Alert archive / West Virginia / Tornado Warnings in 2026
Tornado Warning 39, NWS Pittsburgh, PA
NWS Pittsburgh, PA issued this tornado warning at Jul 21, 2026, 4:06 PM EDT for Monongalia County, West Virginia. It was in force for 24 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, 4:06 PM EDT (20:06 UTC)
- Expired
- Jul 21, 2026, 4:30 PM EDT
- In force
- 24 min
- Issued by
- NWS Pittsburgh, PA
- Area
- Storm-based polygon
- Tornado
- Radar indicated
- Hail
- 1.0 in
County Monongalia County, WV
The radar
The Pittsburgh radar (KPBZ), 106 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 20:05 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
| Time | Report | Where | Remark |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 21, 4:13 PM EDT | TSTM WND DMG | 2 Ssw Morgantown, WV | A tree was reported down on Hite Street. |
Local storm reports filed while the alert was in force, from inside its polygon or its counties.
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 watch it was issued in
The SPC watch in force over the same counties when this warning went out.
| Issued | Product | Office | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 21, 1:13 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Watch | SPC | 10 hr |
The nearest sounding before it
Pittsburgh, PA (KPIT), launched 12:00Z, 8.1 hours before the alert went out and 91 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.
- 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
The text
As transmitted.
201
WFUS51 KPBZ 212006
TORPBZ
WVC061-212030-
/O.NEW.KPBZ.TO.W.0039.260721T2006Z-260721T2030Z/
BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service Pittsburgh PA
406 PM EDT Tue Jul 21 2026
The National Weather Service in Pittsburgh has issued a
* Tornado Warning for...
East Central Monongalia County in northern West Virginia...
* Until 430 PM EDT.
* At 406 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located near Cassville, or 5 miles west of Westover, moving
east at 35 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...
Morgantown, Brookhaven, Booth, Georgetown and Crown.
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 3960 8014 3965 8011 3960 7980 3950 7988
3959 8013
TIME...MOT...LOC 2006Z 287DEG 31KT 3961 8008
TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...<1.00 IN
$$
MLB2 follow-up statements
190
WWUS51 KPBZ 212017
SVSPBZ
Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Pittsburgh PA
417 PM EDT Tue Jul 21 2026
WVC061-212030-
/O.CON.KPBZ.TO.W.0039.000000T0000Z-260721T2030Z/
Monongalia WV-
417 PM EDT Tue Jul 21 2026
...TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 430 PM EDT FOR EAST
CENTRAL MONONGALIA COUNTY...
At 417 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located near Westover, moving east at 35 mph.
HAZARD...Tornado.
SOURCE...Radar indicated rotation.
IMPACT...Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without
shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed. Damage
to roofs, windows and vehicles will occur. Tree damage is
likely.
Locations impacted include...
Morgantown, Brookhaven and Booth.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a well-built building
away from windows. If you are outdoors, in a mobile home, or in a
vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter and protect yourself
from flying debris.
&&
LAT...LON 3956 8005 3963 8002 3960 7981 3950 7988
TIME...MOT...LOC 2006Z 289DEG 30KT 3961 8008
TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...<1.00 IN
$$
MLB431 WWUS51 KPBZ 212026 SVSPBZ Severe Weather Statement National Weather Service Pittsburgh PA 426 PM EDT Tue Jul 21 2026 WVC061-212036- /O.EXP.KPBZ.TO.W.0039.000000T0000Z-260721T2030Z/ Monongalia WV- 426 PM EDT Tue Jul 21 2026 ...TORNADO WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 430 PM EDT FOR EAST CENTRAL MONONGALIA COUNTY... 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. A Severe Thunderstorm Warning still remains in effect for 4:45 PM EDT. A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 800 PM EDT Tuesday for a portion of northern West Virginia. && LAT...LON 3956 8005 3963 8002 3960 7981 3950 7988 TIME...MOT...LOC 2017Z 290DEG 30KT 3957 7997 $$ 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 Jul 21, 1:46 PM EDT, 2 hours 20 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
- 1) Enhanced Risk for severe weather on Tuesday; Slight Risk for Excessive Rainfall.
Area forecast discussion, Jul 21, 1:46 PM EDT, 2 hours 20 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Pittsburgh PA
146 PM EDT Tue Jul 21 2026
.WHAT HAS CHANGED...
Flood Watch has been expanded 1 tier of counties further north.
A Severe Thunderstorm Watch has been issued until 8pm for all
of our OH, WV and PA counties south of a Beaver- Westmoreland
line. Morning rain has soured some of our environment and
shifted our focus a little further south, mainly along the I-70
corridor.
&&
.KEY MESSAGES...
1) Enhanced Risk for severe weather on Tuesday; Slight Risk for
Excessive Rainfall.
&&
.DISCUSSION...
KEY MESSAGE 1...
A large-scale area of low pressure is currently moving through
central Ontario. Remnant showers and storms from overnight
mesoscale convective systems (MCS) continue across the region
early this morning in the unzipping warm sector. Morning
convection has complicated but not eliminated our risk of severe
weather across the region. It has also acted to raise our short
term flood threat.
Our morning sounding only measured a PWAT of 1.32 but continued
moisture advection from our west will look to advect PWATs near
1.9 inches (just below the daily maximum of 1.96 inches) across
the region. This accompanied with a relatively high freezing
level will allow for efficient warm rain processes in a very
moist environment. Instantaneous rainfall rates up to 3-6 inches
per hour seem possible but this will be tempered by shorter
residence time of these rates owing to quick storm motions. With
more progressive storms we have a higher chance of exceeding
our 3 hour flash flood guidance more so than our 1 hour values
likely requiring multiple rounds of storms. Morning rain is
acting to set the table for flood issues later across a wider
portion of the region and thus our Flash Flood Watch has
expanded one tier of counties further north. The Flood Watch
continues across the region through 11pm.
Several factors in our previous analysis remain true: we have a
very intense (for July) left exit jet region overhead, dew
points are in the low 70s and shear across the region is even
over performing expectations with mesoscale analysis suggesting
upwards of 50 knots available in the 0-6km layer. The locally
lacking ingredient is instability due to widespread rain across
the region this morning. However, a local lack of instability
doesn't end our severe threat if we can produce instability to
our west and advect storms into the region. This is likely the
way our severe threat is shifting. If storms can form to our
west and move into our incredibly strong dynamic environment
then we still have a very high end severe threat on the table.
If storms do not form west of us and move in then lower level
storms can continue going forward and we may not realize the
full potential of our environment for today. To this point there
is a large area of clearing and Cu popping across IN and
western OH. This activity is already even or south of Pittsburgh
and any activity across our region from this likely focuses our
severe threat Pittsburgh on south, especially along the I-70
corridor.
The amount of shear available in the environment points towards
the possibility of Supercellular or QLCS structures. Each of
these storm modes can bring damaging wind gusts and tornadoes.
Morning rain has acted to locally lower LCLs nodding towards a
possibly improving Tornado threat. Going along with this is
drastically improving structure of our hodographs this afternoon
especially I-70 on south and a noticeable uptick in our SIGTOR
parameter. A Severe Thunderstorm Watch has been issued until 8pm
for all of our OH and WV counties and all of our PA counties
south of a Beaver- Westmoreland line.
Expect lingering showers and non-severe thunderstorms into
early Wednesday before a cold front tracks through the region.
The potential for precipitation remain low through the
remainder of the work week and into the weekend before showers
and storms again look possible on Sunday.
&&
.AVIATION /18Z TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/...
Showers and thunderstorms continue to cross the forecast area
through the afternoon and evening. Much of the terminals east of
ZZV will remain within MVFR and below conditions through the 22Z
timeframe. Heavy downpours will cause vis at some terminals to
drop below 1 mile. Have used mostly TEMPOs during the early part
and some PRB30s to cover later convection.
The main threat of severe storms will likely be over by 23Z. The
overnight tonight will expected to see left over showers and a
few thunderstorms but with flight conditions remaining below IFR
for most terminals due to low cigs.
Towards dawn, expect to see some development of some fog which
could drop vis below 1 mile at times. Winds through the period
will be from the southwest with some gusts up to 30 knots.
Outlook...
There may be some MVFR cigs in the vicinity of DUJ/FKL early
Thursday morning with cool northerly flow. Otherwise, VFR
conditions will prevail under high pressure into Friday.
&&
.PBZ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
PA...Flood Watch until 11 PM EDT this evening for PAZ014-020>022-
029-031-073>078.
OH...Flood Watch until 11 PM EDT this evening for OHZ040-041-049-
050-058-059-068-069.
WV...Flood Watch until 11 PM EDT this evening for WVZ001>004-012-
021-509>514.
&&
DISCUSSION...AK
AVIATION...ShallenbergerHazardous weather outlook, Jul 21, 1:18 PM EDT, 2 hours 48 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Pittsburgh PA 118 PM EDT Tue Jul 21 2026 PAZ007>009-013-015-016-221730- Mercer-Venango-Forest-Lawrence-Clarion-Jefferson PA- 118 PM EDT Tue Jul 21 2026 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for western Pennsylvania. .DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight. A new disturbance is expected to impact the region today. Flash flooding and/or severe storms that produce damaging winds, hail, and tornadoes may occur between 12pm and 8pm. .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. PAZ014-022-077-078-221730- Butler-Armstrong-Indiana-Higher Elevations of Indiana- 118 PM EDT Tue Jul 21 2026 ...FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 PM EDT THIS EVENING... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for western Pennsylvania. .DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the Internet for more information about the following hazards. Flood Watch. A new disturbance is expected to impact the region today. Flash flooding and/or severe storms that produce damaging winds, hail, and tornadoes may occur between 12pm and 8pm. .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. OHZ040-041-049-050-058-059-068-069-PAZ020-021-029-031-073>076- WVZ001>004-012-021-509>514-221730- Carroll-Columbiana-Harrison-Jefferson OH-Guernsey-Belmont-Noble- Monroe-Beaver-Allegheny-Washington-Greene-Westmoreland- Higher Elevations of Westmoreland-Fayette- Higher Elevations of Fayette-Hancock-Brooke-Ohio-Marshall-Wetzel- Marion-Monongalia- Ridges of Eastern Monongalia and Northwestern Preston-Preston- Eastern Preston-Western Tucker-Eastern Tucker- 118 PM EDT Tue Jul 21 2026 ...FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 PM EDT THIS EVENING... ...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 506 IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for east central Ohio, southwest Pennsylvania, western Pennsylvania, and northern West Virginia. .DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the Internet for more information about the following hazards. Flood Watch. Severe Thunderstorm Watch. .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. OHZ039-048-057-221730- Tuscarawas-Coshocton-Muskingum- 118 PM EDT Tue Jul 21 2026 ...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 506 IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for east central Ohio. .DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the Internet for more information about the following hazards. Severe Thunderstorm Watch. .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. AK
In the hours before
Local storm report, Jul 21, 3:10 PM EDT, 56 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Pittsburgh PA
310 PM EDT Tue Jul 21 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0113 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 3 N Steubenville 40.41N 80.64W
07/21/2026 Jefferson OH 911 Call Center
A tree was reported down on Township Road
380.
&&
DJSLocal storm report, Jul 21, 3:18 PM EDT, 48 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Pittsburgh PA
318 PM EDT Tue Jul 21 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0232 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 2 SSW Zanesville 39.93N 82.02W
07/21/2026 Muskingum OH Public
A picture on social media that shows a large
uprooted tree on the ground. It appears that
it also damaged the house. Time based on
radar estimate.
&&
LupoLocal storm report, Jul 21, 3:26 PM EDT, 40 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Pittsburgh PA
326 PM EDT Tue Jul 21 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0232 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 1 SSW Zanesville 39.93N 82.02W
07/21/2026 Muskingum OH Public
Video showing large tree limb down across
most of Hickory Street (intersecting
Brighton Blvd). Time based on radar
estimate.
&&
LupoLocal storm report, Jul 21, 3:28 PM EDT, 38 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Pittsburgh PA
328 PM EDT Tue Jul 21 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0306 PM Flash Flood 1 SSW Zanesville 39.93N 82.02W
07/21/2026 Muskingum OH Public
Video shows water on the road at the
intersection of Brighton Blvd and Hickory
St. This is adjacent to Chaps Run. Time
based on post.
&&
LupoLocal storm report, Jul 21, 3:29 PM EDT, 37 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Pittsburgh PA
329 PM EDT Tue Jul 21 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0232 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 2 SSW Zanesville 39.93N 82.02W
07/21/2026 Muskingum OH Public
Corrects previous tstm wnd dmg report from 2
SSW Zanesville. A picture on social media
that shows a large uprooted tree on the
ground. It appears that it also damaged the
house. Image taken near 744 Brighton Blvd.
Time based on radar estimate.
&&
LupoLocal storm report, Jul 21, 3:50 PM EDT, 16 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Pittsburgh PA
350 PM EDT Tue Jul 21 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0302 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 7 NW Fultonham 39.93N 82.22W
07/21/2026 Muskingum OH Public
Image on social media of storage unit
building blown over. Occurred at 1275 Mt
Perry Rd, Mt Perry, OH. Time based on radar
estimate.
&&
LupoThe office that day
Everything else NWS Pittsburgh, PA issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 21, 3:11 AM EDT | Flood Watch | PBZ | Brooke, Hancock, Marion, Marshall, Monongalia, Ohio and 3 more | 20 hr |
| Jul 21, 12:14 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | PBZ | Hancock | 46 min |
| Jul 21, 1:05 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | PBZ | Brooke, Hancock, Ohio | 40 min |
| Jul 21, 2:30 PM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | PBZ | Marshall | 6 hr |
| Jul 21, 2:56 PM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | PBZ | Marshall | 5 hr |
| Jul 21, 3:37 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | PBZ | Marshall, Wetzel | 38 min |
| Jul 21, 4:03 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | PBZ | Monongalia, Preston | 42 min |
| Jul 21, 4:20 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | PBZ | Marion, Wetzel | 40 min |
| Jul 21, 4:34 PM EDT | Tornado Warning | PBZ | Monongalia, Preston | 26 min |
| Jul 21, 4:37 PM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | PBZ | Marion, Monongalia, Wetzel | 3 hr |
| Jul 21, 5:30 PM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | PBZ | Marion, Monongalia | 3 hr |
| Jul 21, 5:46 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | PBZ | Preston, Tucker | 89 min |
| Jul 21, 6:40 PM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | PBZ | Preston, Tucker | 3 hr |
Nearby
Tornado Warnings in West Virginia, 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; local storm reports from the same archive; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.