Showers and thunderstorms developed ahead of a cold front on the 4th of August. Modest instability and shear, considering the earlier onset of storm activity, resulted in several wind damage reports and some hail.
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.
Showers and thunderstorms developed ahead of a cold front on the 4th of August. Modest instability and shear, considering the earlier onset of storm activity, resulted in several wind damage reports and some hail.
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 Aug 4, 8:42 AM EST, 3 hours 43 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Pittsburgh PA 942 AM EDT Fri Aug 4 2017 .SYNOPSIS... A cold front will bring strong to possibly severe thunderstorms this afternoon and evening. Cooler weather for this weekend. Unsettled weather returns Monday. && .NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 PM THIS EVENING/... Warm advection generated showers and storms are vacating our area. Regional radar mosaic illustrates showers and storms forming in southwestern Ohio a little faster than high res models projected. Time shifted grids up two hours to account for latest trends. In addition, added gusty winds as a weather attribute to the forecast as well. 12Z PIT RAOB portrays a damaging wind threat with dry mid levels and unidirectional wind in the column. DCAPE calculations are near 600jkg-1 along with delta theta-e values near 30K. Icy cores near 18KFT could be enough to get a downburst. Once temperatures climb near 80F, expect towers to grow and storms to develop. With earlier onset of storms, atmosphere won't be as juicy, however low level moisture continues to funnel into the region allowing CAPE to surpass 1000 jkg-1. The treat of tornadoes is very low but non zero. Updraft helicity in the 01-km layer off 0Z NCAR 3km supports highest chance farther north in New York. Flash flooding is possible but low given progressive nature of storms. Dewpoints will be in the mid and upper 60s allowing PWATS to climb above climo. Hourly and three hourly QPF numbers are below urban flash flood guidance, but if an area gets hit with the first line and then the second line associated with front passes over the same location we could see high water. && .SHORT TERM /6 PM THIS EVENING THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT/... Most of the showers and thunderstorms should exit the region this evening as the front completes its passage. Upper troughing across the ern Great Lakes, combined with limited lake enhancement in WNW flow, could result in a few showers mainly N of I 80 part of Sat, though building sfc high pressure should end these chances later in the day. Models have trended faster with developing sfc low pressure ahead of an upper trough dropping SE across the Great Lakes region late in the weekend, though they differ in exact timing. Sided close to the ECMWF solution, which has been the most consistent and is a compromise of the NAM and GFS solutions. This results in rain chances returning late Sun, with most of the precip expected Sun night where likely POPs were maintained. Temperatures are expected to average below seasonal levels. && .LONG TERM /MONDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/... An upper trough across the NE CONUS/Great Lakes region, and an associated sfc low, should maintain rain chances to start the work week. Ridging should return dry weather mid week before broad troughing across the Ern CONUS, and sfc low development across TN valley region, return rain chances to the forecast by late in the week. Temperatures are expected to average below seasonal levels. && .AVIATION /13Z FRIDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/... General VFR is expected until storms begin to develop this afternoon ahead of an approaching cold front. Coverage will be scattered early on...followed by a line of storms crossing late afternoon/early evening. .OUTLOOK... Restrictions are likely again with Mon low pressure. && .PBZ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... MD...None. OH...None. PA...None. WV...None. && .synopsis...98 .near term...98
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Pittsburgh PA 309 AM EDT Fri Aug 4 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>514-050715- 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- 309 AM EDT Fri Aug 4 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...Today and Tonight. Scattered severe thunderstorms are possible this afternoon and early evening with a crossing cold front. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday. 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. 07
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Pittsburgh PA 1220 PM EDT FRI AUG 4 2017 PAZ007-041645- Mercer- 1220 PM EDT FRI AUG 4 2017 ...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING SMALL HAIL AND GUSTY WIND WILL AFFECT NORTHWESTERN MERCER COUNTY... At 1219 PM EDT, a strong thunderstorm was located near Vienna Center, or 8 miles west of Sharpsville, moving northeast at 45 mph. Wind gusts up to 45 mph and small hail are possible with this storm. Locations impacted include... Greenville... Jamestown... Sheakleyville... Maurice K Goddard State Park... This includes Interstate 79 in Pennsylvania between mile markers 108 and 109. This storm may intensify, so monitor local radio or television stations for additional information and possible warnings from the National Weather Service. LAT...LON 4149 8012 4127 8052 4149 8052 TIME...MOT...LOC 1619Z 224DEG 39KT 4130 8063 Kramar
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Pittsburgh PA
112 PM EDT FRI AUG 4 2017
PAZ031-WVZ004-012-021-509-041745-
Greene-Marshall-Marion-Monongalia-Wetzel-
112 PM EDT FRI AUG 4 2017
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING SMALL HAIL AND GUSTY
WIND WILL AFFECT SOUTHWESTERN GREENE...NORTHWESTERN MONONGALIA...
WETZEL...SOUTHEASTERN MARSHALL AND NORTHWESTERN MARION COUNTIES...
At 112 PM EDT, a strong thunderstorm was located over Pine Grove, or
8 miles southeast of New Martinsville, moving northeast at 45 mph.
Wind gusts up to 55 mph and small hail are possible with this storm.
Locations impacted include...
Cameron... Pine Grove...
Hundred... Jacksonburg...
New Freeport... Wileyville...
Big Run... Reader...
Knob Fork... Littleton...
Porters Falls... Burton...
LAT...LON 3948 8067 3947 8069 3947 8071 3949 8073
3951 8074 3953 8077 3955 8079 3956 8081
3956 8082 3958 8083 3959 8085 3960 8085
3960 8086 3988 8056 3967 8023 3946 8067
TIME...MOT...LOC 1712Z 226DEG 38KT 3957 8073
KramarThe Pittsburgh radar (KPBZ), 72 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 17:25 UTC.
5 thunderstorm wind, 1 hail. Local standard time, as filed.
Trained spotter reported several large tree branches down.
Local broadcast media reported trees down with one on a mail truck.
Emergency manager reported multiple trees down on Peters Run Rd, Center Ave, Jenner Ave, and Parkview Ave.
Local 911 reported several trees down.
Local 911 reported trees down along US 50.
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, August 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: 718189, 718190, 718191, 718192, 718194, 718231.