Alert archive / Pennsylvania / Tornado Warnings in 2011
Tornado Warning 1, NWS Pittsburgh, PA
NWS Pittsburgh, PA issued this tornado warning at Mar 23, 2011, 4:37 PM EDT for Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. It was in force for 23 min. 9 reports came from inside the area while it was in force.
The area
The outline as issued, with what was reported inside it.
The facts
- Issued
- Mar 23, 2011, 4:37 PM EDT (20:37 UTC)
- Expired
- Mar 23, 2011, 5:00 PM EDT
- In force
- 23 min
- Issued by
- NWS Pittsburgh, PA
- Area
- Storm-based polygon
County Westmoreland County, PA
The radar
The Pittsburgh radar (KPBZ), 52 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 20:37 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 23, 4:38 PM EDT | HAIL 1.5 | Irwin, PA | |
| Mar 23, 4:42 PM EDT | HAIL 1.75 | 2 S Irwin, PA | |
| Mar 23, 4:44 PM EDT | HAIL 1.75 | Irwin, PA | |
| Mar 23, 4:45 PM EDT | TORNADO | 5 Sw Greensburg, PA | POSSIBLE TORNADO DAMGE. ROOFS OFF OF SEVERAL HOUSES ALONG ROUTE 136 HEMPFIELD TWP. |
| Mar 23, 4:46 PM EDT | HAIL 1.5 | Jeannette, PA | GRAPEVILLE AREA |
| Mar 23, 4:50 PM EDT | HAIL 2 | Greensburg, PA | |
| Mar 23, 4:57 PM EDT | HAIL 1 | Greensburg, PA | WESTMORELAND MALL |
| Mar 23, 5:00 PM EDT | TSTM WND DMG | Greensburg, PA | FORT ALLEN AREA 10 TO 20 HOMES WITH ROOF DAMAGE. |
| Mar 23, 5:03 PM EDT | HAIL 1.25 | Greensburg, PA |
Local storm reports filed while the alert was in force, from inside its polygon or its counties.
The watch it was issued in
The SPC watch in force over the same counties when this warning went out.
| Issued | Product | Office | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 23, 1:13 PM EDT | Tornado Watch | SPC | 7 hr |
The nearest sounding before it
Pittsburgh, PA (KPIT), launched 12:00Z, 8.6 hours before the alert went out and 38 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
- 0 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- No buoyant parcel
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 742 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 75 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 546 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 612 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 0.0
The text
As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.
795
WFUS51 KPBZ 232037
TORPBZ
PAC129-232100-
/O.NEW.KPBZ.TO.W.0001.110323T2037Z-110323T2100Z/
BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA
437 PM EDT WED MAR 23 2011
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN PITTSBURGH HAS ISSUED A
* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
CENTRAL WESTMORELAND COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST PENNSYLVANIA...
* UNTIL 500 PM EDT
* AT 429 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO NEAR IRWIN...
MOVING EAST AT 50 MPH.
* OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO
MURRYSVILLE... IRWIN... JEANNETTE...
DELMONT... GREENSBURG...
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
THE SAFEST PLACE TO BE DURING A TORNADO IS IN A BASEMENT. GET UNDER A
WORKBENCH OR OTHER PIECE OF STURDY FURNITURE. IF NO BASEMENT IS
AVAILABLE...SEEK SHELTER ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF THE BUILDING IN AN
INTERIOR HALLWAY OR ROOM SUCH AS A CLOSET. USE BLANKETS OR PILLOWS TO
COVER YOUR BODY AND ALWAYS STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS.
IF IN MOBILE HOMES OR VEHICLES...EVACUATE THEM AND GET INSIDE A
SUBSTANTIAL SHELTER. IF NO SHELTER IS AVAILABLE...LIE FLAT IN THE
NEAREST DITCH OR OTHER LOW SPOT AND COVER YOUR HEAD WITH YOUR HANDS.
PLEASE REPORT SEVERE WEATHER TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BY
CALLING TOLL FREE. 1-877-633-6772. WHEN YOU CAN DO SO SAFELY.
A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 900 PM EDT WEDNESDAY EVENING
FOR WESTERN MARYLAND AND EAST CENTRAL OHIO AND SOUTHWESTERN
PENNSYLVANIA AND NORTHERN WEST VIRGINIA.
&&
LAT...LON 4023 7978 4039 7976 4043 7971 4045 7952
4024 7944
TIME...MOT...LOC 2037Z 265DEG 42KT 4032 7963
$$1 follow-up statement
951
WWUS51 KPBZ 232047
SVSPBZ
SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA
447 PM EDT WED MAR 23 2011
PAC129-232100-
/O.CON.KPBZ.TO.W.0001.000000T0000Z-110323T2100Z/
WESTMORELAND PA-
447 PM EDT WED MAR 23 2011
...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 500 PM EDT FOR
WESTMORELAND COUNTY...
AT 441 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO
INDICATE A TORNADO. THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR LINCOLN HEIGHTS...
MOVING EAST AT 30 MPH.
* OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO
JEANNETTE... DELMONT... GREENSBURG...
WHEN A TORNADO WARNING IS ISSUED BASED ON DOPPLER RADAR...IT MEANS
THAT STRONG ROTATION HAS BEEN DETECTED IN THE STORM. A TORNADO MAY
ALREADY BE ON THE GROUND...OR IS EXPECTED TO DEVELOP SHORTLY. IF YOU
ARE IN THE PATH OF THIS DANGEROUS STORM...MOVE INDOORS AND TO THE
LOWEST LEVEL OF THE BUILDING. STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS. IF DRIVING...DO
NOT SEEK SHELTER UNDER A HIGHWAY OVERPASS.
PLEASE REPORT SEVERE WEATHER TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BY
CALLING TOLL FREE. 1-877-633-6772. WHEN YOU CAN DO SO SAFELY.
THE SAFEST PLACE TO BE DURING A TORNADO IS IN A BASEMENT. GET UNDER A
WORKBENCH OR OTHER PIECE OF STURDY FURNITURE. IF NO BASEMENT IS
AVAILABLE...SEEK SHELTER ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF THE BUILDING IN AN
INTERIOR HALLWAY OR ROOM SUCH AS A CLOSET. USE BLANKETS OR PILLOWS TO
COVER YOUR BODY AND ALWAYS STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS.
IF IN MOBILE HOMES OR VEHICLES...EVACUATE THEM AND GET INSIDE A
SUBSTANTIAL SHELTER. IF NO SHELTER IS AVAILABLE...LIE FLAT IN THE
NEAREST DITCH OR OTHER LOW SPOT AND COVER YOUR HEAD WITH YOUR HANDS.
PLEASE REPORT SEVERE WEATHER TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BY
CALLING TOLL FREE. 1-877-633-6772. WHEN YOU CAN DO SO SAFELY.
A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 900 PM EDT WEDNESDAY EVENING
FOR WESTERN MARYLAND AND EAST CENTRAL OHIO AND SOUTHWESTERN
PENNSYLVANIA AND NORTHERN WEST VIRGINIA.
LAT...LON 4024 7972 4038 7968 4044 7966 4045 7952
4024 7944
TIME...MOT...LOC 2047Z 281DEG 25KT 4029 7955
$$The office that day
Everything else NWS Pittsburgh, PA issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 23, 3:16 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | PBZ | Beaver | 59 min |
| Mar 23, 3:36 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | PBZ | Allegheny, Beaver, Washington | 54 min |
| Mar 23, 3:45 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | PBZ | Armstrong, Butler, Indiana, Westmoreland | 60 min |
| Mar 23, 3:47 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | PBZ | Fayette | 58 min |
| Mar 23, 4:09 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | PBZ | Beaver, Butler, Lawrence | 66 min |
| Mar 23, 4:18 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | PBZ | Allegheny, Beaver, Butler | 27 min |
| Mar 23, 4:20 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | PBZ | Beaver | 40 min |
| Mar 23, 4:25 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | PBZ | Armstrong, Indiana, Westmoreland | 65 min |
| Mar 23, 4:34 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | PBZ | Allegheny, Indiana, Westmoreland | 56 min |
| Mar 23, 4:42 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | PBZ | Allegheny, Beaver, Washington | 63 min |
| Mar 23, 4:54 PM EDT | Tornado Warning | PBZ | Indiana, Westmoreland | 36 min |
| Mar 23, 4:55 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | PBZ | Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Washington, Westmoreland | 65 min |
| Mar 23, 5:14 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | PBZ | Allegheny, Fayette, Washington, Westmoreland | 47 min |
| Mar 23, 5:22 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | PBZ | Allegheny, Armstrong, Indiana, Westmoreland | 42 min |
| Mar 23, 5:26 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | PBZ | Allegheny, Fayette, Washington, Westmoreland | 39 min |
| Mar 23, 5:38 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | PBZ | Fayette, Greene, Washington | 22 min |
| Mar 23, 5:46 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | PBZ | Fayette | 59 min |
| Mar 23, 6:02 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | PBZ | Fayette | 45 min |
Nearby
Tornado Warnings in Pennsylvania, 2011Every tornado warning in 2011Tornadoes in 2011
Sources
The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; local storm reports from the same archive; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.