Pennsylvania, 1999

High Wind in Pennsylvania, January 18, 1999

January 18, 1999 · NWS PBZ · 6 events in 5 counties and zones

An intensifying area of low pressure moving across the Great Lakes trailed a strong cold front to the south. This front moved through western Pennsylvania during the early afternoon hours of the 18th.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 2 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
$85,000
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.

An intensifying area of low pressure moving across the Great Lakes trailed a strong cold front to the south. This front moved through western Pennsylvania during the early afternoon hours of the 18th. This front was accompanied by high winds gusting to over 60 MPH, along with a mix of rain, sleet and snow, as it passed across the area. These high winds produced some damage across the area as part of a garage, along with several trees, were downed near South Strabane, Washington County. In Jacksonville, Indiana County, the high winds blew down a barn. Part of a barn, along with part of the roof from the adjacent house, were blown down in the Marion Center area of Indiana County. Several reports of downed trees were also received from across Indiana and Westmoreland Counties. One downed tree in Lower Burrell, Westmoreland County, fell onto a wooden deck, damaging the deck and attached awning.

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, Allegheny

When
January 18, 11:35 AM EST
Where
Allegheny forecast zone
Measured
62 kt (71 mph)
Reported by
AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates
40.469, -79.981 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Washington

When
January 18, 11:50 AM EST
Where
Washington forecast zone
Measured
60 kt (69 mph)
Property damage
$25,000
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
40.189, -80.248 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Fayette

When
January 18, 12:15 PM EST
Where
Fayette forecast zone
Measured
51 kt (59 mph)
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER

High Wind, Westmoreland

When
January 18, 12:16 PM EST
Where
Westmoreland forecast zone
Measured
51 kt (59 mph)
Property damage
$10,000
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER

High Wind, Indiana

When
January 18, 12:45 PM EST
Where
Indiana forecast zone
Measured
60 kt (69 mph)
Property damage
$25,000
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER

High Wind, Indiana

When
January 18, 12:50 PM EST
Where
Indiana forecast zone
Measured
60 kt (69 mph)
Property damage
$25,000
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER

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 1999Every state in 1999This day in weather historyWarnings in Pennsylvania, January 1999

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: 5685900, 5685901, 5685902, 5685903, 5685904, 5685905.