Showers and thunderstorms, some of which became strong to severe, developed ahead of a crossing cold front on the 16th. Modest instability and weak shear was present out ahead of the developing convection, which supported an isolated severe wind and small hail threat.
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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.
Showers and thunderstorms, some of which became strong to severe, developed ahead of a crossing cold front on the 16th. Modest instability and weak shear was present out ahead of the developing convection, which supported an isolated severe wind and small hail threat. Damage was mainly observed in southwest Pennsylvania, with several reports of downed trees.
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 16, 2:47 PM EST, 8 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Pittsburgh PA 347 PM EDT Sun Apr 16 2017 .SYNOPSIS... Showers and thunderstorms can be expected this evening with a crossing cold front. High pressure will then allow for dry weather Monday and Tuesday before an unsettled pattern develops for the rest of the week. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH MONDAY/... A line of showers and scattered thunderstorms developed across the Lake Erie shoreline and is moving east across eastern Ohio and northwestern Pennsylvania. While not a solid line of showers, most locations should receive rain as this line moves slowly to the east-southeast. Nearly the entire forecast area remains under a marginal risk from the Storm Prediction Center for severe weather. Although the primary threat will be from gusty winds, nickel size hail has already been observed in Ohio, so hail remains a threat as well. The bulk of rainfall will have shifted south and east of Pittsburgh by midnight, but showers will last until sunrise in some locations. Heaviest rainfall totals are expected to be south of Interstate 70, where models suggest that a reinforcing wave could develop another round of showers after dark. Some partial clearing will occur overnight south of Pittsburgh, while clouds will hang around longer near the Mason Dixon line. The front behind the line of showers and thunderstorms will bring cooler air into the region, with temps tonight and Monday 5-10 degrees cooler than the previous 24 hours. && .SHORT TERM /MONDAY NIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY/... Broad high pressure across the Great Lakes and Northeast will allow for tranquil weather during this portion of the forecast. Mostly clear skies will allow for a large diurnal swing, with temperatures ranging from the 40s to the 70s. && .LONG TERM /TUESDAY NIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY/... An unsettled pattern develops by Wednesday with several quick- moving systems moving across the region. Although Friday night is the only 12 hour period with no precipitation in the forecast, widespread continuous precipitation is not expected either. Models currently point to Thursday and Thursday night as the most likely period for rain. The end of the work week should have slightly above normal temperatures, with more seasonable values by the weekend. && .AVIATION /20Z SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/... Recent satellite imagery and surface observations finally show the location of a previously ill-defined cold front, now stretching from just off Lake Erie back into central OH and IN. This boundary will be the focus for increasing showers and thunderstorms through the afternoon and early evening, and confidence has allowed for the refinement of timing in the 18Z TAFs. Gusty southwest winds, at times peaking 25 to locally 30 knots, will persist ahead of the front this afternoon. Isolated stronger gusts from the west or northwest are possible in thunderstorms. Behind the convective line, winds will diminish early evening and become west to WNW. Otherwise, expect predominantly VFR conditions through the period except perhaps briefly MVFR in heavier thunderstorms. .Outlook... The next chance for widespread restrictions comes with a Wednesday cold front. Bookbinder && .PBZ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... MD...None. OH...None. PA...None. WV...None. &&
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Pittsburgh PA 213 PM EDT Sun Apr 16 2017 MDZ001-OHZ039>041-048>050-057>059-068-069-PAZ007>009-013>016-020>023- 029-031-073>076-WVZ001>004-012-021-509>514-171200- Garrett-Tuscarawas-Carroll-Columbiana-Coshocton-Harrison-Jefferson- Muskingum-Guernsey-Belmont-Noble-Monroe-Mercer-Venango-Forest- Lawrence-Butler-Clarion-Beaver-Allegheny-Armstrong-Indiana- Washington-Greene-Westmoreland-Westmoreland Ridges-Fayette- Fayette Ridges-Hancock-Brooke-Ohio-Marshall-Wetzel-Marion-Monongalia- Ridges of Eastern Monongalia and Northwestern Preston-Preston- Eastern Preston-Western Tucker-Eastern Tucker- 213 PM EDT Sun Apr 16 2017 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for western Maryland, east central Ohio, northwest Pennsylvania, southwest Pennsylvania, west central Pennsylvania, western Pennsylvania, northern West Virginia and northern panhandle of West Virginia. .DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight. There is a marginal risk for damaging wind gusts and hail this afternoon and evening as a cold front spawns showers and thunderstorms. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday through Saturday. 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 306 PM EDT SUN APR 16 2017 PAZ007-008-161945- Venango-Mercer- 306 PM EDT SUN APR 16 2017 ...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING SMALL HAIL AND GUSTY WIND WILL AFFECT NORTHERN MERCER AND SOUTHWESTERN VENANGO COUNTIES... At 306 PM EDT, a strong thunderstorm was located over Greenville, or 8 miles northeast of Sharpsville, moving east at 40 mph. Wind gusts up to 45 mph and small hail are possible with this storm. Locations impacted include... Franklin... Greenville... Sugarcreek... Stoneboro... Polk... Sandy Lake... Fredonia... Jackson Center... Utica... New Lebanon... Sheakleyville... Maurice K Goddard State Park... This includes Interstate 79 in Pennsylvania between mile markers 95 and 106. This storm may intensify, so monitor local radio or television stations for additional information and possible warnings from the National Weather Service. LAT...LON 4134 8051 4146 8047 4144 7985 4123 7990 TIME...MOT...LOC 1906Z 279DEG 35KT 4137 8039 Fries
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Pittsburgh PA
339 PM EDT SUN APR 16 2017
PAZ007-013-014-162030-
Butler-Lawrence-Mercer-
339 PM EDT SUN APR 16 2017
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING SMALL HAIL AND GUSTY
WIND WILL AFFECT SOUTHERN MERCER...NORTHERN LAWRENCE AND NORTHWESTERN
BUTLER COUNTIES...
At 339 PM EDT, a strong thunderstorm was located over Hilltop, or
near Youngstown, moving east at 35 mph.
Wind gusts up to 45 mph and small hail are possible with this storm.
Locations impacted include...
Hermitage... Grove City...
Slippery Rock... New Wilmington...
Pulaski... Harrisville...
West Middlesex... Plain Grove Township...
Wheatland... West Liberty...
West Sunbury... Volant...
This includes the following highways...
Interstate 79 in Pennsylvania between mile markers 76 and 87.
Interstate 80 in Pennsylvania between mile markers 0 and 14.
This storm may intensify, so monitor local radio or television
stations for additional information and possible warnings from the
National Weather Service.
LAT...LON 4118 8000 4117 8000 4117 7985 4098 7989
4109 8052 4120 8052
TIME...MOT...LOC 1939Z 280DEG 30KT 4117 8070
FriesThe Pittsburgh radar (KPBZ), 66 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 19:56 UTC.
7 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Member of social media reported trees and wires down.
Local 911 reported a tree down near Volant.
Local 911 reported trees down.
Local 911 reported tree down.
Trained spotter reported a porch roof blown off of a home in Fairdale.
State official reported trees and wires down.
State official reported trees and wires down.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Pennsylvania in 2017Every state in 2017This day in weather historyWarnings in Pennsylvania, April 2017
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: 695823, 695824, 695825, 695826, 695828, 695829, 695830.