A slow moving cold front combined with very unstable air produced scattered severe thunderstorms across eastern Ohio, western Pennsylvania, and northern West Virginia.
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 slow moving cold front combined with very unstable air produced scattered severe thunderstorms across eastern Ohio, western Pennsylvania, and northern West Virginia.
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 20, 5:10 AM EST, 7 hours 20 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA 610 AM EDT SUN JUL 20 2008 .SYNOPSIS... WARM AND HUMID CONDITIONS WILL CONTINUE INTO MONDAY. A SLOW MOVING COLD FRONT WILL BRING SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS TODAY INTO TUESDAY WITH DRYER AND SEASONABLE CONDITIONS FOR MIDWEEK. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/... HEIGHTS ALOFT WILL BEGIN TO FALL TODAY AS SHORTWAVE BEGINS TO CARVE TROF IN THE EASTERN U.S. MCS ACROSS NRN IL WILL MOVE EAST THIS MORNING WITH EITHER REMNANTS OF COMPLEX OR MCV HELPING INCREASE SHOWERS AND STORMS THIS AFTERNOON. FRONT WILL EDGE TOWARD REGION WITH CHANCE POPS TONIGHT. CONTINUED HUMID TODAY BUT WITH MORE CLOUDS SHOULD BE A COUPLE DEGREES COOLER THAN SATURDAY. && .SHORT TERM /MONDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/... CHANCE POPS FOR THUNDERSTORMS IN FORECAST FOR MONDAY THROUGH TUESDAY AS FRONT SLOWLY PUSHES ACROSS OHIO VALLY AND SHORTWAVES MOVING THROUGH DEVELOPING UPPER TROF/CLOSED LOW PRODUCE MCS. TEMPERATURES WILL TREND BACK TOWARD NORMAL THROUGH PERIOD. SURFACE HIGH WILL BRING DRY AND SEASONABLE CONDITIONS WEDNESDAY. && .LONG TERM /WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY/... MODELS IN GOOD AGREEMENT ON DRY SURFACE HIGH PUSHING FRONT WELL SOUTH OF REGION FOR THURSDAY INTO FRIDAY. LOW CHANCE POPS WITH LOW CONFIDENCE IN NEXT SYSTEM APPROACHING LATE WEEK INTO NEXT WEEKEND. TEMPERATURES NEAR NORMAL. && .AVIATION /10Z SUNDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/... A LINE OF SHWRS WITH AN ISOLATED TSTM OR TWO IS CROSSING WESTERN PA. THIS LINE WILL AFFECT TERMINALS FKL/DUJ/BVI...POSSIBLY AS FAR SOUTH AS PIT/AGC THROUGH 12-13Z. CONDITIONS WILL GENERALLY REMAIN VFR WITH THIS LINE...WITH PERHAPS AN ISOLATED POCKET OF MVFR IN THE HEAVIEST SHWR. AREAS TO THE SOUTH WILL EXPERIENCE PATCHY MVFR EARLY THIS MORNING IN HAZE/LIGHT FOG. FOR LATER TODAY...LOW PRESSURE/A COLD FRONT WILL NUDGE SE THIS AFTN...WITH MVFR CONDITIONS PSBL IN SCATTERED SHWRS/TSTMS...ESPECIALLY ACROSS TERMINALS FKL/DUJ. SCATTERED SHWRS/TSTMS AND AREAS OF MVFR/ISOLATED IFR WILL CONTINUE THROUGH TUESDAY AS THE COLD FRONT SLOWLY CROSSES THE REGION. A MID LEVEL TROUGH OF LOW PRESSURE WILL EXIT THE REGION BY MIDWEEK...WITH DRY/VFR CONDITIONS FOR WEDNESDAY/THURSDAY. && .PBZ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... MD...NONE. OH...NONE. PA...NONE. WV...NONE. &&
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA 1245 PM EDT SUN JUL 20 2008 OHZ040-041-049-050-PAZ007>009-013>016-020>023-029-030-WVZ001>003- 211645- CARROLL-COLUMBIANA-HARRISON-JEFFERSON OH-MERCER-VENANGO-FOREST- LAWRENCE-BUTLER-CLARION-JEFFERSON PA-BEAVER-ALLEGHENY-ARMSTRONG- INDIANA-WASHINGTON-WESTMORELAND-HANCOCK-BROOKE-OHIO- 1245 PM EDT SUN JUL 20 2008 ...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 708 IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR EAST CENTRAL OHIO...NORTHWEST PENNSYLVANIA...SOUTHWEST PENNSYLVANIA...WEST CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA AND NORTHERN PANHANDLE OF WEST VIRGINIA. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH. SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE THIS AFTERNOON...WITH THE MAIN THREAT BEING DAMAGING WINDS. LARGE HAIL WILL ALSO BE POSSIBLE. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY A COLD FRONT WILL SLOWLY MOVE ACROSS THE AREA MONDAY WITH A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER CONDITIONS ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES. MDZ001-OHZ039-048-057>059-068-069-PAZ031-032-WVZ004-012-021>023-041- 211645- GARRETT-TUSCARAWAS-COSHOCTON-MUSKINGUM-GUERNSEY-BELMONT-NOBLE-MONROE- GREENE-FAYETTE-MARSHALL-WETZEL-MARION-MONONGALIA-PRESTON-TUCKER- 1245 PM EDT SUN JUL 20 2008 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR WESTERN MARYLAND...EAST CENTRAL OHIO...SOUTHWEST PENNSYLVANIA...NORTHERN WEST VIRGINIA AND NORTHERN PANHANDLE OF WEST VIRGINIA. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT AS A COLD FRONT MOVES EAST TOWARD THE REGION THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY A COLD FRONT WILL SLOWLY MOVE ACROSS THE AREA MONDAY WITH A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER CONDITIONS ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA 1125 AM EDT SUN JUL 20 2008 OHZ039-040-048-049-201630- CARROLL OH-COSHOCTON OH-HARRISON OH-TUSCARAWAS OH- 1125 AM EDT SUN JUL 20 2008 ...THUNDERSTORMS... THUNDERSTORMS TO MOVE THROUGH THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES... HARRISON...COSHOCTON...TUSCARAWAS AND CARROLL... AT 1121 AM EDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR IN PITTSBURGH INDICATED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS 24 MILES WEST OF LAYLAND...OR ABOUT 21 MILES NORTHWEST OF NEW GUILFORD...MOVING EAST AT 40 MPH. THESE STORMS WILL BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING WIND GUSTS TO 45 MPH...AND SMALL HAIL. SOME LOCATIONS THAT WILL BE IMPACTED BY THESE STORMS INCLUDE... BAKERSVILLE...BALTIC...BLISSFIELD...BOLIVAR...BOWERSTON... CLENDENING...DELLROY...DENNISON...DOVER...FREEPORT...GILMORE... GNADENHUTTEN...LAYLAND...LEESVILLE LAKE PARK AND MINERAL CITY KEEP AN EYE TO THE SKY AND MOVE TO A SAFE PLACE IF THUNDERSTORMS APPROACH. PLEASE REPORT HAIL...STRONG WINDS OR WIND DAMAGE TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BY CALLING TOLL FREE...1-877-633-6772. INTENSE LIGHTNING IS REPORTED WITH THIS STORM. IF OUTDOORS...STAY AWAY FROM ISOLATED HIGH OBJECTS SUCH AS TREES. MOVE INDOORS IF POSSIBLE. WHEN INDOORS...STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS AND DOORS AND AVOID USING TELEPHONES UNLESS IT IS AN EMERGENCY. TRY TO UNPLUG UNNECESSARY ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES BEFORE THE THUNDERSTORM APPROACHES.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA 1239 PM EDT SUN JUL 20 2008 OHZ039>041-049-050-WVZ003-201745- CARROLL OH-COLUMBIANA OH-HARRISON OH-JEFFERSON OH-OHIO WV-TUSCARAWAS OH- 1239 PM EDT SUN JUL 20 2008 ...THUNDERSTORMS... THUNDERSTORMS TO MOVE THROUGH THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES... COLUMBIANA...HARRISON...JEFFERSON...TUSCARAWAS...CARROLL AND OHIO... AT 1237 PM EDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR IN PITTSBURGH INDICATED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS 4 MILES SOUTHEAST OF SUGARCREEK...MOVING EAST AT 49 MPH. THESE STORMS WILL BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING WIND GUSTS TO 50 MPH...AND SMALL HAIL. SOME LOCATIONS THAT WILL BE IMPACTED BY THESE STORMS INCLUDE... ADENA...AUGUSTA...BERGHOLZ...BOWERSTON...CADIZ...CARROLLTON... DELLROY...DENNISON...DILLONVALE...DOVER...EAST ROCHESTER... GNADENHUTTEN...GUILFORD LAKE STATE PARK...HAMMONDSVILLE AND HOPEDALE KEEP AN EYE TO THE SKY AND MOVE TO A SAFE PLACE IF THUNDERSTORMS APPROACH. PLEASE REPORT HAIL...STRONG WINDS OR WIND DAMAGE TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BY CALLING TOLL FREE...1-877-633-6772. A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 800 PM EDT SUNDAY EVENING FOR EAST CENTRAL OHIO AND WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA AND NORTHERN WEST VIRGINIA.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA 103 PM EDT SUN JUL 20 2008 OHZ039>041-049-050-058-059-PAZ020-WVZ001-002-201800- BEAVER PA-BELMONT OH-BROOKE WV-CARROLL OH-COLUMBIANA OH-GUERNSEY OH-HANCOCK WV-HARRISON OH-JEFFERSON OH-TUSCARAWAS OH- 103 PM EDT SUN JUL 20 2008 ...THUNDERSTORMS... THUNDERSTORMS TO MOVE THROUGH THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES... COLUMBIANA...BELMONT...GUERNSEY...HARRISON...JEFFERSON... TUSCARAWAS...CARROLL...BEAVER...BROOKE AND HANCOCK... AT 102 PM EDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR IN PITTSBURGH INDICATED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 4 MILES NORTHEAST OF EAST ROCHESTER TO 3 MILES SOUTHEAST OF GILMORE...MOVING EAST AT 40 MPH. THESE STORMS WILL BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING WIND GUSTS TO 50 MPH...ALONG WITH SMALL HAIL. SOME LOCATIONS THAT WILL BE IMPACTED BY THESE STORMS INCLUDE... BLACKHAWK...ESTHER...GEORGETOWN...GLASGOW...OHIOVILLE...ROWTOWN... SMITHS FERRY...ADENA...ALLEDONIA...AUGUSTA...BARKCAMP STATE PARK... BEAVER CREEK STATE PARK...BERGHOLZ...BETHESDA AND BOWERSTON KEEP AN EYE TO THE SKY AND MOVE TO A SAFE PLACE IF THUNDERSTORMS APPROACH. PLEASE REPORT HAIL...STRONG WINDS OR WIND DAMAGE TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BY CALLING TOLL FREE...1-877-633-6772. A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 800 PM EDT SUNDAY EVENING FOR EAST CENTRAL OHIO AND WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA AND NORTHERN WEST VIRGINIA.
The Pittsburgh radar (KPBZ), 72 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 17:28 UTC.
2 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Emergency management reported large tree down across U.S. 22 in Cadiz.
Emergency management and a trained spotter reported trees down in Morristown, structural damage to the roof of a house and a barn near SR 149 southeast of Morristown, and trees and power lines down south of Belmont.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Ohio in 2008Every state in 2008This day in weather historyWarnings in Ohio, July 2008
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: 126131, 126134.