, NWS Pittsburgh, PA
NWS Pittsburgh, PA issued this severe thunderstorm warning at May 19, 1997, 5:56 PM EDT for Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. It was in force for 49 min. 4 reports came from inside the area while it was in force.
The area
The counties it named, with what was reported inside it.
The facts
- Issued
- May 19, 1997, 5:56 PM EDT (21:56 UTC)
- Expired
- May 19, 1997, 6:45 PM EDT
- In force
- 49 min
- Issued by
- NWS Pittsburgh, PA
- Area
- Whole counties
County Westmoreland County, PA
The radar
The Pittsburgh radar (KPBZ), 68 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 21:51 UTC, the scan nearest the moment this went out.
Open the radar archive at this moment
The archived warnings, watches and discussions in force at that minute are drawn over the scan, this one among them.
What was reported inside it
| Time | Report | Where | Remark |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 19, 5:59 PM EDT | Thunderstorm Wind | New Kensington, PA | Numerous trees and power lines were downed by thunderstorm winds. |
| May 19, 6:20 PM EDT | Thunderstorm Wind | Vandergrift, PA | Thunderstorm winds downed trees. |
| May 19, 6:20 PM EDT | Thunderstorm Wind | Arnold, PA | Trees were downed by thunderstorm winds. |
| May 19, 6:30 PM EDT | Thunderstorm Wind | New Kensington, PA | Thunderstorm winds downed power lines and about 30 large trees. |
NCEI Storm Data entries that began inside the alert's area while it was in force. Before 2003 the local storm report archive is thin, so this is the record of what happened rather than what was phoned in.
The watch it was issued in
The SPC watch in force over the same counties when this warning went out.
| Issued | Product | Office | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 19, 5:15 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Watch | SPC | 6 hr |
The nearest sounding before it
Pittsburgh, PA (KPIT), launched 12:00Z, 9.9 hours before the alert went out and 55 km from the middle of its area. This is the routine balloon launch nearest before it, the air the forecaster had in hand, not a measurement taken for the alert.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 10 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -92 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 626 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 51 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 77 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 140 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 0.0
The text
As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.
886 WUUS1 KPIT 192155 RRA SVRPIT PAC129-192245- BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA 556 PM EDT MON MAY 19 1997 THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN PITTSBURGH HAS ISSUED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL 645 PM EDT FOR THE FOLLOWING LOCATION... IN WEST PENNSYLVANIA ...WESTMORELAND COUNTY AT 555 PM NATIONAL WEATHER RADAR SHOWED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM OVER NORTHEAST PART OF ALLEGHENY COUNTY MOVING EAST TOWARD NORTHWEST SECTIONS OF WESTMORELAND COUNTY. THIS STORM IS MOVING EAST AT 40 MPH. TOWNS IN THE PATH OF THIS STORM ARE NEW KENSINGTON AND VANDERGRIFT. THIS STORM PRODUCED WIDESPREAD WIND DAMAGE IN BEAVER AND ALLEGHENY COUNTY. THIS IS A DANGEROUS STORM. IF YOU ARE IN ITS PATH...PREPARE FOR DAMAGING WIND OVER 55 MPH...LARGE HAIL...AND DEADLY LIGHTNING. TAKE SHELTER INSIDE A STRONG BUILDING BUT AWAY FROM WINDOWS. &
What forecasters said that day
The local office's own words before this severe thunderstorm warning went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.
In the hours before
Local storm report, May 19, 2:10 PM EDT, 3 hours 46 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA
210 PM EDT MON MAY 19 1997
TIME(EDT) .....CITY LOCATION..... STATE ...EVENT/REMARKS...
....COUNTY LOCATION....
0435 PM WOODSFIELD OH WIND DAMAGE
05/18/97 MONROE PRODUCE STAND BLOWN DOWN.
LARGE TREES BLOWN DOWN.
0750 PM RICHMOND OH WIND DAMAGE
05/18/97 JEFFERSON HOUSE TRAILER FLIPPED
OVER. LARGE TREES BLOWN
DOWN.
0750 PM WEIRTON WV WIND DAMAGE
05/18/97 HANCOCK SEVERAL BUILDINGS
SIGNIFICANTLY DAMAGED.
SOME HAD ROOFS BLOWN OFF AND
WINDOWS BLOWN OUT. A METAL
BUILDING COLLAPSED.
A BLOCK BUILDING DEVELOPED
CRACKS ON THE SECOND FLOOR.
SURVEY TEAM DETERMINED THIS
WAS A MICROBURST 100 TO 120 MPH.
0750 PM WEIRTON JUNCTION WV WIND DAMAGE
05/18/97 BROOKE LARGE TREES BLOWN DOWN.
0840 PM WASHINGTON PA WIND DAMAGE
05/18/97 ROOF TO HOUSE ADDITION
BLOWN OFF. LARGE TREES
AND POWER LINES BLOWN DOWN.
0845 PM PITTSBURGH PA WIND DAMAGE
05/18/97 ALLEGHENY LARGE TREES BLOWN DOWN
IN EAST LIBERTY SECTION.
0930 PM MORRISVILLE PA WIND DAMAGE
05/18/97 GREENE WINDOWS TO CAR DEALERSHIP
BUILDING BLOWN OUT.
ROOF OF SUPERMARKET ENTRANCE
BLOWN OFF.
LARGE TREES BLOWN DOWN.
0940 PM FAIRCHANCE PA WIND DAMAGE
05/18/97 FAYETTE LARGE TREES BLOWN DOWN.Local storm report, May 19, 2:12 PM EDT, 3 hours 44 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA
210 PM EDT MON MAY 19 1997
TIME(EDT) .....CITY LOCATION..... STATE ...EVENT/REMARKS...
....COUNTY LOCATION....
0435 PM WOODSFIELD OH WIND DAMAGE
05/18/97 MONROE PRODUCE STAND BLOWN DOWN.
LARGE TREES BLOWN DOWN.
0750 PM RICHMOND OH WIND DAMAGE
05/18/97 JEFFERSON HOUSE TRAILER FLIPPED
OVER. LARGE TREES BLOWN
DOWN.
0750 PM WEIRTON WV WIND DAMAGE
05/18/97 HANCOCK SEVERAL BUILDINGS
SIGNIFICANTLY DAMAGED.
SOME HAD ROOFS BLOWN OFF AND
WINDOWS BLOWN OUT. A METAL
BUILDING COLLAPSED.
A BLOCK BUILDING DEVELOPED
CRACKS ON THE SECOND FLOOR.
SURVEY TEAM DETERMINED THIS
WAS A MICROBURST 100 TO 120 MPH.
0750 PM WEIRTON JUNCTION WV WIND DAMAGE
05/18/97 BROOKE LARGE TREES BLOWN DOWN.
0840 PM WASHINGTON PA WIND DAMAGE
05/18/97 ROOF TO HOUSE ADDITION
BLOWN OFF. LARGE TREES
AND POWER LINES BLOWN DOWN.
0845 PM PITTSBURGH PA WIND DAMAGE
05/18/97 ALLEGHENY LARGE TREES BLOWN DOWN
IN EAST LIBERTY SECTION.
0930 PM MORRISVILLE PA WIND DAMAGE
05/18/97 GREENE WINDOWS TO CAR DEALERSHIP
BUILDING BLOWN OUT.
ROOF OF SUPERMARKET ENTRANCE
BLOWN OFF.
LARGE TREES BLOWN DOWN.
0940 PM FAIRCHANCE PA WIND DAMAGE
05/18/97 FAYETTE LARGE TREES BLOWN DOWN.Local storm report, May 19, 2:17 PM EDT, 3 hours 39 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA
217 PM EDT MON MAY 19 1997
TIME(EDT) .....CITY LOCATION..... STATE ...EVENT/REMARKS...
....COUNTY LOCATION....
0525 PM COUNTYWIDE PA WIND DAMAGE
05/19/97 BEAVER NUMEROUS TREES DOWN
0610 PM ELM GROVE WV WIND DAMAGE
05/19/97 OHIO GREENHOUSE DESTROYED
0614 PM WHEELING WV WIND DAMAGE
05/19/97 OHIO TREES DOWN
WINDOWS BLOWN OUT
0619 PM NORTH WHEELING WV WIND DAMAGE
05/19/97 OHIO TREE DOWN ON HOME
0620 PM VANDERGRIFT PA WIND DAMAGE
05/19/97 WESTMORELAND TREES DOWN
0630 PM NEW KENSINGTON PA WIND DAMAGE
05/19/97 WESTMORELAND 30 TREES DOWN
POWER LINE BLOWN
0645 PM WASHINGTON PA WIND DAMAGE
05/19/97 WASHINGTON NUMEROUS TREES DOWN
0644 PM HOMER CITY PA WIND DAMAGE
05/19/97 INDIANA TREE DOWN
0647 PM BRIDGEPORT OH FLOODING
05/19/97 BELMONT
0647 PM BLAINE OH FLOODING
05/19/97 BELMONT
0647 PM 5NE ST CLAIRSVILLE OH FLOODING
05/19/97 BELMONT SEERE ROAD FLOODING
0653 PM NOWRYTOWN PA WIND DAMAGE
05/19/97 INDIANA TREE DOWN
0715 PM 2 N CONNELLSVILLE PA WIND DAMAGE
05/19/97 FAYETTE TREE DOWN
0738 PM VANDERBILT PA WIND DAMAGE
05/19/97 FAYETTE TREE DOWN
0815 PM 5E KINGWOOD WV WIND DAMAGE
05/19/97 PRESTON TREE DOWN
0820 PM MCMECHEN WV FLOODING
05/19/97 MARSHALL MUD SLIDE
STATE RT 5 FLOODED
0830 PM EAST FINDLEY PA FLOODING
05/19/97 WASHINGTON ROADS CLOSED
0830 PM CLAYSVILLE PA FLOODING
05/19/97 WASHINGTON ROADS CLOSED
0830 PM 1NE WHEELING WV FLOODING
05/19/97 OHIO CREEK FLOODING ON ELM
RUN AND WADDLES RUNLocal storm report, May 19, 2:17 PM EDT, 3 hours 39 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA
217 PM EDT MON MAY 19 1997
TIME(EDT) .....CITY LOCATION..... STATE ...EVENT/REMARKS...
....COUNTY LOCATION....
0435 PM WOODSFIELD OH WIND DAMAGE
05/18/97 MONROE PRODUCE STAND BLOWN DOWN.
LARGE TREES BLOWN DOWN.
0750 PM RICHMOND OH WIND DAMAGE
05/18/97 JEFFERSON HOUSE TRAILER FLIPPED
OVER. LARGE TREES BLOWN
DOWN.
0750 PM WEIRTON WV WIND DAMAGE
05/18/97 HANCOCK SEVERAL BUILDINGS
SIGNIFICANTLY DAMAGED.
SOME HAD ROOFS BLOWN OFF AND
WINDOWS BLOWN OUT. A METAL
BUILDING COLLAPSED.
A BLOCK BUILDING DEVELOPED
CRACKS ON THE SECOND FLOOR.
SURVEY TEAM DETERMINED THIS
WAS A MICROBURST 100 TO 120 MPH.
0750 PM WEIRTON JUNCTION WV WIND DAMAGE
05/18/97 BROOKE LARGE TREES BLOWN DOWN.
0840 PM WASHINGTON PA WIND DAMAGE
05/18/97 WASHINGTON ROOF TO HOUSE ADDITION BLOWN
OFF. LARGE TREES AND POWER
LINES BLOWN DOWN.
0845 PM PITTSBURGH PA WIND DAMAGE
05/18/97 ALLEGHENY LARGE TREES BLOWN DOWN
IN EAST LIBERTY SECTION.
0930 PM MORRISVILLE PA WIND DAMAGE
05/18/97 GREENE WINDOWS TO CAR DEALERSHIP
BUILDING BLOWN OUT.
ROOF OF SUPERMARKET ENTRANCE
BLOWN OFF.
LARGE TREES BLOWN DOWN.
0940 PM FAIRCHANCE PA WIND DAMAGE
05/18/97 FAYETTE LARGE TREES BLOWN DOWN.Local storm report, May 19, 5:32 PM EDT, 24 minutes before
STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH, PA
532 PM EDT MON MAY 19 1997
TIME(EDT) .....CITY LOCATION..... STATE ...EVENT/REMARKS...
....COUNTY LOCATION....
0527 PM SEWICKLEY HEIGHTS PA WIND GUST 66 MPH.
05/19/97 ALLEGHENYLocal storm report, May 19, 5:33 PM EDT, 23 minutes before
STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH, PA
532 PM EDT MON MAY 19 1997
TIME(EDT) .....CITY LOCATION..... STATE ...EVENT/REMARKS...
....COUNTY LOCATION....
0527 PM SEWICKLEY HEIGHTS PA WIND GUST 66 MPH.
05/19/97 ALLEGHENYThe office that day
Everything else NWS Pittsburgh, PA issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 18, 8:33 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | PBZ | Allegheny, Washington | 27 min |
| May 18, 9:19 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | PBZ | Fayette, Greene | 41 min |
| May 18, 11:26 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | PBZ | Mercer | 64 min |
| May 19, 12:06 AM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | PBZ | Venango | 69 min |
| May 19, 12:36 AM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | PBZ | Mercer | 69 min |
| May 19, 5:19 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | PBZ | Beaver | 26 min |
| May 19, 5:24 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | PBZ | Allegheny | 51 min |
| May 19, 6:19 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | PBZ | Armstrong, Indiana | 41 min |
| May 19, 6:21 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | PBZ | Washington | 54 min |
| May 19, 6:37 PM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | PBZ | Allegheny | 53 min |
| May 19, 6:37 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | PBZ | Allegheny | 53 min |
| May 19, 6:40 PM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | PBZ | Washington | 3 hr |
| May 19, 6:46 PM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | PBZ | Westmoreland | 3 hr |
| May 19, 6:46 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | PBZ | Westmoreland | 3 hr |
| May 19, 6:57 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | PBZ | Indiana | 33 min |
| May 19, 7:07 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | PBZ | Fayette | 68 min |
| May 19, 7:36 PM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | PBZ | Allegheny | 2 hr |
Nearby
Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Pennsylvania, 1997Every severe thunderstorm warning in 1997
Sources
The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; verification from NCEI's Storm Data; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.