Approaching mid level low and cold front supported several severe thunderstorms across western Pennsylvania and northern West Virginia. With sufficient instability and bulk shear for strong updrafts, there were several reports of large hail, some slightly larger than a golf ball, across the area.
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.
Approaching mid level low and cold front supported several severe thunderstorms across western Pennsylvania and northern West Virginia. With sufficient instability and bulk shear for strong updrafts, there were several reports of large hail, some slightly larger than a golf ball, across the area. Some isolated wind damage was also observed over 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 20, 2:57 PM EST, 38 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Pittsburgh PA 357 PM EDT Thu Apr 20 2017 .SYNOPSIS... An approaching cold front will bring showers and thunderstorms into tonight, followed by cooler temperatures and scattered showers for the weekend. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH FRIDAY/... In advance of tonight's cold front, a boundary moving across the forecast area brought a line of thunderstorms with damaging winds and large hail. This line will move east and should clear the local area by 5pm. There should be a lull in precipitation through the late afternoon and early evening hours before another round of showers and thunderstorms begins with a cold front. Locations north and west of Pittsburgh will have the best chance for severe weather as the front moves through, with the primary threat coming from damaging winds. Even with rain moving through many locations today, temperatures in eastern Ohio have rebounded into the lower 80s with dewpoints in the 50s, which would help to provide necessary instability for thunderstorms. However, models show wind shear dropping after dark, which could help to limit severe weather. The nighttime crossing from the front should also help to limit strength of overnight storms. Some showers should remain after sunrise on Friday, especially in southeastern locations such as Morgantown and Deep Creek Lake. Rain should persist through much of the morning, with all locations expected to dry out by the afternoon. Highs temperatures will be anywhere from 5 to 15 degrees colder than today's values. && .SHORT TERM /FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY/... The front will stall across the Mid Atlantic states through the weekend, but different models continue to show varying solutions as to just how far north rain will progress. Still have contained likely pops to locations south of Wheeling and Latrobe, although GFS and SREF are the most aggressive models bringing rain as far north as Interstate 80. Temperatures will be slightly below normal through the weekend. && .LONG TERM /SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY/... A lingering shower could persist Sunday night across the higher elevations, but otherwise the first half of the work week will be dry. The ECMWF and GFS show wide timing differences for Wednesday and Thursday, so have stuck with slight chance pops for now until timing is better resolved. Above normal temperatures are expected with a warming trend throughout the week. && .AVIATION /20Z THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/... Scattered thunderstorms this afternoon will diminish by early evening with waning instability. MVFR restrictions in showers/storms can be expected this afternoon and again overnight with a crossing cold front. .Outlook... Restrictions are possible with weekend low pressure. && .PBZ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... MD...None. OH...None. PA...None. WV...None. &&
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Pittsburgh PA 317 AM EDT Thu Apr 20 2017 OHZ039>041-048>050-057-058-PAZ007>009-013>016-020-022-WVZ001-210730- Tuscarawas-Carroll-Columbiana-Coshocton-Harrison-Jefferson-Muskingum- Guernsey-Mercer-Venango-Forest-Lawrence-Butler-Clarion-Beaver- Armstrong-Hancock- 317 AM EDT Thu Apr 20 2017 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for east central Ohio, northwest Pennsylvania, west central Pennsylvania, western Pennsylvania and northern West Virginia. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight. There is a slight risk of severe thunderstorms later this afternoon and early tonight. The greatest threat is expected to be damaging winds...with large hail also possible. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday. No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time. MDZ001-OHZ059-068-069-PAZ021-023-029-031-073>076-WVZ002>004-012-021- 509>514-210730- Garrett-Belmont-Noble-Monroe-Allegheny-Indiana-Washington-Greene- Westmoreland-Westmoreland Ridges-Fayette-Fayette Ridges-Brooke-Ohio- Marshall-Wetzel-Marion-Monongalia- Ridges of Eastern Monongalia and Northwestern Preston-Preston- Eastern Preston-Western Tucker-Eastern Tucker- 317 AM EDT Thu Apr 20 2017 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for western Maryland, east central Ohio, southwest Pennsylvania, west central Pennsylvania, northern West Virginia and northern panhandle of West Virginia. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight. There is a marginal risk of severe thunderstorms later this afternoon and early tonight. Damaging winds and large hail are possible. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday. No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time.
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA
304 PM EDT THU APR 20 2017
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0232 PM TSTM WND DMG CRANBERRY TWP 40.69N 80.10W
04/20/2017 BUTLER PA TRAINED SPOTTER
LARGE TREES REPORTED DOWN
&&
EVENT NUMBER PBZ1701328
JDPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA
315 PM EDT THU APR 20 2017
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0313 PM HAIL 4 E CHICORA 40.95N 79.67W
04/20/2017 M1.00 INCH ARMSTRONG PA TRAINED SPOTTER
0313 PM TSTM WND GST 4 E CHICORA 40.95N 79.67W
04/20/2017 E50 MPH ARMSTRONG PA TRAINED SPOTTER
&&
EVENT NUMBER PBZ1701329
EVENT NUMBER PBZ1701330
XXXPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA
317 PM EDT THU APR 20 2017
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0316 PM HAIL EAST BRADY 40.98N 79.61W
04/20/2017 M1.50 INCH CLARION PA PUBLIC
&&
EVENT NUMBER PBZ1701331
XXXPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA
330 PM EDT THU APR 20 2017
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0325 PM HAIL LIMESTONE 41.13N 79.33W
04/20/2017 M1.75 INCH CLARION PA TRAINED SPOTTER
&&
EVENT NUMBER PBZ1701332
XXPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA
403 PM EDT THU APR 20 2017
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0308 PM TSTM WND DMG 2 N MILLBANK 40.29N 79.27W
04/20/2017 WESTMORELAND PA 911 CALL CENTER
WIRES DOWN AT MATSON AND CLARK HOLLOW ROAD
&&
EVENT NUMBER PBZ1701333
TGREENSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Pittsburgh PA
428 PM EDT THU APR 20 2017
MDZ001-PAZ031-075-076-WVZ021-509>513-202115-
Garrett-Fayette Ridges-Greene-Fayette-Eastern Preston-Ridges of
Eastern Monongalia and Northwestern Preston-Marion-Monongalia-Western
Tucker-Preston-
428 PM EDT THU APR 20 2017
...A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING HAIL...GUSTY
WIND AND HEAVY RAIN WILL AFFECT WEST CENTRAL GARRETT...SOUTHEASTERN
GREENE...SOUTHWESTERN FAYETTE...MONONGALIA...NORTHWESTERN TUCKER...
PRESTON AND SOUTHEASTERN MARION COUNTIES...
At 428 PM EDT, radar indicated strong thunderstorms were located
along a line extending from near Granville to 8 miles south of
Newburg. Movement was northeast at 40 mph.
Wind gusts up to 45 mph and hail up to the size of nickels are
possible with these storms.
Locations impacted include...
Morgantown... Uniontown...
Westover... Kingwood...
Mountain Lake Park... Oakland...
Star City... Terra Alta...
Rowlesburg... Point Marion...
Granville... Loch Lynn Heights...
This includes the following highways...
Interstate 68 in West Virginia between mile markers 1 and 31.
Interstate 79 in West Virginia between mile markers 140 and 158.
Torrential rainfall also is occurring with these storms and may cause
localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.
These storms may intensify, so monitor local radio or television
stations for additional information and possible warnings from the
National Weather Service.
LAT...LON 3916 7983 3920 7983 3923 7981 3924 7982
3925 7985 3929 7986 3930 7989 3943 7989
3945 7994 3942 8001 3940 8003 3962 8015
3995 7968 3939 7932 3934 7949
TIME...MOT...LOC 2028Z 227DEG 36KT 3962 8004 3926 7986
CLThe Pittsburgh radar (KPBZ), 130 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 20:35 UTC.
3 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
State official reported large tree down.
State official reported large tree down.
State official reported large trees down near Kingwood and Albright.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in West Virginia in 2017Every state in 2017This day in weather historyWarnings in West Virginia, 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: 695895, 695896, 695897.