A shortwave passage during the morning of July 29th spread mainly non-severe showers and thunderstorms across the region during the morning and midday hours. However, a discrete cell along the back edge of the morning activity was able to develop a tornado along the Fayette-Westmoreland County border.
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 shortwave passage during the morning of July 29th spread mainly non-severe showers and thunderstorms across the region during the morning and midday hours. However, a discrete cell along the back edge of the morning activity was able to develop a tornado along the Fayette-Westmoreland County border. This was a preview of what was to follow.
In the wake of this morning activity, additional thunderstorms were able to develop in association with a prefrontal trough. These storms were able to take advantage of deep shear, especially in the lower levels. A cross-boundary component to this shear allowed discrete supercells to form during the mid and late afternoon hours. Storm motions were favorable for the ingestion of streamwise vorticity, allowing for rotating storms. While eight tornadoes formed during this event across eastern Ohio and southwest Pennsylvania, the severe events in West Virginia were limited to straight-line wind damage to mainly trees. Training thunderstorms also led to reports of numerous flooded roads in Monongalia County.
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 29, 12:37 PM EST, 3 hours 53 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Pittsburgh PA 137 PM EDT Thu Jul 29 2021 .SYNOPSIS... Showers and thunderstorms will be crossing the area today with the passage of a cold front. High pressure returns dry and seasonably cool conditions for the first half of the weekend. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/... A shortwave will finish its exit through the region shortly, pushing most convection east while leaving a residual trail of cloud cover. Though storms may continue north of I-80 due weak sfc convergence, the main focus will be on scattered shower and thunderstorm development ahead of an approaching pre-frontal trough this afternoon and early evening. Storms could become severe with damaging wind and large hail the primary threats in part due to abundant shear and increasingly dry mid-level air. However, there are two factors that may limit the threat, keeping confidence low that one even develops. The first factor is waning upper support as the sfc feature lags behind the exiting shortwave; more limited storm coverage is the likely outcome of this. The other factor is instability, or the lack thereof, at the moment given excessive cloud cover from this morning's convection. Very simply: more heating/destabilization is needed to foster robust storm development and tap into the shear/dry air to create the severe threat. Overnight, additional weak shortwaves and the passage of the sfc cold front may aid iso/sct showers with localized thunder. Otherwise, drier conditions are expected due to building high pressure and dry, cold advection. && .SHORT TERM /FRIDAY THROUGH SATURDAY NIGHT/... High pressure will slowly build in from the northwest on Friday with dry conditions expected through Saturday. Temperatures will run below seasonal averages under cold advection. && .LONG TERM /SUNDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/... Another shortwave within the broad eastern U.S. upper trough will push a weak sfc cold front through the region Sunday, increasing precipitation chances. High pressure should resume influence over the upper Ohio River Valley heading into next week under weak upper troughing, with temperature near to slightly below seasonal averages. && .AVIATION /18Z THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/... Initial activity associated with a shortwave trough/MCV is currently exiting the region, with MGW/DUJ possibly keeping a brief restriction right at TAF time. Another round of at least scattered showers and thunderstorms are expected to develop in association with a pre-frontal trough during the afternoon. Uncertainty regarding storm coverage and intensity remains, and depends on the degree of destabilization that we can achieve. Still, elected to keep a period of VCTS for several hours, and tried to time the most likely period of impact in TEMPO groups at the terminals. A direct hit will likely result in a brief period of IFR/LIFR visibility and perhaps strong wind gusts. Activity should dissipate/move off this evening with the departure of the trough and the loss of instability. As the cold front drops across the region overnight, a period of MVFR ceilings and mist is possible at most terminals. Once daytime mixing commences on Friday, ceilings will likely break, and VFR conditions and light northwest wind will develop by midday. .Outlook... Restrictions are possible with a Sunday cold front. && .PBZ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... PA...None. OH...None. WV...None. &&
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Pittsburgh PA 318 PM EDT Thu Jul 29 2021 OHZ039>041-048>050-057>059-068-069-PAZ014-020>023-029-031-073>076- WVZ001>004-012-021-509>514-301930- Tuscarawas-Carroll-Columbiana-Coshocton-Harrison-Jefferson OH- Muskingum-Guernsey-Belmont-Noble-Monroe-Butler-Beaver-Allegheny- Armstrong-Indiana-Washington-Greene-Westmoreland- Higher Elevations of Westmoreland-Fayette- Higher Elevations of Fayette-Hancock-Brooke-Ohio-Marshall-Wetzel- Marion-Monongalia- Ridges of Eastern Monongalia and Northwestern Preston-Preston- Eastern Preston-Western Tucker-Eastern Tucker- 318 PM EDT Thu Jul 29 2021 ...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 403 IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM EDT THIS EVENING... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for east central Ohio, southwest Pennsylvania, western Pennsylvania, and northern 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. Scattered severe thunderstorms are possible today. Damaging wind gusts would be the primary threat, but large hail and a tornado or two cannot be ruled out. However, there is a fair amount of uncertainty whether the severe threat will develop. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday. Hazardous weather is not expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Weather spotters are encouraged to report significant weather conditions according to Standard Operating Procedures. PAZ007>009-013-015-016-301930- Mercer-Venango-Forest-Lawrence-Clarion-Jefferson PA- 318 PM EDT Thu Jul 29 2021 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for western Pennsylvania. .DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight. Scattered severe thunderstorms are possible today. Damaging wind gusts would be the primary threat, but large hail and a tornado or two cannot be ruled out. However, there is a fair amount of uncertainty whether the severe threat will develop. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday. Hazardous weather is not expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Weather spotters are encouraged to report significant weather conditions according to Standard Operating Procedures.
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA
456 PM EDT THU JUL 29 2021
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0208 PM TORNADO 2 NNE WHITE 40.10N 79.42W
07/29/2021 FAYETTE PA PUBLIC
DAMAGE EXTENDING DOWN KESSLER SCHOOL ROAD NEAR KESSLER
EXTENSION, IN SALT LICK TOWNSHIP IN FAYETTE COUNTY. PA.
SINGLE STORY SHED OVERTURNED POWERLINES DOWN, BARN ROOF
COMPLETELY TORN OFF, SINGLE STORY GARAGE LEVELED WITH
ROOF ROTATED AND MOVED TO NEIGHBORS PROPERTY, MULTIPLE
TREES TWISTED AND UPROOTED FACING MULTIPLE DIRECTIONS.
AN OFFICIAL NWS SURVEY WILL BE CONDUCTED TOMORROW,
FRIDAY JULY 29TH.
&&
EVENT NUMBER PBZ2102021
MPKPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA
457 PM EDT THU JUL 29 2021
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0206 PM TSTM WND DMG 2 WSW DONEGAL 40.10N 79.42W
07/29/2021 FAYETTE PA PUBLIC
REPORT FROM MPING: HOMES/BUILDINGS
COMPLETELY DESTROYED.
&&PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA
500 PM EDT THU JUL 29 2021
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0208 PM TSTM WND DMG 3 WSW DONEGAL 40.10N 79.43W
07/29/2021 FAYETTE PA PUBLIC
REPORT FROM MPING: TREES UPROOTED OR
SNAPPED; ROOF BLOWN OFF.
&&Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Pittsburgh PA
509 PM EDT Thu Jul 29 2021
PAZ023-292145-
Indiana-
509 PM EDT Thu Jul 29 2021
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING GUSTY WIND WILL AFFECT
SOUTHEASTERN INDIANA COUNTY...
At 509 PM EDT, a strong thunderstorm was located 7 miles east of
Indiana, moving southeast at 45 mph.
Wind gusts up to 45 mph are possible with this storm.
Locations impacted include...
Clymer... Vintondale...
Armagh... Lucerne Mines...
Brush Vly... Yellow Creek State Park...
This storm may intensify, so monitor local radio or television
stations for additional information and possible warnings from the
National Weather Service.
LAT...LON 4050 7891 4041 7897 4056 7917 4069 7907
4060 7886
TIME...MOT...LOC 2109Z 302DEG 41KT 4060 7902PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA
513 PM EDT THU JUL 29 2021
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0455 PM TORNADO NEW ATHENS 40.18N 81.00W
07/29/2021 HARRISON OH 911 CALL CENTER
TORNADO SPOTTED HEADING FROM NEW ATHENS TOWARD
HARRISVILLE. REPORT OF A HOUSE OUT IN THE ROAD IN NEW
ATHENS.
&&
EVENT NUMBER PBZ2102022
FLHPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA
521 PM EDT THU JUL 29 2021
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0508 PM HAIL 1 NNW SOUTH OLIVE 39.68N 81.49W
07/29/2021 E1.50 INCH NOBLE OH PUBLIC
&&
EVENT NUMBER PBZ2102023
MPKThe Pittsburgh radar (KPBZ), 61 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 21:28 UTC.
9 thunderstorm wind, 2 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.
A few trees were reported to be blown down near Oglebay Zoo.
A tree was blown down near US-40.
A report was received of numerous downed trees in Westover.
Trees were reported to be blown down on Hornbeck Road.
In Tunnelton, there was a report of trees blown down.
Trees were reported to be blown down in Newburg.
In Rowlesburg, trees were reported to be blown down.
Numerous roads were flooded in and around Morgantown.
Along Cheat Valley Highway, a porch was blown off of a house.
A tree was reported to be blown down on Clover Run Road near Parsons.
Numerous roads were reported to be flooded in Westover.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in West Virginia in 2021Every state in 2021This day in weather historyWarnings in West Virginia, July 2021
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: 973627, 973628, 973630, 973631, 973632, 973633, 973634, 973624, 973635, 973636, 973626.