Moderate rain along a warm front lifting across the upper Ohio Valley resulted in flooding across portions of eastern Ohio and southwestern Pennsylvania on the 3rd, which was further exacerbated by the passing cold front later that evening. The strong cold front then produced scattered wind damage due to both strong pressure rises behind the front and with accompanying thunderstorms.
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.
Moderate rain along a warm front lifting across the upper Ohio Valley resulted in flooding across portions of eastern Ohio and southwestern Pennsylvania on the 3rd, which was further exacerbated by the passing cold front later that evening. The strong cold front then produced scattered wind damage due to both strong pressure rises behind the front and with accompanying thunderstorms.
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 3, 9:31 AM EST, 1 hour 29 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Pittsburgh PA
1031 AM EDT Tue Apr 3 2018
.SYNOPSIS...
Warmer weather today despite the rainfall. A strong cold front
will blast through the area late Tuesday night, bringing more
rain and very strong winds. Unsettled conditions and below
normal temperatures expected the remainder of the week.
&&
.NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 PM THIS EVENING/...
...Flash Flood Watch has been Issued for Moderate Rainfall...
Widespread rain is moving through just north of the warm front.
The warm front is slowly moving northward and will continue to
do so the reminder of the afternoon. Several CAMs keep axis of
rainfall most of the day along I-70 and points south. Also,
given influx of 60kt low level jet and strong moisture transport
vectors high water will be a concern in the watch area the
balance of the afternoon as convective precipitation rates could
be observed.
Overall forecast for the balance of the day is in good shape.
With increased confidence of warm front placement did lower
daytime highs a few degrees as the boundary won't lift north as
quickly as previously indicated. However, do expect to see
temperatures in the lower to mid 60s to advect in during the
evening hours ahead of the cold front when the warm front
finally lifts north of the PA/NY border.
&&
.SHORT TERM /6 PM THIS EVENING THROUGH THURSDAY/...
...Wind Gusts to 50 mph in the Mountains Wednesday...
Scattered/Isolated convection is expected to be ongoing tonight
along an advancing cold front in wrn OH. Wind shear will be
quite strong, although the magnitude of instability will be a
limiting factor.
Although storms will weaken as they move eastward, the
potential for gusty wind will exist with any deeper convection
given the potent low-level wind field.
The cold front will be crossing the mountains by Wed morning as
a dry slot sharpens aloft across the region. Most precipitation
will be shifted nwd to the I-80 corridor by this time, but steep
low-level lapse rates may be able to yield isolated showers if
low-level moisture lingers amid the dry slot.
Also of note will be the strong post-frontal wind field, which
should produce gusty wind amid the deep low-level mixing.
Strong pressure rises behind the cold front and impressive cold
air advection only add to concerns that wind advisories/warnings
will be needed late tonight and Wednesday morning.
Would expect slowly falling temperatures on Wednesday as cold
air advection will be ongoing throughout the day.
Thursday looks dry, but chilly, with decreasing cloud cover
until late in the day.
&&
.LONG TERM /THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY/...
Highlights:
- STILL no signs of Spring!
- No more than two dry days in a row
The extended period will start off chilly as cold advection
will be in full swing across the forecast area. H8 temps are
predicted to fall into the negative mid-teens over a good part
of the area. There will be sunshine to offset cold, but daytime
highs 15 to 20 degrees below normal are expected. With low level
temperatures -2 to -3 standard deviations below normal, lake-
enhanced snow showers are possible downwind of Lake Erie Friday,
but little if any accumulation is projected given that this
will occur during the daylight hours.
High pressure builds south from the western Great Lakes
Friday night into Saturday.
The rest of the extended looks like a continuation of the
pattern which will provide below normal temperatures and
unsettled weather.
&&
.AVIATION /14Z TUESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/...
Condition deterioration to MVFR, and eventual IFR, is expected
with rain through this morning with the approach of low
pressure and a warm front. A brief return to VFR is expected
from S-N as with the passage of the front, before deterioration
occurs again tonight as the low drags a cold front across the
region. A few thunderstorms are possible along or ahead of the
cold front. Included a VCTS mention at ZZV where better
instability is progged, and TS chances are better.
A low level jet should also result in a period of LLWS ahead of
tonight's cold front for ports where sfc gusts subside. Mixing
after FROPA should result in gusty sfc winds tonight through
Wed.
OUTLOOK...
Restrictions are possible Wed under upper troughing, and Thu
night thru Sat with areas of low pressure.
&&
.HYDROLOGY...
Flash flood watch in effect through this afternoon as isentropic
upglide / positive pressure advection yields widespread
rainfall. Overall amounts approaching 1.5" in three hours will
cause problems. Ground also is saturated given a half inch of
snow melt that went into the system after the quick hitting
winter storm Monday morning.
As for rivers, expect around 21 feet at Pittsburgh and at least
action stage on every forecast point on the Mon river from Point
Marion northward. Action stage is forecast at all points along
the Ohio river from Pittsburgh through Hannibal. In eastern
Ohio, action stage is predicted all points save for Zanesville.
&&
.PBZ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
MD...None.
OH...Flash Flood Watch until 4 PM EDT this afternoon for OHZ039-040-
048>050-057>059-068-069.
PA...Flash Flood Watch until 4 PM EDT this afternoon for PAZ021-029-
031-073-075.
WV...Flash Flood Watch until 4 PM EDT this afternoon for WVZ001>004-
012-021-509.
&&
98Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Pittsburgh PA 728 AM EDT Tue Apr 3 2018 MDZ001-PAZ008-009-015-016-WVZ512>514-041130- Garrett-Venango-Forest-Clarion-Jefferson-Eastern Preston- Western Tucker-Eastern Tucker- 728 AM EDT Tue Apr 3 2018 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for western Maryland, northwest Pennsylvania, west central Pennsylvania and northern West Virginia. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight. Isolated severe thunderstorms are possible with the passage of a cold front tonight. Damaging winds and hail are the main threat. Very strong winds are possible late tonight behind the cold front. A wind advisory may be needed. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday. Very strong winds are possible Wednesday morning behind a cold front. A wind advisory may be needed. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Weather spotters are encouraged to report significant weather conditions according to Standard Operating Procedures. OHZ039-040-048>050-057>059-068-069-PAZ021-029-031-073-075-WVZ001>004- 012-021-509-041130- Tuscarawas-Carroll-Coshocton-Harrison-Jefferson-Muskingum-Guernsey- Belmont-Noble-Monroe-Allegheny-Washington-Greene-Westmoreland- Fayette-Hancock-Brooke-Ohio-Marshall-Wetzel-Marion-Monongalia- 728 AM EDT Tue Apr 3 2018 ...FLASH FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 PM EDT THIS AFTERNOON... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for east central Ohio, southwest Pennsylvania, northern West Virginia and northern panhandle of West Virginia. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the Internet for more information about the following hazards. Flash Flood Watch. Slight risk for severe thunderstorms late this afternoon and evening. The main threat will be damaging winds and hail. Very strong winds are possible late tonight behind a cold front. A wind advisory may be needed. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday. Very strong winds are possible Wednesday morning behind a cold front. A wind advisory may be needed. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Weather spotters are encouraged to report significant weather conditions according to Standard Operating Procedures. OHZ041-PAZ007-013-014-020-022-023-074-076-WVZ510-511-041130- Columbiana-Mercer-Lawrence-Butler-Beaver-Armstrong-Indiana- Westmoreland Ridges-Fayette Ridges- Ridges of Eastern Monongalia and Northwestern Preston-Preston- 728 AM EDT Tue Apr 3 2018 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for east central Ohio, northwest Pennsylvania, southwest Pennsylvania, west central Pennsylvania, western Pennsylvania and northern West Virginia. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight. Moderate rainfall today could lead to localized flooding. Isolated severe thunderstorms are possible with the passage of a cold front tonight. Damaging winds and hail are the main threat. Very strong winds are possible late tonight behind the cold front. A wind advisory may be needed. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday. Very strong winds are possible Wednesday morning behind a cold front. A wind advisory may be needed. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Weather spotters are encouraged to report significant weather conditions according to Standard Operating Procedures.
The Pittsburgh radar (KPBZ), 127 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 16:00 UTC.
9 flood, 2 thunderstorm wind, 1 hail. Local standard time, as filed.
State Department of Highways reported that State Route 147 was flooded in both directions between the junction of 566 and junction of 513.
Department of highways reported that State Route 821 was closed in both directions due to flooding between the Washington county line and State Route 78. Duck Creek is out of its banks.
State Department of Highways reported flooding along State Route 260 in both directions between the junctions of 724 and 78.
Department of Highways reported flooding along SR-146 in both directions.
Department of Highways reported flooding along State Route 146 in both direction between the junction of 147 and Summerfield.
State official reported flooding at the two mile marker bridge known as the Dye Dip.
Department of highways reported trees down near Buffalo.
State official reported multiple trees down in and around Bethesda.
County officials reported ongoing flooding in Crooksville and Roseville as a result of Moxahala Creek overflowing its banks.
Emergency manager reported that Pipe Creek Road is under water.
Stream gauge in Blaine went above flood stage.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Ohio in 2018Every state in 2018This day in weather historyWarnings in Ohio, April 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 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 752414, 752420, 752422, 752424, 752426, 752428, 752270, 752271, 752272, 752449, 752435, 752451.