A low amplitude, positively-tilted shortwave trough crossed the eastern Great Lakes/upper Ohio Valley region on October 2nd. Showers and thunderstorms developed in a moist, unstable air mass across eastern Ohio, northwestern Pennsylvania, and northern West Virginia.
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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.
A low amplitude, positively-tilted shortwave trough crossed the eastern Great Lakes/upper Ohio Valley region on October 2nd. Showers and thunderstorms developed in a moist, unstable air mass across eastern Ohio, northwestern Pennsylvania, and northern West Virginia. Despite expansive early morning cloud cover, some clearing was observed, allowing for a substantial buildup of instability, while dewpoints in the mid to upper 60s illustrated the available moisture. The crossing shortwave and associated mid-level jet resulted in 40 knots of deep layer shear and a wind profile which favored discrete cells. As a result, several supercells and tornadic signatures were observed. Although Garrett County did not receive the worst of these storms, one wind damage report was received.
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 Oct 2, 6:20 PM EST, 21 minutes earlier.
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</html>Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Pittsburgh PA
659 PM EDT TUE OCT 2 2018
OHZ049-022330-
Harrison-
659 PM EDT TUE OCT 2 2018
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING GUSTY WIND WILL AFFECT
CENTRAL HARRISON COUNTY...
At 659 PM EDT, a strong thunderstorm was located near Freeport,
moving southeast at 35 mph.
Wind gusts up to 45 mph are possible with this storm.
Locations impacted include...
Cadiz... Tippecanoe...
Deersville... Tappan Lake...
Clendening Lake...
This storm may intensify, so monitor local radio or television
stations for additional information and possible warnings from the
National Weather Service.
LAT...LON 4030 8134 4031 8127 4038 8127 4031 8094
4016 8103 4017 8110 4017 8113 4025 8134
TIME...MOT...LOC 2259Z 292DEG 28KT 4030 8129PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA
710 PM EDT TUE OCT 02 2018
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0558 PM TSTM WND DMG 2 S STONY POINT 39.90N 80.08W
10/02/2018 GREENE PA 911 CALL CENTER
TREES AND WIRES DOWN ALONG RIDGE ROAD.
&&
EVENT NUMBER PBZ1803596
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</html>The Pittsburgh radar (KPBZ), 122 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 23:41 UTC.
1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
A user on social media reported that trees were blown down and a small building was destroyed on White Rock Road.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Maryland in 2018Every state in 2018This day in weather historyWarnings in Maryland, October 2018
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 2026-10-01. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 788801.