A broken line of thunderstorms accompanied a cold front as it crossed Western Pennsylvania during the late morning hours of March 31st. An in-place low-level jet and sufficient instability helped to transport strong wind to the surface, resulting in many wind damage reports.
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 broken line of thunderstorms accompanied a cold front as it crossed Western Pennsylvania during the late morning hours of March 31st. An in-place low-level jet and sufficient instability helped to transport strong wind to the surface, resulting in many wind damage reports. One tornado managed to form along the thunderstorm line in Armstrong County, producing up to EF-2 damage.
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 31, 7:12 AM EST, 3 hours 11 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Pittsburgh PA 812 AM EDT Thu Mar 31 2022 .SYNOPSIS... A passing cold front will keep showers and storms in the forecast today, as well as high winds. Temperatures will drop over the weekend, snow showers return tomorrow. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/... Pre-frontal rain showers will continue pass through the region this morning before a dry slot advances. A cold front, currently entering central Ohio, will advance a line of showers across the region between 15Z and 20Z. Showers with gusty winds and sustained gusts will continue with the presence of a strong low- level jet (40-45kts). Thunderstorms activity will likely be isolated based on available instability (temps and dew points may not be high enough at the sfc to overcome warm air aloft despite high wind shear). The threat for isolated storms will decrease this afternoon in the wake of the cold front. Gusty conditions will still linger into the overnight time period with advancing cold air aloft and a strong pressure gradient. && .SHORT TERM /FRIDAY THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT/... Though storms should leave our late Friday evening, there will still be enough low-level moisture for orographic lifting to maintain showers in the ridges of WV early Friday morning. Winds will gradually shift from west to northwest, and we will once again be cold advecting over the Great Lakes. A secondary cold frontal boundary rotating through on Friday morning may provide enough upward motion to tap into the DGZ, and manifest into a snow squall. Otherwise, lake effect snow showers will build in for the day on Friday. Accumulations will be minimal. Widespread stratocumulus and cold advection will keep the area 10-20 degrees below average during the day, and seasonable at night. && .LONG TERM /SATURDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/... Building high pressure over the Great Lakes will keep Saturday weather quiet but cool, with NW flow. Warm, moist advection is expected late Monday into Tuesday as a disturbance forms over the Great Plains and tracks into the Ohio River Valley. && .AVIATION /12Z THURSDAY THROUGH MONDAY/... VFR cigs and isolated to scattered rain showers are expected through the early afternoon before a cold front crosses the region, ushering in drier weather. Tight sfc gradient and a llvl jet will promote 25 to 35 kt SW/SSW gusts ahead of the frontal boundary, with potential that a shower creates local enhancement up to 40 kts. Upper trough passage overnight and a stronger cold advection will support new iso/sct shower development, with thermal profiles supporting initial rain/snow mix that will change over to snow. MVFR to localized IFR conditions will become more likely through this period. .Outlook... Restrictions and rain/snow showers are expected Friday before VFR conditions return with crossing high pressure Saturday. Periodic restriction and precipitation chances will continue into early next week with additional trough passages. && .PBZ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... PA...None. OH...None. WV...None. && SYNOPSIS... NEAR TERM... SHORT TERM... LONG TERM... AVIATION...
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Pittsburgh PA 301 AM EDT Thu Mar 31 2022 OHZ059-068-069-PAZ007>009-013>016-020>023-029-031-073>076-WVZ001>004- 012-021-509>514-010715- Belmont-Noble-Monroe-Mercer-Venango-Forest-Lawrence-Butler-Clarion- Jefferson PA-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- 301 AM EDT Thu Mar 31 2022 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for east central Ohio, western Pennsylvania, and northern West Virginia. .DAY ONE...Today and tonight. Strong to severe thunderstorms with localized damaging wind gusts are possible Thursday. .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. OHZ039>041-048>050-057-058-010715- Tuscarawas-Carroll-Columbiana-Coshocton-Harrison-Jefferson OH- Muskingum-Guernsey- 301 AM EDT Thu Mar 31 2022 ...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 AM EDT THIS MORNING... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for east central Ohio. .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...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.
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Pittsburgh PA
1052 AM EDT Thu Mar 31 2022
PAZ029-031-WVZ004-012-021-509-311515-
Greene PA-Washington PA-Marshall WV-Marion WV-Monongalia WV-
Wetzel WV-
1052 AM EDT Thu Mar 31 2022
...STRONG SHOWERS WILL IMPACT SOUTH CENTRAL WASHINGTON... WESTERN
GREENE...NORTHWESTERN MONONGALIA...NORTHEASTERN WETZEL... MARSHALL
AND NORTHWESTERN MARION COUNTIES THROUGH 1115 AM EDT...
At 1051 AM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong showers along a
line extending from near Cameron to Pine Grove. Movement was
northeast at 35 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects.
Locations impacted include...
Cameron, Pine Grove, Hundred, Jacksonburg, Rogersville, Aleppo,
Amity, New Freeport, Nineveh, Wileyville, Big Run, and Knob Fork.
This includes Interstate 79 in Pennsylvania between mile markers 20
and 26.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 4011 8010 3956 8040 3953 8058 3952 8075
3982 8061
TIME...MOT...LOC 1451Z 239DEG 30KT 3978 8059 3957 8065
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPHSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Pittsburgh PA
1106 AM EDT Thu Mar 31 2022
PAZ014-021-022-029-073-075-311545-
Armstrong PA-Butler PA-Westmoreland PA-Allegheny PA-Washington PA-
Fayette PA-
1106 AM EDT Thu Mar 31 2022
...STRONG SHOWERS WILL IMPACT EAST CENTRAL WASHINGTON...
SOUTHEASTERN BUTLER...ALLEGHENY...WESTERN
WESTMORELAND...SOUTHWESTERN ARMSTRONG AND NORTH CENTRAL FAYETTE
COUNTIES THROUGH 1145 AM EDT...
At 1106 AM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong showers along a
line extending from near Mars to near East Washington. Movement was
east at 35 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects.
Locations impacted include...
Pittsburgh, Penn Hills, Mount Lebanon, Bethel Park, Ross Township,
McCandless Township, Monroeville, McMurray, McKeesport, Franklin
Park, Jeannette, and Vandergrift.
This includes the following highways...
Interstate 70 in Pennsylvania between mile markers 26 and 30, and
between mile markers 42 and 56.
Pennsylvania Turnpike between mile markers 33 and 73.
Interstate 79 in Pennsylvania between mile markers 53 and 58.
Interstate 376 in Pennsylvania between mile markers 64 and 84.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 4073 7952 4011 7965 4017 8017 4067 8004
TIME...MOT...LOC 1506Z 254DEG 32KT 4066 8002 4018 8014
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPHThe Pittsburgh radar (KPBZ), 36 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 15:25 UTC.
13 thunderstorm wind, 1 tornado. Local standard time, as filed.
Power lines were reported to be blown down on to a vehicle.
A tree was blown down at the intersection of Route 130 and Baker School Road.
A tree was blown down along Hartge Road.
A power pole was blown down near Route 28.
A tree was blown down along Magnolia Drive.
Trees and power lines were reported down in Apollo.
Trees and power lines were reported to be downed around Kittanning Township.
Trees were blown down along Campbell Run Road.
Trees were observed to be down on power lines. This was likely as a result of a rear inflow surge.
Trees and wires were reported to be downed on Anderson Creek Road.
Convergent damage to trees (large limbs and smaller trunks |snapped) was first noted just south of State Route 1035 near Pine |Road. As the tornado moved rapidly northeast, it strengthened and |widened considerably, causing EF1 damage to trees as it passed |through the area near State Route 1028 and Mateer Road, and across|State Route 1037. The vortex then strengthened further as it |moved through a heavily wooded area along Harris Road. In this |area, ground and aerial drone surveys revealed total devastation |of a large swath of hardwood and softwood trees along a 350 yd-|wide path, consistent with wind just reaching the EF2 range. The |dirt/gravel road was impassable by vehicle as a result of the |broad tree destruction. Review of drone footage revealed that the |number of trees wholly snapped or uprooted was in the many |hundreds.
The tornado continued northeast, snapping additional trees|along Country Road before crossing two homesteads along State|Route 1018, where several 100+ year-old mature pine trees were |snapped at their base and two barns were destroyed following |garage door and complete roof failure. Roof debris was blown 3/4 |mile downwind along School House Rd. Damage diminished notably |after the circulation crossed Ridge Road, possibly as a result of |the locally higher terrain. Evidence of secondary vortex |contraction and strengthening was observed looking northeast from |Ridge Road toward Boat Launch Road, where some tree damage was |noted, along with metal roof debris from a small outbuilding. |Although this mesovortex tornado spent most of its existence at |EF0 strength (70-85 mph), there was a brief period where wind |reached much higher speed of approximately 120 mph. Therefore, the|tornado's path will be rated EF2.
Large trees were blown down on to an outdoor shed.
Trees were reported to be blown down along Lost Hill Road and Fairview Road.
Trees were reported to be downed in the town.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Pennsylvania in 2022Every state in 2022This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for Pennsylvania, 2022Warnings in Pennsylvania, March 2022
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: 1014034, 1014035, 1014036, 1014037, 1014038, 1013687, 1013689, 1014039, 1013694, 1014040, 1014041, 1013699, 1013701, 1013697.