Pennsylvania, 2019

Damaging Winds in Pennsylvania, June 24, 2019

June 24, 2019 · NWS PBZ · 14 events in 6 counties and zones

A warm front crossed the Upper Ohio Valley on the morning of the 24th, putting the region squarely in a warm sector behind the boundary. Abundant moisture and steepening low-level lapse rates were noted on the Pittsburgh morning sounding.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.

  • Tornadoes
  • Tropical storms and surge
  • Floods
  • Wind
  • Hail
  • Winter weather
  • Heat and drought
  • Cold
  • Fire, smoke and dust
  • Marine and coastal
  • Other

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
14

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.

What happened

The episode as NWS PBZ wrote it up.

A warm front crossed the Upper Ohio Valley on the morning of the 24th, putting the region squarely in a warm sector behind the boundary. Abundant moisture and steepening low-level lapse rates were noted on the Pittsburgh morning sounding. Storms were able to form in eastern Ohio ahead of a trough preceding a cold front by late afternoon. The line of thunderstorms pushed across portions of northern West Virginia and into southwest Pennsylvania into early evening, before mostly weakening as the storms passed northeast of Pittsburgh. Abnormally high freezing levels helped to prevent much hail, but copious amounts of instability and shear allowed for numerous reports of wind damage, mostly to trees.

What forecasters said that day

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 Jun 24, 2:24 PM EST, 3 hours 11 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jun 24, 2:24 PM EST, 3 hours 11 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Pittsburgh PA
324 PM EDT Mon Jun 24 2019

.SYNOPSIS...
Showers and storms will develop late this afternoon and evening
before a cold front crosses the Ohio Valley. Tuesday will be cool and
dry before warm air and humidity return late in the week.

&&

.NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 AM TUESDAY MORNING/...
The Ohio Valley remains firmly in the warm sector of a sfc cyclone in
ern WI. The 12Z PBZ RAOB shows abundant moisture and steepening
lapse rates, and a high-altitude freezing level with PWAT unseasonably
high.

A strong trough is noted in the Plains, while an MCV is evident in
satellite imagery near KY. In the wake of a lead shortwave trough
this morning (with attendant warm advection-driven showers), brief
ridging will aid in heating of the very moist warm sector.

There remains some uncertainty if storms will form ahead of a pre-
frontal trough that is expected to advance ewd across the Ohio
Valley this evening. Any storms that do form ahead of the front will
likely become supercellular given the shear/instability profile
anticipated. Any such isolated storms will be capable of all hazards:
damaging wind gusts, hail (although it will take an especially
intense updraft to produce severe hail today, given the freezing
level height), tornadoes, and isolated flash flooding (given the
expected warm rain processes, rain production will be highly
efficient).

The higher-certainty evolution is that storms will form along a pre-
frontal trough as the MCV advances newd, becoming linear mode as the
trough moves into the region early this evening. An organized severe
wind event is anticipated with this line.

In the wake of the cold frontal passage, there is a possibility for
isolated-scattered showers as the cold pool of the H5 wave moves
over and assists in the release of weak low-level potential
instability. These showers should wane by morning, setting Tue up for
a benign, cool day.

&&

.SHORT TERM /6 AM TUESDAY MORNING THROUGH WEDNESDAY NIGHT/...
Drier air will spread into the region on Tue. Upper-level flow will
transition toward zonal Tue-Wed, with any rain chances tied to low-
amplitude waves embedded in the flow. At this time, Tue appears
likely to feature cooler air and no rain.

It does appear one such low-amplitude wave will interact with a
frontal boundary or lake breeze on Wed, with a potential for
scattered showers and storms.

&&

.LONG TERM /THURSDAY THROUGH MONDAY/...
Rising H5 heights can be expected for the remainder of the week as
the Bermuda High amplifies and builds into the central Appalachians.
This trend suggests daily increases in temperature through the
remainder of the week. The ridge position will be important for
assessing any threat for convection during the late-week timeframe.

&&

.AVIATION /19Z MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/...
Showers and thunderstorms will overspread the region late this
afternoon and evening ahead an incoming upper-level trough and sfc
cold front. An MCV will move into the area from the Tennessee Valley
through this evening, which will further enhance storm initiation
while potentially causing sfc winds to back to sely. The storms are
expected to form along a broken to solid line while moving from the
southwest to the northeast. Strong and erratic winds are likely to
occur with any thunderstorm, along with brief reductions in
cig/vsby.

A weak post-frontal inversion will trap boundary-layer moisture and
result in MVFR to IFR cigs overnight. Drier and cooler air moving in
from the southwest will erode this inversion and its moisture,
allowing for quicker improvement to VFR conditions Tuesday morning.

.Outlook...
Mostly VFR conditions are expected the rest of the week, though brief
cat reductions could occur during storms associated with a weak mid-
week disturbance.

&&

.PBZ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
MD...None.
OH...None.
PA...None.
WV...None.

&&

Kramar
Hazardous weather outlook, Jun 24, 2:45 PM EST, 2 hours 50 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook...UPDATED
National Weather Service Pittsburgh PA
345 PM EDT Mon Jun 24 2019

MDZ001-WVZ511>514-251945-
Garrett-Preston-Eastern Preston-Western Tucker-Eastern Tucker-
345 PM EDT Mon Jun 24 2019

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for western Maryland and northern
West Virginia.

.DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight.

Severe thunderstorms are likely this afternoon and evening. Storms
will be capable of damaging wind gusts, and perhaps an isolated
tornado or large hail.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday.

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.

OHZ039>041-048>050-057>059-068-069-PAZ007>009-013>016-020>023-029-
031-073>076-WVZ001>004-012-021-509-510-251945-
Tuscarawas-Carroll-Columbiana-Coshocton-Harrison-Jefferson OH-
Muskingum-Guernsey-Belmont-Noble-Monroe-Mercer-Venango-Forest-
Lawrence-Butler-Clarion-Jefferson PA-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-
345 PM EDT Mon Jun 24 2019

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 440 IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM EDT THIS
EVENING...

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.

Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the
Internet for more information about the following hazards.

   Severe Thunderstorm Watch.

Storms will be capable of damaging wind gusts, and perhaps an
isolated tornado or large hail.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday.

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.

In the hours before

Local storm report, Jun 24, 5:23 PM EST, 12 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA
623 PM EDT MON JUN 24 2019

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0432 PM     TSTM WND DMG     ZANESVILLE              39.95N  82.01W
06/24/2019                   MUSKINGUM          OH   SOCIAL MEDIA

            LARGE BRANCHES BROKEN IN TOWN

0435 PM     TSTM WND DMG     MEADOWBROOK             40.00N  82.04W
06/24/2019                   MUSKINGUM          OH   SOCIAL MEDIA

            TREES DOWN ALONG ROUTE 60 AT OLDE FALLS ROAD

&&

EVENT NUMBER PBZ1902306
EVENT NUMBER PBZ1902307

KRAMAR
Local storm report, Jun 24, 5:31 PM EST, 4 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA
631 PM EDT MON JUN 24 2019

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0612 PM     TSTM WND DMG     STEUBENVILLE            40.37N  80.65W
06/24/2019                   JEFFERSON          OH   TRAINED SPOTTER

            LARGE BRANCHES AND POWER OUTAGES ALONG SDUNSET BLVD.

&&

EVENT NUMBER PBZ1902308

The radar

The Pittsburgh radar (KPBZ), 21 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 22:33 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

14 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Washington

When
June 24, 5:35 PM EST
Where
Washington County, 1.38 mi WSW of Five Pts
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by
911 Call Center
Coordinates
40.462, -80.444

Numerous trees were reported to be blown down, blocking Maxwell Road.

Thunderstorm Wind, Beaver

When
June 24, 5:36 PM EST
Where
Beaver County, 0.52 mi E of Hookstown
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
40.600, -80.470

Trees were reported to be blown down along Route 168.

Thunderstorm Wind, Beaver

When
June 24, 5:40 PM EST
Where
Beaver County, 1.72 mi WSW of Independence
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by
911 Call Center
Coordinates
40.560, -80.350

Trees were reported to be blown down, and power outages were also reported.

Thunderstorm Wind, Allegheny

When
June 24, 5:41 PM EST
Where
Allegheny County, 0.87 mi SE of Buena Vista
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
40.260, -79.790

Mutiple trees were reported to be blown down near the Youghiogheny River.

Thunderstorm Wind, Beaver

When
June 24, 5:41 PM EST
Where
Beaver County, 0.87 mi SW of Bellowsville
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
40.660, -80.410

Multiple trees were reported to be blown down.

Thunderstorm Wind, Allegheny

When
June 24, 5:44 PM EST
Where
Allegheny County, 0.53 mi E of Carnot
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
40.520, -80.210

Trees were reported to be blown down near Robert Morris University.

Thunderstorm Wind, Beaver

When
June 24, 5:46 PM EST
Where
Beaver County, 1.26 mi WNW of Aliquippa
Measured
52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Reported by
NWS Employee
Coordinates
40.630, -80.300

Wind gust of 60 MPH was estimated by a NWS employee.

Thunderstorm Wind, Beaver

When
June 24, 5:47 PM EST
Where
Beaver County, 0.87 mi SW of Bridgewater
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
40.690, -80.310

A large tree was reported to have fallen on a house on Bank Street.

Thunderstorm Wind, Washington

When
June 24, 5:55 PM EST
Where
Washington County, 0.53 mi E of Bishop
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
40.320, -80.190

Multiple trees were reported to be blown down.

Thunderstorm Wind, Allegheny

When
June 24, 6:01 PM EST
Where
Allegheny County, 2.96 mi WNW of Warrendale
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by
911 Call Center
Coordinates
40.670, -80.130

Multiple trees were reported to be blown down.

Thunderstorm Wind, Butler

When
June 24, 6:08 PM EST
Where
Butler County, 1.25 mi ESE of Eidenau
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
40.790, -80.100

Along Route 68, multiple trees were reported to be blown down.

Thunderstorm Wind, Butler

When
June 24, 6:31 PM EST
Where
Butler County, 0.69 mi N of East Butler
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by
Social Media
Coordinates
40.890, -79.830

A tree was reported to be blown down on Old East Butler Road. A picture was provided.

Thunderstorm Wind, Greene

When
June 24, 6:50 PM EST
Where
Greene County, 1.06 mi E of Graysville
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
39.930, -80.380

Numerous large limbs and a few trees were reported down from tremendous thunderstorm wind. Time was estimated from radar.

Thunderstorm Wind, Armstrong

When
June 24, 6:55 PM EST
Where
Armstrong County, 1.73 mi SE of Parker City
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by
911 Call Center
Coordinates
41.080, -79.680

Trees were reported to be blown down.

What these are

Thunderstorm Wind
Winds from a thunderstorm of 50 knots (58 mph) or more, or lower winds that caused damage or casualties. Measured gusts are marked MG, estimated EG.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Pennsylvania in 2019Every state in 2019This day in weather historyWarnings in Pennsylvania, June 2019

Sources

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: 832212, 832213, 832214, 832216, 832219, 832220, 832221, 832223, 832224, 832225, 832226, 832229, 832230, 832231.