Damaging Wind in Pennsylvania, July 8, 2003

Name: Damaging Wind in Pennsylvania, July 8, 2003
Start: 2003-07-08T06:28
End: 2003-07-08T06:28
Location: Pennsylvania

July 8, 2003 · NWS PBZ · 1 event in 1 county or zone

1 thunderstorm wind, as filed by the National Weather Service.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it. 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

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: $2,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 1

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 forecasters said that day

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 Jul 8, 3:05 AM EST, 3 hours 23 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jul 8, 3:05 AM EST, 3 hours 23 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA
405 AM EDT TUE JUL 8 2003

PER LATEST RADAR DATA, COUPLED WITH RUC, ETA, GFS, THUNDERSTORM
COMPLEXES WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE ACROSS THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY THE NEXT
FEW DAYS. IN THE SHORT TERM, THERE IS A CURRENT COMPLEX AFFECTING THE
AREA THIS MORNING, ANOTHER COMPLEX IS LIKELY TONIGHT, AND THURSDAY
NIGHT. ...GIORDANO

.PBZ...
MD...FLOOD WATCH TODAY AND TONIGHT.
OH...FLOOD WATCH TODAY AND TONIGHT.
     SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH TIL 9 AM TODAY.
PA...FLOOD WATCH TODAY AND TONIGHT.
     SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH TIL 9 AM TODAY.
WV...FLOOD WATCH TODAY AND TONIGHT.
     SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH TIL 9 AM TODAY.

Hazardous weather outlook, Jul 8, 4:18 AM EST, 2 hours 10 minutes before

MDZ001-OHZ039>041-048>050-057>059-068-069-PAZ007>009-013>016-020>023-
029>032-WVZ001>004-012-021>023-041-080915-

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA
518 AM EDT TUE JUL 8 2003

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA
EAST CENTRAL OHIO...NORTHERN WEST VIRGINIA AND
GARRETT COUNTY MARYLAND.

.DAY ONE...TODAY

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH EXPECTS THUNDERSTORMS TO POSE
SEVERAL HAZARDS TODAY AND TONIGHT. THUNDERSTORM WINDS CAN GO OVER 60
MPH AND CAUSE DAMAGE, HAIL CAN BE LARGER THAN 1 INCH, AND THERE CAN BE
PERIODS OF CONTINUOUS CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING. THUNDERSTORM RAINS
THAT CAN EXCEED 1.5 INCHES IN LESS THAN 2 HOURS WILL CAUSE FLOODING
ALONG SMALL STREAMS AND IN POOR DRAINAGE AREAS.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH EXPECTS THUNDERSTORMS TO CONTINUE
TO POSE A THREAT OF HAZARDOUS WEATHER INTO AT LEAST THURSDAY, IF NOT
FRIDAY. THUNDERSTORM WINDS CAN GO OVER 60 MPH AND CAUSE DAMAGE, HAIL
CAN BE LARGER THAN 1 INCH, AND THERE CAN BE PERIODS OF CONTINUOUS CLOUD
TO GROUND LIGHTNING. THUNDERSTORM RAINS THAT CAN EXCEED 1.5 INCHES IN
LESS THAN 2 HOURS WILL CAUSE FLOODING ALONG SMALL STREAMS AND IN POOR
DRAINAGE AREAS.

.SPOTTER CALL TO ACTION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL BE LIKELY.

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Jul 8, 4:45 AM EST, 1 hour 43 minutes before

MDZ001-OHZ039>041-048>050-057>059-068-069-PAZ007>009-013>016-020>023-
029>032-WVZ001>004-012-021>023-041-081100-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA
545 AM EDT TUE JUL 8 2003

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH AND FLOOD WATCH UPDATE...

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH SAYS A LINE OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS
WILL BE CROSSING EAST CENTRAL OHIO UNTIL AROUND 6:30 THIS MORNING.
THESE STORMS WILL NEXT HIT NORTHERN WEST VIRGINIA, WESTERN
PENNSYLVANIA, AND WESTERN MARYLAND, DURING THE MORNING COMMUTER RUSH,
BETWEEN 6:30 AND 8:30.

FOR ALL THESE AREAS, THIS WILL BE THE SECOND OR THIRD BATCH OF STORMS
TO HIT, SINCE LATE LAST NIGHT. NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH SAYS
THE PITTSBURGH METRO AREA WILL GET MOST OF THE STORMS BETWEEN 6:30 AND
7:30 AM.

BEWARE OF DAMAGING THUNDERSTORM WIND GUSTS OF OVER 60 MPH, HAIL LARGER
THAN 1 INCH IN SIZE, AND A 20 MINUTE PERIOD OF CONTINUOUS CLOUD TO
GROUND LIGHTNING. VISIBILITIES CAN GO NEAR ZERO WITH THE HEAVY RAIN.
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH SAYS ANY LOCATION GETTING MORE THAN
1.5 INCHES OF RAIN WITHIN A 2 HOUR TIME FRAME WILL BEGIN TO SEE
FLOODING ALONG SMALL STREAMS AND IN POOR DRAINAGE AREAS.

Local storm report, Jul 8, 4:59 AM EST, 1 hour 29 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH, PA
559 AM EDT TUE JUL 8 2003

TIME(EDT)  .....CITY LOCATION.....STATE   ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

0500 AM    WELLSVILLE                OH   WIND DAMAGE
07/08/03   COLUMBIANA                     TREES DOWN. REPORTED BY
                                          LAW ENFORCEMENT

0530 AM    NEW CUMBERLAND            WV   WIND DAMAGE
07/08/03   HANCOCK                        TREES DOWN. REPORTED BY
                                          LAW ENFORCEMENT

0530 AM    NEWELL                    WV   WIND DAMAGE
07/08/03   HANCOCK                        TREE DOWN. REPORTED BY LAW
                                          ENFORCEMENT

0555 AM    SALESVILLE                OHIO   WIND DAMAGE
07/08/03   GUERNSEY                       LARGE BRANCHES DOWN.
                                          REPORTED BY PUBLIC

Special weather statement, Jul 8, 5:50 AM EST, 38 minutes before

PAZ007-008-013-014-020-021-029-031-WVZ001>004-012-021-022-081130-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA
650 AM EDT TUE JUL 8 2003

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH AND FLOOD WATCH UPDATE...

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH SAYS THE LINE OF STRONG TO SEVERE
THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE CROSSING NORTHERN WEST VIRGINIA AND WESTERN
PENNSYLVANIA DURING THE MORNING COMMUTER RUSH. THE STORMS WILL CROSS
INTERSTATE 79 BY 7:30. THIS INCLUDES THE PITTSBURGH METRO AREA, BY 8:00
AM.

THERE CAN BE DAMAGING WIND GUSTS, LARGE HAIL, CONTINUOUS LIGHTNING, AND
BLINDING RAIN. LOCATIONS GETTING MORE THAN 1.5 INCHES OF RAIN CAN GET
FLOODING, PARTICULARLY IN LOW LYING AREAS  HARD HIT FROM HEAVY RAIN
EARLIER THIS MORNING.

WHEN THUNDERSTORMS THREATEN, GO INSIDE A STURDY BUILDING. FOR BLINDING
RAIN, PULL OVER UNTIL YOU CAN SEE. ALSO, NEVER DRIVE THROUGH FLOOD
WATERS.

Special weather statement, Jul 8, 5:56 AM EST, 32 minutes before

MDZ001-PAZ009-015-016-022-023-030-032-WVZ023-041-081215-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA
656 AM EDT TUE JUL 8 2003

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH AND FLOOD WATCH UPDATE...

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH SAYS THE LINE OF STRONG TO SEVERE
THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE CROSSING NORTHERN WEST VIRGINIA MOUNTAINS AND
WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA DURING THE MORNING COMMUTER RUSH. THE STORMS WILL
CROSS INTERSTATE 79 BY 7:30, AND MOVE PAST BROOKVILLE, INDIANA,
GREENSBURG, AND CONNELLSVILLE, IN PENNSYLVANIA, AND INTO THE LAUREL
HIGHLANDS, BY 8:30 AM. THE STORMS WILL HAVE PASSED THROUGH KINGWOOD AND
PARSONS, IN THE WEST VIRGINIA MOUNTAINS, AND OAKLAND, MARYLAND, BY 9:00
AM.

THERE CAN BE DAMAGING WIND GUSTS, LARGE HAIL, CONTINUOUS LIGHTNING, AND
BLINDING RAIN. LOCATIONS GETTING MORE THAN 1.5 INCHES OF RAIN CAN GET
FLOODING, PARTICULARLY IN LOW LYING AREAS  HARD HIT FROM HEAVY RAIN
EARLIER THIS MORNING.

WHEN THUNDERSTORMS THREATEN, GO INSIDE A STURDY BUILDING. FOR BLINDING
RAIN, PULL OVER UNTIL YOU CAN SEE. ALSO, NEVER DRIVE THROUGH FLOOD
WATERS.

Local storm report, Jul 8, 6:07 AM EST, 21 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH, PA
707 AM EDT TUE JUL 8 2003

TIME(EDT)  .....CITY LOCATION.....STATE   ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

0622 AM    ROGERS                    OH   WIND DAMAGE
07/08/03   COLUMBIANA                     TREES DOWN. REPORTED BY
                                          PUBLIC

0620 AM    BEAVER FALLS              PA   WIND DAMAGE
07/08/03   BEAVER                         LARGE BRANCHES DOWN.
                                          REPORTED BY PUBLIC

0600 AM    NEW PHILADELPHIA          OH   WIND DAMAGE
07/08/03   TUSCARAWAS                     TREES DOWN. REPORTED BY
                                          LAW ENFORCEMENT

0620 AM    MOUNT EPHRAIM             OHIO   WIND DAMAGE
07/08/03   NOBLE                          TREES DOWN. REPORTED BY
                                          PUBLIC

0655 AM    PORTERSVILLE              PA   WIND DAMAGE
07/08/03   BUTLER                         TREE DOWN. REPORTED BY
                                          PUBLIC

0600 AM    HOMEWORTH                 OH   WIND DAMAGE
07/08/03   COLUMBIANA                     TREES DOWN. REPORTED BY
                                          LAW ENFORCEMENT

0600 AM    MINERVA                   OH   WIND DAMAGE
07/08/03   CARROLL                        TREE DOWN. REPORTED BY LAW
                                          ENFORCEMENT

0600 AM    ZANESVILLE                OHIO   WIND DAMAGE
07/08/03   MUSKINGUM                      TREES DOWN. REPORTED BY
                                          LAW ENFORCEMENT

0600 AM    ADAMSVILLE                OH   WIND DAMAGE
07/08/03   MUSKINGUM                      POWER LINES DOWN. REPORTED
                                          BY LAW ENFORCEMENT

0600 AM    DRESDEN                   OH   WIND DAMAGE
07/08/03   MUSKINGUM                      TREES AND POWER LINES
                                          DOWN. REPORTED BY LAW
                                          ENFORCEMENT

Local storm report, Jul 8, 6:21 AM EST, 7 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH, PA
721 AM EDT TUE JUL 8 2003

TIME(EDT)  .....CITY LOCATION.....STATE   ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

0704 AM    MORGANTOWN                WV   FLASH FLOODS
07/08/03   MONONGALIA                     ROAD FLOODING. REPORTED BY
                                          PUBLIC

0647 PM    BUTLER                    PA   .75 INCH HAIL
07/08/03   BUTLER                         REPORTED BY
PUBLIC

0642 AM    SALEM                     OH   WIND DAMAGE
07/08/03   COLUMBIANA                     TREES DOWN. REPORTED BY
                                          PUBLIC

The radar

The Pittsburgh radar (KPBZ), 23 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 11:28 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Allegheny

When: July 8, 6:28 AM EST
Where: Allegheny County, Pittsburgh
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $2,000
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates: 40.433, -79.983

Building damaged by wind.

What these are

Thunderstorm Wind: Winds from a thunderstorm of 50 knots (58 mph) or more, or lower winds that caused damage or casualties. Measured gusts are marked MG, estimated EG.

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

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Pennsylvania in 2003 Every state in 2003 This day in weather history Warnings in Pennsylvania, July 2003

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: 5369964.