Low pressure from the remains of Hurricane Ike moved across central Ohio to Lake Erie on the evening of September 14th and produced very strong winds into the early morning of September 15th across eastern Ohio, northern West Virginia, and western Pennsylvania. Widespread damage to trees and power lines was reported across the region with power outages and damage to some structures from falling…
Every event with a place to put it; 11 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. 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.
Low pressure from the remains of Hurricane Ike moved across central Ohio to Lake Erie on the evening of September 14th and produced very strong winds into the early morning of September 15th across eastern Ohio, northern West Virginia, and western Pennsylvania. Widespread damage to trees and power lines was reported across the region with power outages and damage to some structures from falling trees. Power was not restored to some rural areas for one week after the storm. At the peak of the storm more than 2 million homes were without power. For a period of about 8 hours, sustained winds during the storm were from 30 to 50 MPH, with gusts well over 60 MPH. The highest reported wind gust was 81 MPH at the Beaver County Pennsylvania Airport, near the Ohio Pennsylvania state line. Total damage from the storm across eastern Ohio, western Pennsylvania, and northern West Virginia was around 25 million dollars.
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 Sep 14, 4:15 PM EST, 2 hours 15 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA
515 PM EDT SUN SEP 14 2008
.SYNOPSIS...
LOW PRESSURE FROM THE REMNANTS OF IKE WILL MOVE QUICKLY ACROSS THE
GREAT LAKES THIS EVENING WITH A COLD FRONT PUSHING ACROSS THE
REGION OVERNIGHT. WINDS WILL BE VERY GUSTY THIS EVENING WITH A
CHANCE OF SHOWERS AND STORMS. MUCH COOLER HIGH PRESSURE WILL MOVE
IN FOR THE FIRST HALF OF THE WEEK.
&&
.NEAR TERM /THROUGH MONDAY/...
UPDATE TO ISSUE HIGH WIND WARNING FOR COUNTIES SURROUNDING THE
ZANESVILLE AREA AS GUSTS IN EXCESS OF 55 KT PROGRESS EASTWARD.
WIND ADVISORY CONTINUED FOR THE REMAINDER OF NWRN CWA AS PRESSURE
FALLS AND GUSTS TO 50 NOW LOOK TO MAKE IT INTO WESTERN CWA.
REMAINDER SAME.
LOW PRESSURE WITH IKE WILL MOVE QUICKLY ACROSS OHIO TO LAKE ERIE
THIS EVENING. THE LOW WILL PULL A COLD FRONT ACROSS AREA TONIGHT
WITH SCATTERED SHOWERS AND STORMS POSSIBLE. BEST MOISTURE STAYS
FAIRLY TIGHT WITH SURFACE LOW AND ON THE WESTERN SIDE OF THE LOW
SO WIDESPREAD SHOWERS NOT EXPECTED. FRONT WILL BRING MUCH COOLER
AND LESS HUMID CONDITIONS MONDAY WITH TEMPERATURES HAVING ONLY A
5-10 DEGREE DIURNAL RISE.
&&
.SHORT TERM /MONDAY NIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY/...
UPPER TROUGH WILL PASS ACROSS OHIO VALLEY WITH SURFACE HIGH
PRESSURE DOMINATING WEATHER THROUGH WEDNESDAY. NEAR NORMAL
TEMPERATURES THROUGH PERIOD.
&&
.LONG TERM /WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY/...
SURFACE HIGH PRESSURE WILL HOLD ACROSS THE OHIO VALLEY TO NEW
ENGLAND AND SHOULD KEEP DRY AIR OVER THE REGION. TEMPERATURES ARE
FORECAST TO BE REMAIN NEAR NORMAL THROUGH THE WEEKEND.
&&
.AVIATION /21Z SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/...
THE REMNANTS OF IKE WILL MOVE NORTHEAST FROM INDIANA THROUGH THE
EASTERN GREAT LAKES THIS EVENING WITH A COLD FRONT PUSHING EASTWARD
ACROSS OUR TERMINALS BETWEEN 00Z AND 06Z. GREATEST COVERAGE OF
SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS SHOULD REMAIN TO OUR NORTHWEST...CLOSER TO
THE TRACK OF THE SURFACE LOW. EXPECTED ONLY SCATTERED PRECIPITATION
ACROSS OUR REGION SO DID NOT INCLUDE TEMPO GROUPS IN ANY TAFS.
PRESSURE GRADIENT WILL INCREASE LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING AS
LOW SLIDES BY...WITH SOUTHWEST SURFACE WINDS GUSTING UP TO 35-45KT
EARLY THIS EVENING...HIGHER GUSTS PROJECTED AT ZZV. WIND WILL
DIMINISH AS THE NIGHT PROGRESSES.
CEILINGS EXPECTED TO GRADUALLY LOWER TO MVFR AFTER THE COLD FRONTAL
PASSAGE LATE TONIGHT WITH MVFR STRATOCUMULUS PERSISTING INTO MONDAY
AFTERNOON.
IFR/MVFR VISIBILITIES IN FOG ARE POSSIBLE IN PATCHY FOG LATE MONDAY
NIGHT. VFR WEATHER SHOULD PREVAIL FOR TUESDAY THROUGH FRIDAY AS HIGH
PRESSURE RIDGE BUILDS IN.
&&
.PBZ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
MD...NONE.
OH...WIND ADVISORY UNTIL MIDNIGHT EDT TONIGHT FOR OHZ040-041-049-
050-059-068-069.
HIGH WIND WARNING UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING FOR OHZ039-048-
057-058.
PA...WIND ADVISORY UNTIL MIDNIGHT EDT TONIGHT FOR PAZ007>009-013-
014-020.
WV...WIND ADVISORY UNTIL MIDNIGHT EDT TONIGHT FOR WVZ001>004.
&&
15HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA 505 PM EDT SUN SEP 14 2008 MDZ001-PAZ015-016-021>023-029>032-WVZ012-021>023-041-152115- GARRETT-CLARION-JEFFERSON PA-ALLEGHENY-ARMSTRONG-INDIANA-WASHINGTON- WESTMORELAND-GREENE-FAYETTE-WETZEL-MARION-MONONGALIA-PRESTON-TUCKER- 505 PM EDT SUN SEP 14 2008 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR WESTERN MARYLAND...SOUTHWEST PENNSYLVANIA...WEST CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA AND NORTHERN WEST VIRGINIA. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. OHZ040-041-049-050-059-068-069-PAZ007>009-013-014-020-WVZ001>004- 152115- CARROLL-COLUMBIANA-HARRISON-JEFFERSON OH-BELMONT-NOBLE-MONROE-MERCER- VENANGO-FOREST-LAWRENCE-BUTLER-BEAVER-HANCOCK-BROOKE-OHIO-MARSHALL- 505 PM EDT SUN SEP 14 2008 ...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT EDT TONIGHT... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR EAST CENTRAL OHIO...NORTHWEST PENNSYLVANIA...SOUTHWEST PENNSYLVANIA...WEST CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA AND NORTHERN PANHANDLE OF WEST VIRGINIA. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. WIND ADVISORY. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. OHZ039-048-057-058-152115- TUSCARAWAS-COSHOCTON-MUSKINGUM-GUERNSEY- 505 PM EDT SUN SEP 14 2008 ...HIGH WIND WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR EAST CENTRAL OHIO. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. HIGH WIND WARNING. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA 505 PM EDT SUN SEP 14 2008 MDZ001-PAZ015-016-021>023-029>032-WVZ012-021>023-041-142315- GARRETT-CLARION-JEFFERSON PA-ALLEGHENY-ARMSTRONG-INDIANA- WASHINGTON-WESTMORELAND-GREENE-FAYETTE-WETZEL-MARION-MONONGALIA- PRESTON-TUCKER- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...OAKLAND MD...GRANTSVILLE...CLARION... PUNXSUTAWNEY...BROOKVILLE...REYNOLDSVILLE...BROCKWAY... PITTSBURGH METRO AREA...KITTANNING...FORD CITY...LEECHBURG... FREEPORT...APOLLO...INDIANA...WASHINGTON...CANONSBURG...DONORA... CALIFORNIA...CHARLEROI...MONONGAHELA...MCMURRAY...GREENSBURG... NEW KENSINGTON...JEANNETTE...LATROBE...MONESSEN...WAYNESBURG... FAIRDALE...UNIONTOWN...CONNELLSVILLE...OHIOPYLE... NEW MARTINSVILLE...FAIRMONT...MORGANTOWN...KINGWOOD... TERRA ALTA...PARSONS...DAVIS...THOMAS 505 PM EDT SUN SEP 14 2008 ...GUSTY WINDS TO MOVE THROUGH THE AREA THIS EVENING... LOW PRESSURE FROM THE REMNANTS OF IKE WILL MOVE NORTHEAST ACROSS OHIO TO LAKE ERIE THIS EVENING. WIND GUSTS UP TO 45 MPH CAN BE EXPECTED ACROSS PORTIONS OF WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA...NORTHERN WEST VIRGINIA...AND WESTERN MARYLAND...ESPECIALLY OVER THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS. WINDS SHOULD DIMINISH BY MIDNIGHT. USE EXTRA CAUTION WHEN TRAVELING...ESPECIALLY IF YOU DRIVE A HIGH PROFILE VEHICLE. MONITOR NOAA WEATHER RADIO FOR THE LATEST INFORMATION...FORECASTS...AND WARNINGS.
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA
623 PM EDT SUN SEP 14 2008
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0615 PM NON-TSTM WND DMG 1 W SENECAVILLE 39.93N 81.48W
09/14/2008 GUERNSEY OH TRAINED SPOTTER
TREES BLOWN DOWN.
&&
TPARRISHPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA
624 PM EDT SUN SEP 14 2008
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0600 PM NON-TSTM WND DMG CALDWELL 39.75N 81.51W
09/14/2008 NOBLE OH PUBLIC
NUMEROUS LARGE BRANCHES DOWN.
&&
TPARRISHSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA 646 PM EDT SUN SEP 14 2008 MDZ001-PAZ015-016-021>023-029>032-WVZ012-021>023-041-150100- GARRETT-CLARION-JEFFERSON PA-ALLEGHENY-ARMSTRONG-INDIANA- WASHINGTON-WESTMORELAND-GREENE-FAYETTE-WETZEL-MARION-MONONGALIA- PRESTON-TUCKER- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...OAKLAND MD...GRANTSVILLE...CLARION... PUNXSUTAWNEY...BROOKVILLE...REYNOLDSVILLE...BROCKWAY... PITTSBURGH METRO AREA...KITTANNING...FORD CITY...LEECHBURG... FREEPORT...APOLLO...INDIANA...WASHINGTON...CANONSBURG...DONORA... CALIFORNIA...CHARLEROI...MONONGAHELA...MCMURRAY...GREENSBURG... NEW KENSINGTON...JEANNETTE...LATROBE...MONESSEN...WAYNESBURG... FAIRDALE...UNIONTOWN...CONNELLSVILLE...OHIOPYLE... NEW MARTINSVILLE...FAIRMONT...MORGANTOWN...KINGWOOD... TERRA ALTA...PARSONS...DAVIS...THOMAS 646 PM EDT SUN SEP 14 2008 ...GUSTY WIND CONTINUES TO MOVE THROUGH THE AREA THIS EVENING... LOW PRESSURE FROM THE REMNANTS OF IKE WILL MOVE NORTHEAST ACROSS OHIO TO LAKE ERIE THIS EVENING. WIND GUSTS UP TO 45 MPH MAY BE EXPECTED ACROSS PORTIONS OF WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA...NORTHERN WEST VIRGINIA...AND WESTERN MARYLAND...ESPECIALLY OVER THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS. WIND OF THIS MAGNITUDE IS SUFFICIENT TO DOWN POORLY ROOTED TREES, OR THOSE IN SOIL SATURATED BY THE RECENT RAIN. USE EXTRA CAUTION IF OUTSIDE THIS EVENING OR IF TRAVELING...ESPECIALLY IF YOU DRIVE A HIGH PROFILE VEHICLE. 15
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
11 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
A 52 year old male was killed when wind sheared off a tree top and struck him in the head. The fatality occurred while attempting to clear a tree which had previously fallen.
As the offices recorded each death: direct deaths were caused by the weather itself, indirect ones by something it set in motion.
| Event | Date | Age | Sex | Where | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High Wind, Venango | 2008-09-14 | 52 | Male | Heavy Equipment/Construction | Direct |
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, September 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: 134299, 134282, 134280, 134273, 134298, 134275, 134296, 134278, 134294, 134300, 134295.