Alert archive / Pennsylvania / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2026

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 252, NWS Pittsburgh, PA

August 8, 2026Beaver County, Lawrence County, Pennsylvania

NWS Pittsburgh, PA issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Aug 8, 2026, 7:06 PM EDT for Beaver County, Lawrence County, Pennsylvania. It was in force for 39 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 8, 2026, 7:06 PM EDT (23:06 UTC)
Expired
Aug 8, 2026, 7:45 PM EDT
In force
39 min
Issued by
NWS Pittsburgh, PA
Area
Storm-based polygon
Hail
1.0 in
Wind
60.0 mph

Counties Beaver County, PA, Lawrence County, PA

The radar

The Pittsburgh radar (KPBZ), 41 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 23:06 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 nearest sounding before it

Pittsburgh, PA (KPIT), launched 12:00Z, 11.1 hours before the alert went out and 57 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 2026-08-08Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 266 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 2026-08-08The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 175 square meters per square second.193958Sfc1 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
266 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-130 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
914 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
35 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
175 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
191 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.1
Supercell composite
0.7

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

385 
WUUS51 KPBZ 082306
SVRPBZ
PAC007-073-082345-
/O.NEW.KPBZ.SV.W.0252.260808T2306Z-260808T2345Z/

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
National Weather Service Pittsburgh PA
706 PM EDT Sat Aug 8 2026

The National Weather Service in Pittsburgh has issued a

* Severe Thunderstorm Warning for...
  Northeastern Beaver County in western Pennsylvania...
  Southern Lawrence County in western Pennsylvania...

* Until 745 PM EDT.

* At 706 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm was located 9 miles south of
  Oakwood, or 7 miles northeast of East Palestine, moving east at 20
  mph.

  HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts and small hail.

  SOURCE...Radar indicated.

  IMPACT...Expect damage to roofs, siding, and trees.

* Locations impacted include...
  Ellwood City, Big Beaver, New Beaver, Ellport, Koppel, Wampum, Enon
  Valley, S.n.p.j., Rose Point Park and McConnells Mill.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Seek shelter inside a well-built structure and stay away from
windows. This storm is capable of producing damaging winds.

&&

LAT...LON 4085 8049 4095 8049 4098 8016 4081 8016
TIME...MOT...LOC 2306Z 274DEG 15KT 4089 8042

HAIL THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...<1.00 IN
WIND THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX WIND GUST...60 MPH

$$

MLB
3 follow-up statements
745 
WWUS51 KPBZ 082315
SVSPBZ

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Pittsburgh PA
715 PM EDT Sat Aug 8 2026

PAC007-073-082345-
/O.CON.KPBZ.SV.W.0252.000000T0000Z-260808T2345Z/
Beaver PA-Lawrence PA-
715 PM EDT Sat Aug 8 2026

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 745 PM EDT FOR
NORTHEASTERN BEAVER AND SOUTHEASTERN LAWRENCE COUNTIES...

At 715 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm was located near Ellwood City,
or 8 miles south of New Castle, moving east at 20 mph.

HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts and small hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Expect damage to roofs, siding, and trees.

Locations impacted include...
  Ellwood City, New Beaver, Ellport, Wampum, Rose Point Park and
  McConnells Mill.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Seek shelter inside a well-built structure and stay away from
windows. This storm is capable of producing damaging winds.

&&

LAT...LON 4085 8037 4086 8042 4094 8042 4097 8016
      4082 8016
TIME...MOT...LOC 2306Z 274DEG 15KT 4089 8042

HAIL THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...<1.00 IN
WIND THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX WIND GUST...60 MPH

$$

MLB
326 
WWUS51 KPBZ 082330
SVSPBZ

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Pittsburgh PA
730 PM EDT Sat Aug 8 2026

PAC007-073-082345-
/O.CON.KPBZ.SV.W.0252.000000T0000Z-260808T2345Z/
Beaver PA-Lawrence PA-
730 PM EDT Sat Aug 8 2026

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 745 PM EDT FOR
NORTHEASTERN BEAVER AND SOUTHEASTERN LAWRENCE COUNTIES...

At 730 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm was located over Ellwood City,
or 8 miles north of Beaver Falls, moving east at 20 mph.

HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts and small hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Expect damage to roofs, siding, and trees.

Locations impacted include...
  Ellwood City, New Beaver, Ellport and Wampum.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Seek shelter inside a well-built structure and stay away from
windows. This storm is capable of producing damaging winds.

&&

LAT...LON 4085 8035 4093 8034 4095 8016 4082 8016
TIME...MOT...LOC 2315Z 274DEG 15KT 4089 8036

HAIL THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...<1.00 IN
WIND THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX WIND GUST...60 MPH

$$

MLB
104 
WWUS51 KPBZ 082343
SVSPBZ

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Pittsburgh PA
743 PM EDT Sat Aug 8 2026

PAC007-073-082353-
/O.EXP.KPBZ.SV.W.0252.000000T0000Z-260808T2345Z/
Beaver PA-Lawrence PA-
743 PM EDT Sat Aug 8 2026

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 745 PM EDT FOR
NORTHEASTERN BEAVER AND SOUTHEASTERN LAWRENCE COUNTIES...

The storm which prompted the warning has weakened below severe
limits, and no longer poses an immediate threat to life or property.
Therefore, the warning will be allowed to expire. However, gusty
winds and heavy rain are still possible with this thunderstorm.

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

&&

LAT...LON 4095 8016 4082 8016 4085 8035 4093 8034
TIME...MOT...LOC 2330Z 274DEG 15KT 4088 8028

$$

MLB

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 Pittsburgh, PA wrote its last area forecast discussion before this severe thunderstorm warning went out at Aug 8, 6:34 PM EDT, 32 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

  • 1) Another round of showers/storms are possible this evening/overnight but should be more scattered in nature. These storms could but present a slightly higher wind gust potential. 2) After a break on Sunday, daily shower and thunderstorm chances return Monday and remain in the forecast through at least Thursday with both the potential for strong/severe storms and heavy rainfall.
Area forecast discussion, Aug 8, 6:34 PM EDT, 32 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Pittsburgh PA
634 PM EDT Sat Aug 8 2026

.WHAT HAS CHANGED...
A Slight Risk of Excessive Rainfall has been added for Monday.
Otherwise, forecast remains on track with an active weather
pattern in place through much of the week.

&&

.KEY MESSAGES...
1) Another round of showers/storms are possible this
evening/overnight but should be more scattered in nature. These
storms could but present a slightly higher wind gust potential.

2) After a break on Sunday, daily shower and thunderstorm chances
return Monday and remain in the forecast through at least Thursday
with both the potential for strong/severe storms and heavy rainfall.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
KEY MESSAGE 1...
Isolated to scattered thunderstorms are attempting to develop
along a nominal surface dewpoint gradient and marginal upper
support as of 630pm, stretching from central OH into northwest
PA. Notable mid-level dry air seen via Satellite and ACARS
soundings have made storm up growth more of a slog. However,
~25kts effective shear with mlCAPE values above 2000 J/kg are
allowing a few more to become organized, especially as their
initial updrafts moisten the near-storm air, and offering
greater risks for damaging winds with above 1000 J/kg DCAPE
available areawide.

For the rest of the evening, damaging wind is likely to be the
primary risk as storms progress east, especially if stronger
cold pools develop to aide in storm clustering. Flash flooding
is not likely due to lower rainfall rates (PWAT is down and
slowly falling) than prior days' values while forward storm
motion of 25 mph should limit rain duration at a given location.
If any flooding occurs, it will be in areas with poor drainage
or previously experiencing flooding that sees a storm that
better maximizes rainfall rates.

Both threats should lower after 10pm but may not completely end
as elevated buoyancy and shortwave movement maintains varying
storm chances before exiting southeast of the region by early
Sunday morning.

KEY MESSAGE 2...
Surface and shortwave ridging provide for a brief reprieve from
the daily rounds of storms on Sunday.

Very broad troughing will remain in place until at least Wednesday
before a stronger shortwave deepens the trough over the Great Lakes.
With prevailing W-NW flow and disturbances passing through the upper
pattern, there will be daily chances for showers and thunderstorms,
with the potential for more organized convective complexes as hinted
to in some of the guidance. Precipitable water values remain above-
normal in a climatological sense through this period, and as several
areas already well saturated, will generally take less
precipitation to pose a flood risk. As such, WPC does have
portions of the upper Ohio in a Slight Risk (level 2 of 4) for
excessive rainfall Monday- Wednesday. Think it could be very
well be possible a Flood Watch is issued at some point during
this time frame but there remains some run to run spatial
inconsistency, which will be better resolved in the 12-24 hour
time scale as the day priors convection may shift where the
threat is the next day.

In addition to the flood threat, severe weather chances show an
uptick as well, particularly earlier in the week according to the
long-range machine-learning convective guidance. This makes sense,
as this period shows the best juxtaposition of instability, moderate
deep-layer shear, and decent low-level flow. Some uncertainty
remains among the various ensemble members that will be better
resolved in time.

&&

.AVIATION /22Z SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/...
VFR favored for the majority of the TAF period with isolated to
locally scattered thunderstorms possible through early Sunday
morning ahead of a nominal surface boundary. The environment
remains conducive to thunderstorm development outside of
excessive dry air aloft, but limited forcing likely will keep
storm coverage low and make terminal impacts more uncertain.
Outside of FKL/DUJ, where storms are closer to impact, keep
thunderstorm chances to PROB30 groups with updated timing based
on where storms initiated this afternoon.

Pending early morning clearing, there is potential for a short
period of IFR cigs/vsbys in lower stratus/fog but confidence in
low in timing and coverage of such restrictions. Any that do
develop will mix out by 15z as diurnal heating scatters out
residual clouds.

Outlook...
Active weather returns Monday through the later half of the week
with varying rounds of showers and thunderstorms. Timing of
storms for a given day is likely to be of lower confidence and
dependent on upstream storm progression. Most restrictions
during this period will be tied to storm activity and/or morning
fog/stratus resultant of rain plus overnight clearing.

&&

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

&&

DISCUSSION...34
AVIATION...Frazier
Hazardous weather outlook, Aug 8, 1:26 PM EDT, 5 hours 40 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Pittsburgh PA
126 PM EDT Sat Aug 8 2026

OHZ039>041-048>050-057>059-068-069-PAZ007>009-013>016-020>022-029-
031-073>078-WVZ001>004-012-021-509>514-091730-
Tuscarawas-Carroll-Columbiana-Coshocton-Harrison-Jefferson OH-
Muskingum-Guernsey-Belmont-Noble-Monroe-Mercer-Venango-Forest-
Lawrence-Butler-Clarion-Jefferson PA-Beaver-Allegheny-Armstrong-
Washington-Greene-Westmoreland-Higher Elevations of Westmoreland-
Fayette-Higher Elevations of Fayette-Indiana-
Higher Elevations of Indiana-Hancock-Brooke-Ohio-Marshall-Wetzel-
Marion-Monongalia-
Ridges of Eastern Monongalia and Northwestern Preston-Preston-
Eastern Preston-Western Tucker-Eastern Tucker-
126 PM EDT Sat Aug 8 2026

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

.DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight.

Another round of scattered showers and storms are possible tonight.
While the heavy rain threat may be slightly lower, there is the
potential for a few strong/severe wind gusts.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday.

After a break Sunday, daily shower and thunderstorm chances return
Monday and continue through much of next week. The potential for
heavy rainfall and severe thunderstorms will remain in the forecast,
particularly early in the week.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

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

34

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Aug 7, 9:01 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningPBZForest2 hr
Aug 8, 8:03 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPBZGreene42 min
Aug 8, 6:27 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPBZMercer48 min
Aug 8, 7:37 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPBZButler, Mercer, Venango38 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Pennsylvania, 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; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.