Alert archive / Pennsylvania / Tornado Warnings in 2024

Tornado Warning 10, NWS Pittsburgh, PA

May 8, 2024Indiana County, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania

NWS Pittsburgh, PA issued this tornado warning at May 8, 2024, 3:09 AM EDT for Indiana County, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. It was in force for 12 min. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
May 8, 2024, 3:09 AM EDT (07:09 UTC)
Expired
May 8, 2024, 3:21 AM EDT
In force
12 min
Issued by
NWS Pittsburgh, PA
Area
Storm-based polygon
Tornado
Radar indicated
Hail
0.75 in

Counties Indiana County, PA, Westmoreland County, PA

The radar

The Pittsburgh radar (KPBZ), 80 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 07:09 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.

The watch it was issued in

The SPC watch in force over the same counties when this warning went out.

IssuedProductOfficeLasted
May 7, 9:17 PM EDTTornado WatchSPC7 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Pittsburgh, PA (KPIT), launched 00:00Z, 7.2 hours before the alert went out and 70 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.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Pittsburgh, PA at 00:00Z on 2024-05-08Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 122 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°0°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Pittsburgh, PA at 00:00Z on 2024-05-08The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 131 square meters per square second.19395878Sfc1 km3 km6 km9 kmRMLM
The wind turning with height, colored by layer: ground to 1 km, 1 to 3 km, 3 to 6 km, 6 to 10 km.
Mixed-layer CAPE
122 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-33 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
900 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
51 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
131 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
138 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.7

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this tornado 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 tornado warning went out at May 8, 1:20 AM EDT, 1 hour 49 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 8, 1:20 AM EDT, 1 hour 49 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Pittsburgh PA
120 AM EDT Wed May 8 2024

.SYNOPSIS...
Severe thunderstorms are expected in Ohio tonight with showers
and isolated severe thunderstorms spreading across the rest of
the area late tonight. More showers and thunderstorms are
expected early Thursday. Cooler and unsettled weather is
expected this weekend.

&&

.NEAR TERM /UNTIL 10 AM THIS MORNING/...
KEY MESSAGES:

- Severe potential persist through the early morning.
- All modes of severe weather (large hail, damaging wind,
  tornadoes, and flooding) are possible with these storms.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Current conditions across the area highlight lingering MU CAPE
is still roughly around 1000 J/Kg but the overall shear is still
substantial enough for thunderstorm development for tornado
development as well as damaging winds. These cells are still
expected to continue to move east into the PA counties and the
OH counties will need to be dropped soon. Further extension
into PA is probable.

&&

.SHORT TERM /10 AM THIS MORNING THROUGH 6 PM THURSDAY/...
KEY MESSAGES:

- Brief ridging will allow for dry weather with sunshine on
  Wednesday.
- Additional storms are possible late Wednesday night into early
  Thursday morning, but highest severe probabilities are well
  south of the forecast area.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Weak ridging brings quiet weather on Wednesday into Wednesday
night. However another trough with 50 to 70 meter height falls
pushes a low pressure area up Ohio Valley with a surge of warm
advection showers and thunderstorms. While these could be
severe, odds favor the strong instability to be well south of
forecast area.

&&

.LONG TERM /THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY/...
KEY MESSAGES:

- Ensembles suggest a wet pattern into the weekend.
- Cooler temperatures arrive by late week with highs in the 60s
  this weekend.
-------------------------------------------------------------------

Strong height falls on Friday usher in a cooler pattern with a
long wave trough position in the east. Showers are likely on a
daily basis into the weekend but especially on Saturday as a 100
meter height fall center pushes across Ohio in the afternoon.

Temperatures Friday through Sunday will be 5-10 degrees below
the seasonal normal of about 70 this time of year.

Some moderation of temperatures is likely Monday and Tuesday as
heights rise and flow turns from northwest to more westerly,
though there is a possibility of another trough dropping over
the northeast on Tuesday keeping things a bit cooler than
currently forecast.

&&

.AVIATION /05Z WEDNESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/...
VFR conditions are in place at the start of the TAF period. Main
concern is convection that will move through during the late
evening/early overnight period as shear and instability
increases ahead of a prefrontal trough. Have timed the period of
greatest concern using two-hour TEMPO groups through the TAF
sites...02-04Z at ZZV, 04-06Z at FKL/HLG/PIT/AGC/BVI, 05-07Z at
MGW/LBE, and 06-08Z at DUJ. ZZV is under the gun for the
strongest storms, and hit the visibility and wind possibilities
hardest here, with 45 knot gusts possible as well as some hail.
Storms are expected to weaken as they progress into western
PA/northern WV, and thus have slowly decreasing visibility
impact with time. Behind the main line, MVFR ceilings will
linger for several hours. Weak ridging building into the region
will bring VFR countdowns back to the region by late morning on
Wednesday.

.Outlook...
Restrictions with showers and storms are likely early Thursday
through Friday with crossing low pressure.

&&

.PBZ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
PA...None.
OH...None.
WV...None.

&&

SYNOPSIS...Shallenberger
NEAR TERM...Shallenberger
SHORT TERM...Craven
LONG TERM...Craven
AVIATION...CL
Hazardous weather outlook, May 7, 9:46 PM EDT, 5 hours 23 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Pittsburgh PA
946 PM EDT Tue May 7 2024

PAZ007-013-014-020-021-029-031-073>076-WVZ021-509>514-090200-
Mercer-Lawrence-Butler-Beaver-Allegheny-Washington-Greene-
Westmoreland-Higher Elevations of Westmoreland-Fayette-
Higher Elevations of Fayette-Marion-Monongalia-
Ridges of Eastern Monongalia and Northwestern Preston-Preston-
Eastern Preston-Western Tucker-Eastern Tucker-
946 PM EDT Tue May 7 2024

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for western Pennsylvania and
northern West Virginia.

.DAY ONE...Tonight.

There is a low probability for widespread hazardous weather.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday.

Isolated severe storms may once again develop early Thursday morning
with a crossing disturbance, though it is possible severe weather
will stay south of the area.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Weather spotters are encouraged to report significant weather
conditions according to Standard Operating Procedures.

OHZ039>041-048>050-057>059-068-069-WVZ001>004-012-090200-
Tuscarawas-Carroll-Columbiana-Coshocton-Harrison-Jefferson OH-
Muskingum-Guernsey-Belmont-Noble-Monroe-Hancock-Brooke-Ohio-Marshall-
Wetzel-
946 PM EDT Tue May 7 2024

...TORNADO WATCH 199 IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 AM EDT WEDNESDAY...

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for east central Ohio, and
northern West Virginia.

.DAY ONE...Tonight.

Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the
Internet for more information about the following hazards.

   Tornado Watch.

Weakening severe storms are expected to advance through the region
tonight into early Wednesday morning. Large hail is possible, and
isolated damaging winds, a brief tornado, or flooding can not be
ruled out.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday.

Strong storms and possible a severe storm is possible along and south
of I-70 Wednesday night into Thursday morning.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation will likely be needed.

PAZ008-009-015-016-022-077-078-090200-
Venango-Forest-Clarion-Jefferson PA-Armstrong-Indiana-
Higher Elevations of Indiana-
946 PM EDT Tue May 7 2024

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for northwest Pennsylvania and
western Pennsylvania.

.DAY ONE...Tonight.

No hazardous weather is expected at this time.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday.

No hazardous weather is expected at this time.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation is not expected at this time.

Shallenberger

In the hours before

Local storm report, May 8, 1:52 AM EDT, 1 hour 17 minutes before
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Local storm report, May 8, 2:04 AM EDT, 1 hour 5 minutes before
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Special weather statement, May 8, 2:14 AM EDT, 55 minutes before
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Local storm report, May 8, 2:50 AM EDT, 19 minutes before
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Local storm report, May 8, 2:56 AM EDT, 13 minutes before
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Special weather statement, May 8, 2:59 AM EDT, 10 minutes before
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The office that day

Everything else NWS Pittsburgh, PA issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 8, 12:30 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementPBZBeaver45 min
May 8, 12:36 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPBZBeaver39 min
May 8, 12:55 AM EDTTornado WarningPBZAllegheny, Beaver, Washington35 min
May 8, 1:26 AM EDTTornado WarningPBZAllegheny, Beaver, Washington34 min
May 8, 1:38 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatPBZAllegheny, Beaver, Fayette, Washington, Westmoreland37 min
May 8, 1:48 AM EDTFlash Flood WarningPBZAllegheny, Beaver, Washington, Westmoreland3 hr
May 8, 2:14 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementPBZIndiana, Jefferson46 min
May 8, 2:59 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementPBZWestmoreland46 min
May 8, 3:02 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPBZFayette, Indiana, Westmoreland28 min
May 8, 1:07 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPBZBrooke, Marshall, Ohio53 min
May 7, 11:45 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementPBZCarroll, Columbiana45 min
May 7, 11:48 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPBZCoshocton, Muskingum42 min
May 8, 12:28 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPBZCoshocton, Guernsey, Harrison, Muskingum, Tuscarawas47 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Pennsylvania, 2024Every tornado warning in 2024Tornadoes in 2024

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.