Ahead of a slow moving cold front scattered severe thunderstorms developed in an unstable airmass across western Pennsylvania and northern 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.
Ahead of a slow moving cold front scattered severe thunderstorms developed in an unstable airmass across western Pennsylvania and northern West Virginia.
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 Apr 26, 2:20 PM EST, 1 minute earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA 320 PM EDT TUE APR 26 2011 .SYNOPSIS... PERIODS OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE INTO THURSDAY WHEN A STRONG COLD FOR NT WILL CROSS THE REGION. MILD TEMPERATURES AHEAD OF THE FRONT WILL FALL BELOW NORMAL BEHIND IT FOR LATE WEEK. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH WEDNESDAY/... SCATTERED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS AHEAD OF AREA OF SHOWERS ASSOCIATED WITH SHORTWAVE WILL MOVING ACROSS OHIO VALLEY WILL CONTINUE INTO LATE EVENING BEFORE A BRIEF LULL. SURFACE LOW WILL MOVE INTO LOWER OHIO VALLEY WEDNESDAY SPREADING ANOTHER ROUND OF SHOWERS AND STORMS ACROSS REGION. TEMPERATURES WILL CONTINUE TO AVERAGE ABOVE NORMAL. && .SHORT TERM /WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY/... UPPER TROF WILL BE MOVING EAST ACROSS THE OHIO VALLEY THROUGH THURSDAY WITH SHOWERS AND STORMS, POTENTIAL SEVERE STORMS, AND THE THREAT OF FLOODING ESPECIALLY LATER WEDNESDAY NIGHT INTO EARLY THURSDAY MORNING. FRONT WILL SWEEP ACROSS REGION THURSDAY MORNING WITH MUCH COOLER AIR AND A FEW SHOWERS IN THE AFTERNOON BELOW CLOSED LOW ALOFT. UPPER LOW WILL GRADUALLY LIFT NORTHEAST WITH LOWERING SHOWER CHANCES THURSDAY NIGHT INTO FRIDAY MORNING. TEMPERATURES WILL COLL TO BELOW NORMAL THURSDAY AND FRIDAY. && .LONG TERM /FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY/... HIGH PRESSURE WILL EXTEND NORTH FROM THE SOUTHEASTERN UNITED STATES...KEEPING CONDITIONS DRY SATURDAY INTO SATURDAY NIGHT. THE 00Z GEFS/12Z GFS BRINGS A COLD FRONT INTO THE FORECAST AREA BY SUNDAY MORNING...BUT THIS IS MUCH FASTER THAN THE 00Z CANADIAN/ECMWF. WILL STICK WITH THE SLOWER SOLUTION...SIMILAR TO YESTERDAY/S FORECAST. THIS INTRODUCES POPS BY SUNDAY MORNING...AND BRINGS THE FRONT THROUGH MONDAY NIGHT INTO TUESDAY MORNING. ONCE THE COLD FRONT PASSES...HIGH PRESSURE WILL THEN BUILD INTO THE REGION FROM THE PLAINS. TEMPERATURES SHOULD BE SEASONABLE. && .AVIATION /19Z TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/... STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE INTO THIS EVENING AT ALL PORTS...WITH MVFR/IFR CONDITIONS IN STORMS. VFR CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED OUTSIDE OF THUNDERSTORMS. WINDS WILL DROP TO 5-10 KTS OVERNIGHT...BUT WILL BECOME STRONG TOMORROW. TAFS OF 15G28KT COULD BE ON THE CONSERVATIVE SIDE...WITH SOME MODELS SHOWING WIDESPREAD 35-40 KTS POSSIBLE. THIS COULD CAUSE CROSS WIND ISSUES ON SEVERAL AREA RUNWAYS. WAVE OF LOW PRESSURE FORMING ALONG A COLD FRONT WILL KEEP RESTRICTIONS IN THE FORECAST INTO THURSDAY NIGHT. LESS CERTAINTY AS TO WHETHER STRATUS AND SHOWERS WILL PERSIST THROUGH FRIDAY. HIGH PRESSURE WILL BRING CLEAR WEATHER ON SATURDAY...WITH A COLD FRONT LIKELY STAYING WEST OF THE FORECAST AREA FOR SUNDAY. && .PBZ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... MD...NONE. OH...NONE. PA...NONE. WV...NONE. &&
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA 151 PM EDT TUE APR 26 2011 MDZ001-PAZ014>016-020>023-029-031-073>076-WVZ021>023-041-271800- GARRETT-BUTLER-CLARION-JEFFERSON PA-BEAVER-ALLEGHENY-ARMSTRONG- INDIANA-WASHINGTON-GREENE-WESTMORELAND-WESTMORELAND RIDGES-FAYETTE- FAYETTE RIDGES-MARION-MONONGALIA-PRESTON-TUCKER- 151 PM EDT TUE APR 26 2011 ...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 213 IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM EDT THIS EVENING... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR WESTERN MARYLAND...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. SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY. THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WEDNESDAY AND WEDNESDAY EVENING. THE PRIMARY SEVERE THREAT WILL BE DAMAGING THUNDERSTORM WINDS AND LARGE HAIL. .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-PAZ007-008-013-WVZ001>004-012- 271800- TUSCARAWAS-CARROLL-COLUMBIANA-COSHOCTON-HARRISON-JEFFERSON OH- MUSKINGUM-GUERNSEY-BELMONT-NOBLE-MONROE-MERCER-VENANGO-LAWRENCE- HANCOCK-BROOKE-OHIO-MARSHALL-WETZEL- 151 PM EDT TUE APR 26 2011 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR EAST CENTRAL OHIO...NORTHWEST PENNSYLVANIA...WEST CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA...NORTHERN WEST VIRGINIA AND NORTHERN PANHANDLE OF WEST VIRGINIA. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT. NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY. THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WEDNESDAY AND WEDNESDAY EVENING. THE PRIMARY SEVERE THREAT WILL BE DAMAGING THUNDERSTORM WINDS AND LARGE HAIL. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER CONDITIONS ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES. PAZ009-271800- FOREST- 151 PM EDT TUE APR 26 2011 ...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 213 IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM EDT THIS EVENING... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTHWEST PENNSYLVANIA. .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. SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY. THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WEDNESDAY AND WEDNESDAY EVENING. THE PRIMARY SEVERE THREAT WILL BE DAMAGING THUNDERSTORM WINDS AND LARGE HAIL. .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 1231 PM EDT TUE APR 26 2011 OHZ059-PAZ020-021-029-WVZ002>004-261730- ALLEGHENY PA-BEAVER PA-BELMONT OH-BROOKE WV-MARSHALL WV-OHIO WV-WASHINGTON PA- 1231 PM EDT TUE APR 26 2011 ...THUNDERSTORMS WITH GUSTY WINDS AND SMALL HAIL TO MOVE THROUGH THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES...BELMONT...WASHINGTON...ALLEGHENY...BEAVER... MARSHALL...OHIO AND BROOKE... AT 1225 PM EDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR IN PITTSBURGH INDICATED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS OVER VALLEY GROVE...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 50 MPH. THIS STORM MAY PRODUCE DIME SIZE HAIL AND WIND GUSTS TO 45 MPH. SOME LOCATIONS THAT WILL BE IMPACTED BY THESE STORMS INCLUDE... WINDSOR HEIGHTS... WEST LIBERTY... WARWOOD... VALLEY GROVE... CLEARVIEW... BETHANY... FRANKLIN... AVELLA... BURGETTSTOWN... FLORENCE... MCDONALD... RACCOON CREEK STATE PARK... 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. LAT...LON 4073 8027 4056 8000 4002 8052 4012 8072
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA
204 PM EDT TUE APR 26 2011
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0140 PM TSTM WND DMG 3 SE RENFREW 40.78N 79.92W
04/26/2011 BUTLER PA 911 CALL CENTER
MULTIPLE TREES DOWN IN PENN TOWNSHIP
&&
EVENT NUMBER PBZ1100672
WOODRUMSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA
215 PM EDT TUE APR 26 2011
PAZ008-009-014>016-022-261915-
ARMSTRONG PA-BUTLER PA-CLARION PA-FOREST PA-JEFFERSON PA-VENANGO PA-
215 PM EDT TUE APR 26 2011
...THUNDERSTORMS WITH STRONG WIND GUSTS AND HAIL...
THUNDERSTORMS WITH STRONG WIND GUSTS AND HAIL TO MOVE THROUGH THE
FOLLOWING
COUNTIES...ARMSTRONG...BUTLER...JEFFERSON...VENANGO...FOREST AND
CLARION...
AT 207 PM EDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR IN PITTSBURGH
INDICATED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WITH STRONG WIND GUSTS AND
HAIL...ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 4 MILES SOUTH OF VAN TO 6 MILES
SOUTH OF EMLENTON TO 5 MILES SOUTHEAST OF CHICORA...MOVING NORTHEAST
AT 45 MPH. WINDS CAN GUST OVER 40 MPH AND HAIL CAN BE HALF INCH IN
SIZE. THERE MAY ALSO BE A BRIEF PERIOD OF HEAVY RAIN AND FREQUENT
LIGHTNING.
SOME LOCATIONS THAT WILL BE IMPACTED BY THESE STORMS INCLUDE...
VAN... KENNERDELL... HOOKER...
EMLENTON... EAU CLAIRE... CLINTONVILLE...
CHICORA... SENECA... BRADYS BEND...
EAST BRADY... OIL CITY... KNOX...
KEEP AN EYE TO THE SKY AND MOVE TO A SAFE PLACE IF THUNDERSTORMS
APPROACH.
WHEN THUNDERSTORMS THREATEN...ITS SAFEST TO GO INDOORS...PREFERABLY
IN A STRONG STRUCTURE TO BEST PROTECT YOURSELF FROM STRONG
THUNDERSTORM WINDS.
PLEASE REPORT HAIL...STRONG WINDS OR WIND DAMAGE TO THE NATIONAL
WEATHER SERVICE BY CALLING TOLL FREE. 1-877-633-6772...WHEN YOU CAN
DO SO SAFELY.
LAT...LON 4144 7895 4144 7906 4136 7909 4136 7903
4138 7897 4137 7897 4090 7945 4081 7983
4116 7989 4136 7986 4159 7989 4160 7986
4163 7983 4163 7896SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA
220 PM EDT TUE APR 26 2011
PAZ023-073-074-076-WVZ023-261900-
FAYETTE RIDGES PA-INDIANA PA-PRESTON WV-WESTMORELAND PA-WESTMORELAND
RIDGES PA-
220 PM EDT TUE APR 26 2011
...THUNDERSTORMS...
THUNDERSTORMS TO MOVE THROUGH THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES...
WESTMORELAND...INDIANA...PRESTON...WESTMORELAND RIDGES AND FAYETTE
RIDGES...
AT 215 PM EDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR IN PITTSBURGH
INDICATED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 5 MILES
SOUTH OF DERRY TO 15 MILES SOUTHWEST OF SEVEN SPRINGS...OR ALONG A
LINE EXTENDING FROM 5 MILES SOUTH OF DERRY TO 3 MILES SOUTH OF
OHIOPYLE...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 30 MPH.
SOME LOCATIONS THAT WILL BE IMPACTED BY THESE STORMS INCLUDE...
DONEGAL... DERRY... SEVEN SPRINGS...
LIGONIER... YELLOW CREEK STATE PARK...
NEW FLORENCE... LAUREL MOUNTAIN STATE PARK...
CLYMER... ARMAGH...
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.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 900 PM EDT
TUESDAY EVENING FOR WESTERN MARYLAND AND WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA AND
NORTHERN WEST VIRGINIA.
&&
LAT...LON 4027 7906 4010 7921 4008 7926 3992 7938
3988 7940 3969 7956 4031 7933 4089 7883SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA
247 PM EDT TUE APR 26 2011
OHZ059-069-PAZ029-031-075-WVZ004-012-021-022-261945-
BELMONT OH-FAYETTE PA-GREENE PA-MARION WV-MARSHALL WV-MONONGALIA
WV-MONROE OH-WASHINGTON PA-WETZEL WV-
247 PM EDT TUE APR 26 2011
...THUNDERSTORMS WITH POTENTIALLY SEVERE WIND GUSTS AND HAIL...
THUNDERSTORMS WITH POTENTIALLY SEVERE WIND GUSTS AND HAIL TO MOVE
THROUGH THE FOLLOWING
COUNTIES...MONROE...BELMONT...FAYETTE...WASHINGTON...GREENE...
MARION...WETZEL...MONONGALIA AND MARSHALL...
AT 241 PM EDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR IN PITTSBURGH
INDICATED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS 8 MILES SOUTH OF FLY...MOVING
NORTHEAST AT 45 MPH. THERE WERE OTHER STRONG STRONG THUNDERSTORMS
MOVING NORTHEAST THROUGH WETZEL AND WESTERN MARION AND MONONGAHELA
COUNTIES WEST VIRGINIA.
BESIDES STRONG WINDS AND HAIL...THERE CAN BE A SHORT PERIOD OF HEAVY
RAIN AND FREQUENT LIGHTNING. BEWARE OF PONDED WATER ON ROADS.
SOME LOCATIONS THAT WILL BE IMPACTED BY THESE STORMS INCLUDE...
FLY... PORTERS FALLS... NEW MARTINSVILLE...
HANNIBAL... JACKSONBURG... PINE GROVE...
SMITHFIELD... FOLSOM... PROCTOR...
CLARINGTON... WILEYVILLE... FAIRVIEW...
KEEP AN EYE TO THE SKY AND MOVE TO A SAFE PLACE IF THUNDERSTORMS
APPROACH.
WHEN THUNDERSTORMS THREATEN...ITS SAFEST TO GO INDOORS...PREFERABLY
IN A STRONG STRUCTURE TO BEST PROTECT YOURSELF FROM STRONG
THUNDERSTORM WINDS.
PLEASE REPORT HAIL...STRONG WINDS OR WIND DAMAGE TO THE NATIONAL
WEATHER SERVICE BY CALLING TOLL FREE. 1-877-633-6772...WHEN YOU CAN
DO SO SAFELY.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 900 PM EDT
TUESDAY EVENING FOR WESTERN MARYLAND AND WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA AND
NORTHERN WEST VIRGINIA.
&&
LAT...LON 3948 8072 3955 8079 3956 8084 3959 8085
3957 8090 3960 8094 3956 8101 3958 8108
4002 8073 4002 7993 3945 8045 3947 8050
3944 8051 3943 8055SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA
301 PM EDT TUE APR 26 2011
PAZ023-074-261915-
INDIANA PA-WESTMORELAND RIDGES PA-
301 PM EDT TUE APR 26 2011
...THUNDERSTORMS TO MOVE THROUGH THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES...INDIANA
AND WESTMORELAND RIDGES...
AT 258 PM EDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR IN PITTSBURGH
INDICATED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS 4 MILES EAST OF YELLOW CREEK STATE
PARK...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 45 MPH.
THIS STORM IS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING SMALL HAIL AND GUSTY WINDS TO 40
MPH.
SOME LOCATIONS THAT WILL BE IMPACTED BY THESE STORMS INCLUDE...
YELLOW CREEK STATE PARK...
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.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 900 PM EDT
TUESDAY EVENING FOR WESTERN MARYLAND AND WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA AND
NORTHERN WEST VIRGINIA.
&&
LAT...LON 4063 7884 4043 7896 4040 7902 4061 7907
4084 7881 4083 7880 4072 7880
AASThe Pittsburgh radar (KPBZ), 107 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 19:19 UTC.
1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Emergency management reported trees down in Wileyville.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in West Virginia in 2011Every state in 2011This day in weather historyWarnings in West Virginia, April 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: 295664.