A slow moving cold front produced scattered severe thunderstorms across eastern Ohio, northern West Virginia, and western Pennsylvania. A weak EF0 tornado touched down in Butler county Pennsylvania in a heavily wooded area with damage to trees.
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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 produced scattered severe thunderstorms across eastern Ohio, northern West Virginia, and western Pennsylvania. A weak EF0 tornado touched down in Butler county Pennsylvania in a heavily wooded area with damage to trees.
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 22, 1:04 PM EST, 6 hours 16 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA 204 PM EDT TUE JUL 22 2008 .SYNOPSIS... AN APPROACHING COLD FRONT WILL RESULT IN SCATTERED TO NUMEROUS SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS INTO WEDNESDAY. HIGH PRESSURE WILL BUILD INTO THE REGION FOR LATE IN THE WEEK...BRINGING DRY AND SEASONABLY COOL CONDITIONS. THE NEXT FRONTAL SYSTEM WILL IMPACT THE AREA OVER THE WEEKEND. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH WEDNESDAY/... SCATTERED SHOWERS/ISOLATED TSTMS ARE DEVELOPING ACROSS NORTHEAST OH/NORTHWEST PA ALONG A LAKE INDUCED BOUNDARY...OTHERWISE THE NEXT WAVE IS APPROACHING FROM THE WESTERN GREAT LAKES. THIS WAVE WILL ROTATE ACROSS THE AREA EARLY THIS EVENING ACROSS EASTERN OHIO...AND ACROSS WESTERN PA EASTWARD LATE THIS EVENING/OVERNIGHT. AS HAS BEEN THE CASE THE LATE COUPLE OF DAYS...THE POTENTIAL FOR STORMS TO PRODUCE LOCALLY STRONG WINDS WILL CONTINUE. NAM/GFS/SREF ALL DEPICT A SLOWER EXIT OF THE FORCING...ESPECIALLY ALONG THE SE RIDGES...THUS WILL KEEP HIGH END CHC POPS THROUGH MOST OF WEDNESDAY THERE...WITH DIMINISHING PRECIP COVERAGE FURTHER NORTH AND WEST. NOTICEABLY COOLER AND DRIER CONDITIONS WILL WORK IN ACROSS NORTHERN SECTIONS WEDNESDAY WITH HIGHS IN THE MID 70S WITH DEWPOINTS FALLING INTO THE 50S. && .SHORT TERM /WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT/... RESIDUAL ISOLATED SHWRS WILL END WEDNESDAY EVENING ACROSS THE RIDGES AS THE UPPER LOW EXITS TO THE EAST. HIGH PRESSURE WILL BUILD IN FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE WORK WEEK...BRINGING DRY AND COOLER CONDITIONS...WITH MOST LOCATIONS IN THE 50S WEDNESDAY NIGHT AND THURSDAY NIGHT. && .LONG TERM /SATURDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/... MEDIUM RANGE MODELS CONTINUE TO BE IN DECENT AGREEMENT BRINGING THE NEXT FRONTAL BOUNDARY ACROSS THE REGION SATURDAY...WITH PERHAPS A SECONDARY FEATURE FOR SUNDAY. WILL KEEP CHANCE POPS FOR SAT/SUN. SOME DIFFERENCES FOR EARLY NEXT WEEK...WITH THE GFS SHOWING YET ANOTHER WAVE CROSSING THE AREA...AND THE ECMWF SHOWING THE FEATURE DEPARTING TO THE SOUTH. WILL KEEP MINIMAL RESIDUAL CHANCES FOR MONDAY...WITH DRY CONDITIONS FOR TUESDAY. NEAR NORMAL TEMPERATURES WILL PREVAIL FOR THE LONG TERM. && .AVIATION /18Z TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/... BLEND OF MOST RECENT RUC NAM AND SREF MODEL RUNS SUGGEST A BAND OF SCATTERED TO NUMEROUS THUNDERSTORMS CAN MOVE THROUGH THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY BETWEEN 19Z AND 02Z. A SECOND BAND OF SHOWERS AND SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS CAN MOVE THROUGH THIS AREA LATE TONIGHT. RECENT RADAR DATA SHOWING ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS SPROUTING WITHIN THE LAKE ERIE BREEZE ZONE TO THE VICINITY OF THE I-80 CORRIDOR SUPPORTS THE CONTENTION OF THE INITIAL THUNDERSTORM BAND. SREF DEEP LAYER BULK SHEAR AND CAPE VALUES SUPPORT SPC THINKING THE STORMS MAY DEVELOP SEVERE CHARACTERISTICS. SO THUNDERSTORM GUSTS NEAR 30 KTS INCLUDED WITH 3-HOUR WINDOW OF THUNDERSTORM ONSET ALONG WITH MVFR. THIS WILL BE MONITORED FOR UPWARD ADJUSTMENT AS NEEDED. THE DEGREE OF DESTABILIZATION WITH THE FRONTAL BAND OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL DEPEND ON SEVERAL FACTORS THAT INCLUDE HOW MUCH CAPE IS USED TO SUPPORT PROPOSED INITIAL BAND AND EXACT TIMING OF SLOW COLD FRONTAL PASSAGE. SO AT THIS TIME HAVE FORECASTED A PERIOD OF SHOWERS LATE TONIGHT ALBEIT THERE CAN ALSO BE SUFFICIENT RESIDUAL LIFT AND INSTABILITY TO GENERATE SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS AND MVFR. WITH THE EXPECTED RAIN MOISTENING OF THE SURFACE LAYER...HAVE FORECASTED LATE NIGHT FOG WITH WIDESPREAD MVFR AND SCATTERED IFR. BY WEDNESDAY NIGHT...EXPECT THE SURFACE LAYER TO SUFFICIENTLY DRY TO END SHOWER CHANCES TO INDUCE WIDESPREAD VFR. BASED ON BLEND OF SREF AND GEFS MODEL RUNS EXPECT VFR TO BE PREVALENT THURSDAY AND FRIDAY WITH ONLY IFR POSSIBILITY IN ISOLATED EARLY MORNING FOG PATCHES. LATEST GEFS MODEL RUN SHOWS ANOTHER FRONT AFFECTING THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY SATURDAY AND SUNDAY RAISING THE CHANCES OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS AND AT LEAST MVFR CONDITIONS. && .PBZ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... MD...NONE. OH...NONE. PA...NONE. WV...NONE. &&
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA 915 AM EDT TUE JUL 22 2008 MDZ001-OHZ039>041-048>050-057>059-068-069-PAZ007>009-013>016-020>023- 029>032-WVZ001>004-012-021>023-041-231315- GARRETT-TUSCARAWAS-CARROLL-COLUMBIANA-COSHOCTON-HARRISON- JEFFERSON OH-MUSKINGUM-GUERNSEY-BELMONT-NOBLE-MONROE-MERCER-VENANGO- FOREST-LAWRENCE-BUTLER-CLARION-JEFFERSON PA-BEAVER-ALLEGHENY- ARMSTRONG-INDIANA-WASHINGTON-WESTMORELAND-GREENE-FAYETTE-HANCOCK- BROOKE-OHIO-MARSHALL-WETZEL-MARION-MONONGALIA-PRESTON-TUCKER- 915 AM EDT TUE JUL 22 2008 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR WESTERN MARYLAND...EAST CENTRAL OHIO...NORTHWEST PENNSYLVANIA...SOUTHWEST PENNSYLVANIA...WEST CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA...NORTHERN WEST VIRGINIA AND NORTHERN PANHANDLE OF WEST VIRGINIA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS TODAY AND TONIGHT. THE BEST CHANCE OF SUCH STORMS WILL BE LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT. THE MAIN HAZARD WILL BE DAMAGING WIND. LARGE HAIL IS ALSO POSSIBLE. THUNDERSTORMS CAN ALSO HAVE HEAVY RAIN. LOCATIONS GETTING MORE THAN 1.5 INCHES IN LESS THAN 2 HOURS MAY SEE FLOODING WHERE DRAINAGE IS POOR AND ALONG SMALL STREAMS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .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 326 PM EDT TUE JUL 22 2008 PAZ007-008-013-014-222030- BUTLER PA-LAWRENCE PA-MERCER PA-VENANGO PA- 326 PM EDT TUE JUL 22 2008 ...THUNDERSTORMS... THUNDERSTORMS TO MOVE THROUGH THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES... BUTLER...VENANGO...MERCER AND LAWRENCE... AT 323 PM EDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR IN PITTSBURGH INDICATED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS 10 MILES SOUTHWEST OF FARRELL...MOVING EAST AT 36 MPH. SOME LOCATIONS THAT WILL BE IMPACTED BY THESE STORMS INCLUDE... CLINTONVILLE...EAU CLAIRE...ENTERPRISE...FARRELL...GROVE CITY... HERMITAGE...KENNERDELL...MERCER...MOUNT PLEASANT...NEW WILMINGTON...OAKLAND...SHARON...AMSTERDAM...ARMSTRONG AND ATWELLS CROSSING THESE STORMS ARE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING HALF INCH HAIL...WIND GUSTS TO 40 MPH...AND INTENSE LIGHTNING. 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.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA 515 PM EDT TUE JUL 22 2008 PAZ014>016-022-222215- ARMSTRONG PA-BUTLER PA-CLARION PA-JEFFERSON PA- 515 PM EDT TUE JUL 22 2008 ...THUNDERSTORMS... THUNDERSTORMS TO MOVE THROUGH THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES... ARMSTRONG...BUTLER...JEFFERSON AND CLARION... AT 513 PM EDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR IN PITTSBURGH INDICATED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS 4 MILES NORTHEAST OF HOOKER...MOVING EAST AT 36 MPH. SOME LOCATIONS THAT WILL BE IMPACTED BY THESE STORMS INCLUDE... BRADYS BEND...BROOKVILLE...CHICORA...DORA...EAST BRADY... GREENVILLE...HOOKER...LIMESTONE...NEW BETHLEHEM...PUNXSUTAWNEY... REYNOLDSVILLE...RIMERSBURG...SUMMERVILLE...ADAMS AND ADRIAN MINES THESE STORMS ARE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING HALF INCH HAIL AND WIND GUSTS TO 40 MPH. 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.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA 550 PM EDT TUE JUL 22 2008 PAZ007-008-222245- MERCER PA-VENANGO PA- 550 PM EDT TUE JUL 22 2008 ...THUNDERSTORMS... THUNDERSTORMS TO MOVE THROUGH THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES... VENANGO AND MERCER... AT 545 PM EDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR IN PITTSBURGH INDICATED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS 18 MILES NORTHWEST OF SHARON...MOVING EAST AT 36 MPH. SOME LOCATIONS THAT WILL BE IMPACTED BY THESE STORMS INCLUDE... FARRELL...FREDONIA...HERMITAGE...KENNERDELL...MAURICE K GODDARD STATE PARK...MOUNT PLEASANT...OAKLAND...OIL CITY...POLK...SENECA... SHARON...STONEBORO...SUGARCREEK...UNIONTOWN AND AJAX THESE STORMS ARE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING HALF INCH HAIL...WIND GUSTS TO 40 MPH...AND INTENSE LIGHTNING. 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.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA 602 PM EDT TUE JUL 22 2008 PAZ015-016-022-023-222300- ARMSTRONG PA-CLARION PA-INDIANA PA-JEFFERSON PA- 602 PM EDT TUE JUL 22 2008 ...THUNDERSTORMS... THUNDERSTORMS TO MOVE THROUGH THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES... ARMSTRONG...INDIANA...JEFFERSON AND CLARION... AT 559 PM EDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR IN PITTSBURGH INDICATED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS 5 MILES WEST OF NEW BETHLEHEM...MOVING EAST AT 36 MPH. SOME LOCATIONS THAT WILL BE IMPACTED BY THESE STORMS INCLUDE... DAYTON...DORA...MUFF...NEW BETHLEHEM...PUNXSUTAWNEY... REYNOLDSVILLE...RIMERSBURG...SMICKSBURG...SUMMERVILLE...ADRIAN MINES...ALBION...ALCOLA...ANITA...BARNES AND BATTLE HOLLOW THESE STORMS ARE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING HALF INCH HAIL...WIND GUSTS TO 40 MPH...AND INTENSE LIGHTNING. 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.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA 650 PM EDT TUE JUL 22 2008 OHZ041-PAZ013-014-020-222345- BEAVER PA-BUTLER PA-COLUMBIANA OH-LAWRENCE PA- 650 PM EDT TUE JUL 22 2008 ...THUNDERSTORMS... THUNDERSTORMS TO MOVE THROUGH THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES... COLUMBIANA...BEAVER...BUTLER AND LAWRENCE... AT 645 PM EDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR IN PITTSBURGH INDICATED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS 4 MILES NORTH OF LEETONIA...MOVING EAST AT 36 MPH. SOME LOCATIONS THAT WILL BE IMPACTED BY THESE STORMS INCLUDE... BUTLER...ELLWOOD CITY...HARLANSBURG...MCCONNELLS MILL...MORAINE STATE PARK...NEW CASTLE...SLIPPERY ROCK...ALTMAN...ANNANDALE... ARMSTRONG...ATWELLS CROSSING...BELLTON...BELMAR PARK...BIG BEAVER AND BOVARD THESE STORMS ARE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING HALF INCH HAIL...WIND GUSTS TO 40 MPH...AND INTENSE LIGHTNING. 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.
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA
700 PM EDT TUE JUL 22 2008
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0920 PM TSTM WND DMG 6 E GREENSBORO 39.80N 79.81W
07/21/2008 FAYETTE PA EMERGENCY MNGR
DAMAGE TO STRICKLAND ESTATES MOBILE HOME PARK ON SR 119
NEAR SMITHFIELD. EXTENSIVE DAMAGE WITH HOMES PUSHED OFF
BLOCK FOUNDATIONS AND ROOFS OFF OF HOUSES.
&&
RKANEThe Pittsburgh radar (KPBZ), 53 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 00:18 UTC.
1 thunderstorm wind, 1 tornado. Local standard time, as filed.
Emergency management reported trees down in New Castle.
An EF0 tornado briefly touched down in a heavily wooded area just north of Prospect. NWS Doppler radar, eye witness reports and video evidence show the tornado touches down briefly before lifting back up. The area of touchdown was inaccessible but likely snapped or toppled several trees near the Moraine State Park.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Pennsylvania in 2008Every state in 2008This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for Pennsylvania, 2008Warnings in Pennsylvania, 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: 125412, 125410.