A strong low pressure system moved across the Upper Ohio Valley bringing heavy rain as well as a line of severe thunderstorms. Flooding of streams and creeks was widespread across eastern Ohio and western Pennsylvania.
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 strong low pressure system moved across the Upper Ohio Valley bringing heavy rain as well as a line of severe thunderstorms. Flooding of streams and creeks was widespread across eastern Ohio and western Pennsylvania. Isolated wind damage from severe thunderstorms occurred with a cold front in the morning.
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 28, 2:08 AM EST, 37 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA
208 AM EST MON FEB 28 2011
.SYNOPSIS...
STRONG LOW PRESSURE WILL CROSS THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY TODAY
BRINGING WIDESPREAD SHOWERS AND A CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS.
GENERALLY DRY WEATHER AND SEASONABLE TEMPERATURES WILL THEN
PREVAIL THROUGH MID WEEK WITH THE RETURN OF HIGH PRESSURE.
&&
.NEAR TERM /THROUGH TODAY/...
STRONG LOW PRESSURE WILL CROSS OHIO THIS MORNING AND DRAG A COLD
FRONT ACROSS THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY THIS AFTERNOON. WIDESPREAD
SHOWERS AND EMBEDDED THUNDERSTORMS FORMED IN THE WARM ADVECTION
REGIME OF THIS SYSTEM AND WILL MOVE ACROSS THE AREA THIS MORNING
AND EARLY THIS AFTERNOON.
WIDESPREAD ADDTIONAL RAINFALL ON THE ORDER OF AN INCH IS
ANTICIPATED TO ACCOMPANY LAST NIGHTS PRECIPITATION AND LAST OF THE
SNOW MELT. FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT.
IN ADDTION, ALTHOUGH INSTABILITY PARAMETERS ARE LACKLUSTER, SHEAR
VALUES ARE HIGH IN THE WIND FIELD OF THIS SYSTEM. A SLIGHT CHANCE
FOR SEVERE STORMS CONTINUES FOR AREAS SOUTH OF INTERSTATE 80 WITH
MAIN THREAT COMING FROM DAMAGING WIND...ISOLATED TORNADO CANNOT BE
RULED OUT, SO TORNADO WATCH WAS ISSUED FOR PARTS OF EAST CENTRAL
OHIO.
THE COLD FRONT WILL COMPLETE A SWEEP OF THE AREA THIS EVENING WITH
ANY REMAINING SHOWERS CHANGING TO SNOW, BUT COVERAGE OF
PRECIPITATION WILL RAPIDLY DECREASE; THUS, EXPECT ACCUMULATIONS
TO BE MINOR.
&&
.SHORT TERM /TONIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY/...
DRY AND SEASONABLE CONDITIONS WILL PREVAIL FOR TUESDAY WITH THE
REGION UNDER ZONAL FLOW ALOFT. A SHORTWAVE CROSSING THE GREAT
LAKES MAY SPREAD SOME SNOW SHOWERS OVER COUNTIES ALONG AND NORTH
OF I 80 ON WEDNESDAY AS IT DRAGS A COLD FRONT ACROSS THE UPPER
OHIO VALLEY, BUT PRECIPITATION PROBABILITIES ARE SLIGHT.
&&
.LONG TERM /WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY/...
SURFACE HIGH PRESSURE IS FORECAST TO SLIDE ACROSS THE GREAT LAKES
INTO NEW ENGLAND BY FRIDAY. DRY CONDITIONS AND NEAR NORMAL
TEMPERATURES ARE FORECAST WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY MORNING.
THE NEXT LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM IS PROGGED TO MOVE SLOWLY ACROSS THE
OHIO VALLEY REGION OVER THE WEEKEND...BRINGING SCATTERED RAIN AND
SNOW SHOWERS. WEEKEND TEMPERATURES ARE EXPECTED TO WARM TO BETWEEN 5
AND 10 DEGREES ABOVE NORMAL.
&&
.AVIATION /07Z MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/...
EXPECT DETERIORATION OF CONDITIONS THROUGH THIS MORNING AS LOW
PRESSURE CROSSES OHIO AND PULLS A COLD FRONT TOWARD THE AREA.
WIDESPREAD SHOWERS WITH SOME EMBEDDED THUNDERSTORMS MAY BE
ANTICIPATED THROUGH THE MORNING HOURS, AND INTO EARLY AFTERNOON AT MGW.
LOW LEVEL WIND SHEAR POTENTIAL WILL ALSO CONTINUE THROUGH THE PRE
DAWN HOURS AS LOW LEVEL JET SURGES WARMTH AND MOISTURE NORTHWARD.
AS SURFACE PRESSURE GRADIENT TIGHTENS, SURFACE GUSTS OUTSIDE OF
ANY SURFACE BASED CONVECTION ARE FORECAST TO INCREASE TO NEAR 30
KTS.
THE SYSTEMS COLD FRONT WILL PUSH ACROSS THE TERMINALS LATE THIS
MORNING AND EARLY THIS AFTERNOON. THAT FRONT WILL QUICKLY SHIFT
THE WIND TO THE WEST AND NORTHWEST AND CHANGE REMAINING
PRECIPITATION TO SNOW.
SURFACE RIDGE WILL BUILD ON MONDAY NIGHT AND TUESDAY BRINGING
DRIER AIR AND VFR CONDITIONS. A WEAK SHORTWAVE WILL CROSS THE
GREAT LAKES WEDNESDAY WITH THE POTENTIAL FOR MVFR RESTRICTIONS
ACROSS NORTHERN TERMINALS. THE NEXT CHANCE FOR PRECIPITATION WILL
RETURN WITH THE APPROACH OF LOW PRESSURE ON FRIDAY.
&&
.HYDROLOGY...
RIVER FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR WILLS CREEK AT CAMBRIDGE FOR
TUESDAY. A FLOOD ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT FOR THE OHIO RIVER AT THE
POINT IN PITTSBURGH FROM MONDAY NIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY MORNING.
48 HOUR RAINFALL ACROSS THE REGION WILL GENERALLY RANGE FROM 0.75
TO 1.80 INCHES MOST OF THE REGION. THIS WIDESPREAD RAINFALL ON
TOP OF THE RECENT 0.75 TO 1.40 INCHES OF RAIN FROM THE END OF LAST
WEEK WILL INCREASE THE THREAT OF FLOODING ON WILLS CREEK AT
CAMBRIDGE ON TUESDAY. WILLS CREEK IS EXPECTED TO RISE TO 15.3 FEET
TUESDAY MORNING. THIS IS 0.3 FEET ABOVE THE FLOOD STAGE OF 15.0
FEET.
AT THIS TIME...THE ANTICIPATED RAINFALL AND THE RESULTING RUNOFF
WILL CAUSE RISING RIVER FORECAST STAGES ON THE MONONGAHELA...LOWER
ALLEGHENY AND UPPER OHIO RIVERS. AT THIS TIME...FORECAST ESTIMATES
DO NOT WARRANT A RIVER FLOOD WATCH FOR THESE RIVERS.
HOWEVER...RISES ON THE MONONGAHELA RIVER ARE EXPECTED TO CAUSE THE
MONONGAHELA RIVER TO RISE TO 23.4 TUESDAY EVENING. THIS WOULD AFFECT
BOTH THE MONONGAHELA RIVER PARKING WHARF AND THE TENTH STREET
BYPASS. THIS IS SUFFICIENT TO OVER 5 FEET OF WATER ON THE
MONONGAHELA PARKING WHARF AND NEARLY 1.5 FEET OF WATER ON THE
TENTH STREET BYPASS.
&&
.PBZ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
MD...FLOOD WATCH THROUGH THIS EVENING FOR MDZ001.
OH...FLOOD WATCH THROUGH THIS EVENING FOR OHZ039>041-048>050-
057>059-068-069.
PA...FLOOD WATCH THROUGH THIS EVENING FOR PAZ007>009-013>016-
020>023-029-031-073>076.
WV...FLOOD WATCH THROUGH THIS EVENING FOR WVZ001>004-012-021>023-
041.
&&
15HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA 155 AM EST MON FEB 28 2011 MDZ001-OHZ039>041-049-050-058-059-068-069-PAZ013-014-020>023-029-031- 073>076-WVZ001>004-012-021>023-041-010700- GARRETT-TUSCARAWAS-CARROLL-COLUMBIANA-HARRISON-JEFFERSON OH-GUERNSEY- BELMONT-NOBLE-MONROE-LAWRENCE-BUTLER-BEAVER-ALLEGHENY-ARMSTRONG- INDIANA-WASHINGTON-GREENE-WESTMORELAND-WESTMORELAND RIDGES-FAYETTE- FAYETTE RIDGES-HANCOCK-BROOKE-OHIO-MARSHALL-WETZEL-MARION-MONONGALIA- PRESTON-TUCKER- 155 AM EST MON FEB 28 2011 ...FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT THROUGH THIS EVENING... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR WESTERN MARYLAND...EAST CENTRAL OHIO...SOUTHWEST PENNSYLVANIA...WEST CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA...NORTHERN WEST VIRGINIA AND NORTHERN PANHANDLE OF WEST VIRGINIA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT. PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. FLOOD WATCH. IN ADDITION...THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS TODAY. THE PRIMARY SEVERE THREAT WILL BE DAMAGING WINDS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY. 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. OHZ048-057-010700- COSHOCTON-MUSKINGUM- 155 AM EST MON FEB 28 2011 ...FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT THROUGH THIS EVENING... ...TORNADO WATCH 28 IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 AM EST THIS MORNING... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR EAST CENTRAL OHIO. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT. PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. FLOOD WATCH. TORNADO WATCH. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY. 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. PAZ007>009-015-016-010700- MERCER-VENANGO-FOREST-CLARION-JEFFERSON PA- 155 AM EST MON FEB 28 2011 ...FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT THROUGH THIS EVENING... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTHWEST PENNSYLVANIA AND WEST CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT. PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. FLOOD WATCH. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY. 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
904 PM EST SUN FEB 27 2011
OHZ039>041-048>050-058-059-069-PAZ013-020-021-029-031-075-WVZ001>004-
280300-
ALLEGHENY PA-BEAVER PA-BELMONT OH-BROOKE WV-CARROLL OH-COLUMBIANA
OH-COSHOCTON OH-FAYETTE PA-GREENE PA-GUERNSEY OH-HANCOCK WV-HARRISON
OH-JEFFERSON OH-LAWRENCE PA-MARSHALL WV-MONROE OH-OHIO WV-TUSCARAWAS
OH-WASHINGTON PA-
904 PM EST SUN FEB 27 2011
...HEAVY RAIN...
THUNDERSTORMS WITH HEAVY RAIN AND SMALL HAIL TO MOVE THROUGH THE
FOLLOWING COUNTIES...
MONROE...COLUMBIANA...BELMONT...GUERNSEY...HARRISON...COSHOCTON...
JEFFERSON...TUSCARAWAS...CARROLL...FAYETTE...WASHINGTON...
ALLEGHENY...BEAVER...GREENE...LAWRENCE...MARSHALL...OHIO...BROOKE AND
HANCOCK...
AT 859 PM EST NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR IN PITTSBURGH
SHOWED THUNDERSTORMS WITH HEAVY RAIN ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 3
MILES SOUTH OF STONE CREEK TO 7 MILES SOUTHWEST OF ALLEDONIA...
MOVING EAST AT 55 MPH.
THESE THUNDERSTORMS CAN PRODUCE HEAVY RAIN THAT MAY CAUSE PONDED
WATER ON ROADS AND IN LOW LYING AREAS. HAIL UP TO ONE HALF INCH IS
POSSIBLE.
PLEASE REPORT HEAVY RAIN AND FLOODING PROBLEMS TO THE NATIONAL
WEATHER SERVICE BY CALLING TOLL FREE...1-877-633-6772.
LAT...LON 4045 8167 4059 8166 4066 8142 4065 8124
4071 8124 4073 8109 4076 8109 4093 8048
4025 7980 4022 7980 4020 7986 4016 7986
4016 7990 4013 7989 4010 7967 3980 8107
4044 8171PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA
944 PM EST SUN FEB 27 2011
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0943 PM HAIL EAST FINLEY 40.02N 80.39W
02/27/2011 E0.75 INCH WASHINGTON PA TRAINED SPOTTER
&&
EVENT NUMBER PBZ1100402
RSMITHSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA
1003 PM EST SUN FEB 27 2011
OHZ041-PAZ013-014-020>023-073>076-WVZ001-280400-
ALLEGHENY PA-ARMSTRONG PA-BEAVER PA-BUTLER PA-COLUMBIANA OH-FAYETTE
PA-FAYETTE RIDGES PA-HANCOCK WV-INDIANA PA-LAWRENCE PA-WESTMORELAND
PA-WESTMORELAND RIDGES PA-
1003 PM EST SUN FEB 27 2011
...THUNDERSTORMS WITH HEAVY RAIN AND SMALL HAIL TO MOVE THROUGH THE
FOLLOWING COUNTIES...
COLUMBIANA...FAYETTE...ARMSTRONG...ALLEGHENY...WESTMORELAND...
BEAVER...INDIANA...BUTLER...LAWRENCE...HANCOCK...WESTMORELAND RIDGES
AND FAYETTE RIDGES...
AT 959 PM EST NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR IN PITTSBURGH
SHOWED THUNDERSTORMS WITH HEAVY RAIN ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 4
MILES EAST OF HOMEWORTH TO 5 MILES SOUTHWEST OF WALTERSBURG...MOVING
NORTHEAST AT 50 MPH.
THESE THUNDERSTORMS CAN PRODUCE HEAVY RAIN THAT MAY CAUSE PONDED
WATER ON ROADS AND IN LOW LYING AREAS ALONG WITH UP TO DIME SIZE.
PLEASE REPORT HEAVY RAIN AND FLOODING PROBLEMS TO THE NATIONAL
WEATHER SERVICE BY CALLING TOLL FREE...1-877-633-6772.
LAT...LON 3982 7982 3997 8001 4003 7987 4016 7990
4019 7985 4033 8018 4048 8036 4048 8052
4040 8055 4058 8067 4060 8080 4082 8109
4090 8108 4090 8053 4106 8053 4113 8027
4112 8027 4107 8011 4111 8005 4033 7904SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA
200 AM EST MON FEB 28 2011
PAZ007>009-013>016-020-022-023-280800-
ARMSTRONG PA-BEAVER PA-BUTLER PA-CLARION PA-FOREST PA-INDIANA
PA-JEFFERSON PA-LAWRENCE PA-MERCER PA-VENANGO PA-
200 AM EST MON FEB 28 2011
...HEAVY RAIN WITH ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS...
HEAVY RAIN WITH ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS TO MOVE THROUGH THE FOLLOWING
COUNTIES...ARMSTRONG...BEAVER...INDIANA...BUTLER...JEFFERSON...VENANG
O...FOREST...CLARION...MERCER AND LAWRENCE...
AT 156 AM EST NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR IN PITTSBURGH
SHOWED HEAVY RAIN ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 9 MILES NORTHWEST OF
NEW CASTLE TO 5 MILES WEST OF ECONOMY BORO...OR ALONG A LINE
EXTENDING FROM 9 MILES NORTHWEST OF NEW CASTLE TO 5 MILES NORTHEAST
OF HARSHAVILLE...MOVING EAST AT 60 MPH.
HEAVY RAIN WITH ISOLATED EMBEDDED THUNDERSTORMS AND MELTING SNOW
WILL LEAD TO PONDED WATER ON ROADS AND IN LOW LYING AREAS.
SOME LOCATIONS THAT WILL BE IMPACTED BY THIS HEAVY RAIN INCLUDE...
SHARON... FARRELL... HERMITAGE...
BEAVER... BEAVER FALLS... ALIQUIPPA...
ECONOMY BORO... NEW CASTLE... ELLWOOD CITY...
NEW WILMINGTON... FOMBELL... FREDONIA...
DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE INTO AREAS WHERE THE WATER COVERS THE
ROADWAY. THE WATER DEPTH MAY BE TOO GREAT TO ALLOW YOUR CAR TO CROSS
SAFELY. MOVE TO HIGHER GROUND.
PLEASE REPORT HEAVY RAIN AND FLOODING PROBLEMS TO THE NATIONAL
WEATHER SERVICE BY CALLING TOLL FREE...1-877-633-6772.
LAT...LON 4144 7895 4144 7906 4136 7909 4138 7896
4130 7881 4086 7880 4066 7981 4067 8014
4061 8017 4055 8035 4102 8054 4149 8053
4149 8001 4163 7983 4163 7896
WOODRUMThe Pittsburgh radar (KPBZ), 120 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 07:44 UTC.
4 flood, 1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Emergency management reported flooding countywide as most creeks out of their banks and flooding roadways.
Emergency management reported flooding countywide as most creeks out of their banks and flooding roadways.
Emergency management reported flooding countywide as most creeks out of their banks and flooding roadways.
Emergency management reported trees down near Dresden.
Emergency management reported flooding countywide as most creeks out of their banks and flooding roadways.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Ohio in 2011Every state in 2011This day in weather historyWarnings in Ohio, February 2011
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: 284507, 284508, 284509, 284506, 284505.