A weak, low-amplitude shortwave crossed the region during the daylight hours. Combined with sufficient instability, scattered thunderstorms were able to develop during the afternoon.
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.
A weak, low-amplitude shortwave crossed the region during the daylight hours. Combined with sufficient instability, scattered thunderstorms were able to develop during the afternoon. The strongest storms, and thus the bulk of the severe weather reports, occurred near and north of Pittsburgh, where synoptic support was maximized.
Sufficient mid-level shear allowed storms to organize into a line over time, with the period of strongest activity occurring from 3:30 PM to 7:00 PM. Many reports of tree and power line damage were received. One injury occurred near Howe in Jefferson County, where a tree fell on a moving vehicle, injuring the driver when the windshield shattered.
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 17, 1:48 PM EST, 57 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Pittsburgh PA 248 PM EDT Sat Aug 17 2019 .SYNOPSIS... Warmth and humidity builds this weekend, with daily thunderstorm chances mainly during the afternoon and evening. && .NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 AM SUNDAY MORNING/... Developing scattered thunderstorms will continue as a shortwave trough moves across the forecast area. Anticipate the best coverage to occur north of PIT where better shortwave support is progged in conjunction with an encroaching 300mb 60kt jet streak. At the surface, dewpoint values in the mid to upper 60s will support modest instability. Instability, combined with shear aloft will support isolated instances of severe storms, however poor mid- level lapse rates and weak low- level shear should be limiting factors for widespread, organized convection. If a stronger updraft occurs, primary hazards would be damaging wind and hail. High temperature should be a few degrees above average. Showers and thunderstorms should diminish this evening with exiting shortwave support and waning instability. && .SHORT TERM /6 AM SUNDAY MORNING THROUGH MONDAY NIGHT/... Expect mainly diurnally supported isolated to scattered thunderstorms Sunday and Monday as convective thresholds are again met. With somewhat less instability from near PIT and south, and weak ridging, continued with lower/isolated POPs in this area, with slightly higher POPs/scattered coverage north. With the instability, heat and humidity, an isolated storm could be severe, though, again, poor lapse rates should dampen this potential. Above average temperature is expected to continue. && .LONG TERM /TUESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/... Zonal flow, north of a Southern CONUS high, is expected to persist across the region Tuesday. Shortwaves embedded in the flow should maintain periodic shower and thunderstorm chances as warm and humid conditions continue. A trough, and its associated cold front, are expected to track from the Upper Midwest to the Upper OH Valley/Great Lakes regions by Wednesday. Included a period of likely POPs with FROPA. Surface high pressure building under NE CONUS upper troughing should return dry, cooler and less humid weather by Thursday and Friday. && .AVIATION /19Z SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/... VFR is expected through the TAF period outside of any showers or storms that impact the I-80 corridor later this afternoon and evening. Included VCTS mention in latest TAFs. .Outlook... Aftn/eve restrictions are possible Mon with an approaching cold front. && .PBZ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... MD...None. OH...None. PA...None. WV...None. &&
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Pittsburgh PA 206 PM EDT Sat Aug 17 2019 OHZ039>041-048>050-057>059-PAZ007>009-013>016-020>023-029-073-074- WVZ001>003-181815- Tuscarawas-Carroll-Columbiana-Coshocton-Harrison-Jefferson OH- Muskingum-Guernsey-Belmont-Mercer-Venango-Forest-Lawrence-Butler- Clarion-Jefferson PA-Beaver-Allegheny-Armstrong-Indiana-Washington- Westmoreland-Westmoreland Ridges-Hancock-Brooke-Ohio- 206 PM EDT Sat Aug 17 2019 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for east central Ohio, northwest Pennsylvania, southwest Pennsylvania, west central Pennsylvania, western Pennsylvania, northern West Virginia and northern panhandle of West Virginia. .DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight. Isolated, severe thunderstorms are possible this afternoon through early evening, capable of producing damaging wind and hail. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday. The probability for widespread hazardous weather is low. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Weather spotters are encouraged to report significant weather conditions according to Standard Operating Procedures. MDZ001-OHZ068-069-PAZ031-075-076-WVZ004-012-021-509>514-181815- Garrett-Noble-Monroe-Greene-Fayette-Fayette Ridges-Marshall-Wetzel- Marion-Monongalia- Ridges of Eastern Monongalia and Northwestern Preston-Preston- Eastern Preston-Western Tucker-Eastern Tucker- 206 PM EDT Sat Aug 17 2019 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for western Maryland, east central Ohio, southwest Pennsylvania, northern West Virginia and northern panhandle of West Virginia. .DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight. The probability for widespread hazardous weather is low. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday. The probability for widespread hazardous weather is low. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time.
The Pittsburgh radar (KPBZ), 94 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 19:45 UTC.
19 thunderstorm wind, 1 hail. Local standard time, as filed.
The county emergency manager reported a tree and wires down on a structure.
The county 911 call center reported that multiple trees were blown down between Cooperstown and Sugarcreek.
A social media user reported that multiple large trees were uprooted near Transfer.
The county emergency manager reported that trees and power lines were blown down on to a house.
Trees and power lines were downed near McDowell Road, according to a local fire department.
The county emergency manager reported that a tree fell on to a house on Barnes Road.
Multiple trees were blown down in southern Green Township, according to county 911 officials.
The county 911 call center reported that Old Fryburg Road was briefly closed due to downed power lines and trees.
The county 911 call center reported that multiple trees and power lines were blown down in Tylersburg.
Sunny Road was closed briefly due to downed power lines and trees, according to county 911 officials.
According to the county 911 call center, multiple trees and power lines were downed in Lucinda and Syndersburg.
The county 911 call center stated that multiple trees and power lines were blown down around Boyers.
County 911 officials stated that a tree fell on to a moving vehicle on Moore Bridge Road near Route 36. The driver was injured by shattered glass from the tree hitting the car.
The county 911 call center reported that multiple trees and power lines were blown down in Eau Claire.
Multiple trees were blown down in Snyder and Washington Townships, according to the county 911 call center.
The county emergency manager reported that a telephone pole was blown down on to a car.
According to the county emergency manager, two partial building collapses occurred near the intersection of Butler and 48th Streets.
The county emergency manager reported that several trees were blown down in the Millvale, Reserve, and Lawrenceville areas.
The county emergency manager reported that several trees and power lines were blown down.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Pennsylvania in 2019Every state in 2019This day in weather historyWarnings in Pennsylvania, August 2019
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: 851152, 851154, 851155, 851159, 851160, 851161, 851163, 851164, 851166, 851167, 851171, 851173, 851174, 851175, 852187, 851176, 851178, 852188, 852189, 852190.