The center of a closed upper-level low advanced just west of the Great Lakes on the evening of April 5th. An organized line of convection developed ahead of the cold front and created strong winds and isolated tornadoes from eastern Illinois to eastern Ohio.
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.
The center of a closed upper-level low advanced just west of the Great Lakes on the evening of April 5th. An organized line of convection developed ahead of the cold front and created strong winds and isolated tornadoes from eastern Illinois to eastern Ohio. DCAPE values will likely near air above 1000J/kg with high cloud based ceilings prior to convection. Hi-Res model guidance also suggested that effective shear ranged between 30-40kts.
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 Apr 5, 6:41 PM EST, 4 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Pittsburgh PA 741 PM EDT Wed Apr 5 2023 .SYNOPSIS... Shower and thunderstorms will continue through the evening and overnight with the approach and passage of a cold front. && .NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 AM THURSDAY MORNING/... The convection that has followed a temperature differential from OH and into the WV Panhandle has held together with sustained in stability as it tracks into untapped environment. Though dry, enough seems to be able to sustain damaging winds especially with roughly 600-800 J/Kg Dcape values as it heads into PA so have extended the watch into PA and in time to account for the sustained convection. The new expiration time is 02Z. Previous update...Much of the cloud cover and shower activity has lifted to the north over northeast OH and northwest PA leaving a generally clear area over the southern OH and southern PA, northern WV area. This has lead to a bit of warming and maintaining warmer temps but the peak heating has passed for early April and a very dry surface seems to be taking shape with RH values into the lower 30s and upper 20 percent range. This will continue to make for an unfavorable environment unless the upstream convection in south central OH on its current trajectory makes it into the western OH counties with has occurred with a bow echo holding together as it has tracked into Muskingum producing some damaging winds. Reports have occurred. Will expect some damaging winds still with this convection. This tracks east northeast and with an untapped, but possibly too dry southern area. Have extended the watch to the south and east. Will monitor for continued evolution of the storm and possible addition development downstream as elevated instability still is possible and with warmer surface temps, a down burst potential is present as well. Cells will weaken along the front into tonight with the approach of the boundary being slowed by high pressure/ridging in the east keeping showers over southwest PA into Thursday. Still, only 0.50" is forecast on average across the region. This will keep a damp and showery forecast in place through Thursday morning. && .SHORT TERM /6 AM THURSDAY MORNING THROUGH SATURDAY NIGHT/... During the day on the Thursday, strong high pressure in the eastern Middle Atlantic will keep the cold front at bay, nearly stalled. Models indicate a weak wave tracking up the lee side of the stalled trough along the Appalachian range more timing like mid morning on Thursday. Therefore, with the stalled boundary and passing support aloft, will keep some thunder potential along the front through midday on Thursday. Eventually, the pattern aloft breaks down and the 700MB flow finally shoves the trough east sending the front through the region by late Thursday night. High pressure upstream will usher in a potential extended dry period. Building sfc high pressure behind the front will return dry conditions to the region by Friday and maintain dry conditions through the weekend. Temperatures will be noticeably cooler Thursday (back to normal) before increasing back to above normal levels Sunday. && .LONG TERM /SUNDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/... Latest model consensus shows high pressure / upper ridging remaining the dominant feature in the extended, maintaining dry conditions and above normal temperatures. Though Tuesday does hint at a shortwave attempting to traverse the ridge with some moisture creeping into the northern forecast area. Trends suggest the models with eventually dry this potential out. Thus, a prolonged dry period with above normal temperatures seems likely. && .AVIATION /00Z THURSDAY THROUGH MONDAY/... Current conditions show the line/area of showers and thunderstorms continuing to move through the forecast area as most terminals will drop below MVFR tonight with the approach of the line of storms and remain below MVFR to even IFR at times. Winds will shift to the southwest and then to the northwest with the passage of the cold front. Passage will bring drier air into the area but will only impact ZZV first as they improve to VFR. The cold front will stall into SW PA as it pushes against the ridge to the east. Eventually, the front will push through with most terminals becoming VFR by the end of the TAF period. .OUTLOOK... High pressure and dry quasi-zonal flow will promote VFR conditions for Thursday night into early next week. && .PBZ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... PA...None. OH...None. WV...None. && SYNOPSIS...Shallenberger NEAR TERM...Shallenberger SHORT TERM...Shallenberger LONG TERM...Shallenberger AVIATION...Shallenberger
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Pittsburgh PA 611 PM EDT Wed Apr 5 2023 PAZ074>076-078-WVZ021-509>514-062215- Higher Elevations of Westmoreland-Fayette- Higher Elevations of Fayette-Higher Elevations of Indiana-Marion- Monongalia-Ridges of Eastern Monongalia and Northwestern Preston- Preston-Eastern Preston-Western Tucker-Eastern Tucker- 611 PM EDT Wed Apr 5 2023 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for southwest Pennsylvania, western Pennsylvania and northern West Virginia. .DAY ONE...Tonight. Isolated severe thunderstorms are possible this evening. The primary threat will be damaging wind gusts. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday. 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>016-020>022-029-031-073-077-WVZ012-062215- Mercer-Venango-Forest-Lawrence-Butler-Clarion-Jefferson PA-Beaver- Allegheny-Armstrong-Washington-Greene-Westmoreland-Indiana-Wetzel- 611 PM EDT Wed Apr 5 2023 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for western Pennsylvania and northern West Virginia. .DAY ONE...Tonight. Scattered severe thunderstorms are possible this evening. The primary threat will be damaging wind gusts. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday. 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>059-068-069-WVZ001>004-062215- Tuscarawas-Carroll-Columbiana-Coshocton-Harrison-Jefferson OH- Muskingum-Guernsey-Belmont-Noble-Monroe-Hancock-Brooke-Ohio-Marshall- 611 PM EDT Wed Apr 5 2023 ...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 128 IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for east central Ohio, and northern West Virginia. .DAY ONE...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. Severe Thunderstorm Watch. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday. Hazardous weather is not expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation will likely be needed.
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA
649 PM EDT WED APR 05 2023
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0616 PM TSTM WND DMG TRINWAY 40.14N 82.01W
04/05/2023 MUSKINGUM OH 911 CALL CENTER
TREE ON A HOME ON 2ND STREET. TIME BASED ON RADAR.
&&
EVENT NUMBER PBZ2300827
SKHPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA
654 PM EDT WED APR 05 2023
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0606 PM TSTM WND DMG STOVERTOWN 39.84N 81.99W
04/05/2023 MUSKINGUM OH 911 CALL CENTER
TREE DOWN ON VIRGINIA AND CENTER ROAD. TIME BASED ON
RADAR.
&&
EVENT NUMBER PBZ2300828
SKHPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA
725 PM EDT WED APR 05 2023
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0655 PM TSTM WND DMG UHRICHSVILLE 40.40N 81.35W
04/05/2023 TUSCARAWAS OH 911 CALL CENTER
WIRES DOWN ON EAST 12TH STREET AND NORTH WATER STREET.
TIME BASED ON RADAR.
&&
EVENT NUMBER PBZ2300829
SKHPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA
729 PM EDT WED APR 05 2023
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0630 PM TSTM WND DMG CUMBERLAND 39.85N 81.66W
04/05/2023 GUERNSEY OH 911 CALL CENTER
A FEW WIRES DOWN IN THE CITY OF CUMBERLAND. TIME BASED
ON THE RADAR.
&&
EVENT NUMBER PBZ2300830
SKHThe Pittsburgh radar (KPBZ), 20 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 23:44 UTC.
2 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
The local 911 call center reported wires down on Route 168 and Hanover Kendall Road. Damage time was based on the radar reflectivity/velocity.
A few wires were reported down by the 911 Call Center near Field Club Road in Fox Chapel.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Pennsylvania in 2023Every state in 2023This day in weather historyWarnings in Pennsylvania, April 2023
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: 1091054, 1091060.