Strengthening low pressure tracked across the Great Lakes and into the northeast CONUS on March 26th. With the surface low track and low-level jet positioning both favorable, strong wind gusts were able to develop in the deep mixing behind a cold front.
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.
Strengthening low pressure tracked across the Great Lakes and into the northeast CONUS on March 26th. With the surface low track and low-level jet positioning both favorable, strong wind gusts were able to develop in the deep mixing behind a cold front. Numerous surface wind gusts in the 40 to 60 MPH range were recorded from the predawn hours into the early afternoon.
The brunt of the wind remained to the north of West Virginia, although a few reports of tree damage were noted, and a mobile home was shifted off of its foundation in Hancock 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 Mar 26, 2:52 AM EST, 8 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Pittsburgh PA
352 AM EDT Fri Mar 26 2021
.SYNOPSIS...
Rain showers will exit to the north this morning. Strong wind gusts
are expected through the day with the strongest winds in the morning.
&&
.NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 PM THIS EVENING/...
A front, on the southern flank of deep low pressure, will plow
through the region this morning. With the stacked system moving
rapidly northeastward, rain will end this morning, lingering the
longest in the I-80 corridor. The main wind event will likely be
reserved to FROPA, meaning the strongest winds are expected during
the morning hours. Mixing with that feature, along with system speed
and an isallobaric acceleration component, wl be the primary damaging
threat as the low digs over the Great lakes.
Winds will ease as the low exits northeastward this afternoon.
&&
.SHORT TERM /6 PM THIS EVENING THROUGH SUNDAY/...
Wind will continue to diminish with the slackening surface gradient,
eventually becoming light and variable tonight as high pres builds.
Despite the earlier frontal passage, temperatures will remain a few
degrees above avg tonight with the lack of a good push of cold
advection. Dry weather continues through Saturday as the high moves
east. A return of warm advection will push afternoon temperatures
well into the 60s.
During the Saturday night/Sunday period, low pressure is progged to
develop over the upper Midwest with moist advection dvlpg ovr the Upr
OH. Showers, possibly some storms and another round of wind, albeit
less intense, appears likely with this system.
&&
.LONG TERM /SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY/...
Building high pres is forecast to end shower potential on Sunday
night. Mostly dry weather is then expected until the approach of
a longwave trough on Wednesday. Expect variably seasonable
temperature for the period.
&&
.AVIATION /08Z FRIDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/...
Rain is quickly coming to an end from south to north, with pockets
of thunder along the boundary moving north. Condition deterioration
is then expected near 12z with llvl wind shear. Wind will continue
ramping up early this morning, with a brief period of SW gusts from
40-50 kts possible for a few hours after dawn. Gusts will remain
elevated through the day, eventually slackening this evening with
loss of mixing.
.Outlook...
Conditions will likely deteriorate with a Sunday low pressure
system.
&&
.PBZ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
PA...High Wind Warning until 2 PM EDT this afternoon for PAZ007-013-020.
Wind Advisory until 6 PM EDT this evening for PAZ008-009-014>016-
021>023-029-031-073-075.
High Wind Warning until 6 PM EDT this evening for PAZ074-076.
OH...High Wind Warning until 2 PM EDT this afternoon for OHZ039>041-
048>050-057>059-068-069.
WV...High Wind Warning until 2 PM EDT this afternoon for WVZ001>003.
Wind Advisory until 6 PM EDT this evening for WVZ004-012-021-
509>511.
High Wind Warning until 6 PM EDT this evening for WVZ512>514.
&&Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Pittsburgh PA 338 AM EDT Fri Mar 26 2021 PAZ074-076-WVZ512>514-270745- Higher Elevations of Westmoreland-Higher Elevations of Fayette- Eastern Preston-Western Tucker-Eastern Tucker- 338 AM EDT Fri Mar 26 2021 ...HIGH WIND WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM EDT THIS EVENING... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for southwest Pennsylvania and northern West Virginia. .DAY ONE...Today and tonight. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the Internet for more information about the following hazards. High Wind Warning. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday. 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. PAZ008-009-014>016-021>023-029-031-073-075-WVZ004-012-021-509>511- 270745- Venango-Forest-Butler-Clarion-Jefferson PA-Allegheny-Armstrong- Indiana-Washington-Greene-Westmoreland-Fayette-Marshall-Wetzel- Marion-Monongalia- Ridges of Eastern Monongalia and Northwestern Preston-Preston- 338 AM EDT Fri Mar 26 2021 ...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM EDT THIS EVENING... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for northwest Pennsylvania, southwest Pennsylvania, western Pennsylvania, northern West Virginia and the northern panhandle of West Virginia. .DAY ONE...Today 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...Saturday through Thursday. 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-PAZ007-013-020-WVZ001>003-270745- Tuscarawas-Carroll-Columbiana-Coshocton-Harrison-Jefferson OH- Muskingum-Guernsey-Belmont-Noble-Monroe-Mercer-Lawrence-Beaver- Hancock-Brooke-Ohio- 338 AM EDT Fri Mar 26 2021 ...HIGH WIND WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 2 PM EDT THIS AFTERNOON... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for east central Ohio, northwest Pennsylvania, southwest Pennsylvania, northern West Virginia and the northern panhandle of West Virginia. .DAY ONE...Today and tonight. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the Internet for more information about the following hazards. High Wind Warning. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday. No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time.
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
2 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
A mobile home was reported to be shifted off of its foundation due to the wind.
Several trees were reported to be blown down across the county, with at least one of the trees also taking down a power line.
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, March 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: 948203, 948205.