Alert archive / Pennsylvania / Tornado Warnings in 2026
Tornado Warning 46, NWS Pittsburgh, PA
NWS Pittsburgh, PA issued this tornado warning at Jul 21, 2026, 7:35 PM EDT for Butler County, Lawrence County, Pennsylvania. It was in force for 25 min. 2 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
- Jul 21, 2026, 7:35 PM EDT (23:35 UTC)
- Expired
- Jul 21, 2026, 8:00 PM EDT
- In force
- 25 min
- Issued by
- NWS Pittsburgh, PA
- Area
- Storm-based polygon
- Tornado
- Radar indicated
- Hail
- 0.0 in
Counties Butler County, PA, Lawrence County, PA
The radar
The Pittsburgh radar (KPBZ), 42 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 23:36 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, 7:53 PM EDT | TORNADO | 2 Sse Portersville, PA | Video captured a brief touchdown of a tornado across from 109 Bauder School Rd, Prospect, PA. Time based on radar estimate. |
| Jul 21, 7:55 PM EDT | TSTM WND DMG | 1 Ene Portersville, PA | Trees down. Possible tornado correlated with TDS. |
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 tornado warning; the first came 18 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, 11.6 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.
- 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.
336
WFUS51 KPBZ 212335
TORPBZ
PAC019-073-220000-
/O.NEW.KPBZ.TO.W.0046.260721T2335Z-260722T0000Z/
BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service Pittsburgh PA
735 PM EDT Tue Jul 21 2026
The National Weather Service in Pittsburgh has issued a
* Tornado Warning for...
West Central Butler County in west central Pennsylvania...
Southeastern Lawrence County in western Pennsylvania...
* Until 800 PM EDT.
* At 735 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located near New Castle, moving southeast 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...
Prospect, Portersville, McConnells Mill, Rose Point Park and
Moraine State Park.
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 4096 8035 4102 8028 4092 8003 4083 8016
4085 8016 4085 8020
TIME...MOT...LOC 2335Z 304DEG 24KT 4098 8028
TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
$$
MLB2 follow-up statements
889
WWUS51 KPBZ 212346
SVSPBZ
Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Pittsburgh PA
746 PM EDT Tue Jul 21 2026
PAC019-073-220000-
/O.CON.KPBZ.TO.W.0046.000000T0000Z-260722T0000Z/
Butler PA-Lawrence PA-
746 PM EDT Tue Jul 21 2026
...TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT FOR WEST CENTRAL
BUTLER AND SOUTHEASTERN LAWRENCE COUNTIES...
At 746 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located 6 miles northeast of Ellwood City, or 9 miles southeast
of New Castle, moving southeast at 30 mph.
HAZARD...Tornado.
SOURCE...Radar indicated rotation.
IMPACT...Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without
shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed. Damage
to roofs, windows and vehicles will occur. Tree damage is
likely.
Locations impacted include...
Prospect, Portersville, McConnells Mill, Rose Point Park and
Moraine State Park.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a well-built building
away from windows. If you are outdoors, in a mobile home, or in a
vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter and protect yourself
from flying debris.
&&
LAT...LON 4091 8028 4098 8019 4092 8003 4083 8016
4085 8016 4085 8021
TIME...MOT...LOC 2335Z 304DEG 24KT 4097 8028
TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
$$
MLB757
WWUS51 KPBZ 212356 RRA
SVSPBZ
Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Pittsburgh PA
756 PM EDT Tue Jul 21 2026
PAC019-073-220006-
/O.EXP.KPBZ.TO.W.0046.000000T0000Z-260722T0000Z/
Butler PA-Lawrence PA-
756 PM EDT Tue Jul 21 2026
...TORNADO WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 8 PM EDT FOR WEST CENTRAL BUTLER
AND SOUTHEASTERN LAWRENCE COUNTIES...
The Tornado Warning that was previously in effect has been reissued
for Butler County and is in effect until 815 PM EDT. Please refer to
that bulletin for the latest severe weather information. To report
severe weather, contact your nearest law enforcement agency. They
will send your report to the National Weather Service office.
&&
LAT...LON 4091 8028 4098 8019 4092 8003 4083 8016
4085 8016 4085 8021
TIME...MOT...LOC 2346Z 304DEG 24KT 4092 8020
$$
MLBWhat 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, 5 hours 49 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, 5 hours 49 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, 6 hours 17 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, 5:48 PM EDT, 1 hour 47 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Pittsburgh PA
548 PM EDT Tue Jul 21 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0317 PM Tornado 2 WNW Duncan Falls 39.88N 81.96W
07/21/2026 Muskingum OH Public
Video on social media of tornado producing
wind damage. Taken from 3840 Durants Rd,
Zanesville, OH facing south. Time based on
radar estimate.
&&
LupoLocal storm report, Jul 21, 5:57 PM EDT, 1 hour 38 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Pittsburgh PA
557 PM EDT Tue Jul 21 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0350 PM Flash Flood 1 SSE Mcmechen 39.98N 80.73W
07/21/2026 Marshall WV 911 Call Center
Roadways closed due to ongoing flooding.
&&
AKLocal storm report, Jul 21, 5:58 PM EDT, 1 hour 37 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Pittsburgh PA
558 PM EDT Tue Jul 21 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0350 PM Flash Flood Mcmechen 39.98N 80.73W
07/21/2026 Marshall WV 911 Call Center
Roadways closed due to ongoing flooding.
&&
AKLocal storm report, Jul 21, 6:07 PM EDT, 1 hour 28 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Pittsburgh PA
607 PM EDT Tue Jul 21 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0519 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 3 E Fairmont 39.47N 80.10W
07/21/2026 Marion WV 911 Call Center
Tree down blocking road and power lines
down. Time estimated from radar.
&&
CravenLocal storm report, Jul 21, 6:31 PM EDT, 1 hour 4 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Pittsburgh PA
631 PM EDT Tue Jul 21 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0522 PM Flash Flood 3 SSE Monongah 39.42N 80.19W
07/21/2026 Marion WV 911 Call Center
Roadway flooding reported near MIDDLETOWN RD
& ROXBURY RD (Tygart Valley Loop), WHITE
HALL, WV. Time based on report.
&&
LupoLocal storm report, Jul 21, 6:59 PM EDT, 36 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Pittsburgh PA
659 PM EDT Tue Jul 21 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0600 PM Rain 2 SW Dexter City 39.64N 81.50W
07/21/2026 M3.88 Inch Noble OH Mesonet
Mesonet station CRKO1 Jackson Township.
0532 PM Rain 4 S Graysville 39.61N 81.17W
07/21/2026 M3.05 Inch Monroe OH Mesonet
Mesonet station MERO1 Merrell Ridge RAWS.
0600 PM Rain 2 ENE Sarahsville 39.82N 81.44W
07/21/2026 M2.44 Inch Noble OH Mesonet
Mesonet station MOUO1 2.0 E Sarahsville.
0600 PM Rain Pleasant City 39.90N 81.54W
07/21/2026 M2.19 Inch Guernsey OH Mesonet
Mesonet station PLEO1 Pleasant City.
0600 PM Rain 4 W Mannington 39.54N 80.41W
07/21/2026 M2.18 Inch Marion WV Mesonet
Mesonet station SVPW2 4.0 W Mannington.
0400 PM Rain 5 ESE Triadelphia 40.01N 80.55W
07/21/2026 M2.16 Inch Marshall WV Mesonet
Mesonet station DLSW2 5 S Valley Grove.
&&
24 hour rainfall of 2 inches or more.
CravenThe 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 | Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Fayette, Greene and 3 more | 20 hr |
| Jul 21, 12:14 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | PBZ | Beaver, Butler, Lawrence | 46 min |
| Jul 21, 1:05 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | PBZ | Allegheny, Washington | 40 min |
| Jul 21, 2:56 PM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | PBZ | Greene, Washington | 5 hr |
| Jul 21, 6:29 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | PBZ | Forest, Venango | 46 min |
| Jul 21, 6:33 PM EDT | Tornado Warning | PBZ | Venango | 27 min |
| Jul 21, 7:00 PM EDT | Tornado Warning | PBZ | Lawrence | 30 min |
| Jul 21, 7:13 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | PBZ | Clarion, Forest, Jefferson, Venango | 47 min |
| Jul 21, 7:16 PM EDT | Tornado Warning | PBZ | Lawrence | 29 min |
| Jul 21, 7:26 PM EDT | Tornado Warning | PBZ | Clarion, Forest, Jefferson | 34 min |
| Jul 21, 7:51 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | PBZ | Mercer | 39 min |
| Jul 21, 7:56 PM EDT | Tornado Warning | PBZ | Butler | 19 min |
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; local storm reports from the same archive; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.