Thunderstorms generated as a shortwave trough sagged into our region. Despite little wind shear, damaging winds could be generated with mixing of dry air.
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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.
Thunderstorms generated as a shortwave trough sagged into our region. Despite little wind shear, damaging winds could be generated with mixing of dry air. Static air flow continues to create flooding potential as tropical moisture lingered.
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 Jul 15, 12:28 PM EST, 34 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Pittsburgh PA 128 PM EDT Sun Jul 15 2018 .SYNOPSIS... Shower and thunderstorm chances will increase through the beginning of the week until the passage of a cold front on Tuesday. && .NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 PM THIS EVENING/... Overall, little change needed to the near term forecast as first round of showers and thunderstorms associated with the sagging shortwave trough, moves south of I-68 late this morning. Expect additional convective development this afternoon with support from residual outflow boundaries, a rather diffuse surface front, and the aforementioned shortwave energy as lifting mechanisms. There will be little shear to support strong/severe storms but the residual outflow boundaries may be enough to support a few stout updrafts, which could tap into some dry air aloft. This would be a downburst/wind concern, if anything. In addition, high PWATs and weak flow aloft will support slow moving storms with heavy rain potential. Some localized flooding is possible, especially if this afternoons storm pass over locations that received over an inch of rain this morning. Adjusted PoPs based on the latest hi res guidance and the NAM, which has performed well so far this summer. Temperatures will still run above averages, with muggy conditions continuing. && .SHORT TERM /6 PM THIS EVENING THROUGH TUESDAY/... Mid-level troughing will then remain in place until the approach of a cold front early Tuesday. Deepening moisture through 500mb supports likely Pops late Monday and early Tuesday. Considering the timing of the boundary, Tuesday morning, it does not appear there will be much of severe threat as we will not have sufficient surface heating and destabilization. Temperatures will remain above averages through Monday with muggy conditions. More comfortable weather returns Tuesday. && .LONG TERM /TUESDAY NIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY/... High pressure will build over the Great Lakes until late in the long term. After this time, the deterministic guidance brings low pressure toward the region, with increasing southerly flow and moisture. Opted to stay close to blend of guidance with seasonable temperatures. && .AVIATION /18Z SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/... VFR conditions outside of local restrictions in scattered convection this afternoon / early evening. Patchy fog possible tonight in the favored locations. OUTLOOK... Restriction potential returns with scattered tstms Mon, and with a Mon night/Tue cold front. && .PBZ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... MD...None. OH...None. PA...None. WV...None. &&
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Pittsburgh PA 408 AM EDT Sun Jul 15 2018 MDZ001-OHZ039>041-048>050-057>059-068-069-PAZ007>009-013>016-020>023- 029-031-073>076-WVZ001>004-012-021-509>514-160815- 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- 408 AM EDT Sun Jul 15 2018 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. No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday through Saturday. No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time.
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Pittsburgh PA 111 PM EDT SUN JUL 15 2018 OHZ059-WVZ003-004-151800- Belmont-Marshall-Ohio- 111 PM EDT SUN JUL 15 2018 ...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING SMALL HAIL...GUSTY WIND AND HEAVY RAIN WILL AFFECT NORTHEASTERN BELMONT...SOUTHERN OHIO AND NORTHEASTERN MARSHALL COUNTIES... At 111 PM EDT, a strong thunderstorm was located over Bellaire, moving east at 10 mph. Wind gusts up to 55 mph and small hail are possible with this storm. Locations impacted include... Wheeling... Moundsville... Martins Ferry... St. Clairsville... Bellaire... Bethlehem... Triadelphia... Valley Grove... Shadyside... McMechen... Glen Dale... Bridgeport... This includes the following highways... Interstate 70 in Ohio between mile markers 218 and 225. Interstate 70 in West Virginia between mile markers 0 and 14. Torrential rainfall also is occurring with this storm and may cause localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways. Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with this storm. Seek safe shelter inside a building or vehicle. This storm may intensify, so monitor local radio or television stations for additional information and possible warnings from the National Weather Service. LAT...LON 3998 8091 4012 8088 4010 8052 3988 8052 TIME...MOT...LOC 1711Z 279DEG 10KT 4004 8075
The Pittsburgh radar (KPBZ), 86 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 18:00 UTC.
6 thunderstorm wind, 2 hail. Local standard time, as filed.
An emergency manager reported large tree branch down NNW of Blacksville and near Kuhntown. Also the public reported that numerous trees were snapped or uprooted along Sheappards Run Road.
A NWS Employee reported that a 2 foot maple tree in diameter snapped in half.
A trained spotter reported that several trees were snapped.
Social media report of nickel and quarter size hail.
An emergency manager reported a tree down with live power lines near Linden Grove and southwest of Salida. A trained spotter also reported an uprooted tree near Longview as well as trees down along Robert Drive.
An emergency manager reported that McNeilly Road and Pearce Road were closed due to trees and power lines being down.
On social media, there was a report of trees down on Froebe Road and Oak Ridge Road.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Pennsylvania in 2018Every state in 2018This day in weather historyWarnings in Pennsylvania, July 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: 773812, 773811, 773806, 773809, 773808, 773810, 773807, 776860.