A thunderstorm complex that developed in conjunction with a strengthening surface low over northern Indiana propagated westward towards the region late on the 12th. Out ahead of this system, strong speed shear and instability contributed to supercellular development along a warm frontal boundary that bisected the region.
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 thunderstorm complex that developed in conjunction with a strengthening surface low over northern Indiana propagated westward towards the region late on the 12th. Out ahead of this system, strong speed shear and instability contributed to supercellular development along a warm frontal boundary that bisected the region. Several reports of large hail and damaging winds were reported before the bow echo reached eastern Ohio very early on the 13th. This bow echo, with a history of widespread wind damage, then crossed through the forecast area through 6am, causing several reports of downed trees and wires through much of eastern Ohio, northern West Virginia, and southwestern Pennsylvania.
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 Jun 13, 1:14 AM EST, 46 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA
214 AM EDT THU JUN 13 2013
.SYNOPSIS...
LOW PRESSURE WILL MOVE ACROSS THE GREAT LAKES AND OHIO VALLEY
REGION THROUGH THURSDAY...FOLLOWED BY BUILDING HIGH PRESSURE LATE
FRIDAY AND SATURDAY.
&&
.NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 AM THIS MORNING/...
PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS SITUATION SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IN
EFFECT UNTIL 6 AM...
THE 00Z KPBZ SOUNDING INDICATED FAIRLY STRONG VEERING IN THE
LOWEST 3 KM OF THE ATMOSPHERE WITH 0-3 KM HELICITY VALUES
APPROACHING 300 M2/S2. GIVEN FAIRLY STRONG LAPSE RATES FROM THE
SURFACE UP TO ROUGHLY 500 MB AND STRONG SPEED SHEAR EVEN ABOVE THE
LAYER WITH STRONG VEERING...A MULTITUDE OF THREATS CONTINUE TO BE
POSSIBLE OVER THE AREA EVEN VERY LATE THIS EVENING WITH
TORNADOES...DAMAGING WIND...AND LARGE HAIL ALL BEING VERY REAL
THREATS ACROSS THE SOUTHERN TWO-THIRDS OF THE AREA. IN
ADDITION...A WELL DEVELOPED BOWING SQUALL LINE IS CLEARLY EVIDENT
ON RADAR SCREAMING SOUTHEASTWARD OUT OF INDIANA INTO OHIO AT THIS
HOUR WITH A FORWARD SPEED OF ROUGHLY 50 KTS. WHEN CONSIDERING THIS
TRANSLATION ON TOP OF WIND GENERATED VIA DOWNBURSTS WITH THE
LINE...WIND SPEEDS IN ASSOCIATION WITH THIS LINE ARE QUITE LIKELY
TO BE WELL IN EXCESS OF 70 KTS OVER A WIDE AREA AS IT PASSES
THROUGH SOUTHERN OHIO...SOUTHWESTERN PENNSYLVANIA...AND NORTHERN
WEST VIRGINIA.
WHILE ONGOING DEVELOPMENT IS LARGELY SMALL SUPERCELLULAR
DEVELOP EMT...HIGH RESOLUTION AND GLOBAL MODELS AS WELL AS SIMPLE
RADAR EXTRAPOLATION INDICATE WE ARE FAR FROM EVEN IN THE BEST
LARGE SCALE PLACEMENT YET FOR CONVECTIVE DEVELOPMENT AND
PROPAGATION. THE BEST MOMENTUM ALOFT AND AT 850 MB HAS YET TO
REACH THE AREA...AND IS UNLIKELY TO DO SO FOR SEVERAL MORE
HOURS...WHICH WILL LIKELY BE COINCIDENT WITH THE ARRIVAL OF THE
SQUALL LINE. THIS MEANS THE WORST IS LIKELY TO START TO AFFECT THE
AREA AFTER 2 AM...AND LIKELY EXIT THE SOUTHEASTERN PART OF THE
AREA BY 6 AM.
WATER VAPOR IMAGERY REALLY SHEDS A LOT OF LIGHT ONTO THE ONGOING
UPSTREAM SITUATION IN TERMS OF WHY DEVELOPMENT IS SO PERSISTENT
AND STRONG FOR SUCH A LONG TIME. A VERY DEEP TROPOPAUSE FOLD IS
EVIDENT FROM SOUTHEASTERN SOUTH DAKOTA TOWARD CENTRAL ILLINOIS AT
THE MOMENT...WITH MODEL PROJECTIONS AND WATER VAPOR IMAGERY
SUGGESTING THIS EXTENDS DOWN BELOW 700 MB AT THE MOMENT. AS THE
OVERNIGHT CONTINUES...THIS FOLD IS SET TO TRACK EASTWARD WITH
SIMILAR DEPTH INTO WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA. THIS WILL WORK TO
CONTINUOUSLY FEED MID-LEVEL DRY AIR INTO THE CONVECTIVE
DEVELOPMENT ALONG THE FRONT GIVEN WESTERLY AND WEST-SOUTHWESTERLY
FLOW AT 700 MB. WITH WEAK LOW LEVEL INVERSIONS LIKELY TO DEVELOP
BASED UPON SOUNDINGS OVERNIGHT...STRONG MID-LEVEL DRY
INTRUSION...AND A CONTINUATION OF STRONG LAPSE RATES ABOVE
BASICALLY THE LOWEST 1000-2000 FEET OF THE ATMOSPHERE...THERE IS
LITTLE DOUBT CONVECTIVE DEVELOPMENT SHOULD BE ABLE TO SCREAM
DOWNSTREAM INTO THE AREA TONIGHT. THAT SAID...THE CONTINUATION OF
A LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WIND/DOWNBURST THREAT SEEMS QUITE
REASONABLE RIGHT THROUGH MORNING ALL THE WHILE THE FLOODING THREAT
GETS PROGRESSIVELY HIGHER DUE TO CONVECTIVE TRAINING. POPS WERE
KEPT CATEGORICAL ALL NIGHT...AND DAMAGING WINDS/LARGE HAIL/HEAVY
RAIN WERE CONTINUED IN THE GRID FOR THE ENTIRETY OF THE NIGHT.
FRIES
&&
.SHORT TERM /6 AM THIS MORNING THROUGH SATURDAY/...
THE SFC LOW AND A CDFNT WL PUSH E OF THE AREA THU AFTN...BRINGING
A GRDL END TO THE SHWRS/TSTMS. LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL STILL PSBL
IN THE MRNG. BEST THREAT FOR ANY SVR WEA SHOULD GENLY BE TO OUR E.
A WK VORT MAXES DROPS SE ACRS THE AREA FRI SO ONLY MENTIONED SLGT
CHC POPS FOR SHWRS. HIGH PRES QUICKLY BLDS IN LTR FRI AND SAT WITH
CLRG CONDS.
&&
.LONG TERM /SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY/...
THE LONG WAVE PATTERN LOOKS TO FAVOR TROUGHING OVER THE GREAT LAKES
AND NORTHEASTERN REGION OF THE COUNTRY THROUGH THE PERIOD WITH
SEVERAL ILL-TIMED SHORT WAVE SYSTEMS LIKELY TO EVOLVE IN THE
NORTHWESTERLY FLOW ALOFT. THIS WILL BRING CHANCES OF SHOWERS AND
THUNDERSTORMS THROUGH MOST OF THE EXTENDED FORECAST. THIS SHOULD
KEEP TEMPERATURES FROM REALLY GETTING TOO WARM DURING ANY PARTICULAR
PERIOD OF THE LONG TERM AT LEAST UNTIL MID-WEEK NEXT WEEK. BY THAT
TIME...LONG WAVE RIDGING SHOULD START TO EDGE FROM THE PLAINS TOWARD
THE WESTERN GREAT LAKES...BRINGING A GRADUAL END TO UNSETTLED
CONDITIONS OVER OUR REGION.
&&
.AVIATION /06Z THURSDAY THROUGH MONDAY/...
THUNDERSTORM COMPLEX CURRENTLY OVER CENTRAL OHIO IS PROGGED TO CROSS
THE FORECAST AREA AND ESSENTIALLY ALL TAF SITES WITHIN THE NEXT
COUPLE OF HOURS. IFR CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED AS WELL AS HIGH WIND
GUSTS - LIKELY OVER 50KTS. TRIED TO TIME THE PROGRESSION OF THE
SYSTEM AS IT MOVES ACROSS...HOWEVER...AMENDMENTS MAY BE NEEDED.
PERIODS OF MODERATE RAINFALL WILL KEEP THE CHANCES FOR RESTRICTIONS
THROUGH AT LEAST MIDDAY SUNDAY BEFORE THE DEPARTING LOW PRESSURE
SWINGS A COLD FRONT THROUGH THE REGION. THE MODEL SOUNDS DO SUGGEST
SOME LINGERING INSTABILITY SO THUNDER COULD NOT BE COMPLETELY RULED
OUT. HOWEVER...WITH CONFIDENCE REMAINING QUITE LOW...ONLY SHRA WAS
CARRIED AFTER 10Z FOR NOW.
SOUTHERLY WINDS WILL REMAIN VARIABLE AND GUSTY IN THUNDERSTORMS. A
GRADUAL W-NW SHIFT IS EXPECTED BY LATE THURSDAY. WIND GUST TO 25KTS
WILL CONTINUE TO BE POSSIBLE WITH THE LOWS DEPARTURE.
.OUTLOOK.../THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY/...
HIGH PRES WL RTN VFR TO REGIONAL PORTS FOR FRI AND SAT. PCPN AND
RESTRICTION CHCS WL INCRS AGAIN SUNDAY INTO MONDAY.
&&
.PBZ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
MD...FLASH FLOOD WATCH THROUGH THIS AFTERNOON FOR MDZ001.
OH...FLASH FLOOD WATCH THROUGH THIS AFTERNOON FOR OHZ039>041-
048>050-057>059-068-069.
PA...FLASH FLOOD WATCH THROUGH THIS AFTERNOON FOR PAZ007>009-
013>016-020>023-029-031-073>076.
WV...FLASH FLOOD WATCH THROUGH THIS AFTERNOON FOR WVZ001>004-012-
021>023-041.
&&HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA 135 AM EDT THU JUN 13 2013 MDZ001-OHZ039>041-048>050-057>059-068-069-PAZ007>009-013>016-020>023- 029-031-073>076-WVZ001>004-012-021>023-041-140545- GARRETT-TUSCARAWAS-CARROLL-COLUMBIANA-COSHOCTON-HARRISON- JEFFERSON OH-MUSKINGUM-GUERNSEY-BELMONT-NOBLE-MONROE-MERCER-VENANGO- FOREST-LAWRENCE-BUTLER-CLARION-JEFFERSON PA-BEAVER-ALLEGHENY- ARMSTRONG-INDIANA-WASHINGTON-GREENE-WESTMORELAND-WESTMORELAND RIDGES- FAYETTE-FAYETTE RIDGES-HANCOCK-BROOKE-OHIO-MARSHALL-WETZEL-MARION- MONONGALIA-PRESTON-TUCKER- 135 AM EDT THU JUN 13 2013 ...FLASH FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT THROUGH THIS AFTERNOON... ...PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS SITUATION SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 302 IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 AM EDT EARLY THIS MORNING... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR WESTERN MARYLAND...EAST CENTRAL OHIO...NORTHWEST PENNSYLVANIA...SOUTHWEST PENNSYLVANIA...WEST CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA...NORTHERN WEST VIRGINIA 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. FLASH FLOOD WATCH. PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS SITUATION SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY. 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
1245 AM EDT THU JUN 13 2013
WVZ021>023-130530-
MARION WV-MONONGALIA WV-PRESTON WV-
1245 AM EDT THU JUN 13 2013
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT CENTRAL PRESTON...SOUTH CENTRAL
MONONGALIA AND SOUTHEASTERN MARION COUNTIES...
AT 1241 AM EDT...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED NEAR
WORTHINGTON...MOVING EAST AT 30 MPH.
WIND GUSTS TO 45 MPH AND PENNY SIZE HAIL ARE POSSIBLE WITH THIS
STORM.
LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
WORTHINGTON... MONONGAH... FESTUS...
FARMINGTON... BENTONS FERRY... BARRACKVILLE...
FAIRMONT... COLFAX... VALLEY FALLS...
WINFIELD... BROWNS CHAPEL... GLADESVILLE...
PLEASE REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER BY CALLING...412-262-1988...POSTING
TO THE NWS PITTSBURGH FACEBOOK PAGE...OR USING TWITTER
@NWSPITTSBURGH.
LAT...LON 3930 7990 3943 7990 3944 7995 3940 8002
3938 8007 3940 8010 3939 8020 3943 8027
3944 8032 3952 8033 3953 7958 3927 7958SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA
1246 AM EDT THU JUN 13 2013
WVZ041-130530-
TUCKER WV-
1246 AM EDT THU JUN 13 2013
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT SOUTHERN TUCKER COUNTY...
AT 1245 AM EDT...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED 4 MILES SOUTH OF
PLEASANT RUN...MOVING EAST AT 30 MPH.
WIND GUSTS TO 45 MPH AND PENNY SIZE HAIL ARE POSSIBLE WITH THIS
STORM.
LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
PLEASANT RUN... ELK...
CANAAN VALLEY STATE PARK... LANEVILLE...
PLEASE REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER BY CALLING...412-262-1988...POSTING
TO THE NWS PITTSBURGH FACEBOOK PAGE...OR USING TWITTER
@NWSPITTSBURGH.
LAT...LON 3897 7940 3897 7951 3902 7974 3904 7978
3905 7978 3909 7933 3907 7929 3898 7933
3896 7935SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA 108 AM EDT THU JUN 13 2013 OHZ050-059-PAZ029-WVZ002>004-130615- BELMONT OH-BROOKE WV-JEFFERSON OH-MARSHALL WV-OHIO WV-WASHINGTON PA- 108 AM EDT THU JUN 13 2013 ...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT NORTHEASTERN BELMONT... NORTHEASTERN MARSHALL...OHIO...SOUTH CENTRAL JEFFERSON...SOUTHERN BROOKE AND SOUTHWESTERN WASHINGTON COUNTIES... AT 104 AM EDT...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED 4 MILES SOUTH OF DILLONVALE...MOVING EAST AT 25 MPH. WIND GUSTS TO 40 MPH AND NICKEL SIZE HAIL ARE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM. LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE... BRIDGEPORT... MARTINS FERRY... YORKVILLE... WHEELING... TILTONSVILLE... RAYLAND... WARWOOD... CLEARVIEW... BETHLEHEM... WINDSOR HEIGHTS... TRIADELPHIA... WEST LIBERTY... PLEASE REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER BY CALLING...412-262-1988...POSTING TO THE NWS PITTSBURGH FACEBOOK PAGE...OR USING TWITTER @NWSPITTSBURGH. LAT...LON 4021 8033 3998 8051 4006 8089 4024 8071
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA 123 AM EDT THU JUN 13 2013 PAZ029-031-075-130615- FAYETTE PA-GREENE PA-WASHINGTON PA- 123 AM EDT THU JUN 13 2013 ...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT NORTH CENTRAL GREENE... NORTHWESTERN FAYETTE AND SOUTHEASTERN WASHINGTON COUNTIES... AT 123 AM EDT...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED 3 MILES WEST OF MARIANNA...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 30 MPH. WIND GUSTS TO 40 MPH AND PENNY SIZE HAIL ARE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM. LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE... MARIANNA... BENTLEYVILLE... BROWNSVILLE... CALIFORNIA... PLEASE REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER BY CALLING...412-262-1988...POSTING TO THE NWS PITTSBURGH FACEBOOK PAGE...OR USING TWITTER @NWSPITTSBURGH. LAT...LON 4023 7999 4003 7982 3996 8020 4004 8027
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA
156 AM EDT THU JUN 13 2013
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1210 AM TSTM WND DMG RIVESVILLE 39.53N 80.12W
06/13/2013 MARION WV EMERGENCY MNGR
TREES REPORTED DOWN
&&
EVENT NUMBER PBZ1301935
DARNLEYSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA
241 AM EDT THU JUN 13 2013
OHZ041-050-PAZ020-WVZ001-130715-
BEAVER PA-COLUMBIANA OH-HANCOCK WV-JEFFERSON OH-
241 AM EDT THU JUN 13 2013
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT NORTHERN HANCOCK...NORTHERN
JEFFERSON...SOUTHEASTERN COLUMBIANA AND SOUTHERN BEAVER COUNTIES...
AT 237 AM EDT...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED 4 MILES SOUTH OF
SALINEVILLE...MOVING EAST AT 45 MPH.
WIND GUSTS TO 40 MPH AND NICKEL SIZE HAIL ARE POSSIBLE WITH THIS
STORM.
LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
SALINEVILLE... BERGHOLZ... HAMMONDSVILLE...
WELLSVILLE... NEW CUMBERLAND...
TOMLINSON RUN STATE PARK... NEWELL...
NEW MANCHESTER... EAST LIVERPOOL... CHESTER...
BLACKHAWK... HARSHAVILLE...
PLEASE REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER BY CALLING...412-262-1988...POSTING
TO THE NWS PITTSBURGH FACEBOOK PAGE...OR USING TWITTER
@NWSPITTSBURGH.
LAT...LON 4075 8024 4059 8021 4052 8030 4047 8091
4056 8092 4056 8087 4064 8086 4064 8091
4065 8092The Pittsburgh radar (KPBZ), 15 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 07:00 UTC.
22 thunderstorm wind, 10 flood. Local standard time, as filed.
Local Post Office reported numerous trees down.
Local law enforcement reported a utility pole cracked in half and wires down near Kennedy Township.
State official reported trees down in Shenango Township.
Law enforcement reported a tree down blocking Elizabeth and California Avenues.
The public reported several trees down southeast of Zelienople.
The public reported trees down.
State official reported trees down in Adams Township.
State official reported trees and power lines down in and around Richhill Township along Route 88 south.
Law enforcement reported trees down on roadway at Speer Drive and Woodland Drive.
State official reported multiple trees down along route 18.
Broadcast media reported downed trees and power lines blocking Stonelea and Hiawatha Streets.
Broadcast media reported large trees down over roadway.
Broadcast media reported a tree blocking roadway at the intersection of Butler and Baker Streets.
Broadcast media reported a tree down blocking Mount Royal Boulevard.
Broadcast media reported a tree down on Beechwood Boulevard.
State official reported trees and wires down at the intersection of Route 519 and 136.
Local law enforcement reported a tree down blocking Gilkeson Road.
Law enforcement reported that Saw Mill Run was out of its banks with water coming onto roadway.
A member of the public submitted a picture of a 7 to 8 inch diameter tree snapped.
The public reported flooded yards and water in at least one basement.
State official reported a house damaged by downed tree. Also, several trees were reported down in and around Greensburg.
The Fayette County emergency management director reported a 1/2 to 1 mile swath of trees down near Farmington in the area of State Route 381 and Rankin Road. The director stated the damage was due to straight line winds.
The Fayette County emergency management director reported a 1/2 to 1 mile swath of trees down near Farmington in the area of State Route 381 and Rankin Road. The director stated the damage was due to straight line winds.
State official reported flooding along Irwin Street in Elizabeth.
State official reported that the intersection of Route 51 and Route 837 in Elizabeth was closed due to flooding.
State official reported a lane restriction at the intersection of Route 51 and Whited Street.
State official reported that Jacks Run Creek was flooding at the intersection of Lincoln Way and Five Pines Road in North Huntington Township.
State official reported that Becks Run Road was closed due to flooding.
State official reported minor flooding in the Greensburg/Hempfield area along Pellis Road.
State official reported that debris washed up along the roadway near Riverview Drive and Walton Road in Jefferson Hills Borough.
State official reported minor road flooding in the city of Greensburg.
Emergency management in Hempfield Township reported that they closed Cribb Station Road between Route 136 and Middletown Road due to flooding.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Pennsylvania in 2013Every state in 2013This day in weather historyWarnings in Pennsylvania, June 2013
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: 460088, 460090, 460108, 460091, 460110, 460092, 460111, 460112, 460094, 460078, 460095, 460096, 460097, 460099, 460114, 460079, 460101, 460457, 460117, 460459, 460118, 460115, 460116, 460460, 460461, 460106, 460463, 460464, 460466, 460467, 466550, 460468.