Alert archive / Pennsylvania / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2026

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 191, NWS Cleveland, OH

July 21, 2026Crawford County, Erie County, Pennsylvania; Ashtabula County, Ohio

NWS Cleveland, OH issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Jul 21, 2026, 5:53 PM EDT for Crawford County, Erie County, Pennsylvania; Ashtabula County, Ohio. It was in force for 67 min. 1 report 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
Jul 21, 2026, 5:53 PM EDT (21:53 UTC)
Expired
Jul 21, 2026, 7:00 PM EDT
In force
67 min
Issued by
NWS Cleveland, OH
Area
Storm-based polygon
Hail
0.75 in
Wind
60.0 mph

Counties Ashtabula County, OH, Crawford County, PA, Erie County, PA

The radar

The Pittsburgh radar (KPBZ), 141 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 21:57 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
Jul 21, 6:22 PM EDTTSTM WND DMG2 Wsw Townville, PAMultiple trees down. Time estimated via radar.

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

Did it verify

Verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow matched one storm report to this severe thunderstorm warning; the first came 29 minutes after it went out.

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 nearest sounding before it

Pittsburgh, PA (KPIT), launched 12:00Z, 9.9 hours before the alert went out and 152 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 2026-07-21Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 538 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 12:00Z on 2026-07-21The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 146 square meters per square second.1939587897Sfc1 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
538 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-52 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
856 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
51 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
146 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
131 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.6

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

573 
WUUS51 KCLE 212153
SVRCLE
OHC007-PAC039-049-212300-
/O.NEW.KCLE.SV.W.0191.260721T2153Z-260721T2300Z/

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
National Weather Service Cleveland OH
553 PM EDT Tue Jul 21 2026

The National Weather Service in Cleveland has issued a

* Severe Thunderstorm Warning for...
  East central Ashtabula County in northeastern Ohio...
  Southern Erie County in northwestern Pennsylvania...
  Crawford County in northwestern Pennsylvania...

* Until 700 PM EDT.

* At 553 PM EDT, severe thunderstorms were located along a line
  extending from near Wattsburg to 8 miles south of Conneaut, moving
  southeast at 40 mph.

  HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts.

  SOURCE...Radar indicated.

  IMPACT...Expect damage to trees and power lines.

* Locations impacted include...
  Meadville, Corry, Edinboro, Titusville, Union City, Cambridge
  Springs, Waterford, Albion, Linesville, Wattsburg, Canadohta Lake,
  Riceville, Harmonsburg, Lincolnville, Guys Mills, Pymatuning North,
  Pierpont, Cochranton, Saegertown, and Conneautville.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a
building.

&&

LAT...LON 4162 7961 4162 7982 4151 7998 4149 8000
      4148 8019 4182 8070 4208 7976 4201 7976
      4200 7975 4200 7962 4199 7961
TIME...MOT...LOC 2153Z 303DEG 35KT 4203 7973 4180 8057 

HAIL THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...<.75 IN
WIND THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX WIND GUST...60 MPH

$$

23
1 follow-up statement
640 
WWUS51 KCLE 212234
SVSCLE

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Cleveland OH
634 PM EDT Tue Jul 21 2026

OHC007-PAC049-212244-
/O.CAN.KCLE.SV.W.0191.000000T0000Z-260721T2300Z/
Ashtabula OH-Erie PA-
634 PM EDT Tue Jul 21 2026

...THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR EAST CENTRAL ASHTABULA AND
SOUTHERN ERIE COUNTIES IS CANCELLED...

The storms which prompted the warning have moved out of the warned 
area. Therefore, the warning has been cancelled.

LAT...LON 4165 8045 4184 7961 4162 7961 4162 7982
      4151 7998 4149 8000 4148 8019
TIME...MOT...LOC 2234Z 310DEG 35KT 4179 7933 4157 8017 

$$

PAC039-212300-
/O.CON.KCLE.SV.W.0191.000000T0000Z-260721T2300Z/
Crawford PA-
634 PM EDT Tue Jul 21 2026

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 700 PM EDT
FOR CENTRAL CRAWFORD COUNTY...

At 634 PM EDT, severe thunderstorms were located along a line
extending from near Youngsville to near Meadville, moving southeast
at 40 mph.

HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Expect damage to trees and power lines.

Locations impacted include...
Meadville, Titusville, Linesville, Riceville, Harmonsburg, Guys
Mills, Lincolnville, Pymatuning North, Cochranton, Saegertown,
Conneaut Lake, Hydetown, Blooming Valley, Townville, Spartansburg,
Conneaut Lakeshore, and Geneva.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a
building.

&&

LAT...LON 4165 8045 4184 7961 4162 7961 4162 7982
      4151 7998 4149 8000 4148 8019
TIME...MOT...LOC 2234Z 310DEG 35KT 4179 7933 4157 8017 

HAIL THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...<.75 IN
WIND THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX WIND GUST...60 MPH

$$

23

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.

NWS Cleveland, OH wrote its last area forecast discussion before this severe thunderstorm warning went out at Jul 21, 4:05 PM EDT, 1 hour 48 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

  • 1) Scattered thunderstorms are expected this evening, especially across Northeast OH and Northwest PA. A few storms may be severe, with damaging winds the greatest risk. 2) Anomalously-cool air mass arrives on Wednesday with lake- effect showers possible. 3) Temperatures return near or slightly above normal by the end of the week and weekend. Shower and thunderstorm chances increase by early next week.
Area forecast discussion, Jul 21, 4:05 PM EDT, 1 hour 48 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Cleveland OH
405 PM EDT Tue Jul 21 2026

.WHAT HAS CHANGED...
Morning and early afternoon rain and storms have exited the
area. We are now monitoring for storms to track into at least
portions of the area this evening as a cold front moves in from
the northwest.

&&

.KEY MESSAGES...
1) Scattered thunderstorms are expected this evening, especially
across Northeast OH and Northwest PA. A few storms may be
severe, with damaging winds the greatest risk.

2) Anomalously-cool air mass arrives on Wednesday with lake-
effect showers possible.

3) Temperatures return near or slightly above normal by the end
of the week and weekend. Shower and thunderstorm chances
increase by early next week.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
KEY MESSAGE 1...
The first two rounds of convection have departed the area. A
cold front extends from southeast Lower MI into northern Indiana
and will sweep southeast across the area this evening. Organized
convection is ongoing from the Thumb of Michigan into southern
Ontario, with a few more isolated cells farther southwest along
the front. The thunderstorms occurring from MI into ON are being
aided by a vort max that's very evident on water vapor imagery.

The thinking is that isolated to scattered convection will play
out this evening across our area. The greatest confidence,
coverage, and potential severity is expected from far Northeast
OH into Northwest PA, as the more organized activity aided by
the vort max from MI into ON builds east-southeast. Very dry
mid-levels, a warm layer around 600mb, and weaker forcing make
coverage and severity of any convection farther west-southwest
across our area more questionable. MLCAPE of 1000-2000 J/KG,
DCAPE values increasing to 700-1000 J/KG (higher west), and
effective bulk shear values remaining in the 40-50kt range can
support organized convection with a severe threat through this
evening, especially across far Northeast OH and Northwest PA.
Potential limitations include the generally poor mid-levels
mentioned above (especially farther west), more modest low-level
lapse rates farther east across our area due to limited
heating, and effective storm relative helicity (SRH) values
gradually weakening to 100-150 m2/s2.

Overall, there's greater confidence in convection with
potential for a couple or few severe storms across far Northeast
OH and Northwest PA after 4 PM. Damaging winds would be the
main hazard, though a bit of hail and perhaps a low-end tornado
threat can't be fully ruled out here. Farther west, closer to
and west of the I-77 corridor, more isolated storms are favored
as the front moves through this evening with lower confidence in
any severe weather threat. The environment can support a
damaging wind risk if we see any storms that are deep/organized
enough to become severe farther west, though overall confidence
is lower. Any severe risk should diminish by 9 PM, though a few
showers/storms may linger through about midnight as the front
continues across the area and as we potentially see a lake
enhanced shower or storm come off the lake behind the front.

KEY MESSAGE 2...
Quite the airmass change behind the front as we head into
Wednesday. 850mb temperatures will dip to around 8C on
Wednesday, supporting surface highs struggling to get much above
70. Overnight lows will dip into the 50s and lower 60s tonight,
and then well into the 50s Wednesday and Thursday nights.
Typical colder spots from interior eastern OH into interior PA
should see some 40s one or both of those nights.

It will be chilly enough aloft for some lake effect clouds and
rain showers to come off the lake in the north-northwest flow
overnight tonight through Wednesday. This is not a particularly
noteworthy lake effect setup, just enough for meteorologists and
enthusiasts to look at the satellite and radar late tonight or
Wednesday and remark "oh, there's some lake effect on July
22nd". Lake effect should largely wind down by Wednesday night,
though guidance suggests that a land breeze may focus some lake
effect near the south shore of Lake Erie through early Thursday,
so the forecast maintains some low POPs through early Thursday.

KEY MESSAGE 3...
Troughing will gradually lift out of the Northeast through this
weekend, allowing our temperatures to gradually warm from the
end of this week into early next week. Temperatures may climb
back to above normal by Sunday. There is some disagreement over
when the next system comes in, it's possible Monday is quite
warm before the next cold front moves through. Mainly dry
weather is expected through the weekend, with more organized
shower and thunderstorm potential returning Monday into Tuesday
as the next shortwave and cold front drop in.

&&

.AVIATION /18Z Tuesday THROUGH Sunday/...
Showers and thunderstorms are exiting out to the east currently with
MVFR ceilings behind to a line from KCLE down through KMFD. Any
remaining thunderstorms could drop visibility and ceilings down to
IFR conditions temporarily before rebounding to MVFR. VFR conditions
are seen to the west at KTOL and KFDY with a range of scattered to
broken deck from 2-5kft. A cold front will sweep in from the west
late this evening, with possible showers and thunderstorms,
generally east of KCLE and KMFD which could bring conditions down to
non-VFR. The majority of precipitation will exit to the east after
midnight with possible lake effect showers at KCLE and KYNG
overnight into tomorrow morning. There's potential after the cold
front moves through for ceilings to drop down to MVFR as far west
and south as KMFD and east through KERI and KYNG with the lake
effect.

Winds will be out of the south to southwest at 10-15 knots with
gusts up to 20 knots. Within any thunderstorms, gusts as high as 35
knots will be possible. Winds will shift with the cold front late
this evening to be out of the north-northwest at around 10 knots
with gusts up to 20 knots possible through the end of the TAF
period.

Outlook...Residual non-VFR possible through late Wednesday
evening in lake effect rain showers and clouds across the
eastern half of the area.

&&

.MARINE...
Winds across Lake Erie are currently around 15-25 knots out of the
west-southwest with waves 2-5 feet with the upper end of those
occurring over the open waters. A strong cold front will pass west to
east across the lake late this evening and winds will shift to be
out of the northwest at 15-25 knots. Waves will build as a result
within the near shore zones east of the islands to 3-5 feet with
occasionally waves around 6 feet. A Small Craft Advisory is
currently active for all near shore zones to account for the current
conditions and for the conditions behind the front. The zones to the
west of the islands will see improvements shortly after frontal
passage and the small craft will last until 4AM tomorrow morning.
For areas to the east, conditions won't improve until late Wednesday
night. There will be increase rip risk as well from Lorain Co east
through Erie, PA with the increased winds and waves through late
Wednesday night as well. For Wednesday, there is a marginal risk for
waterspouts within showers as the lake is fairly warm and a colder
air mass moves in from the north. Conditions will improve early
Thursday morning through Saturday night as high pressure builds into
the region. Winds will decrease to less than 10 knots by Thursday
morning with waves subsiding to less than 2 feet.

&&

.CLE WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
OH...Beach Hazards Statement through Wednesday evening for
     OHZ010>012-089.
PA...Beach Hazards Statement through Wednesday evening for PAZ001.
MARINE...Small Craft Advisory until 4 AM EDT Wednesday for LEZ142-143.
     Small Craft Advisory until 10 PM EDT Wednesday for LEZ144>149.

&&

DISCUSSION...Sullivan
AVIATION...23
MARINE...23
Hazardous weather outlook, Jul 21, 4:08 AM EDT, 13 hours 45 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Cleveland OH
408 AM EDT Tue Jul 21 2026

LEZ061-142>149-162>169-OHZ003-006-008-013-014-017>023-027>033-
036>038-047-PAZ002-003-220815-
Ripley to Buffalo NY extending from 5NM off shoreline to US-
Canadian border-Maumee Bay to Reno Beach OH-
Reno Beach to The Islands OH-The Islands to Vermilion OH-
Vermilion to Avon Point OH-Avon Point to Willowick OH-
Willowick to Geneva-on-the Lake OH-Geneva-on-the-Lake to Conneaut OH-
Conneaut OH to Ripley NY-
Detroit River Lt. to Maumee Bay OH to Reno Beach OH beyond 5NM
offshoreline to US-Canadian border-
Reno Beach to The Islands OH beyond 5NM off shoreline to US-
Canadian border-
The Islands to Vermilion OH beyond 5 nm off shoreline to US-
Canadian border-
Vermilion to Avon Point OH beyond 5 nm off shoreline to US-
Canadian border-
Avon Point to Willowick OH beyond 5 nm off shoreline to US-
Canadian border-Willowick to Geneva-on-the-
Lake OH beyond 5NM off shoreline to US-Canadian border-Geneva-on-the-
Lake to Conneaut OH beyond 5 nm off shoreline to US-Canadian border-
Conneaut OH to Ripley NY beyond 5 nm off shoreline to US-
Canadian border-Lucas-Wood-Sandusky-Geauga-Ashtabula Inland-Hancock-
Seneca-Huron-Medina-Summit-Portage-Trumbull-Wyandot-Crawford-
Richland-Ashland-Wayne-Stark-Mahoning-Marion-Morrow-Holmes-Knox-
Southern Erie-
408 AM EDT Tue Jul 21 2026

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for Lake Erie, north central
Ohio, northeast Ohio, northwest Ohio and northwest Pennsylvania.

.DAY ONE...Today and tonight.

Strong to severe thunderstorms are possible today. Damaging wind
gusts are the primary hazard, though a localized tornado risk cannot
be ruled out.

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

Hazardous weather is not expected at this time.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation may be needed. Please relay any information about
observed severe weather to the NWS.

OHZ010>012-089-PAZ001-220815-
Lorain-Cuyahoga-Lake-Ashtabula Lakeshore-Northern Erie-
408 AM EDT Tue Jul 21 2026

...BEACH HAZARDS STATEMENT IN EFFECT FROM 8 AM EDT THIS MORNING
THROUGH WEDNESDAY EVENING...

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for north central Ohio, northeast
Ohio and northwest Pennsylvania.

.DAY ONE...Today and tonight.

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

   Beach Hazards Statement.

Strong to severe thunderstorms are possible today. Damaging wind
gusts are the primary hazard, though a localized tornado risk cannot
be ruled out.

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

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

   Beach Hazards Statement.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation may be needed. Please relay any information about
observed severe weather to the NWS.

OHZ007-009-220815-
Ottawa-Erie-
408 AM EDT Tue Jul 21 2026

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for north central Ohio and
northwest Ohio.

.DAY ONE...Today and tonight.

Strong to severe thunderstorms are possible today. Damaging wind
gusts are the primary hazard, though a localized tornado risk cannot
be ruled out.

There is a moderate risk for rip currents tonight into Wednesday.

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

Hazardous weather is not expected at this time.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation may be needed. Please relay any information about
observed severe weather to the NWS.

In the hours before

Local storm report, Jul 21, 12:27 PM EDT, 5 hours 26 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Cleveland OH
1227 PM EDT Tue Jul 21 2026

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1129 AM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     2 NE Jeromesville       40.83N 82.18W
07/21/2026                   Ashland            OH   911 Call Center

            Several trees down.

&&
Local storm report, Jul 21, 5:37 PM EDT, 16 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Cleveland OH
537 PM EDT Tue Jul 21 2026

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0529 PM     Marine Tstm Wind 4 NNE Conneaut          41.98N 80.56W
07/21/2026  M42 MPH          LEZ149             OH   Mesonet

            37 knot peak wind. Mesonet station XCON
            Conneaut Light.

&&

The office that day

Everything else NWS Cleveland, OH issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jul 21, 8:31 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCLEErie44 min
Jul 21, 8:44 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCLEErie31 min
Jul 21, 9:30 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCLEErie45 min
Jul 21, 5:14 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCLECrawford, Erie46 min
Jul 21, 6:31 PM EDTTornado WarningCLECrawford19 min
Jul 21, 7:19 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCLEMercer41 min
Jul 21, 6:31 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCLESandusky, Seneca, Wood44 min
Jul 21, 6:47 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCLELucas43 min
Jul 21, 7:08 AM EDTSpecial Marine WarningCLE2 min
Jul 21, 7:12 AM EDTSpecial Marine WarningCLE80 min
Jul 21, 7:24 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCLEErie, Sandusky36 min
Jul 21, 7:44 AM EDTSpecial Marine WarningCLE91 min
Jul 21, 8:09 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCLECuyahoga, Geauga, Lake51 min
Jul 21, 9:05 AM EDTSpecial Marine WarningCLE54 min
Jul 21, 10:10 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCLEKnox50 min
Jul 21, 10:34 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCLECrawford, Wyandot41 min
Jul 21, 11:03 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCLEAshland, Crawford, Huron, Lorain, Richland42 min
Jul 21, 11:35 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCLEMedina, Summit40 min
Jul 21, 11:36 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCLEStark, Wayne39 min
Jul 21, 11:40 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCLEStark, Summit, Wayne50 min
Jul 21, 3:50 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningCLE85 min
Jul 21, 5:05 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningCLE55 min
Jul 21, 6:33 PM EDTTornado WarningCLEMahoning, Trumbull42 min
Jul 21, 7:54 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCLESummit36 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Pennsylvania, 2026Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Ohio, 2026Every severe thunderstorm warning in 2026

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.