A storm spawning two separate tornadoes passed over southern Armstrong County, continuing eastward into Indiana County. The first tornado, an F0, touched down at approximately 2:45 PM EST just south of the town of Spring Church in Armstrong County.
Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.
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.
The episode as NWS PBZ wrote it up.
A storm spawning two separate tornadoes passed over southern Armstrong County, continuing eastward into Indiana County. The first tornado, an F0, touched down at approximately 2:45 PM EST just south of the town of Spring Church in Armstrong County. It traveled east about 3 miles before crossing into Indiana County approximately 1 mile east of Maysville at 2:52 PM EST. This tornado continued traveling to the east for another mile, finally dissipating near the community of Iselin at around 2:55 PM EST. The maximum estimated winds with this tornado were about 70 MPH.Damage from this first tornado included numerous trees which were toppled or snapped. A small steeple was toppled, and a swimming pool was destroyed. There were several trees toppled onto houses, and some houses suffered minor wind damage. A garage was damaged, and a house under construction was lifted off the foundation. The same storm produced another stronger tornado, an F2, which touched down in Indiana County approximately 6 miles southwest of the city of Indiana at 3:00 PM EST. This F2 traveled to the east across Center Township for approximately 5 miles, dissipating just south of Indiana at 3:06 PM EST. The estimated maximum winds were around 135 MPH. This F2 tornado produced a swath of damage as it traveled eastward across Indiana County. One house was totally destroyed, and debris from this house was blown downwind. In this same area, a car was turned over and trees were stripped of leaves. An adjacent house exhibited damage from hail or flying projectiles on several sides. The house immediately to the north of the destroyed house lost part of its east-facing roof. There were at least an additional 18 houses damaged (roofs, shingles, siding, etc.). Several garages and barns were either toppled or snapped. A large sign from a hotel was blown down onto a car sales lot. Two cars were crushed and 18 other vehicles were damaged. One moderate injury was reported with this tornado.
The local office's own words before the first event, 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 the first event at Apr 28, 1:55 PM EST, 50 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA 255 PM EDT SUN APR 28 2002 AT THIS POINT WILL ALLOW FLOOD WATCH TO EXPIRE FOR PORTIONS SE OHIO...NRN W VA...AND GARRETT CO MD. AS LONG AS STORMS KEEP MOVING SHOULD NOT BE A PROBLEM. WILL ISSUE A WIND ADV FOR POST FRONT WINDS WHICH SHOULD DIE DOWN WITHIN A FEW HOURS AFTER NEXT PACKAGE ISSUANCE. BEYOND THIS COULD BE SOME SHOWERS IN THE MOUNTAINS AND NORTH FOR MON. NEXT SYSTEM SLIPS SEWRD OUT OF NW FLOW LATE MON NIGHT AND TUES. COULD BE SOME SHOWERS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS. REST OF WEEK UNSETTLED WITH NEXT WV MOVING ALONG THE SRN TIERS AND ANOTHER MORE IMPRSSIVE ONE FOR THURS. TEMPS SIMILAR TO MOS. .PBZ... MD...WIND ADVISORY TIL 8 PM GARRETT COUNTY. OH...WIND ADVISORY TIL 8 PM ALL ZNS. PA...WIND ADVISORY TIL 8 PM ALL ZNS. WV...WIND ADVISORY TIL 8 PM ALL ZNS.
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH, PA
223 PM EDT SUN APR 28 2002
TIME(EDT) .....CITY LOCATION.....STATE ...EVENT/REMARKS...
....COUNTY LOCATION....
0200 PM 10 N COSHOCTON OH 1.75 INCH HAIL
04/28/02 COSHOCTON REPORTED BY SKYWARN
SPOTTERS
0200 PM 4 E ROSEVILLE OH .75 INCH HAIL
04/28/02 MUSKINGUM REPORTED BY SKYWARN
SPOTTERS
0203 PM 10 SE ZANESVILLE OH .75 INCH HAIL
04/28/02 MUSKINGOM REPORTED BY SKYWARN
SPOTTERS
0206 PM BALTIC OH .88 INCH HAIL
04/28/02 TUSCARAWAS REPORTED BY SKYWARN
SPOTTERS
0214 PM NEW PHILADELPHIA OH .75 INCH HAIL
04/28/02 TUSCARAWAS REPORTED BY SKYWARN
SPOTTERSPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH, PA
230 PM EDT SUN APR 28 2002
TIME(EDT) .....CITY LOCATION.....STATE ...EVENT/REMARKS...
....COUNTY LOCATION....
0200 PM 10 N COSHOCTON OH 1.75 INCH HAIL
04/28/02 COSHOCTON REPORTED BY SKYWARN
SPOTTERS
0200 PM 4 E ROSEVILLE OH .75 INCH HAIL
04/28/02 MUSKINGUM REPORTED BY SKYWARN
SPOTTERS
0203 PM 10 SE ZANESVILLE OH .75 INCH HAIL
04/28/02 MUSKINGOM REPORTED BY SKYWARN
SPOTTERS
0206 PM BALTIC OH .88 INCH HAIL
04/28/02 TUSCARAWAS REPORTED BY SKYWARN
SPOTTERS
0214 PM NEW PHILADELPHIA OH .75 INCH HAIL
04/28/02 TUSCARAWAS REPORTED BY SKYWARN
SPOTTERS
0223 PM MERCER PA 60 MPH TSTM WIND GUST
04/28/02 MERCER
0227 PM SHARON PA .75 INCH HAIL
04/28/02 MERCER REPORTED BY SKYWARN
SPOTTERSPAZ008-009-014>016-021>023-029>032-290000- SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA 233 PM EDT SUN APR 28 2002 TORNADO WATCH IN EFFECT UNTIL 800 PM EDT SUNDAY EVENING FOR THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES... IN PENNSYLVANIA... ALLEGHENY ARMSTRONG BUTLER CLARION FAYETTE FOREST GREENE INDIANA JEFFERSON VENANGO WASHINGTON WESTMORELAND
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH, PA
238 PM EDT SUN APR 28 2002
TIME(EDT) .....CITY LOCATION.....STATE ...EVENT/REMARKS...
....COUNTY LOCATION....
0200 PM 10 N COSHOCTON OH 1.75 INCH HAIL
04/28/02 COSHOCTON REPORTED BY SKYWARN
SPOTTERS
0200 PM 4 E ROSEVILLE OH .75 INCH HAIL
04/28/02 MUSKINGUM REPORTED BY SKYWARN
SPOTTERS
0203 PM 10 SE ZANESVILLE OH .75 INCH HAIL
04/28/02 MUSKINGOM REPORTED BY SKYWARN
SPOTTERS
0206 PM BALTIC OH .88 INCH HAIL
04/28/02 TUSCARAWAS REPORTED BY SKYWARN
SPOTTERS
0214 PM NEW PHILADELPHIA OH .75 INCH HAIL
04/28/02 TUSCARAWAS REPORTED BY SKYWARN
SPOTTERS
0223 PM MERCER PA 60 MPH TSTM WIND GUST
04/28/02 MERCER
0227 PM SHARON PA .75 INCH HAIL
04/28/02 MERCER REPORTED BY SKYWARN
SPOTTERS
0235 PM NEW COMERSTOWN OH .75 INCH HAIL
04/28/02 TUSCAWARAS REPORTED BY SKYWARN
SPOTTERS
0236 PM CALDWELL OH 1.75 INCH HAIL
04/28/02 NOBLE REPORTED BY SKYWARN
SPOTTERS
TDPPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH, PA
246 PM EDT SUN APR 28 2002
TIME(EDT) .....CITY LOCATION.....STATE ...EVENT/REMARKS...
....COUNTY LOCATION....
0200 PM 10 N COSHOCTON OH 1.75 INCH HAIL
04/28/02 COSHOCTON REPORTED BY SKYWARN
SPOTTERS
0200 PM 4 E ROSEVILLE OH .75 INCH HAIL
04/28/02 MUSKINGUM REPORTED BY SKYWARN
SPOTTERS
0203 PM 10 SE ZANESVILLE OH .75 INCH HAIL
04/28/02 MUSKINGOM REPORTED BY SKYWARN
SPOTTERS
0206 PM BALTIC OH .88 INCH HAIL
04/28/02 TUSCARAWAS REPORTED BY SKYWARN
SPOTTERS
0214 PM NEW PHILADELPHIA OH .75 INCH HAIL
04/28/02 TUSCARAWAS REPORTED BY SKYWARN
SPOTTERS
0223 PM MERCER PA 60 MPH TSTM WIND GUST
04/28/02 MERCER
0227 PM SHARON PA .75 INCH HAIL
04/28/02 MERCER REPORTED BY SKYWARN
SPOTTERS
0235 PM NEW COMERSTOWN OH .75 INCH HAIL
04/28/02 TUSCAWARAS REPORTED BY SKYWARN
SPOTTERS
0236 PM CALDWELL OH 1.75 INCH HAIL
04/28/02 NOBLE REPORTED BY SKYWARN
SPOTTERS
0237 PM 3 W TORONTO OH 1.75 INCH HAIL
04/28/02 JEFFERSON REPORTED BY SKYWARN
SPOTTERS
0244 PM STUBENVILLE OH 1.00 INCH HAIL
04/28/02 JEFFERSON REPORTED BY SKYWARN
SPOTTERS
0245 PM KILLGORE OH .88 INCH HAIL
04/28/02 CARROL REPORTED BY SKYWARN
SPOTTERS
TDPPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH, PA
336 PM EDT SUN APR 28 2002
TIME(EDT) .....CITY LOCATION.....STATE ...EVENT/REMARKS...
....COUNTY LOCATION....
0200 PM 10 N COSHOCTON OH 1.75 INCH HAIL
04/28/02 COSHOCTON REPORTED BY SKYWARN
SPOTTERS
0200 PM 4 E ROSEVILLE OH .75 INCH HAIL
04/28/02 MUSKINGUM REPORTED BY SKYWARN
SPOTTERS
0203 PM 10 SE ZANESVILLE OH .75 INCH HAIL
04/28/02 MUSKINGOM REPORTED BY SKYWARN
SPOTTERS
0206 PM BALTIC OH .88 INCH HAIL
04/28/02 TUSCARAWAS REPORTED BY SKYWARN
SPOTTERS
0214 PM NEW PHILADELPHIA OH .75 INCH HAIL
04/28/02 TUSCARAWAS REPORTED BY SKYWARN
SPOTTERS
0223 PM MERCER PA 60 MPH TSTM WIND GUST
04/28/02 MERCER
0227 PM SHARON PA .75 INCH HAIL
04/28/02 MERCER REPORTED BY SKYWARN
SPOTTERS
0235 PM NEW COMERSTOWN OH .75 INCH HAIL
04/28/02 TUSCAWARAS REPORTED BY SKYWARN
SPOTTERS
0236 PM CALDWELL OH 1.75 INCH HAIL
04/28/02 NOBLE REPORTED BY SKYWARN
SPOTTERS
0237 PM 3 W TORONTO OH 1.75 INCH HAIL
04/28/02 JEFFERSON REPORTED BY SKYWARN
SPOTTERS
0244 PM STUBENVILLE OH 1.00 INCH HAIL
04/28/02 JEFFERSON REPORTED BY SKYWARN
SPOTTERS
0245 PM KILLGORE OH .88 INCH HAIL
04/28/02 CARROL REPORTED BY SKYWARN
SPOTTERS
0248 PM JERUSALEM OH .75 INCH HAIL
04/28/02 MONROE REPORTED BY SKYWARN
SPOTTERS
0252 PM BEALLSVILLE OH 1.75 INCH HAIL
04/28/02 MONROE REPORTED BY SKYWARN
SPOTTERS
0255 PM HARMONY PA 1.50 INCH HAIL
04/28/02 BUTLER REPORTED BY SKYWARN
SPOTTERS
0257 PM MORAINE STATE PARK PA .75 INCH HAIL
04/28/02 BUTLER REPORTED BY SKYWARN
SPOTTERS
0249 PM LOUISVILLE OH 1.75 INCH HAIL
04/28/02 MONROE REPORTED BY EMERGENCY
MANAGEMENT
0300 PM HOPEWELL PA .75 INCH HAIL
04/28/02 BEAVER REPORTED BY SKYWARN
SPOTTERS
0255 PM JACKSON CENTER PA .75 INCH HAIL
04/28/02 MERCER
0315 PM POWHATAN POINT OH 1.50 INCH HAIL
04/28/02 BELMONT REPORTED BY SKYWARN
SPOTTERS
0316 PM MCCANDLESS PA 1.00 INCH HAIL
04/28/02 ALLEGHENY REPORTED BY SKYWARN
SPOTTERS
0317 PM FRANKLIN PA 1.00 INCH HAIL
04/28/02 VENANGO REPORTED BY SKYWARN
SPOTTERS
0320 PM FRANKLIN PARK PA 1.75 INCH HAIL
04/28/02 ALLEGHENY REPORTED BY TRAINED
OBSERVER
0323 PM WEXFORD PA 1.50 INCH HAIL
04/28/02 ALLEGHENY REPORTED BY SKYWARN
SPOTTERS
0325 PM INDIANA TWP. PA WIND DAMAGE
04/28/02 ALLEGHENY ROTATION OVER THE FIRE
DEPT.REPORTED BY SKYWARN
SPOTTERS
0326 PM MORGANTOWN WV 0.50 INCH HAIL
04/28/02 MONONGALIA
TDPThe Pittsburgh radar (KPBZ), 62 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 19:45 UTC.
3 tornado. Local standard time, as filed.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Pennsylvania in 2002Every state in 2002This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for Pennsylvania, 2002Warnings in Pennsylvania, April 2002
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: 5288017, 5288018, 5288019.