Alert archive / Pennsylvania / Tornado Warnings in 2024

Tornado Warning 13, NWS Pittsburgh, PA

May 11, 2024Allegheny County, Washington County, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania

NWS Pittsburgh, PA issued this tornado warning at May 11, 2024, 6:15 PM EDT for Allegheny County, Washington County, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. It was in force for 30 min. 5 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
May 11, 2024, 6:15 PM EDT (22:15 UTC)
Expired
May 11, 2024, 6:45 PM EDT
In force
30 min
Issued by
NWS Pittsburgh, PA
Area
Storm-based polygon
Tornado
Radar indicated
Hail
0.75 in

Counties Allegheny County, PA, Washington County, PA, Westmoreland County, PA

The radar

The Pittsburgh radar (KPBZ), 41 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 22:19 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

TimeReportWhereRemark
May 11, 6:15 PM EDTFUNNEL CLOUDSw Jefferson Hills, PA
May 11, 6:15 PM EDTHAIL 0.75Sw Jefferson Hills, PA
May 11, 6:19 PM EDTTORNADO1 Se Pierce, PATornado ended at this point at 06:19 EDT.
May 11, 6:20 PM EDTTORNADO1 Ssw Snowden, PARadar Indicated Tornado. Confirmed by public sources. Damage to a church in Union Township.
May 11, 6:48 PM EDTFUNNEL CLOUD2 W West Newton, PA

Local storm reports filed while the alert was in force, from inside its polygon or its counties.

The nearest sounding before it

Pittsburgh, PA (KPIT), launched 12:00Z, 10.3 hours before the alert went out and 24 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 12:00Z on 2024-05-11Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 0 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Pittsburgh, PA at 12:00Z on 2024-05-11The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 77 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
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
No buoyant parcel
Mixed-layer LCL
1132 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
39 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
77 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
108 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

140 
WFUS51 KPBZ 112215
TORPBZ
PAC003-125-129-112245-
/O.NEW.KPBZ.TO.W.0013.240511T2215Z-240511T2245Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service Pittsburgh PA
615 PM EDT Sat May 11 2024

The National Weather Service in Pittsburgh has issued a

* Tornado Warning for...
  East central Washington County in southwestern Pennsylvania...
  Southeastern Allegheny County in southwestern Pennsylvania...
  West central Westmoreland County in southwestern Pennsylvania...

* Until 645 PM EDT.

* At 615 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
  was located over Gastonville, moving east at 25 mph.

  HAZARD...Tornado.

  SOURCE...Radar indicated rotation.

  IMPACT...Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without 
           shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed. 
           Damage to roofs, windows, and vehicles will occur.  Tree 
           damage is likely.

* This dangerous storm will be near...
  South Park Township, Jefferson Hills, and Clairton around 620 PM 
  EDT.
  West Newton around 635 PM EDT.

Other locations impacted by this tornadic thunderstorm include
Elizabeth, Finleyville, Lincoln, Sutersville, and West Elizabeth.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TAKE COVER NOW! Move to a basement or an interior room on the lowest
floor of a sturdy building. Avoid windows. If you are outdoors, in a
mobile home, or in a vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter
and protect yourself from flying debris.

Please report severe weather by calling 412-262-1988, posting to 
the NWS Pittsburgh Facebook page, or using Twitter @NWSPITTSBURGH. 

&&

LAT...LON 4024 8003 4031 8002 4030 7972 4017 7975
TIME...MOT...LOC 2215Z 277DEG 20KT 4026 7998 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...<.75 IN

$$

MLB
3 follow-up statements
040 
WFUS51 KPBZ 112221 CCA
TORPBZ
PAC003-125-129-112245-
/O.COR.KPBZ.TO.W.0013.240511T2215Z-240511T2245Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service Pittsburgh PA
621 PM EDT Sat May 11 2024

The National Weather Service in Pittsburgh has issued a

* Tornado Warning for...
  East central Washington County in southwestern Pennsylvania...
  Southeastern Allegheny County in southwestern Pennsylvania...
  West central Westmoreland County in southwestern Pennsylvania...

* Until 645 PM EDT.

* At 620 PM EDT, a tornado producing storm was located over Jefferson
  Hills, or near Gastonville, moving east at 25 mph.

  HAZARD...Damaging tornado.

  SOURCE...Radar confirmed tornado.

  IMPACT...Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without 
           shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed. 
           Damage to roofs, windows, and vehicles will occur.  Tree 
           damage is likely.

* This tornadic storm will be near...
  Jefferson Hills and Clairton around 625 PM EDT.
  West Newton around 635 PM EDT.

Other locations impacted by this tornadic thunderstorm include
Elizabeth, Finleyville, Lincoln, Sutersville, and West Elizabeth.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

To repeat, a tornado is on the ground. TAKE COVER NOW! Move to a
basement or an interior room on the lowest floor of a sturdy
building. Avoid windows. If you are outdoors, in a mobile home, or in
a vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter and protect
yourself from flying debris.

Please report severe weather by calling 412-262-1988, posting to 
the NWS Pittsburgh Facebook page, or using Twitter @NWSPITTSBURGH. 

&&

LAT...LON 4024 8003 4031 8002 4030 7972 4017 7975
TIME...MOT...LOC 2220Z 277DEG 20KT 4026 7998 

TORNADO...OBSERVED
MAX HAIL SIZE...<.75 IN

$$

MLB
233 
WWUS51 KPBZ 112228
SVSPBZ

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Pittsburgh PA
628 PM EDT Sat May 11 2024

PAC003-125-129-112245-
/O.CON.KPBZ.TO.W.0013.000000T0000Z-240511T2245Z/
Washington PA-Allegheny PA-Westmoreland PA-
628 PM EDT Sat May 11 2024

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 645 PM EDT FOR EASTERN
WASHINGTON...SOUTHEASTERN ALLEGHENY AND SOUTHWESTERN WESTMORELAND
COUNTIES...

At 628 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located over Jefferson Hills, or near Gastonville, moving east at
25 mph.

HAZARD...Tornado.

SOURCE...Radar indicated rotation.

IMPACT...Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without 
         shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed. Damage 
         to roofs, windows, and vehicles will occur.  Tree damage is 
         likely.

This dangerous storm will be near...
  West Newton around 640 PM EDT.

Other locations impacted by this tornadic thunderstorm include
Elizabeth, Sutersville, West Elizabeth, and Lincoln.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TAKE COVER NOW! Move to a basement or an interior room on the lowest
floor of a sturdy building. Avoid windows. If you are outdoors, in a
mobile home, or in a vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter
and protect yourself from flying debris.

Please report severe weather by calling 412-262-1988, posting to 
the NWS Pittsburgh Facebook page, or using Twitter @NWSPITTSBURGH. 

&&

LAT...LON 4023 7993 4028 7992 4028 7972 4018 7975
TIME...MOT...LOC 2228Z 277DEG 20KT 4025 7992 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...<.75 IN

$$

MLB
457 
WWUS51 KPBZ 112241 RRA
SVSPBZ

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Pittsburgh PA
641 PM EDT Sat May 11 2024

PAC003-125-129-112251-
/O.EXP.KPBZ.TO.W.0013.000000T0000Z-240511T2245Z/
Washington PA-Allegheny PA-Westmoreland PA-
641 PM EDT Sat May 11 2024

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR EASTERN WASHINGTON...SOUTHEASTERN
ALLEGHENY AND SOUTHWESTERN WESTMORELAND COUNTIES WILL EXPIRE AT 645
PM EDT...

The storm which prompted the warning has weakened below severe
limits, and no longer appears capable of producing a tornado.
Therefore, the warning will be allowed to expire.

To report severe weather, contact your nearest law enforcement
agency. They will relay your report to the National Weather Service
Pittsburgh.

&&

LAT...LON 4023 7993 4028 7992 4028 7972 4018 7975
TIME...MOT...LOC 2241Z 277DEG 20KT 4024 7984 

$$

MLB

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 11, 3:57 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPBZGreene48 min
May 11, 4:11 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementPBZLawrence49 min
May 11, 4:15 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementPBZBeaver45 min
May 11, 4:19 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPBZBeaver, Butler, Lawrence41 min
May 11, 4:48 PM EDTTornado WarningPBZLawrence27 min
May 11, 4:55 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPBZAllegheny, Beaver, Washington50 min
May 11, 5:08 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPBZWashington52 min
May 11, 5:37 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementPBZAllegheny38 min
May 11, 5:50 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementPBZAllegheny40 min
May 11, 6:07 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementPBZWashington23 min
May 11, 6:09 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPBZFayette, Washington51 min
May 11, 6:13 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementPBZArmstrong32 min
May 11, 6:51 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPBZFayette, Westmoreland39 min
May 11, 6:58 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPBZFayette, Greene, Washington62 min
May 11, 7:11 PM EDTTornado WarningPBZFayette34 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; local storm reports from the same archive; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.