A slow moving cold front combined with a strong upper level system produced scattered severe thunderstorms across southeast Ohio, western Pennsylvania, northern West Virginia, and Garrett county Maryland. One severe thunderstorm produced an EF0 tornado in Preston county, 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 a strong upper level system produced scattered severe thunderstorms across southeast Ohio, western Pennsylvania, northern West Virginia, and Garrett county Maryland. One severe thunderstorm produced an EF0 tornado in Preston county, West Virginia. Heavy rains also produced some road flooding in Garrett county Maryland.
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 May 31, 10:32 AM EST, 1 hour 8 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA 1132 AM EDT SAT MAY 31 2008 .SYNOPSIS... A COLD FRONT MOVING THROUGH THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY TODAY WILL BRING THUNDERSTORMS THAT CAN BECOME SEVERE. MIDWEST WEAK HIGH PRESSURE WILL BRING DRYING SUNDAY INTO TUESDAY. && .NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 PM THIS EVENING/... HAVE MADE UPDATES IN COLLABORATION WITH SPC AND NEW TORNADO WATCH FOR COUNTIES SOUTH OF I-70 THROUGH 5 PM. EXPECT SURFACE LAYER TO BEGIN WARMING SUFFICIENTLY TO INITIATE NEW INSTABILITY WHILE VERTICAL WIND SHEAR ENVIRONMENT REMAINS FAVORABLE FOR SEVERE DEVELOPMENT AND ISOLATED TORNADOES. && .SHORT TERM /6 PM THIS EVENING THROUGH MONDAY/... KEPT CHANCE POPS FOR LINGERING SHOWERS AND STORMS EARLY TONIGHT AS SYSTEM DEPARTS. LOWER LEVELS WILL DRY OUT CONSIDERABLY LATE TONIGHT AND SUNDAY...BUT INSTABILITY WILL REMAIN WITH COOLING ALOFT. SO WILL KEEP SLIGHT CHANCE POPS FOR SHOWERS SUNDAY AFTERNOON. && .LONG TERM /MONDAY NIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY/... NW FLOW/FLAT RIDGING WILL PREVAIL FOR SUNDAY NIGHT/MONDAY FOR DRY AND SEASONABLE CONDITIONS. MEDIUM RANGE MODELS ARE NOT SHOWING VERY GOOD RUN TO RUN CONTINUITY...AND ARE NOT IN AGREEMENT HANDLING THE FLOW FOR MIDWEEK...WITH THE ECMWF BRINGING A FRONTAL SYSTEM ACROSS WEDNESDAY...WHILE GFS BRINGS SYSTEMS ACROSS TUESDAY AND THURSDAY. GIVEN THE ABOVE FACTORS...WILL USE SOME CHANCE OF PRECIP FROM TUESDAY THROUGH THURSDAY...WITH DRYING FOR FRIDAY. TEMPERATURES WILL BE NEAR NORMAL DURING THE DAY WITH MILD NIGHTS WITH CLOUD COVER THROUGH THURSDAY...WITH HIGHS WARMING INTO THE 80S BY THE END OF THE WEEK. && .AVIATION /15Z SATURDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/... EXPECT RESIDUAL MVFR STRATOCUMULUS CEILINGS TO BEGIN LIFTING AND REDEVELOPING AS CUMULUS CONGESTUS CEILINGS IN VFR RANGE. EXPECT SURFACE WIND GUSTS TO REACH 20KTS WITH CONSEQUENT INCREASED VERTICAL MIXING AS INDICATED BY NAM MODEL PROFILES. WITH POTENTIAL SEVERE THUNDERSTORM DEVELOPMENT EXPECT CUMULONIMBUS CEILINGS IN IFR RANGE WITH WIND GUSTS OVER 40 KTS. SURFACE WINDS VEER TO NW 10-15KTS WITH FRONTAL PASSAGE LATE THIS EVENING AND DURING THE EARLY MORNING HOURS OF SUNDAY. MAINLY VFR SUNDAY THRU MONDAY NIGHT UNDER HIGH PRESSURE. NEXT CHC FOR SHOWERS AND DEGRADED CONDS COMES ON TUESDAY WITH A WARM FRONTAL PASSAGE. ON WEDNESDAY ANOTHER COLD FROPA WITH SCT SHOWERS AND TSTMS. && .PBZ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... MD...NONE. OH...NONE. PA...NONE. WV...NONE. &&
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA 1114 AM EDT SAT MAY 31 2008 MDZ001-OHZ068-069-PAZ031-032-WVZ004-012-021>023-011515- GARRETT-NOBLE-MONROE-GREENE-FAYETTE-MARSHALL-WETZEL-MARION- MONONGALIA-PRESTON- 1114 AM EDT SAT MAY 31 2008 ...TORNADO WATCH 402 IN EFFECT UNTIL 5 PM EDT THIS AFTERNOON... 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 PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. TORNADO WATCH. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER NETWORK HAS BEEN ACTIVATED. PAZ007>009-015-016-011515- MERCER-VENANGO-FOREST-CLARION-JEFFERSON PA- 1114 AM EDT SAT MAY 31 2008 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTHWEST PENNSYLVANIA AND WEST CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS TODAY. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER NETWORK HAS BEEN ACTIVATED. OHZ039>041-048>050-057-058-PAZ013-014-020>023-029-030-WVZ001>003- 011515- TUSCARAWAS-CARROLL-COLUMBIANA-COSHOCTON-HARRISON-JEFFERSON OH- MUSKINGUM-GUERNSEY-LAWRENCE-BUTLER-BEAVER-ALLEGHENY-ARMSTRONG- INDIANA-WASHINGTON-WESTMORELAND-HANCOCK-BROOKE-OHIO- 1114 AM EDT SAT MAY 31 2008 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR EAST CENTRAL OHIO...SOUTHWEST PENNSYLVANIA...WEST CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA AND NORTHERN PANHANDLE OF WEST VIRGINIA. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS TODAY. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER NETWORK HAS BEEN ACTIVATED. OHZ059-011515- BELMONT- 1114 AM EDT SAT MAY 31 2008 ...TORNADO WATCH 402 IN EFFECT UNTIL 5 PM EDT THIS AFTERNOON... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR EAST CENTRAL OHIO. .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. TORNADO WATCH. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER NETWORK HAS BEEN ACTIVATED. WVZ041-011515- TUCKER- 1114 AM EDT SAT MAY 31 2008 ...TORNADO WATCH 402 IN EFFECT UNTIL 5 PM EDT THIS AFTERNOON... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTHERN 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. TORNADO WATCH. THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS TODAY. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER NETWORK HAS BEEN ACTIVATED.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA 643 AM EDT SAT MAY 31 2008 OHZ059-069-PAZ029-031-WVZ004-012-311115- BELMONT OH-GREENE PA-MARSHALL WV-MONROE OH-WASHINGTON PA-WETZEL WV- 643 AM EDT SAT MAY 31 2008 ...THUNDERSTORMS... THUNDERSTORMS TO MOVE THROUGH THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES... MONROE...BELMONT...WASHINGTON...GREENE...WETZEL AND MARSHALL... AT 640 AM EDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR IN PITTSBURGH INDICATED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS 4 MILES NORTH OF CAMERON...MOVING EAST AT 55 MPH. THESE STORMS CAN HAVE WIND GUSTS OVER 40 MPH PLUS HAIL. SOME LOCATIONS THAT WILL BE IMPACTED BY THESE STORMS INCLUDE... RYERSON STATION...ALEPPO...MOUNT CARMEL...BRISTORIA AND BURDETTE 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 TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1100 AM EDT SATURDAY MORNING FOR WESTERN MARYLAND AND EAST CENTRAL OHIO AND SOUTHWESTERN PENNSYLVANIA AND NORTHERN WEST VIRGINIA.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA 749 AM EDT SAT MAY 31 2008 MDZ001-PAZ031-032-WVZ022-023-311215- FAYETTE PA-GARRETT MD-GREENE PA-MONONGALIA WV-PRESTON WV- 749 AM EDT SAT MAY 31 2008 ...THUNDERSTORMS... THUNDERSTORMS TO MOVE THROUGH THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES... GARRETT...FAYETTE...GREENE...PRESTON AND MONONGALIA... AT 740 AM EDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR IN PITTSBURGH INDICATED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 6 MILES NORTH OF OHIOPYLE TO 2 MILES NORTH OF MASONTOWN TO 5 MILES WEST OF CASSVILLE...OR ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 6 MILES NORTH OF OHIOPYLE TO NEMACOLIN TO 4 MILES NORTHEAST OF DAYBROOK...MOVING EAST AT 50 MPH. THESE THUNDERSTORMS CAN CAUSE WIND GUSTS OVER 40 MPH AND POSSIBLY SOME HAIL. SOME LOCATIONS THAT WILL BE IMPACTED BY THESE STORMS INCLUDE... BOBTOWN...CHALKHILL...ELLIOTTSVILLE...FARMINGTON AND GREENSBORO 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 TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1100 AM EDT SATURDAY MORNING FOR WESTERN MARYLAND AND EAST CENTRAL OHIO AND SOUTHWESTERN PENNSYLVANIA AND NORTHERN WEST VIRGINIA.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA 848 AM EDT SAT MAY 31 2008 PAZ031-032-WVZ012-021-022-311315- FAYETTE PA-GREENE PA-MARION WV-MONONGALIA WV-WETZEL WV- 848 AM EDT SAT MAY 31 2008 ...THUNDERSTORMS... THUNDERSTORMS TO MOVE THROUGH THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES... FAYETTE...GREENE...MARION...WETZEL AND MONONGALIA... AT 840 AM EDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR IN PITTSBURGH INDICATED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 6 MILES EAST OF OAK FOREST TO 3 MILES NORTHWEST OF KNOB FORK...OR ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 3 MILES SOUTHEAST OF WAYNESBURG TO 3 MILES NORTHWEST OF KNOB FORK...MOVING EAST AT 33 MPH. THESE STORMS CAN PRODUCE WIND GUSTS OVER 40 MPH PLUS SOME HAIL. SOME LOCATIONS THAT WILL BE IMPACTED BY THESE STORMS INCLUDE... BOBTOWN...BUZZ...CARMICHAELS...FAIRCHANCE AND GREENSBORO 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 TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1100 AM EDT SATURDAY MORNING FOR WESTERN MARYLAND AND EAST CENTRAL OHIO AND SOUTHWESTERN PENNSYLVANIA AND NORTHERN WEST VIRGINIA.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA 904 AM EDT SAT MAY 31 2008 MDZ001-PAZ031-032-WVZ012-021>023-311330- FAYETTE PA-GARRETT MD-GREENE PA-MARION WV-MONONGALIA WV-PRESTON WV-WETZEL WV- 904 AM EDT SAT MAY 31 2008 ...THUNDERSTORMS... THUNDERSTORMS TO MOVE THROUGH THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES... GARRETT...FAYETTE...GREENE...MARION...WETZEL...PRESTON AND MONONGALIA... AT 858 AM EDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR IN PITTSBURGH INDICATED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 2 MILES NORTH OF HOPWOOD TO 7 MILES WEST OF DAYBROOK...OR ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 2 MILES NORTH OF HOPWOOD TO WADESTOWN...MOVING EAST AT 49 MPH. THESE THUNDERSTORMS CAN PRODUCE WIND GUSTS OVER 40 MPH PLUS SOME HAIL. SOME LOCATIONS THAT WILL BE IMPACTED BY THESE STORMS INCLUDE... BOBTOWN...CHALKHILL...ELLIOTTSVILLE...FAIRCHANCE AND FARMINGTON 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
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA
914 AM EDT SAT MAY 31 2008
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0840 AM TSTM WND DMG 6 NNE TERRA ALTA 39.52N 79.50W
05/31/2008 PRESTON WV EMERGENCY MNGR
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT REPORTED A PORCH BLOWN OFF A MOBILE
HOME AND A NUMBER OF WINDOWS BLOWN OUT/DAMAGED IN ANOTHER
MOBILE HOME 1 MILE SOUTH OF CRANESVILLE.
&&The Pittsburgh radar (KPBZ), 53 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 16:39 UTC.
3 hail, 1 flood, 1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Flooding reported along Oakland Rd and North St.
The public reported nickel size hail in Oil City.
A ranger reported nickel size hail northeast of Clarion.
Park ranger reported large tree branches blocking S.R. 36 northeast of Clarion.
Law enforcement reported golf ball size hail in Brockway.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Pennsylvania in 2008Every state in 2008This day in weather historyWarnings in Pennsylvania, May 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: 95502, 95503, 95505, 95508, 95506.