Alert archive / Pennsylvania / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2003
Severe Thunderstorm Warning 271, NWS Pittsburgh, PA
NWS Pittsburgh, PA issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Aug 26, 2003, 9:38 PM EDT for Washington County, Pennsylvania. It was in force for 52 min. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.
The area
The outline as issued.
The facts
- Issued
- Aug 26, 2003, 9:38 PM EDT (01:38 UTC)
- Expired
- Aug 26, 2003, 10:30 PM EDT
- In force
- 52 min
- Issued by
- NWS Pittsburgh, PA
- Area
- Counties, with a storm outline in the text
County Washington County, PA
The radar
The Pittsburgh radar (KPBZ), 27 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 01:41 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.
Did it verify
Not verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow found no qualifying storm report inside this severe thunderstorm warning while it was in force. That is not proof nothing happened: reports are thin where few people live.
Cow counts a report within 15 km of the polygon while the warning was in force: a tornado for a tornado warning; hail of 1 inch or more, a gust of 58 mph or more or wind damage for a severe thunderstorm warning; a flash flood report for a flash flood warning.
The watch it was issued in
The SPC watch in force over the same counties when this warning went out.
| Issued | Product | Office | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 26, 9:20 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Watch | SPC | 6 hr |
The nearest sounding before it
Pittsburgh, PA (KPIT), launched 00:00Z, 1.6 hours before the alert went out and 18 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
- 366 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -214 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 1453 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 27 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 191 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 213 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 0.5
The text
As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.
000
WUUS51 KPBZ 270138
SVRPBZ
PAC125-270230-
BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA
938 PM EDT TUE AUG 26 2003
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN PITTSBURGH HAS ISSUED A
* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR...
WASHINGTON COUNTY IN PENNSYLVANIA
* UNTIL 1030 PM EDT
* AT 938 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM 7 MILES WEST OF WOLFDALE...MOVING EAST AT 40
MPH.
* SOME LOCATIONS AFFECTED BY THIS STORM INCLUDE...
BAIDLAND...
BENTLEYVILLE...
BURGETTSTOWN...
CANONSBURG...
CECIL-BISHOP...
EAST WASHINGTON...
ELLSWORTH...
<<CALL TO ACTION>>LARGE HAIL...DAMAGING WINDS...AND HEAVY RAINFALL
ARE LIKELY WITH THIS STORM. TAKE COVER IN A STURDY BUILDING UNTIL THE
STORM HAS PASSED.
PLEASE REPORT HAIL...STRONG WINDS OR WIND DAMAGE TO THE NATIONAL
WEATHER SERVICE BY CALLING TOLL FREE...1-877-633-6772...WHEN YOU CAN
DO SO SAFELY.
LAT...LON 4045 8033 4032 8015 4026 7996 4004 7995
4004 8050 4045 8050What 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.
NWS Pittsburgh, PA wrote its last area forecast discussion before this severe thunderstorm warning went out at Aug 26, 4:59 PM EDT, 4 hours 39 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Aug 26, 4:59 PM EDT, 4 hours 39 minutes before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA 459 PM EDT TUE AUG 26 2003 EVENING FSCT ISSUANCE WITH LATEST SVR/FFA TIL 10PM EDT FOR ECNTRL OHIO AS COMPLEX IN NRN INDIANA HEADS SEWD...HOPEFULLY LAST FOR TDY. MDLS STILL CONFIDENT IN MVG FRONTAL BNDRY PRESENTLY N OF REGION...BY WED EVE TO S OF M/D LINE...SO WED AFTN, COULD BE ANOTHER ROUND OF STRONG STORMS. PIT 70 82 62 80 / 50 50 20 20 HLG 70 83 62 81 / 50 50 20 20 MGW 71 84 64 82 / 50 50 40 20 ZZV 71 84 63 82 / 50 50 30 10 PHD 70 83 62 80 / 50 50 20 20 FKL 68 79 58 79 / 40 40 10 20 DUJ 67 78 57 78 / 40 40 10 20 LBE 70 83 61 80 / 50 50 20 20 BTP 68 79 58 79 / 40 40 10 20 IDI 69 80 59 80 / 40 40 10 20 ODM 68 82 63 79 / 50 50 40 20 .PBZ... MD...NONE. OH...FLOOD WATCH UNTIL 1000 PM EDT TUESDAY FOR ZONES OHZ039>041... OHZ048>050...OHZ057>059...OHZ068>069. SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH UNTIL 1000 PM EDT TUESDAY FOR ZONES OHZ039>041...OHZ048>050...OHZ057>059...OHZ068>069. PA...NONE. WV...NONE.
Hazardous weather outlook, Aug 26, 11:18 AM EDT, 10 hours 20 minutes before
MDZ001-OHZ039>041-048>050-057>059-068-069-PAZ007>009-013>016-020>023- 029>032-WVZ001>004-012-021>023-041-261900- HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA 1118 AM EDT TUE AUG 26 2003 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA EAST CENTRAL OHIO...NORTHERN WEST VIRGINIA AND GARRETT COUNTY MARYLAND. .DAY ONE...TODAY .THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS THROUGH TONIGHT. THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE AT ANY TIME. SOME OF THESE STORMS MAY CONTAIN LARGE HAIL...DAMAGING WINDS...DANGEROUS LIGHTNING AND HEAVY RAIN. A FLOD WATCH CONTINUES FOR THE NORTHERN HALF OF WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA TIL 1000 PM EDT TONIGHT, .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN... .ANOTHER COLD FRONT WILL MOVE THROUGH THE AREA ON FRIDAY WHICH MAY RESULT IN STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ONCE AGAIN. .SPOTTER CALL TO ACTION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE REQUIRED. STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO FOR FURTHER DETAILS.
In the hours before
Special weather statement, Aug 26, 8:54 PM EDT, 44 minutes before
OHZ050-059-069-270215- SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA 854 PM EDT TUE AUG 26 2003 NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH DOPPLER RADAR SHOWED A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS APPROACHING THE REGION FROM THE WEST. THESE STORMS SHOULD AFFECT JEFFERSON, BELMONT, AND MONROE COUNTIES BY 9:15 TO 9:45 PM. DAMAGING WIND GUSTS TO 70 MPH, ALONG WITH TORRENTIAL RAINFALL, HAIL, AND FREQUENT LIGHTNING ARE ALL POSSIBLE WITH THESE STORMS. DAMAGE TO TREES AND POWER LINES ARE ALSO POSSIBLE, SO BE PREPARED FOR POWER OUTAGES. WHEN THREATENING WEATHER APPROACHES, MOVE INDOORS. STAY TUNED FOR UPDATES OR POSSIBLE WARNINGS.
Local storm report, Aug 26, 9:07 PM EDT, 31 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH, PA
907 PM EDT TUE AUG 26 2003
TIME(EDT) .....CITY LOCATION.....STATE ...EVENT/REMARKS...
....COUNTY LOCATION....
0850 PM FRESNO OH WIND DAMAGE
08/26/03 COSHOCTON NUMEROUS TREES DOWN.
REPORTED BY PUBLIC
0850 PM CAMBRIDGE OH WIND DAMAGE
08/26/03 GUERNSEY LARGE TREES DOWN. REPORTED
BY PUBLIC.Local storm report, Aug 26, 9:10 PM EDT, 28 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH, PA
910 PM EDT TUE AUG 26 2003
TIME(EDT) .....CITY LOCATION.....STATE ...EVENT/REMARKS...
....COUNTY LOCATION....
0850 PM FRESNO OH WIND DAMAGE
08/26/03 COSHOCTON NUMEROUS TREES DOWN.
REPORTED BY PUBLIC
0850 PM CAMBRIDGE OH WIND DAMAGE
08/26/03 GUERNSEY LARGE TREES DOWN. REPORTED
BY PUBLIC.
0845 PM NEW COMERSTOWN OH WIND DAMAGE
08/26/03 TUSCAWARAS NUMEROUS TREES AND POWER
LINES DOWN. NO POWER IN
TOWN. REPORTED BY SKYWARN
SPOTTERS.Special weather statement, Aug 26, 9:17 PM EDT, 21 minutes before
MDZ001-PAZ020-021-029>032-WVZ012-021>023-041-270700- SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA 917 PM EDT TUE AUG 26 2003 SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IN EFFECT UNTIL 300 AM EDT WEDNESDAY MORNING FOR THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES... IN PENNSYLVANIA... ALLEGHENY BEAVER FAYETTE GREENE WASHINGTON WESTMORELAND IN WEST VIRGINIA... MARION MONONGALIA PRESTON TUCKER WETZEL IN MARYLAND... GARRETT
Special weather statement, Aug 26, 9:23 PM EDT, 15 minutes before
MDZ001-PAZ020-021-029>032-WVZ001>004-012-021>023-041-270700- SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA 923 PM EDT TUE AUG 26 2003 SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IN EFFECT UNTIL 300 AM EDT WEDNESDAY MORNING HAS BEEN EXPANDED TO INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES... IN WEST VIRGINIA... BROOKE HANCOCK MARSHALL OHIO SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 300 AM EDT WEDNESDAY MORNING FOR THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES... IN PENNSYLVANIA... ALLEGHENY BEAVER FAYETTE GREENE WASHINGTON WESTMORELAND IN WEST VIRGINIA... MARION MONONGALIA PRESTON TUCKER WETZEL IN MARYLAND... GARRETT
Local storm report, Aug 26, 9:35 PM EDT, 3 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH, PA
935 PM EDT TUE AUG 26 2003
TIME(EDT) .....CITY LOCATION.....STATE ...EVENT/REMARKS...
....COUNTY LOCATION....
0900 PM PERRYSVILLE OH WIND DAMAGE
08/26/03 CARROLL LARGE TREE DOWN ON STATE
RT 164. REPORTED BY
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.
0905 PM COUNTYWIDE OH WIND DAMAGE
08/26/03 MUSKINGUM 13 ROADS HAVE TREES ON
THEM IN NW PART OF COUNTY.
REPORTED BY EMERGENCY
MANAGEMENT.The office that day
Everything else NWS Pittsburgh, PA issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 26, 9:43 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | PBZ | Greene | 47 min |
| Aug 26, 10:03 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | PBZ | Allegheny | 42 min |
| Aug 26, 10:11 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | PBZ | Fayette | 49 min |
| Aug 26, 10:24 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | PBZ | Westmoreland | 51 min |
| Aug 27, 4:55 AM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | PBZ | Washington | 65 min |
| Aug 27, 5:36 AM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | PBZ | Greene | 54 min |
| Aug 27, 6:58 AM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | PBZ | Fayette, Greene | 4 hr |
| Aug 27, 7:31 AM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | PBZ | Greene | 59 min |
| Aug 27, 8:01 AM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | PBZ | Washington | 44 min |
| Aug 27, 8:22 AM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | PBZ | Butler | 53 min |
| Aug 27, 8:27 AM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | PBZ | Allegheny | 63 min |
| Aug 27, 8:48 AM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | PBZ | Westmoreland | 57 min |
| Aug 27, 9:06 AM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | PBZ | Indiana | 54 min |
| Aug 27, 9:15 AM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | PBZ | Armstrong | 60 min |
| Aug 27, 9:38 AM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | PBZ | Washington | 52 min |
| Aug 27, 9:53 AM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | PBZ | Washington | 3 hr |
| Aug 27, 10:04 AM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | PBZ | Westmoreland | 3 hr |
| Aug 27, 10:18 AM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | PBZ | Westmoreland | 42 min |
| Aug 27, 2:57 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | PBZ | Greene | 48 min |
| Aug 27, 3:09 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | PBZ | Washington | 96 min |
| Aug 27, 3:21 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | PBZ | Fayette | 54 min |
| Aug 27, 4:04 PM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | PBZ | Fayette | 3 hr |
| Aug 27, 4:10 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | PBZ | Greene | 65 min |
| Aug 27, 4:12 PM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | PBZ | Greene | 3 hr |
| Aug 27, 4:28 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | PBZ | Washington | 62 min |
| Aug 27, 4:36 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | PBZ | Fayette | 54 min |
Nearby
Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Pennsylvania, 2003Every severe thunderstorm warning in 2003
Sources
The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.