Hail and Damaging Winds in Pennsylvania, July 3 to 4, 2012

Name: Hail and Damaging Winds in Pennsylvania, July 3 to 4, 2012
Start: 2012-07-03T18:44
End: 2012-07-04T19:01
Location: Pennsylvania

July 3 to 4, 2012 · NWS CLE · 13 events in 2 counties and zones

A cold front moved across the Upper Ohio Valley on July 3rd. Scattered showers and thunderstorms developed ahead of the front.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.

Tornadoes
Tropical storms and surge
Floods
Wind
Hail
Winter weather
Heat and drought
Cold
Fire, smoke and dust
Marine and coastal
Other

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: $151,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 13

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.

What happened

The episode as NWS CLE wrote it up.

A cold front moved across the Upper Ohio Valley on July 3rd. Scattered showers and thunderstorms developed ahead of the front. A few of the thunderstorms became severe.

What forecasters said that day

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 Cleveland, OH wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jul 3, 5:21 PM EST, 1 hour 23 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jul 3, 5:21 PM EST, 1 hour 23 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CLEVELAND OH
621 PM EDT TUE JUL 3 2012

.SYNOPSIS...
WITH A WARM FRONT NORTH OF THE AREA...TEMPERATURES WILL CLIMB INTO
THE 90S OVER THE NEXT THREE DAYS. A FEW MINOR DISTURBANCES
CONTINUES THE CHANCE FOR SHOWERS/THUNDERSTORMS. THE COLD FRONT IS
EXPECTED TO MOVE ACROSS FRIDAY NIGHT OR SATURDAY BRINGING SLIGHTLY
COOLER WEATHER TO THE REGION FOR NEXT WEEK.

&&

.NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 AM WEDNESDAY MORNING/...
FOR 630 PM UPDATE...LITTLE TO CHANGE TO ONGOING FORECAST. STILL
LOOKS LIKE CURRENT ACTIVITY OVER NORTHERN LAKE ERIE AND POINTS
FURTHER NORTH WILL DROP SE INTO THE SNOWBELT AREA LATE THIS EVENING.
AFTER THAT MOVES THROUGH JUST SCT TO ISOLATED SHOWERS AND STORMS
POSSIBLE. A FEW STORMS COULD STILL BE SEVERE. REST OF AREA WILL SEE
JUST ISOLATED STORMS AT MOST SINCE AIRMASS A LITTLE DRIER THERE. LOW
TEMPS WILL STAY ON THE WARM SIDE WITH READINGS MOSTLY DROPPING INTO
A 70 TO 75 RANGE.

&&

.SHORT TERM /6 AM WEDNESDAY MORNING THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT/...
THE HEAT MOVES FURTHER INTO WESTERN OHIO WEDNESDAY AND HAVE PUT UP
THE HEAT ADVISORY THERE. THE RIDGE IS A LITTLE MORE AMPLIFIED
WEDNESDAY...BUT THERE ARE STILL ENOUGH BUCKLES IN THE NORTHWEST
FLOW ACROSS THE GREAT LAKES THAT WILL HAVE TO CONTINUE THE CHANCES
FOR SHOWERS/THUNDERSTORMS. A GOOD SPREAD IN GUIDANCE TEMPERATURES
FOR WEDNESDAY...BUT SIDED ON THE WARM SIDE AS HAS BEEN THE CASE
THIS YEAR. THAT PLACES TOL/FDY IN THE UPPER 90S.

MORE IN THE WAY OF HIGH PRESSURE FOR THURSDAY AND HAVE CONTINUED
THE DRY FORECAST. WILL LIKELY NEED ANOTHER HEAT ADVISORY FOR
THURSDAY ACROSS THE WEST.

WE GET ANOTHER PUSH FOR THE HEAT ON FRIDAY AS A MORE
DEFINED/SUBSTANTIAL COLD FRONT MOVES INTO THE GREAT LAKES. WILL GO
WITH TRIPLE DIGIT HIGHS FOR TOL/FDY AND MID/UPPER 90S ELSEWHERE IN
OHIO. NW PA WILL PUT IN THE LOWER 90S. WILL BRING IN PRECIP
CHANCES FOR FRIDAY NIGHT WITH THE APPROACH OF THE FRONT. THERE IS
TIMING DIFFERENCES THOUGH WITH THIS FRONT.

&&

.LONG TERM /SATURDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/...
MODELS CONTINUE TO HAVE SOME DIFFERENCES BUT THE CONSENSUS SEEMS TO
BE THAT A COLD FRONT WILL DROP SOUTH ACROSS THE REGION ON SATURDAY.
IT WILL TAKE SOME TIME FOR COOLER AIR TO MOVE IN BEHIND THIS FRONT
SO WILL KEEP HIGHS IN THE 90S.  THE FRONT WILL STALL NEAR THE OHIO
RIVER ON SUNDAY.  WILL KEEP SMALL CHANCES FOR PRECIP IN THROUGH
SUNDAY WITH BEST CHANCES IN THE SOUTH.  HIGH PRESSURE WILL BUILD IN
FOR MONDAY AND TUESDAY. BY TUESDAY READINGS SHOULD BE BACK CLOSE TO
NORMAL.

&&

.AVIATION /19Z TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/...
FIRST WAVE OF PRECIP IS JUST EXITING THE KCLE AREA. THIS AREA OF
SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT THE EASTERN TAF SITES THE
NEXT COUPLE OF HOURS. PRECIP NORTH OF KDTW MAY AFFECT KERI LATER
THIS AFTERNOON. THE BIG QUESTION IS WHETHER MORE STORMS WILL
DEVELOP TO THE WEST AND AFFECT WESTERN OHIO. IT MAY BE CAPPED
THERE SO THINK THE BRUNT OF ACTIVITY DURING THE EVENING WILL BE
OVER NE OH AND NW PA. SOME INDICATION FROM THE MODELS THAT ANOTHER
WAVE OF STORMS WILL MOVE ACROSS THE REGION LATE TONIGHT AND
WEDNESDAY MORNING AHEAD OF THE COLD FRONT. WILL INCLUDE A MENTION
IN THE TAFS. WINDS WILL REMAIN VARIABLE AROUND ANY OF THE STRONGER
THUNDERSTORMS WITH A GENERAL W TO SW FLOW ELSEWHERE. VSBYS COULD
BRIEFLY DIP TO IFR WITH ANY OF THE STRONGER STORMS.

.OUTLOOK...POSSIBLE SHOWERS/THUNDERSTORMS WEDNESDAY AND WEDNESDAY
NIGHT WILL RESULT IN NON VFR CONDITIONS IN AND NEAR THE STORMS.

&&

.MARINE...
WINDS MAY BE VARIABLE THROUGH LATE AFTERNOON AND THEN SOUTHWEST FOR
THE OVERNIGHT. THE MODELS TRY TO INCREASE THE WINDS ESPECIALLY ON
THE EAST END OF THE LAKE THIS EVENING FOR A SHORT TIME. ON THE EDGE
ABOUT THAT BUT WENT WITH IT.

OTHERWISE THE WINDS WILL BE LIGHT THROUGH THE WEEKEND WITH MAINLY A
SOUTHWEST OR ONSHORE FLOW. THE FLOW WILL BE NORTHEAST THURSDAY WITH
HIGH PRESSURE TO THE NORTH AND THEN AGAIN ONSHORE OVER THE WEEKEND
WITH HIGH PRESSURE TO THE NORTH AND A FRONTAL BOUNDARY SOUTH OF THE
LAKE.

THE MAIN THREAT FOR ANY HEADLINES ON THE LAKE WILL BE SPECIAL MARINE
WARNINGS FOR THUNDERSTORMS AND THAT WILL BE ON AND OFF THROUGH THE
WEEKEND.

&&

.CLE WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
OH...HEAT ADVISORY FROM NOON TO 9 PM EDT WEDNESDAY FOR OHZ003-
     006>008-017-018-027-028-036-037-047.
PA...NONE.
MARINE...NONE.

&&

SYNOPSIS...OUDEMAN
NEAR TERM...OUDEMAN/ADAMS
SHORT TERM...OUDEMAN
LONG TERM...KUBINA
AVIATION...KUBINA
MARINE...KIELTYKA

Hazardous weather outlook, Jul 3, 2:24 PM EST, 4 hours 20 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CLEVELAND OH
324 PM EDT TUE JUL 3 2012

OHZ003-006>008-017-018-027-028-036-037-047-042000-
LUCAS-WOOD-OTTAWA-SANDUSKY-HANCOCK-SENECA-WYANDOT-CRAWFORD-MARION-
MORROW-KNOX-
324 PM EDT TUE JUL 3 2012

...HEAT ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM NOON TO 9 PM EDT WEDNESDAY...

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTH CENTRAL OHIO AND
NORTHWEST OHIO.

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT.

THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK THAT IF THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOP THEY COULD BE
SEVERE.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY.

PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE
INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS.

   HEAT ADVISORY.

HEAT INDEX VALUES WILL BE EXCEEDING 100 DEGREES WEDNESDAY THROUGH
FRIDAY AND ADDITIONAL HEAT ADVISORIES WILL LIKELY BE NEEDED.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

OHZ009>011-019>021-029>032-038-042000-
ERIE OH-LORAIN-CUYAHOGA-HURON-MEDINA-SUMMIT-RICHLAND-ASHLAND-WAYNE-
STARK-HOLMES-
324 PM EDT TUE JUL 3 2012

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTH CENTRAL OHIO AND
NORTHEAST OHIO.

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT.

THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK THAT ANY THUNDERSTORMS THAT MOVE THROUGH
THE AREA TONIGHT MAY BE SEVERE.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY.

HEAT INDEX VALUES MAY EXCEED 100 DEGREES ON THURSDAY AND FRIDAY.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

LEZ061-142>149-162>169-OHZ012>014-022-023-033-089-PAZ001>003-042000-
LAKE ERIE OPEN WATERS FROM RIPLEY TO BUFFALO NY-
MAUMEE BAY TO RENO BEACH OH-RENO BEACH TO THE ISLANDS OH-
THE ISLANDS TO VERMILION OH-VERMILION TO AVON POINT OH-
AVON POINT TO WILLOWICK OH-WILLOWICK TO GENEVA-ON-THE LAKE OH-GENEVA-
ON-THE-LAKE TO CONNEAUT OH-CONNEAUT OH TO RIPLEY NY-
LAKE ERIE OPEN WATERS FROM MAUMEE BAY TO RENO BEACH-
LAKE ERIE OPEN WATERS FROM RENO BEACH TO THE ISLANDS-
LAKE ERIE OPEN WATERS FROM THE ISLANDS TO VERMILION-
LAKE ERIE OPEN WATERS FROM VERMILION TO AVON POINT-
LAKE ERIE OPEN WATERS FROM AVON POINT TO WILLOWICK-
LAKE ERIE OPEN WATERS FROM WILLOWICK TO GENEVA-ON-THE-LAKE-
LAKE ERIE OPEN WATERS FROM GENEVA-ON-THE-LAKE TO CONNEAUT-
LAKE ERIE OPEN WATERS FROM CONNEAUT OH TO RIPLEY NY-LAKE-GEAUGA-
ASHTABULA INLAND-PORTAGE-TRUMBULL-MAHONING-ASHTABULA LAKESHORE-
NORTHERN ERIE-SOUTHERN ERIE-CRAWFORD PA-
324 PM EDT TUE JUL 3 2012

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR LAKE ERIE...NORTHEAST OHIO
AND NORTHWEST PENNSYLVANIA.

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT.

THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK THAT ANY THUNDERSTORMS THAT MOVE THROUGH
THE AREA TONIGHT MAY BE SEVERE.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY.

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

OUDEMAN

In the hours before

Local storm report, Jul 3, 12:48 PM EST, 5 hours 56 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CLEVELAND OH
148 PM EDT TUE JUL 03 2012

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1035 AM     TSTM WND DMG     BAY VILLAGE             41.49N 81.93W
07/03/2012                   CUYAHOGA           OH   DEPT OF HIGHWAYS

            A TREE AND A LARGE LIMB DOWN.

&&

KIELTYKA

Local storm report, Jul 3, 12:58 PM EST, 5 hours 46 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CLEVELAND OH
158 PM EDT TUE JUL 03 2012

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1030 AM     TSTM WND GST     SHEFFIELD LAKE          41.49N 82.10W
07/03/2012  E60.00 MPH       LORAIN             OH   EMERGENCY MNGR

            WIND REPORT OCCURRED AT STATE ROUTE 6 AND LAKE BREEZE
            ROAD.

1035 AM     TSTM WND DMG     BAY VILLAGE             41.49N 81.93W
07/03/2012                   CUYAHOGA           OH   DEPT OF HIGHWAYS

            A TREE AND A LARGE LIMB DOWN.

1105 AM     HAIL             TIFFIN                  41.12N 83.18W
07/03/2012  E0.88 INCH       SENECA             OH   TRAINED SPOTTER

1115 AM     TSTM WND DMG     3 NE OBERLIN            41.32N 82.18W
07/03/2012                   LORAIN             OH   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            TREE DOWN INDIAN HOLLOW AND MURDON ROADS IN CARLISLE
            TOWNSHIP...IT BLOCKED THE ROAD. OTHER LARGE LIMBS DOWN IN
            THE AREA.

1125 AM     HAIL             9 WNW MEDINA            41.19N 82.03W
07/03/2012  E0.75 INCH       MEDINA             OH   PUBLIC

1133 AM     TSTM WND DMG     4 W MEDINA              41.14N 81.94W
07/03/2012                   MEDINA             OH   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            TREE DOWN IN YORK TOWNSHIP.

1140 AM     TSTM WND DMG     2 NNE LODI              41.06N 82.00W
07/03/2012                   MEDINA             OH   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            TREE DOWN VANDERMARK AND 224.

1145 AM     HAIL             4 WSW MEDINA            41.11N 81.94W
07/03/2012  E0.75 INCH       MEDINA             OH   BROADCAST MEDIA

1200 PM     HAIL             CRESTON                 40.98N 81.90W
07/03/2012  E0.75 INCH       WAYNE              OH   TRAINED SPOTTER

1205 PM     TSTM WND DMG     4 E CRESTON             40.98N 81.82W
07/03/2012                   WAYNE              OH   TRAINED SPOTTER

            SOME TREES DOWN IN STERLING.

1210 PM     TSTM WND DMG     WADSWORTH               41.02N 81.73W
07/03/2012                   MEDINA             OH   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            TREE DOWN IN WADSWORTH TOWNSHIP.

1213 PM     HAIL             SMITHVILLE              40.86N 81.86W
07/03/2012  E1.00 INCH       WAYNE              OH   PUBLIC

1213 PM     HAIL             SMITHVILLE              40.86N 81.86W
07/03/2012  E0.88 INCH       WAYNE              OH   TRAINED SPOTTER

            PEA TO NICKEL SIZE HAIL.

&&

KIELTYKA

Local storm report, Jul 3, 4:10 PM EST, 2 hours 34 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CLEVELAND OH
510 PM EDT TUE JUL 03 2012

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0443 PM     HAIL             SHAUCK                  40.62N 82.66W
07/03/2012  E0.75 INCH       MORROW             OH   FIRE DEPT/RESCUE

&&

YEAGER

The radar

The Cleveland radar (KCLE), 135 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 23:43 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

9 thunderstorm wind, 4 hail. Local standard time, as filed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Erie

When: July 3, 6:44 PM EST
Where: Erie County, North Springfield
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $5,000
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 42.000, -80.430

Thunderstorm winds downed a few trees.

Thunderstorm Wind, Erie

When: July 3, 7:00 PM EST
Where: Erie County, Edinboro
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $15,000
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 41.870, -80.130

Thunderstorm winds downed several trees.

Thunderstorm Wind, Crawford

When: July 3, 7:05 PM EST
Where: Crawford County, 2 mi NW of Shadeland
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $8,000
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 41.840, -80.407

Thunderstorm winds downed a few trees. At least one road was blocked by fallen trees.

Thunderstorm Wind, Erie

When: July 3, 7:08 PM EST
Where: Erie County, Edinboro
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $50,000
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 41.870, -80.130

Thunderstorm winds downed several trees and large limbs.

Thunderstorm Wind, Crawford

When: July 3, 7:14 PM EST to 7:15 PM EST
Where: Crawford County, Cambridge Spgs
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $50,000
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 41.800, -80.070

Thunderstorm winds downed many trees. Much of the town lost power.

Hail, Crawford

When: July 3, 7:15 PM EST
Where: Crawford County, 2.94 mi W of Drakes Mills
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: NWS Employee
Coordinates: 41.833, -80.137

Quarter sized hail was reported.

Thunderstorm Wind, Crawford

When: July 3, 7:15 PM EST
Where: Crawford County, 3 mi W of Drakes Mills
Measured: 56 kt (64 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: NWS Employee
Coordinates: 41.830, -80.138

Thunderstorm wind gusts were estimated to be 65 mph by a retired meteorologist.

Thunderstorm Wind, Crawford

When: July 3, 7:25 PM EST
Where: Crawford County, Meadville
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $5,000
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 41.630, -80.150

Thunderstorm winds downed a few trees.

Hail, Crawford

When: July 3, 7:41 PM EST
Where: Crawford County, 5 mi N of Meadville
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 41.702, -80.150

Penny sized hail was reported.

Hail, Crawford

When: July 3, 7:41 PM EST
Where: Crawford County, 5 mi N of Meadville
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 41.702, -80.150

Penny sized hail was observed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Crawford

When: July 3, 8:00 PM EST
Where: Crawford County, Guys Mills
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 41.630, -79.980

Thunderstorm winds downed some trees.

Thunderstorm Wind, Crawford

When: July 3, 9:25 PM EST
Where: Crawford County, Townville
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $8,000
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 41.680, -79.880

Thunderstorm winds downed a few trees.

Hail, Erie

When: July 4, 7:01 PM EST
Where: Erie County, Edinboro
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 41.870, -80.130

Quarter sized hail was observed.

What these are

Thunderstorm Wind: Winds from a thunderstorm of 50 knots (58 mph) or more, or lower winds that caused damage or casualties. Measured gusts are marked MG, estimated EG.
Hail: Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Pennsylvania in 2012 Every state in 2012 This day in weather history Warnings in Pennsylvania, July 2012

Sources

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: 405289, 405704, 405700, 405298, 405284, 405293, 405295, 405699, 405287, 405703, 405701, 405698, 405292.