A powerful cold front moved across the Ohio Valley on the evening of the 11th as strong low pressure moved north across the Great Lakes. A convective line along the cold front produced widespread damage across eastern Ohio, western Pennsylvania, northern West Virginia, and Garrett county Maryland with thunderstorm wind gusts of 60 to 70 MPH and a peak wind gust of 92 MPH at Allegheny County…
Every event with a place to put it; 12 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.
A powerful cold front moved across the Ohio Valley on the evening of the 11th as strong low pressure moved north across the Great Lakes. A convective line along the cold front produced widespread damage across eastern Ohio, western Pennsylvania, northern West Virginia, and Garrett county Maryland with thunderstorm wind gusts of 60 to 70 MPH and a peak wind gust of 92 MPH at Allegheny County Airport near Pittsburgh. High winds gusting to 60 MPH behind the front in a strong pressure gradient produced wind damage across the entire region into midday on the 12th. In all across eastern Ohio, western Pennsylvania, northern West Virginia and Garrett county Maryland over one half million homes and businesses were without power at some point during the storm.
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 Feb 11, 6:20 PM EST, 50 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA
620 PM EST WED FEB 11 2009
.SYNOPSIS...
A STRONG COLD FRONT WILL PUSH ACROSS THE AREA LATE THIS EVENING
WITH SHOWERS AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS. STRONG GUSTY WINDS WILL
OCCUR AS THE FRONT APPROACHES AND AFTER IT PASSES. HIGH PRESSURE
WILL BRING CLEARING FOR THURSDAY INTO FRIDAY.
&&
.NEAR TERM /THROUGH THURSDAY/...
HAVE UPDATED TO INCLUDE SVR WATCH AND TO ADJUST POPS TO CURRENT
ACTIVITY. ALSO ADDED MENTION OF SEVERE FOR THIS EVENING.
STRONG COLD FRONT WILL PUSH ACROSS THE FORECAST AREA BETWEEN 00Z
AND 04Z FROM WEST TO EAST. VERY STRONG LOW LEVEL WINDS MAY PRODUCE
WIND GUSTS IN EXCESS OF 50 KNOTS WITH CONVECTION AHEAD OF THE
FRONT AND IN SYNOPTIC GUSTS BEHIND THE FRONT. WINDS ALOFT REMAIN
STRONG INTO THURSDAY AFTERNOON BEFORE THEY BEGIN TO WEAKEN
THURSDAY EVENING. MUCH COLDER AIR WILL PUSH IN BEHIND THE FRONT
THURSDAY. DRIER AIR BEHIND THE FRONT WILL ALSO REDUCE THE RISK OF
SHOWERS.
&&
.SHORT TERM /THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY/...
COLDER TEMPERATURES BEHIND THE STRONG COLD FRONT WILL BRING SOME
LAKE EFFECT SNOW SHOWERS TO THE NORTH AND THE RIDGES EAST OF
PITTSBURGH WITH LIGHT SNOW ACCUMULATIONS EXPECTED INTO FRIDAY
MORNING. HIGH PRESSURE BUILDING INTO THE DISTRICT FRIDAY WILL
BRING AND END TO THE SNOW SHOWERS AND PROVIDE DRY WEATHER AND
CONTINUED CHILLY TEMPERATURES.
&&
.LONG TERM /FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY/...
SURFACE LOW WILL MOVE EAST OFF THE MID ATLANTIC COAST BY SUNDAY.
WILL KEEP CHANCE FOR RAIN AND SNOW SHOWERS SATURDAY NIGHT INTO
SUNDAY. MAINLY DRY CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED MONDAY AND TUESDAY UNDER
SURFACE HIGH PRESSURE. NEXT SYSTEM WILL MOVE EAST INTO THE MID MS
VALLEY BY WEDNESDAY SPREADING SCATTERED RAIN AND SNOW SHOWERS INTO
OUR FORECAST AREA BY MIDWEEK.
TEMPERATURES ARE FORECAST TO BE NEAR NORMAL THROUGH THE PERIOD.
&&
.AVIATION /23Z WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY/...
SURFACE LOW OVER ILLINOIS WILL CONTINUE TO STRENGTHEN AND MOVE
NORTHEAST ACROSS THE GREAT LAKES TONIGHT...WITH A STRONG COLD FRONT
SWEEPING ACROSS THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY EARLY TONIGHT. SHOWERS AND
SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS WILL ACCOMPANY THIS FRONT ALONG WITH THE
POTENTIAL FOR WIND GUSTS OVER 40KT IN CONVECTION.
STRONG WEST WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO PERSIST IN STRONG PRESSURE
GRADIENT BEHIND THE FRONT LATER TONIGHT THROUGH THE END OF THE TAF
PERIOD WITH GUSTS REACHING 50 KT AT TIMES. MVFR CEILINGS AND
VISIBILITIES SHOULD PREVAIL LATE TONIGHT AND THURSDAY MORNING IN
NUMEROUS RAIN SHOWERS.
SCATTERED RAIN AND SNOW SHOWERS WILL GRADUALLY DIMINISH BY THURSDAY
AFTERNOON...WITH VFR CONDITIONS DEVELOPING AND CONTINUING THROUGH
FRIDAY AS HIGH PRESSURE BUILDS IN.
NEXT LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM WILL TRACK EAST ACROSS THE OHIO VALLEY AND
BRING SCATTERED RAIN AND SNOW SHOWERS AND POSSIBLE MVFR/IFR
RESTRICTIONS FOR SATURDAY AND SATURDAY NIGHT.
GENERALLY VFR CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED FOR SUNDAY AND MONDAY AS HIGH
PRESSURE RETURNS.
&&
.HYDROLOGY...
TEMPERATURES ARE FORECAST TO REMAIN WELL ABOVE FREEZING UNTIL
THURSDAY NIGHT...THUS SNOW MELT WILL CONTINUE. WATER EQUIVALENT
IN THE SNOW PACK ALONG THE I-80 CORRIDOR AND IN THE RIDGES IS
STILL ON THE ORDER OF 1 INCH WITH SOME HIGHER AMOUNTS REMAINING ON
THE RIDGES. IN ADDITION, APPROXIMATELY AN INCH OF RAINFALL IS
PROJECTED OVER THE NEXT TWO DAYS.
SO...ADDITIONAL RISES ON AREA RIVERS AND STREAMS MAY BE EXPECTED
THIS WEEK WITH CONTINUED ICE MOVEMENT AND POSSIBLE ICE JAMS. AREA
WATERWAYS AND ACTUAL PRECIPITATION AMOUNTS WILL HAVE TO BE
MONITORED CLOSELY THIS WEEK.
&&
.PBZ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
MD...HIGH WIND WARNING UNTIL 7 PM EST THURSDAY FOR MDZ001.
OH...HIGH WIND WARNING UNTIL 7 PM EST THURSDAY FOR OHZ039>041-
048>050-057>059-068-069.
PA...HIGH WIND WARNING UNTIL 7 PM EST THURSDAY FOR PAZ007>009-
013>016-020>023-029>032.
WV...HIGH WIND WARNING UNTIL 7 PM EST THURSDAY FOR WVZ001>004-012-
021>023-041.
&&HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA 245 PM EST WED FEB 11 2009 MDZ001-PAZ007>009-013>016-020>023-029>032-WVZ021>023-041-121200- GARRETT-MERCER-VENANGO-FOREST-LAWRENCE-BUTLER-CLARION-JEFFERSON PA- BEAVER-ALLEGHENY-ARMSTRONG-INDIANA-WASHINGTON-WESTMORELAND-GREENE- FAYETTE-MARION-MONONGALIA-PRESTON-TUCKER- 245 PM EST WED FEB 11 2009 ...HIGH WIND WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM EST THURSDAY... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR WESTERN MARYLAND...NORTHWEST PENNSYLVANIA...SOUTHWEST PENNSYLVANIA...WEST CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA AND 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. HIGH WIND WARNING. SLIGHT RISK FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WITH PRIMARY THREAT BEING DAMAGING WIND GUSTS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY. PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. HIGH WIND WARNING. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER CONDITIONS ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES. WVZ001>004-012-121200- HANCOCK-BROOKE-OHIO-MARSHALL-WETZEL- 245 PM EST WED FEB 11 2009 ...TORNADO WATCH 18 IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM EST THIS EVENING... ...HIGH WIND WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM EST THURSDAY... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR 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. HIGH WIND WARNING. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY. PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. HIGH WIND WARNING. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER CONDITIONS ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES. OHZ039>041-048>050-057>059-068-069-121200- TUSCARAWAS-CARROLL-COLUMBIANA-COSHOCTON-HARRISON-JEFFERSON OH- MUSKINGUM-GUERNSEY-BELMONT-NOBLE-MONROE- 245 PM EST WED FEB 11 2009 ...TORNADO WATCH 18 IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM EST THIS EVENING... ...HIGH WIND WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM EST THURSDAY... 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. HIGH WIND WARNING. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY. PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. HIGH WIND WARNING. .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 555 PM EST WED FEB 11 2009 OHZ039>041-049-050-058-059-068-069-PAZ020-029-031-WVZ001>004-012- 120000- BEAVER PA-BELMONT OH-BROOKE WV-CARROLL OH-COLUMBIANA OH-GREENE PA-GUERNSEY OH-HANCOCK WV-HARRISON OH-JEFFERSON OH-MARSHALL WV-MONROE OH-NOBLE OH-OHIO WV-TUSCARAWAS OH-WASHINGTON PA-WETZEL WV- 555 PM EST WED FEB 11 2009 ...THUNDERSTORMS... SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WITH STRONG WINDS TO MOVE THROUGH THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES...MONROE...NOBLE...COLUMBIANA...BELMONT... GUERNSEY...HARRISON... JEFFERSON... TUSCARAWAS... CARROLL... WASHINGTON...BEAVER...GREENE...WETZEL...MARSHALL...OHIO...BROOKE AND HANCOCK... AT 552 PM EST NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR IN PITTSBURGH INDICATED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS MOVING INTO MUSKINGGUM AND COSHOCTON COUNTIES. THESE STORMS WERE MOVING NORTHEAST AT 50 MPH AND WILL AFFECT THE REGION AFTER 645 PM EST. SOME LOCATIONS THAT WILL BE IMPACTED BY THESE STORMS INCLUDE... AVELLA...CLAYSVILLE...FLORENCE...RURAL VALLEY...RYERSON STATION... ALEPPO...MOUNT CARMEL...ACHESON...AVELLA HIGHLANDS...BEHAM... BERTHA...BRISTORIA...BUDAVILLE...BUFFALO 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 900 PM EST WEDNESDAY EVENING FOR EAST CENTRAL OHIO AND NORTHERN WEST VIRGINIA. A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH ALSO REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1000 PM EST WEDNESDAY EVENING FOR WESTERN MARYLAND AND WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA AND NORTHERN WEST VIRGINIA.
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA
620 PM EST WED FEB 11 2009
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0616 PM TSTM WND GST ZANESVILLE 39.94N 82.01W
02/11/2009 M59 MPH MUSKINGUM OH ASOS
GUST REPORTED AT ZANESVILLE AIRPORT
&&
TGREENSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA 633 PM EST WED FEB 11 2009 PAZ007-008-013>015-021-022-030-032-WVZ021-022-120030- ALLEGHENY PA-ARMSTRONG PA-BUTLER PA-CLARION PA-FAYETTE PA-LAWRENCE PA-MARION WV-MERCER PA-MONONGALIA WV-VENANGO PA-WESTMORELAND PA- 633 PM EST WED FEB 11 2009 ...THUNDERSTORMS WITH DAMAGING WINDS... THUNDERSTORMS TO MOVE THROUGH THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES... FAYETTE...ARMSTRONG...ALLEGHENY...WESTMORELAND...BUTLER...VENANGO... CLARION...MERCER...LAWRENCE...MARION AND MONONGALIA... AT 624 PM EST NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR IN PITTSBURGH SHOWED A LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS...WITH DAMAGING WINDS...MOVING RAPIDLY ACROSS EASTERN OHIO. THIS AREA OF STORMS WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE TO THE EAST-NORTHEAST AND WILL ENCOUNTER THE REGION BY 700 PM. THE MAIN THREAT FROM THESE STORMS WILL BE DAMAGING WINDS. SOME LOCATIONS THAT WILL BE IMPACTED BY THESE STORMS INCLUDE... ALLISON PARK...APOLLO...BALDWIN...BELLE VERNON...BESSEMER...BETHEL PARK...BRADYS BEND...BRIDGEVILLE...BROWNSVILLE...BUTLER... CALIFORNIA...CARNEGIE...CHICORA...CLINTONVILLE AND COOPERSTOWN 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 900 PM EST WEDNESDAY EVENING FOR EAST CENTRAL OHIO AND NORTHERN WEST VIRGINIA. A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH ALSO REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1000 PM EST WEDNESDAY EVENING FOR WESTERN MARYLAND AND WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA AND NORTHERN WEST VIRGINIA.
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA
645 PM EST WED FEB 11 2009
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0635 PM TSTM WND GST GRAYSVILLE 39.67N 81.17W
02/11/2009 E70.00 MPH MONROE OH TRAINED SPOTTER
&&
TGREENPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA
704 PM EST WED FEB 11 2009
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0645 PM TSTM WND DMG PORT WASHINGTON 40.33N 81.52W
02/11/2009 TUSCARAWAS OH LAW ENFORCEMENT
TREES DOWN
&&
TGREENSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA 706 PM EST WED FEB 11 2009 MDZ001-PAZ009-016-023-WVZ023-041-120100- FOREST PA-GARRETT MD-INDIANA PA-JEFFERSON PA-PRESTON WV-TUCKER WV- 706 PM EST WED FEB 11 2009 ...THUNDERSTORMS WITH DAMAGING WINDS... THUNDERSTORMS TO MOVE THROUGH THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES... GARRETT...INDIANA...JEFFERSON...FOREST...TUCKER AND PRESTON... AT 710 PM EST NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR IN PITTSBURGH SHOWED A LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS...WITH DAMAGING WINDS...MOVING RAPIDLY ACROSS FAR EASTERN OHIO AND THE PANHANDLE OF WEST VIRGINIA. THIS AREA OF STORMS WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE TO THE EAST-NORTHEAST AT SPEEDS OF NEAR 60 MPH AND WILL ENCOUNTER THE REGION BETWEEN 730 AND 830 PM. THE MAIN THREAT FROM THESE STORMS WILL BE DAMAGING WINDS. SOME LOCATIONS THAT WILL BE IMPACTED BY THESE STORMS INCLUDE... ARMAGH...BLAIRSVILLE...BROCKWAY...BROOKVILLE...CLEAR CREEK STATE PARK...CLIMAX...CLYMER...COOK FOREST STATE PARK...DORA...GLEN CAMPBELL...HOMER CITY...INDIANA...KELLETTVILLE...MARIENVILLE AND MARION CENTER 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 1000 PM EST WEDNESDAY EVENING FOR WESTERN MARYLAND AND WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA AND NORTHERN WEST VIRGINIA.
The Pittsburgh radar (KPBZ), 64 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 00:10 UTC.
15 high wind, 13 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Emergency management reported a roof blown off a mobile home near West Finley.
Law enforcement reported trees down in Washington.
The public reported trees and power lines down east of Donora.
A trained spotter reported a 87 MPH wind gust north of Brownsville.
Emergency management reported a large tree down in Plum which ruptured a 10 inch natural gas line. 200 residents were evacuated as a precaution.
The public reported trees down southeast of Davis.
The ASOS at Allegheny County airport recored a wind gust to 92 MPH.
A trained spotter reported a wind gust to 60 MPH. The wind was accompanied by dime size hail.
A trained spotter reported trees and power lines down in Grove City.
The public reported trees down in Greensburg.
An NWS storm survey found damage from a microburst north of Yellow Creek State Park off of Harmony and College Lodge Roads. The path length was about one half mile with a width of intermittent damage about 200 yards wide. Two homes suffered roof damage as well as damage to siding and rain spouting. An outbuilding was destroyed with numerous trees toppled or snapped. Maximum winds were estimated at 80 MPH.
Emergency management reported trees down in Indiana.
A trained spotter reported trees and power lines down in Mercer.
ASOS recorded a wind gust to 66 MPH at the Dubois airport.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Pennsylvania in 2009Every state in 2009This day in weather historyWarnings in Pennsylvania, February 2009
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: 153982, 153983, 153984, 153993, 153985, 153986, 153991, 153992, 153987, 153988, 153994, 153989, 153990, 154030, 154017, 154031, 154032, 154020, 154027, 154033, 154034, 154029, 154022, 154028, 154018, 154024, 154026, 154025.