Alert archive / Pennsylvania / Tornado Warnings in 2026

Tornado Warning 10, NWS Pittsburgh, PA

April 29, 2026Indiana County, Pennsylvania

NWS Pittsburgh, PA issued this tornado warning at Apr 29, 2026, 3:57 PM EDT for Indiana County, Pennsylvania. It was in force for 14 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
Apr 29, 2026, 3:57 PM EDT (19:57 UTC)
Expired
Apr 29, 2026, 4:11 PM EDT
In force
14 min
Issued by
NWS Pittsburgh, PA
Area
Storm-based polygon
Tornado
Radar indicated
Hail
0.0 in

County Indiana County, PA

The radar

The Pittsburgh radar (KPBZ), 94 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 19:58 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 tornado 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, 8.0 hours before the alert went out and 90 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 2026-04-29Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 32 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 2026-04-29The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 116 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
32 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-61 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
753 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
47 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
116 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
168 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.2

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

139 
WFUS51 KPBZ 291957
TORPBZ
PAC063-292030-
/O.NEW.KPBZ.TO.W.0010.260429T1957Z-260429T2030Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service Pittsburgh PA
357 PM EDT Wed Apr 29 2026

The National Weather Service in Pittsburgh has issued a

* Tornado Warning for...
  Northeastern Indiana County in west central Pennsylvania...

* Until 430 PM EDT.

* At 357 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
  was located 9 miles north of Indiana, moving east at 30 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.

* Locations impacted include...
  Marion Center, Plumville and Rochester Mills.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a well-built building
away from 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.

&&

LAT...LON 4070 7924 4073 7926 4078 7922 4088 7897
      4075 7890
TIME...MOT...LOC 1957Z 249DEG 24KT 4074 7921

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN

$$

MLB
2 follow-up statements
956 
WWUS51 KPBZ 292004
SVSPBZ

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Pittsburgh PA
404 PM EDT Wed Apr 29 2026

PAC063-292030-
/O.CON.KPBZ.TO.W.0010.000000T0000Z-260429T2030Z/
Indiana PA-
404 PM EDT Wed Apr 29 2026

...TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 430 PM EDT FOR
NORTHEASTERN INDIANA COUNTY...

At 404 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located 9 miles north of Indiana, moving east at 30 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.

Locations impacted include...
  Marion Center and Rochester Mills.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a well-built building
away from 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.

&&

LAT...LON 4073 7914 4079 7918 4088 7897 4075 7890
TIME...MOT...LOC 1957Z 249DEG 24KT 4074 7920

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN

$$

MLB
190 
WWUS51 KPBZ 292011
SVSPBZ

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Pittsburgh PA
411 PM EDT Wed Apr 29 2026

PAC063-292021-
/O.CAN.KPBZ.TO.W.0010.000000T0000Z-260429T2030Z/
Indiana PA-
411 PM EDT Wed Apr 29 2026

...TORNADO WARNING IS CANCELLED FOR NORTHEASTERN INDIANA COUNTY...

The storm which prompted the warning has weakened below severe
limits, and no longer appears capable of producing a tornado.
Therefore, the warning has been cancelled. To report severe weather,
contact your nearest law enforcement agency. They will send your
report to the National Weather Service office.

&&

LAT...LON 4073 7914 4079 7918 4088 7897 4075 7890
TIME...MOT...LOC 2004Z 249DEG 24KT 4076 7915

$$

MLB

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 Apr 29, 1:41 PM EDT, 2 hours 16 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

  • 1) Showers and thunderstorms are expected ahead of a cold frontal passage. There is concern that a few low-topped storms may rotate and produce tornadoes. 2) Below-average temperatures and frost/freeze conditions possible Friday and through the weekend.
Area forecast discussion, Apr 29, 1:41 PM EDT, 2 hours 16 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Pittsburgh PA
141 PM EDT Wed Apr 29 2026

.WHAT HAS CHANGED...
The potential for rotating showers/thunderstorms this afternoon,
as well as for a couple of resulting tornadoes, has increased a
bit since this morning. The aviation discussion has also been
updated.

&&

.KEY MESSAGES...
1) Showers and thunderstorms are expected ahead of a cold frontal
passage. There is concern that a few low-topped storms may rotate
and produce tornadoes.

2) Below-average temperatures and frost/freeze conditions
possible Friday and through the weekend.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
KEY MESSAGE 1...

In the wake of morning showers and thunderstorms, a narrow warm
sector is trying to develop east of Pittsburgh and south of
I-80, despite ongoing light rain. This is ahead of a cold front
that will move east across the region this afternoon, with weak
surface low pressure riding northeast along it. Additional
convection is expected to fire along and ahead of the boundary,
where 500-1000 J/kg of surface- based CAPE is forecast to
develop by RAP/HREF progs. With these storms, hail and straight-
line wind concerns appear to be quite marginal given the
tall/skinny CAPE profiles, relatively weak flow, and lack of dry
air aloft/DCAPE.

However, we are concerned about the potential for low-topped storms
to produce rotation and potentially a few tornadoes. Today's
environment is showing some similarities to the setup of May 17,
2024, a day when low-topped supercells produced five tornadoes in
our forecast area. The 12Z sounding is also eerily similar to the
sounding from that morning. Both feature decent low-level hodograph
curvature, good potential for 100+ J/kg of 0-3km CAPE, and very low
LCLs. Given the short, compact nature of the storms, it may take
less than the typical 30 knots of rotational velocity to produce a
tornado. On that day nearly two years ago, radar-based rotational
velocities of less than 20 knots were noted in a few of the brief
tornadoes that occurred.

The special 17Z sounding we launched does show a favorable low-level
wind field, with a sickle shape in the lowest 0.75km or so. However,
abundant cloud cover and ongoing light precipitation is keeping the
lower levels stable across much of the area. At least a modest
amount of heating will be needed to get enough 0-3km CAPE to support
stretching of updrafts for any tornadogenesis. This currently seems
most likely to the east and south of Pittsburgh, where clouds are a
bit thinner and where some temperatures have reached the mid 60s.
The RAP supports this thinking, pegging this region as the most
likely to achieve 100 J/kg of 3CAPE. Any cell that gets sufficiently
tall (around 15kft or so) may potentially spin in this
environment, and given the low LCLs and dewpoints around 60, it
will not take much to get rotation to the ground. This is likely
a day on which the most likely severe threat is tornado, as
this sounding continues to support the notion that straight-line
wind damage and severe hail are quite low in probability. The
timing window for this potential runs from now until 22 or 23Z,
when the cold front completes its passage.

Precipitation chances largely end by sunset, although clouds
will linger through the night. A cooler and drier airmass will
then pour into the region.

KEY MESSAGE 2...
Behind the front, there is high confidence in the development
of a mid-level troughing pattern over the northeast CONUS
starting Thursday and continuing at least through the weekend. A
few chances of light showers are forecast through the period as
individual shortwave rotate around an eastern Canadian upper
low. Overall, this precipitation is expected to have low impact.

The main story will be the below-normal temperatures that will
become established, with forecasted highs/lows in the neighborhood
of 10 to 15 degrees below normal from Thursday through at least
Sunday. Low temperatures in the 30s are expected for most of the
area Friday, Saturday, and Sunday mornings. Probabilities for
temperatures less than 37F peak at 80% to 90% for most locations
north of Pittsburgh and in eastern Ohio Saturday morning, but remain
generally above 45% in most locations outside of major river
valleys. Frost/freeze headlines will likely be needed Friday through
Sunday.

&&

.AVIATION /18Z WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY/...
A mixed bag of restrictions in thunder, cigs, and vis are
expected today as a surface low passes overhead. Showers
continue to fill in overhead, which will overspread the area
into the afternoon, lowering cigs with a >80% chance of at least
MVFR area-wide through roughly tomorrow morning. Cells may
become more scatter, but intense as the environment taps into
the best instability.

In the mid-afternoon (roughly 18Z to 00Z), a line of more
robust showers is expected to develop on a cold front and pass
from west to east. If the area is able to garner enough
instability, some storms may be possible, most likely for
southeastern ports (maintained PROB30s noted for now). I near
term upgrade or downgrade from PROB30 may be necessary. Low
level shear may have a low-end tornado threat towards
LBE/AGC/MGW.

These showers may also temporarily drop cigs/vis to IFR/LIFR
where the line is more intense. Behind the heavier showers and
rain will be a wind shift, with winds transitioning more
northwest behind the line. Some gusts up to 20mph and cigs
borderline MVFR/IFR are possible thereafter and into the
overnight hours.

Tonight, there is increased certainty in broken IFR cigs
(patchy LIFR), but even with this, low moisture may be prevalent
enough for patchy IFR vis as well in fog. TEMPO 1SM to 1/2SM
BR/FG was noted at the most susceptible ports. Scattering and
lifting is forecast into the daylight hours on Thursday.

Outlook...
Isolated shower activity is expected Thurs afternoon. Cigs will
likely climb back to VFR after sunrise with mixing of dry air
from the northwest.

&&

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

&&

DISCUSSION...CL
AVIATION...Milcarek
Hazardous weather outlook, Apr 29, 12:58 PM EDT, 2 hours 59 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Pittsburgh PA
1258 PM EDT Wed Apr 29 2026

OHZ039-048-057-301700-
Tuscarawas-Coshocton-Muskingum-
1258 PM EDT Wed Apr 29 2026

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for east central Ohio.

.DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight.

The probability for widespread hazardous weather is low.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday.

No hazardous weather is expected at this time.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation is not expected at this time.

OHZ040-041-049-050-058-059-068-069-PAZ007>009-013>016-020>022-029-
031-073>078-WVZ001>004-012-021-509>514-301700-
Carroll-Columbiana-Harrison-Jefferson OH-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-
1258 PM EDT Wed Apr 29 2026

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

.DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight.

There is a Marginal Risk (level 1 of 5) of strong to severe storms
this afternoon and evening. Isolated instances of damaging wind are
possible, as well as a couple of tornadoes.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday.

No hazardous weather is expected at this time.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation is not expected at this time.

CL

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Pennsylvania, 2026Every tornado warning in 2026Tornadoes 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.