High winds occurred behind an exiting cold front on March 28th. The 12Z morning sounding from PIT showed a strong low-level jet of 55kts near 1500 meters.
Every event with a place to put it; 2 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. 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.
High winds occurred behind an exiting cold front on March 28th. The 12Z morning sounding from PIT showed a strong low-level jet of 55kts near 1500 meters. A saturated soil from storms the previous day may have helped promote falling trees as well.
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 Mar 29, 2:42 PM EST, 26 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Pittsburgh PA
342 PM EDT Sun Mar 29 2020
.SYNOPSIS...
Cold front passage this evening will herald more seasonal temperature
for the upcoming week.
&&
.NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 AM MONDAY MORNING/...
Advisory level wind gusts will persist into the evening, but will
ease as mixing does with the setting sun. Otherwise, convection
potential has ended as the cold/occluding front is sweeping across
the Upr OH Valley Region.
Some light showers are possible later tonight for areas north of PIT
as cold advection ensues under upper troughing.
&&
.SHORT TERM /6 AM MONDAY MORNING THROUGH TUESDAY/...
Increasing clouds and the risk for a passing shower on Monday with
upper troughing and cold advection on northwest flow.
Building high pressure on Tuesday will promote drier conditions.
&&
.LONG TERM /TUESDAY NIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY/...
The next chance for rain will be Wednesday as a disturbance passes
to our south.
&&
.AVIATION /20Z SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/...
VFR and strong winds (30-40kts) can be expected in the near term. As
the sun sets and mixing ceases, winds will subside slightly but
remain elevated overall (20kts). MVFR will arrive from the North
early Monday and remain through the period.
.Outlook...
Restrictions are likely Tuesday with crossing low pressure South.
&&
.PBZ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
MD...Wind Advisory until 9 PM EDT this evening for MDZ001.
OH...Wind Advisory until 9 PM EDT this evening for OHZ039>041-048>050-
057>059-068-069.
PA...Wind Advisory until 9 PM EDT this evening for PAZ007>009-013>016-
020>023-029-031-073>076.
WV...Wind Advisory until 9 PM EDT this evening for WVZ001>004-012-021-
509>514.
&&Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Pittsburgh PA 322 PM EDT Sun Mar 29 2020 MDZ001-OHZ039>041-048>050-057>059-068-069-PAZ007>009-013>016-020>023- 029-031-073>076-WVZ001>004-012-021-509>514-301930- Garrett-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- Preston-Eastern Preston-Western Tucker-Eastern Tucker- 322 PM EDT Sun Mar 29 2020 ...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM EDT THIS EVENING... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for western Maryland, east central Ohio, northwest Pennsylvania, southwest Pennsylvania, western Pennsylvania, northern West Virginia and the 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. Wind Advisory. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday through Saturday. 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.
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Pittsburgh PA 1040 AM EDT Sun Mar 29 2020 MDZ001-OHZ039>041-048>050-057>059-068-069-PAZ007>009-013>016- 020>023-029-031-073>076-WVZ001>004-012-021-509>514-291745- Garrett-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-Preston- Eastern Preston-Western Tucker-Eastern Tucker- Including the cities of Mountain Lake Park, Oakland MD, Grantsville, New Philadelphia, Dover, Carrollton, Malvern, East Liverpool, Salem, Columbiana, Coshocton, Cadiz, Steubenville, Zanesville, Cambridge, Martins Ferry, St. Clairsville, Caldwell, Woodsfield, Sharon, Hermitage, Grove City, Oil City, Franklin, Tionesta, New Castle, Ellwood City, Butler, Clarion, Punxsutawney, Brookville, Aliquippa, Beaver Falls, Ambridge, Monaca, Pittsburgh Metro Area, Kittanning, Ford City, Indiana, Washington, Canonsburg, Waynesburg, Murrysville, Greensburg, New Kensington, Lower Burrell, Latrobe, Monessen, Ligonier, Donegal, Uniontown, Champion, Ohiopyle, Weirton, Follansbee, Wellsburg, Wheeling, Moundsville, New Martinsville, Fairmont, Morgantown, Coopers Rock, Kingwood, Bruceton Mills, Terra Alta, Rowlesburg, Hazelton, Parsons, Hendricks, Saint George, Davis, Thomas, and Canaan Valley 1040 AM EDT Sun Mar 29 2020 ...STRONG GUSTY WINDS WILL OCCUR TODAY... Wind gusts between 30 mph and 40 mph with locally higher gusts at times can be expected until early this evening. These winds may cause small tree limbs to break or down trees considering recent rainfall and saturated soil.
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA
1242 PM EDT SUN MAR 29 2020
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0519 PM TSTM WND DMG 1 ESE RICHEYVILLE 40.05N 79.99W
03/28/2020 WASHINGTON PA EMERGENCY MNGR
TREES DOWN IN WEST PIKE RUN TWP.
&&
EVENT NUMBER PBZ2000752
MFPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA
231 PM EDT SUN MAR 29 2020
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1211 PM NON-TSTM WND GST ALLEGHENY COUNTY AIRPOR 40.35N 79.92W
03/29/2020 M51 MPH ALLEGHENY PA ASOS
0130 PM NON-TSTM WND GST NEW PHILADELPHIA 40.46N 81.43W
03/29/2020 M53 MPH TUSCARAWAS OH MESONET
0133 PM NON-TSTM WND GST WHEELING 40.17N 80.65W
03/29/2020 M47 MPH OHIO WV ASOS
0143 PM NON-TSTM WND GST PITTSBURGH INTL AIRPORT 40.50N 80.27W
03/29/2020 M51 MPH ALLEGHENY PA ASOS
0151 PM NON-TSTM WND GST LATROBE AIRPORT 40.27N 79.40W
03/29/2020 M51 MPH WESTMORELAND PA AWOS
0153 PM NON-TSTM WND GST WASHINGTON COUNTY AIRPO 40.12N 80.27W
03/29/2020 M48 MPH WASHINGTON PA AWOS
&&
EVENT NUMBER PBZ2000753
EVENT NUMBER PBZ2000754
EVENT NUMBER PBZ2000755
EVENT NUMBER PBZ2000756
EVENT NUMBER PBZ2000757
EVENT NUMBER PBZ2000758
BROWNPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA
313 PM EDT SUN MAR 29 2020
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0930 PM FLASH FLOOD 1 SW WAKATOMIKA 40.19N 82.06W
03/28/2020 COSHOCTON OH PUBLIC
CREEKS ALONG COUNTY ROAD 4 WERE WELL ABOVE BANKFULL
WITH WATER FLOWING ACROSS THE ROAD.
&&
EVENT NUMBER PBZ2000759
BROWNPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA
314 PM EDT SUN MAR 29 2020
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0215 PM NON-TSTM WND GST I-79 N B @ MM 6 WELCOME 39.80N 80.08W
03/29/2020 M48 MPH GREENE PA MESOWEST
0225 PM NON-TSTM WND GST SUGARCREEK 40.51N 81.66W
03/29/2020 M47 MPH TUSCARAWAS OH MESONET
&&
EVENT NUMBER PBZ2000760
EVENT NUMBER PBZ2000761
BROWNThe national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
2 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
A 58 mph wind gust was measured at Allegheny County Airport.
A mother and toddler were critically injured when a pine tree fell on them in Cascade Park. The falling tree caused them to fall into nearby water. Article: https://www.ncnewsonline.com/news/local_news/man-performed-cpr-on-child-hit-by-tree/article_34f9b0a4-d832-53b1-b405-694fc734b469.html .
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Pennsylvania in 2020Every state in 2020This day in weather historyWarnings in Pennsylvania, March 2020
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: 881171, 881173.