High Wind in Pennsylvania, December 12, 2000

A strengthening area of low pressure and associated cold front swept across the area during the overnight hours, bringing high winds to much of western Pennsylvania. In general, damage was confined mostly to numerous downed trees and power lines, resulting in a loss of power to an estimated 150,000 homes across western Pennsylvania. However, several incidents of property damage were also reported. In Sharon, Mercer County, wind gusts estimated as high as 70 MPH blew a tree down onto a garage, causing considerable damage. Several homes in Sharon also had parts of their siding blown away. The highest wind in the event was an estimated 75 MPH gust in Farmington, Fayette County. Part of a roof was blown from a barn at that location. In Indiana County, the high wind damaged several residential roofs and produced isolated incidents of structural damage. Several residences and businesses in Beaver County reported property damage. A window was blown in at a fast-food restaurant in Conway. A pavilion at a park in Monaca was blown over. In Industry, a tree was blown onto a van, crushing it. In South Beaver, the roof was partially ripped off of an industrial supply company. A partially constructed house in the Beaver area was also blown down by the wind. In Armstrong County, a roof blew off of a building along Main Street in Elderton. In North Buffalo, the winds ripped off three-quarters of the roof of a monastery. In Allegheny County, these strong winds resulted in the loss of electricity to an estimated 100,000 homes across the county. In the city of Pittsburgh, two abandoned buildings had their walls blown in. Several reports were also received from across the city of porch awnings and sheds blown down by the wind.