Pennsylvania, 1998

High Wind in Pennsylvania, November 10, 1998

November 10, 1998 · NWS PBZ · 6 events in 3 counties and zones

A strong area of low pressure and associated cold front approached Western Pennsylvania from the west late in the day of the 10th. Ahead of this front, winds just a few thousand feet off of the ground had increased to 75 MPH.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 5 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

  • Tornadoes
  • Tropical storms and surge
  • Floods
  • Wind
  • Hail
  • Winter weather
  • Heat and drought
  • Cold
  • Fire, smoke and dust
  • Marine and coastal
  • Other

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
$30,000
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
6

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

What happened

The episode as NWS PBZ wrote it up.

A strong area of low pressure and associated cold front approached Western Pennsylvania from the west late in the day of the 10th. Ahead of this front, winds just a few thousand feet off of the ground had increased to 75 MPH. As this front moved through Ohio earlier in the afternoon, thunderstorms along this front brought these strong low-level winds in the lower levels of the atmosphere down to the surface. As this front approached Western Pennsylvania during the evening hours, the thunderstorm activity had diminished to only a few weak rain showers. However, these showers were still enough to bring the strong winds down to the surface. As a result, wind damage in the form of downed trees and power lines was reported across several counties in Western Pennsylvania as the cold front moved east across the area.

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

6 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.

High Wind, Westmoreland

When
November 10, 5:35 PM EST
Where
Westmoreland forecast zone
Property damage
$5,000
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT

High winds blew down several large trees, partially blocking several roads in the Latrobe area.

High Wind, Washington

When
November 10, 6:00 PM EST
Where
Washington forecast zone
Property damage
$5,000
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
40.189, -80.248 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Washington

When
November 10, 6:55 PM EST
Where
Washington forecast zone
Property damage
$5,000
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
40.189, -80.248 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High winds blew down several power lines, partially blocking SR 231 and SR 50 in the Independence area.

High Wind, Washington

When
November 10, 7:25 PM EST
Where
Washington forecast zone
Property damage
$5,000
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
40.189, -80.248 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High winds downed several large trees in the Gabby Heights area.

High Wind, Washington

When
November 10, 7:45 PM EST
Where
Washington forecast zone
Property damage
$5,000
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
40.189, -80.248 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High winds downed several large trees in the Washington area.

High Wind, Greene

When
November 10, 8:10 PM EST
Where
Greene forecast zone
Property damage
$5,000
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
39.854, -80.223 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Several large trees in the Graysville area were downed by high winds.

What these are

High Wind
Sustained non-thunderstorm winds of 40 mph or more for an hour, or gusts of 58 mph or more.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Pennsylvania in 1998Every state in 1998This day in weather historyWarnings in Pennsylvania, November 1998

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5671203, 5671204, 5671205, 5671206, 5671207, 5671208.