Scattered severe thunderstorms developed ahead of an approaching cold front the afternoon of the 18th, with localized flash flooding also occurring into the early morning of the 19th.
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.
Scattered severe thunderstorms developed ahead of an approaching cold front the afternoon of the 18th, with localized flash flooding also occurring into the early morning of the 19th.
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 18, 7:05 PM EST, 38 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA 805 PM EDT THU JUN 18 2015 .SYNOPSIS... WARM AND HUMID CONDITIONS WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THE WEEKEND. SHOWERS AND SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TONIGHT...WITH ANOTHER ROUND OF RAIN SATURDAY NIGHT WITH THE REMNANTS OF TROPICAL STORM BILL. && .NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 AM FRIDAY MORNING/... MESOANALYSIS INDICATES AN AREA OF OUTFLOW FROM EARLIER CONVECTION PUSHING ACROSS OHIO THIS EVENING THAT HAS MANAGED TO INTERSECT THE LAKE BREEZE BOUNDARY AND MOVE WELL INLAND...LOCALLY INCREASING DIRECTIONAL LOW LEVEL SHEAR. THE COMBINATION OF SHEAR AND INCREASED INSTABILITY DUE TO AMPLE HEATING THROUGH THE AFTERNOON HAS CREATED A FAIRLY WIDE CORRIDOR SUITABLE FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORM DEVELOPMENT ACROSS EASTERN OHIO AND INTO THE PITTSBURGH METRO AREA. THIS IS NOT NECESSARILY WHERE THE GLOBAL MODELS HAD FIGURED SUCH DEVELOPMENT WOULD BE...HOWEVER THE LACK OF EARLY AFTERNOON CONVECTION HAS ALLOWED FOR MORE INSOLATION THAT WAS PREVIOUSLY FORECAST TO PUSH INSTABILITY PARAMETERS A BIT HIGHER THAN WOULD HAVE OTHERWISE BEEN ANTICIPATED. SPC HAS ISSUED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH FOR ALL OF THE OHIO COUNTIES AS WELL AS THE NORTHERN WEST VIRGINIA PANHANDLE AND PORTIONS OF SOUTHWESTERN PENNSYLVANIA UNTIL 11 PM THIS EVENING. THE MAIN THREAT DUE TO THE WARM AND HUMID AIR MASS AHEAD OF IT WILL BE DAMAGING WINDS. THERE IS STILL SOME CONCERN THAT ACTIVITY MAY PROPAGATE FARTHER DOWNSTREAM LATE THIS EVENING BEYOND THE EASTERN END OF THE WATCH BOX. HIGH RESOLUTION MODELS ALL INDICATE SOME CONVECTION MAKING IT THROUGH THE PITTSBURGH AREA AROUND MIDNIGHT...HOWEVER IT WOULD SEEM LIKELY THAT SOME AMOUNT OF DECAYING SHOULD BE OCCURRING DUE TO THE FACT THAT WE WILL BE SO FAR BEYOND THE DIURNAL INSTABILITY MAXIMA OF THE DAY. THAT SAID...TRENDS WILL BE MONITORED THROUGH THE EVENING FOR POSSIBLE EXTENSIONS OF THE BOX EASTWARD. FRIES && .SHORT TERM /6 AM FRIDAY MORNING THROUGH SUNDAY/... ALTHOUGH THE STATIONARY FRONT WILL DROP SOUTH INTO WEST VIRGINIA FRIDAY NIGHT...THE REMNANTS OF TROPICAL STORM BILL WILL MAKE STEADY PROGRESS TO THE NORTHEAST. THE CHANCES FOR RAIN WILL INCREASE SATURDAY...WITH MOST OF THE RAINFALL OCCURRING SATURDAY NIGHT. RECENT MODELS HAVE MOVED THE SYSTEM TO THE EAST MORE QUICKLY SATURDAY NIGHT...AND BULK OF THE ASSOCIATED RAINFALL SHOULD BE EAST OF THE REGION BY SUNRISE ON SUNDAY. SEE THE HYDROLOGY SECTION OF THE AFD BELOW FOR MORE DETAILS. ANY BREAK IN RAINFALL WILL BE SHORT LIVED WITH ANOTHER COLD FRONT SWEEPING ACROSS THE AREA SUNDAY. TEMPERATURES WILL REMAIN NEAR NORMAL THROUGH THE PERIOD. && .LONG TERM /SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY/... A CHANCE FOR SHOWERS WILL CONTINUE SUNDAY NIGHT INTO EARLY MONDAY MORNING UNTIL THE FRONT CLEARS THE REGION. THE WEATHER WILL QUIET DOWN SOMEWHAT ON MONDAY AND TUESDAY...BEFORE WE RETURN TO A WARM...HUMID AND UNSTABLE REGIME BY THE END OF THE LONG TERM. && .AVIATION /00Z FRIDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/... VARIABLE CONDITIONS CAN BE EXPECTED TODAY AS MVFR CEILINGS IMPROVE TO VFR. HOWEVER...ALL WILL BE MARRED BY SHOWERS AND AFTERNOON THUNDERSTORMS...CHANCES FOR WHICH WILL IMPROVE WITH THE ADVANCE OF A COLD FRONT TONIGHT. EXPECT DEGRADED CONDITIONS TO THEN PERSIST THROUGH THE PREDAWN HOURS AS SHOWERS WANE...WITH IMPROVEMENT FROM THE NORTH ON FRIDAY. .OUTLOOK.../FRIDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/... RESTRICTION CHANCES WILL CONTINUE THROUGH MUCH OF THE PERIOD BETWEEN MORNING FOG AND AFTERNOON/EVENING SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS. PORTS FROM PIT SOUTHWARD CAN EXPECTED GENERAL RESTRICTIONS IN RAIN WITH THE PASSAGE OF A REMNANT TROPICAL LOW ON SATURDAY. && .HYDROLOGY... THE MOISTURE ASSOCIATED WITH REMNANTS OF TROPICAL STORM BILL WILL BRING A PERIOD OF POTENTIAL HEAVY RAINS LATE SATURDAY AND SUNDAY. BEST ESTIMATES ARE THAT THE AREA OF HEAVIEST RAINS WILL FALL OVER KENTUCKY AND WEST VIRGINIA AND NOT OVER OHIO AND PENNSYLVANIA. IN OUR AREA, IT IS ESTIMATED THAT THE MONONGAHELA AND CHEAT BASINS WILL RECEIVE BETWEEN 2.00 AND 3.00 INCHES. BETWEEN 1.00 AND 1.50 IS EXPECTED IN THE IMMEDIATE PITTSBURGH AREA WITH LESS THAN AN INCH OVER THE ALLEGHENY BASIN. UNCERTAINTY REMAINS. A SHIFT TO THE NORTH COULD MEAN HIGHER AMOUNTS FOR OHIO AND PENNSYLVANIA. HEIGHTENED AWARENESS IS NEEDED THIS WEEKEND AND EARLY NEXT WEEK ON AREA RIVERS. CURRENTLY NO RIVER FLOODING IS EXPECTED, BUT STREAMS AND CREEKS COULD EXPERIENCE FLOODING WHERE THE HEAVY RAINS FALL OVER THE WEEKEND. CRESTS ARE EXPECTED ON THE CHEAT RIVER SUNDAY AFTERNOON, AND CRESTS ON THE MONONGAHELA AND OHIO WILL COME ON MONDAY. PARSONS IS EXPECTED TO CREST JUST BELOW 7 FEET. GRAYS LANDING IS PROJECTED TO CREST JUST BELOW 15 FEET. PITTSBURGH SHOULD REMAIN IN POOL THROUGH THE ENTIRE PERIOD. && .PBZ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... MD...NONE. OH...NONE. PA...NONE. WV...NONE. &&
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA 225 AM EDT THU JUN 18 2015 MDZ001-OHZ039>041-048>050-057>059-068-069-PAZ007>009-013>016-020>023- 029-031-073>076-WVZ001>004-012-021>023-041-190630- 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- 225 AM EDT THU JUN 18 2015 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...TODAY AND TONIGHT. THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS IN THE AFTERNOON AND EVENING WITH THE MAIN THREAT BEING DAMAGING WINDS. LOCALIZED FLOODING IS ALSO POSSIBLE. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY. HEAVY RAINFALL AND FLOODING ARE POSSIBLE LATER SATURDAY INTO SUNDAY WITH THE REMNANTS OF TROPICAL SYSTEM BILL. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA 517 PM EDT THU JUN 18 2015 PAZ015-022-182145- CLARION-ARMSTRONG- 517 PM EDT THU JUN 18 2015 ...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT EAST CENTRAL ARMSTRONG AND SOUTHEASTERN CLARION COUNTIES... AT 517 PM EDT...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS 7 MILES NORTH OF NEW BETHLEHEM...OR 7 MILES SOUTH OF CLARION...MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 35 MPH. WINDS IN EXCESS OF 40 MPH AND DIME SIZE HAIL ARE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM. LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE... CLARION...NEW BETHLEHEM...SLIGO...LIMESTONE AND HAWTHORN. THIS INCLUDES INTERSTATE 80 IN PENNSYLVANIA BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 58 AND 70. LAT...LON 4109 7952 4123 7946 4117 7922 4094 7922 TIME...MOT...LOC 2117Z 298DEG 34KT 4110 7936
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA 541 PM EDT THU JUN 18 2015 PAZ016-023-182215- JEFFERSON-INDIANA- 541 PM EDT THU JUN 18 2015 ...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT NORTHEASTERN INDIANA AND SOUTH CENTRAL JEFFERSON COUNTIES... AT 541 PM EDT...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS OVER PUNXSUTAWNEY...MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 25 MPH. WINDS IN EXCESS OF 40 MPH AND PEA SIZE HAIL ARE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM. LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE... PUNXSUTAWNEY...BIG RUN...ROSSITER AND ANITA. THIS STORM MAY INTENSIFY...SO BE CERTAIN TO MONITOR LOCAL RADIO AND TV STATIONS...AS WELL AS LOCAL CABLE TV OUTLETS...FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE. LAT...LON 4084 7881 4095 7906 4104 7897 4097 7881 TIME...MOT...LOC 2141Z 300DEG 23KT 4098 7898
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA
724 PM EDT THU JUN 18 2015
OHZ040-041-050-190000-
JEFFERSON-COLUMBIANA-CARROLL-
724 PM EDT THU JUN 18 2015
...AN AREA OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT NORTH CENTRAL
JEFFERSON...COLUMBIANA AND NORTHEASTERN CARROLL COUNTIES...
AT 719 PM EDT...A CLUSTER OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WERE CLUSTERED
NEAR LOUISVILLE...OR 9 MILES NORTHEAST OF CANTON...MOVING SOUTHEAST
AT 40 MPH...AND ARE EXPECTED TO IMPACT PORTIONS OF
COLUMBIANA...NORTHEAST CARROLL...AND NORTHERN JEFFERSON COUNTIES IN
OHIO BETWEEN 730 PM...AND 800 PM THIS EVENING. THIS STORM MAY
INTENSIFY...SO BE CERTAIN TO MONITOR LOCAL RADIO AND TV
STATIONS...AS WELL AS LOCAL CABLE TV OUTLETS...FOR ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.
AT THIS TIME...WIND GUSTS OF 50 TO 55 MPH AND PEA SIZE HAIL ARE
POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM.
LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
SALEM...MINERVA...LISBON...LEETONIA...AUGUSTA...SALINEVILLE...
HANOVERTON...SUMMITVILLE...MECHANICSTOWN...WINONA...NEW GARDEN...
NORTH GEORGETOWN...GUILFORD LAKE STATE PARK...HOMEWORTH AND EAST
ROCHESTER.
FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING IS OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM.
LIGHTNING CAN STRIKE 15 MILES AWAY FROM A THUNDERSTORM. SEEK A SAFE
SHELTER INSIDE A BUILDING OR VEHICLE.
LAT...LON 4082 8064 4052 8079 4067 8109 4090 8108
4090 8090 4093 8090 4093 8089
TIME...MOT...LOC 2319Z 301DEG 59KT 4091 8125SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA
823 PM EDT THU JUN 18 2015
OHZ039>041-049-050-PAZ029-WVZ002-190115-
JEFFERSON-COLUMBIANA-HARRISON-TUSCARAWAS-CARROLL-WASHINGTON-BROOKE-
823 PM EDT THU JUN 18 2015
...A CLUSTER OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS HAVE CREATED A LINE OF STRONG
WINDS THAT WILL AFFECT CENTRAL JEFFERSON... COLUMBIANA...NORTHERN
HARRISON...CARROLL...TUSCARAWAS...WEST CENTRAL WASHINGTON AND
NORTHEASTERN BROOKE COUNTIES...
WINDS IN EXCESS OF 45 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE ALONG WITH THE
POSSIBILITY OF NEW THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOPING OVER THE AREA.
LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
WEIRTON...STEUBENVILLE...NEW PHILADELPHIA...DOVER...SALEM...
UHRICHSVILLE...CARROLLTON...WELLSBURG...AVELLA...WINTERSVILLE...
MINERVA...MINGO JUNCTION...FOLLANSBEE...LISBON...DENNISON...
STRASBURG...HOOVERSON HEIGHTS...SUGARCREEK...LEETONIA AND AUGUSTA.
ALTHOUGH THIS EVENT IS EXPECTED TO BE SHORT LIVED...IF CONDITIONS
WORSEN...A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY MAY BECOME NECESSARY. PLEASE
MONITOR LOCAL MEDIA OUTLETS AND THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FOR
FURTHER STATEMENTS.
LAT...LON 4044 8170 4044 8168 4046 8167 4063 8167
4065 8124 4072 8124 4073 8109 4090 8108
4090 8090 4093 8089 4093 8082 4090 8082
4090 8077 4080 8067 4048 8078 4041 8062
4040 8062 4040 8059 4025 8024 4037 8170
TIME...MOT...LOC 0022Z 298DEG 33KT 4047 8097SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA
823 PM EDT THU JUN 18 2015
OHZ039>041-049-050-PAZ029-WVZ002-190115-
JEFFERSON-COLUMBIANA-HARRISON-TUSCARAWAS-CARROLL-WASHINGTON-BROOKE-
823 PM EDT THU JUN 18 2015
...A CLUSTER OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS HAVE CREATED A LINE OF STRONG
WINDS THAT WILL AFFECT CENTRAL JEFFERSON... COLUMBIANA...NORTHERN
HARRISON...CARROLL...TUSCARAWAS...WEST CENTRAL WASHINGTON AND
NORTHEASTERN BROOKE COUNTIES...
WINDS IN EXCESS OF 45 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE ALONG WITH THE
POSSIBILITY OF NEW THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOPING OVER THE AREA.
LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
WEIRTON...STEUBENVILLE...NEW PHILADELPHIA...DOVER...SALEM...
UHRICHSVILLE...CARROLLTON...WELLSBURG...AVELLA...WINTERSVILLE...
MINERVA...MINGO JUNCTION...FOLLANSBEE...LISBON...DENNISON...
STRASBURG...HOOVERSON HEIGHTS...SUGARCREEK...LEETONIA AND AUGUSTA.
LAT...LON 4044 8170 4044 8168 4046 8167 4063 8167
4065 8124 4072 8124 4073 8109 4090 8108
4090 8090 4093 8089 4093 8082 4090 8082
4090 8077 4080 8067 4048 8078 4041 8062
4040 8062 4040 8059 4025 8024 4037 8170
TIME...MOT...LOC 0022Z 298DEG 33KT 4047 8097PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA
827 PM EDT THU JUN 18 2015
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0755 PM TSTM WND DMG 2 S LISBON 40.75N 80.77W
06/18/2015 COLUMBIANA OH EMERGENCY MNGR
BARN ROOF OFF AT RESIDENCE 37462 MATTIX RD.
&&
EVENT NUMBER PBZ1501929
RCCThe Pittsburgh radar (KPBZ), 12 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 00:43 UTC.
15 thunderstorm wind, 5 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.
Law enforcement reported trees and power lines down.
Law enforcement reported a large tree down across the roadway.
Law enforcement reported trees down.
Law enforcement reported trees and power lines down.
Law enforcement reported trees down.
Law enforcement reported power poles and a tree down.
Law enforcement reported a large tree on a building.
Law enforcement reported trees and power lines down, starting a fire.
Law enforcement reported trees down.
The 911 Call Center reported trees down.
Law enforcement reported power lines down.
Law enforcement reported trees down.
Law enforcement reported trees down.
Law enforcement reported trees down.
Law enforcement reported trees down.
The public reported 6 to 10 inches of water flowing across Route 8.
Broadcast media reported flash flooding on Streets Run Road, with numerous stuck vehicles closing the road.
The public reported flash flooding with water running into a home.
Flash flooding was reported on State Route 65 near Sewickley.
Law enforcement reported portions of Route 62 in President Township due to flash flooding causing a mud slide with debris on the road.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Pennsylvania in 2015Every state in 2015This day in weather historyWarnings in Pennsylvania, June 2015
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: 587074, 587077, 587079, 587080, 587081, 587082, 587083, 587084, 587085, 587086, 587088, 587089, 587090, 587091, 587092, 587059, 587069, 587070, 587071, 587073.