A broken line of showers developed along a strong cold front in western Ohio the morning of April 1st and advanced through eastern Ohio/western Pennsylvania. Widespread damage was recorded across the region.
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 showers developed along a strong cold front in western Ohio the morning of April 1st and advanced through eastern Ohio/western Pennsylvania. Widespread damage was recorded across the region. Gusts up 75mph were also reported in some areas. Despite little lightning in the line convection, the environment was favorable for strong wind gusts with CAPE values ranging between 100 to 400J/kg and a 50 to 65kt low-level jet.
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 1, 10:42 AM EST, 1 hour 35 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Pittsburgh PA
1142 AM EDT Sat Apr 1 2023
.SYNOPSIS...
Confidence is increasing that strong wind gusts, over 50mph will
occur this afternoon with an advancing cold front. There is a
window of opportunity for strong storms ahead of the front
boundary early this afternoon; the primary threat will be hail
and high wind gusts.
&&
.NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/...
1130AM update: A line of convective has developed over the last
hour in western OH along a cold front. Ahead of the frontal
boundary, deep dry air has prompted clearing and diurnal
heating. The overall trend of GOES-16 vertical temperature
profiles suggested elevated instability building quickly; mid
and low-lvl lapse rates will continue to increase with cooling
aloft. A random temperature profile from GOES-16 near the Ohio
River has increased to 7.8C/km between 800mb and 600mb. With
strong deep wind shear, hail and strong wind gusts will be the
main concern through 4pm as the front advances into PA. A Severe
Thunderstorm Watch may need to be coordinated with SPC in the
next 1-2hrs. There is a potential of tornadoes, but given the
lift condensation levels are so high (with the dry air), the
confidence is still low. With the model hodograph profiles,
tornado potential will remain situated with storms that track
due east, tapping into the best updraft helicity for rotating
updrafts.
Regardless if you see storms or not, there will be strong wind
gusts from a noted pressure gradient associated with this
advancing low pressure system. Over the last 24 hours, models
have been consistent with 50mph wind gusts as a pressure couplet
strengthens on the backside of the front. The NAM and HRRR
suggest a 7mb pressure increase in 3 hours after 20Z. Wind gusts
will remain elevated until at least 00Z for the lower terrain;
06Z for areas above 2kft. Rain showers and thunderstorms will
evolve into snow showers with incoming cold air before midnight.
&&
.SHORT TERM /SUNDAY THROUGH MONDAY/...
Northwest flow and cold advection tonight could lead to
additional showers this evening. As the cold air continues to
overspread the region, rain showers could change to snow showers,
particularly over the north and ridges. However, with very dry
air aloft there will be no ice to fall into the lower layers.
Additionally, the lack of arctic air will keep the DGZ well
above the saturated layer.
Ridging and high pressure will slide over the region Sunday,
promoting a dry and seasonable weather day. A weak shortwave
within stronger flow to the north Monday may promote areas of
showers during the afternoon to evening, notably near a
developing warm front south of Lake Erie. However, ensemble
variance persists in strength of the shortwave and positioning
of the sfc warm front, which may alter the timing and location
of precipitation. Warm advection is expected as the sfc high
sits east of the region, allowing above normal temperature to
develop for the afternoon.
&&
.LONG TERM /MONDAY NIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY/...
Ensembles have fairly strong confidence in the development of
another deep Rockies low that will lift through the northern
Mississippi River Valley during the mid week period. This
pattern will be reminiscent of the previous two deep lows,
though early probabilities are MUCH lower with regards to wind.
The broad expectation is for an extended period of precipitation
chances with well above normal temperature.
&&
.AVIATION /15Z SATURDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/...
Strong winds and showers/thunderstorms will accompany a cold
front as it crosses the region this afternoon. Gusts up to 50kts
will be possible. MVFR cigs and isolated showers will linger
until Sunday morning in the wake of the front.
.OUTLOOK...
VFR to start the week, followed by restrictions with a mid-week
frontal system.
&&
.PBZ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
PA...Wind Advisory until 8 PM EDT this evening for PAZ007>009-
013>016-020-022.
High Wind Warning until 8 PM EDT this evening for PAZ021-029-
031-073-075-077.
High Wind Warning until 2 AM EDT Sunday for PAZ074-076-078.
OH...Wind Advisory until 8 PM EDT this evening for OHZ039>041-048.
High Wind Warning until 8 PM EDT this evening for OHZ049-050-
057>059-068-069.
WV...High Wind Warning until 8 PM EDT this evening for WVZ001>004-
012-021-509.
High Wind Warning until 2 AM EDT Sunday for WVZ510>514.
&&
SYNOPSIS...Hefferan
NEAR TERM...Hefferan
SHORT TERM...22
LONG TERM...22
AVIATION...88Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Pittsburgh PA 1201 PM EDT Sat Apr 1 2023 OHZ039>041-048-PAZ007>009-013>016-020-022-021615- Tuscarawas-Carroll-Columbiana-Coshocton-Mercer-Venango-Forest- Lawrence-Butler-Clarion-Jefferson PA-Beaver-Armstrong- 1201 PM EDT Sat Apr 1 2023 ...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING... ...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 105 IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM EDT THIS EVENING... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for east central Ohio and western Pennsylvania. .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. Wind Advisory. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday. No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time. OHZ049-050-058-059-PAZ021-029-031-073-075-077-WVZ001>004-021615- Harrison-Jefferson OH-Guernsey-Belmont-Allegheny-Washington-Greene- Westmoreland-Fayette-Indiana-Hancock-Brooke-Ohio-Marshall- 1201 PM EDT Sat Apr 1 2023 ...HIGH WIND WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING... ...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 105 IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 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. High Wind Warning. Severe Thunderstorm Watch. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday. No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time. PAZ074-076-078-021615- Higher Elevations of Westmoreland-Higher Elevations of Fayette- Higher Elevations of Indiana- 1201 PM EDT Sat Apr 1 2023 ...HIGH WIND WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 2 AM EDT SUNDAY... ...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 105 IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM EDT THIS EVENING... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for southwest Pennsylvania and western Pennsylvania. .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. High Wind Warning. Severe Thunderstorm Watch. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday. In addition to the wind threat, strong to severe thunderstorms may develop Saturday evening with a cold front passage, with the primary threat being damaging wind. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Weather spotters are encouraged to report significant weather conditions according to Standard Operating Procedures. WVZ510>514-021615- Ridges of Eastern Monongalia and Northwestern Preston-Preston- Eastern Preston-Western Tucker-Eastern Tucker- 1201 PM EDT Sat Apr 1 2023 ...HIGH WIND WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 2 AM EDT SUNDAY... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for 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. High Wind Warning. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday. In addition to the wind threat, strong to severe thunderstorms may develop Saturday evening with a cold front passage, with the primary threat being damaging wind. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Weather spotters are encouraged to report significant weather conditions according to Standard Operating Procedures. OHZ057-068-069-WVZ012-021-509-021615- Muskingum-Noble-Monroe-Wetzel-Marion-Monongalia- 1201 PM EDT Sat Apr 1 2023 ...HIGH WIND WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for east central Ohio 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. High Wind Warning. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday. No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time. SKH
The Pittsburgh radar (KPBZ), 29 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 17:18 UTC.
12 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Trees and wires were reported down on Johnsonville Road.
Trees were down on Church Alley and City Park. Time estimated based on radar.
A 58mph wind gust was measured at the Wheeling Airport at 1:23pm.
Trees down on Rush Run Road.
Trees down on Route 20.
A few reports of trees down in the Cheat Lake area.
Many calls across the county reporting trees and wires down.
Partial roof damage on Earl L Core Road.
Tree down on Pharaoh Road.
Tree down on Big Lake Lane.
Tree down at the intersection of Fairfax Ave and North Main Street.
Tree down near the intersection of Independence Road and Gladesville Road.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in West Virginia in 2023Every state in 2023This day in weather historyWarnings in West Virginia, 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: 1091214, 1091216, 1091217, 1097539, 1097541, 1097536, 1097537, 1097538, 1097532, 1097533, 1097534, 1097535.