An environment characterized by strong synoptic support for lift, up to 2000 J/kg of surface-based CAPE, and good synoptic support for lift fostered the development of a few broken lines of thunderstorms during the afternoon of July 24th. The strongest were mostly north of Interstate 80, creating several instances of downed trees.
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.
An environment characterized by strong synoptic support for lift, up to 2000 J/kg of surface-based CAPE, and good synoptic support for lift fostered the development of a few broken lines of thunderstorms during the afternoon of July 24th. The strongest were mostly north of Interstate 80, creating several instances of downed trees.
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 24, 12:50 PM EST, 1 hour 17 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Pittsburgh PA 150 PM EDT Wed Jul 24 2024 .SYNOPSIS... Showers and storms are expected through through a Thursday cold front. Some storms in the I-80 corridor today may bring damaging wind gusts. Dry conditions and a warming trend are expected into the weekend. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/... KEY MESSAGES: - Storms will advance from the northwest this afternoon. - Probability of severe weather will be highest from 4pm to 8pm in the I-80 corridor; the primary threat is damaging winds. ---------------------------------------------------------------- A surface low is progged to move from Lake Huron over southern Ontario this afternoon. The surface cold front will sag into western Ohio during the day today. This will act to slightly accelerate flow ahead of the trough passage across northwest PA and contribute to a stream of warm, moist air with origins tied to the gulf. An upper jet dropping out of Canada is expected to gradually merge with a northeast jet through tonight, with much of the day today in weak coupled jet dynamics. With placement in the left exit of northeast jet and right entrance region of the Canadian jet, we would expect synoptic convergence to increase. On the meso-scale, a spoke of mid-level PVA is expected to rotate through this afternoon and evening, passing over the pre-established lake breeze. As these three factors come together, confidence in convection along the lake shore remains fairly high. When compared to the last update, severe chances appear higher tied to a few things. First, visible satellite has indicated mostly clear skies over northwest Pennsylvania and eastern Ohio. Second, largely in part due to the clearing, instability has tended toward the higher end of the ensemble spread. Based on the 12Z sounding, a dry adiabatic profile in the mixed layer would suggest 1500 to 2000 J/kg SBCAPE, which is already around the 90th percentile of ensemble members. Third, DCAPE values are sufficient for downburst wind threats. The 12Z sounding already had around 600 J/kg. With mixing, this may reach as high as 800 J/kg to 1000 J/kg. The best chance will not arrive until after 8pm, but strong shear is not necessary for downburst wind threats. With shear largely lake-land boundary parallel, we might expect that storms develop along the lake shore and rapidly develop into a linear mode before moving southeast. This might suggest a shared cold pool and acceleration. Damaging winds remain the primary threat, but hail could not be ruled out is localized intense updrafts. Probabilities of severe weather are highest north of I-80 and gradually decrease as the line moves towards the Pittsburgh metro as the line fights with diurnal stabilization and becomes outflow dominant. A few rumbles of thunder are possible through the early overnight hours as the line progresses through areas south of Pittsburgh in perhaps a couple hundred joules of elevated instability, with showers more likely late overnight tonight. Once again, fog and low stratus is possible with near- saturation in the low levels. Fog probabilities are highest in the I-80 corridor and eastern Ohio given the recent rain and greatest likelihood of clouds clearing. Dense fog probabilities are around 30% to 40% for now in those areas. && .SHORT TERM /THURSDAY THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT/... KEY MESSAGES: - A cold front brings additional shower and thunderstorm chances, mainly to the southern half of the area. - Cooler and drier weather moves into the area in the wake of the cold front. _________________________________________________________________ With the upper trough continuing to advance eastward towards the northeastern CONUS and a surface low over southern Ontario lifting quickly away to the northeast, a weak cold front sags southeastward across the lower Great Lakes and into the local area during the day Thursday. This will be the last source of lift to aid in the development of scattered showers and thunderstorms, though by that time the best forcing aloft will have shifted east of the area. With these features being out of phase, not expecting the convective coverage one might typically expect along a summer cold front. The best rain chances will be south of I-70 where scattered showers and storms may develop as the front moves through in the heat and instability of the afternoon/evening, while areas farther north may very well see a dry FROPA. The front pushes through the area by late Thursday evening, with cooler and drier air settling in behind it. Lows Thursday night dip below seasonal normals, into the mid/upper 50s (low 50s north of I-80). && .LONG TERM /FRIDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/... KEY MESSAGES: - Dry, warm weather is forecast for the weekend under building high pressure. - Low pressure returns early next week and brings showers and thunderstorms back to the forecast for Monday and Tuesday. ________________________________________________________________ Ensemble clusters are in good agreement on a building ridge into the weekend that would signal high confidence in a return to a drier pattern with seasonably warm temperatures. There is some indication among long range guidance that another low pressure system approaches the region early next week, which would bring unsettled weather back to the local area in the Monday-Tuesday timeframe. && .AVIATION /18Z WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY/... Storms have fired a little sooner and in a little more widespread manner than anticipated earlier, as instability has tended towards the higher end of model guidance. Still expect some form of storm organization into line segments with time, which will present threats of brief IFR/LIFR visibility in heavy rain and wind gusts of 30 to 45 knots in the stronger storms. Have tried to provide most likely timing of higher impacts in TAFs. LBE and MGW are least likely to see stronger storms and have used VCTS for those locations. Other sites, particularly FKL and DUJ, are more likely to get the stronger impact. Activity will begin to weaken after 00Z with sunset and loss of instability, although we have allowed VCTS mentions to linger for a few hours. A late evening lull is anticipated at most terminals with VFR conditions. However, the expected rain and some partial clearing will allow for MVFR/IFR conditions in low clouds and fog later tonight. IFR is more likely north and west of PIT, where more rain is expected and where clearing may be a bit more pronounced behind an advancing cold front. Improvement back to VFR may be a bit slow past 12Z as the front continues to work its way across the region. Scattered showers may fire once again ahead of the boundary as it approaches far southern PA and the Mason-Dixon Line by midday, but VFR may be achieved areawide by 18Z save for MGW/ZZV. .Outlook... Any showers will end by Thursday evening as the front exits the region. After possible fog Thursday night, VFR returns Friday under high pressure. && .PBZ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... PA...None. OH...None. WV...None. && SYNOPSIS...Milcarek NEAR TERM...Milcarek SHORT TERM...Cermak LONG TERM...Cermak/Milcarek AVIATION...CL
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Pittsburgh PA 130 PM EDT Wed Jul 24 2024 OHZ059-068-069-PAZ021-029-031-073>076-WVZ002>004-012-021-509>514- 251730- Belmont-Noble-Monroe-Allegheny-Washington-Greene-Westmoreland- Higher Elevations of Westmoreland-Fayette- Higher Elevations of Fayette-Brooke-Ohio-Marshall-Wetzel-Marion- Monongalia-Ridges of Eastern Monongalia and Northwestern Preston- Preston-Eastern Preston-Western Tucker-Eastern Tucker- 130 PM EDT Wed Jul 24 2024 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for east central Ohio, southwest Pennsylvania, western Pennsylvania, and northern West Virginia. .DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight. No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday. No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time. OHZ039>041-048>050-057-058-PAZ007>009-013>016-020-022-077-078-WVZ001- 251730- Tuscarawas-Carroll-Columbiana-Coshocton-Harrison-Jefferson OH- Muskingum-Guernsey-Mercer-Venango-Forest-Lawrence-Butler-Clarion- Jefferson PA-Beaver-Armstrong-Indiana-Higher Elevations of Indiana- Hancock- 130 PM EDT Wed Jul 24 2024 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for east central Ohio, western Pennsylvania and northern West Virginia. .DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight. Strong to severe thunderstorms may develop late this afternoon through this evening. Damaging winds would be the main threat. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday. Hazardous weather is not expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time. Milcarek
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Pittsburgh PA
1254 PM EDT Wed Jul 24 2024
OHZ048-241715-
Coshocton OH-
1254 PM EDT Wed Jul 24 2024
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT NORTHWESTERN COSHOCTON COUNTY
THROUGH 115 PM EDT...
At 1254 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 7
miles southeast of Danville, or 17 miles southwest of Millersburg,
moving east at 25 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph and pea size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is
possible.
Locations impacted include...
Warsaw, Nellie, Blissfield, Walhonding, New Guilford, and Layland.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 4045 8219 4045 8193 4029 8194 4029 8219
TIME...MOT...LOC 1654Z 277DEG 21KT 4038 8214
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
MilcarekSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Pittsburgh PA
137 PM EDT Wed Jul 24 2024
OHZ039-048-241800-
Tuscarawas OH-Coshocton OH-
137 PM EDT Wed Jul 24 2024
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT NORTHEASTERN COSHOCTON AND
SOUTHWESTERN TUSCARAWAS COUNTIES THROUGH 200 PM EDT...
At 137 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Farmerstown, or 12 miles northeast of Coshocton, moving east at 25
mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph and pea size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is
possible.
Locations impacted include...
New Philadelphia, Newcomerstown, Sugarcreek, Baltic, Port Washington,
Stone Creek, Chili, and Bakersville.
This includes Interstate 77 in Ohio between mile markers 63 and 80.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 4045 8177 4044 8167 4050 8167 4048 8142
4025 8152 4032 8181
TIME...MOT...LOC 1737Z 285DEG 24KT 4040 8170
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
MilcarekSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Pittsburgh PA
158 PM EDT Wed Jul 24 2024
OHZ039-040-048-241845-
Tuscarawas OH-Coshocton OH-Carroll OH-
158 PM EDT Wed Jul 24 2024
...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT EAST CENTRAL COSHOCTON...
SOUTHWESTERN CARROLL AND TUSCARAWAS COUNTIES THROUGH 245 PM EDT...
At 158 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from near Sugarcreek to near Coshocton. Movement was
east at 20 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph and half inch hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is
possible.
Locations impacted include...
New Philadelphia, Coshocton, Uhrichsville, Newcomerstown, Dennison,
West Lafayette, Gnadenhutten, Tuscarawas, Midvale, Port Washington,
Barnhill, Roswell, Stone Creek, Gilmore, Stillwater, Bakersville, and
Chili.
This includes Interstate 77 in Ohio between mile markers 61 and 81.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 4051 8159 4048 8126 4030 8127 4030 8134
4022 8134 4022 8167 4026 8189
TIME...MOT...LOC 1758Z 273DEG 18KT 4046 8159 4028 8182
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.50 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH
MilcarekSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Pittsburgh PA
208 PM EDT Wed Jul 24 2024
PAZ009-241830-
Forest PA-
208 PM EDT Wed Jul 24 2024
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT EAST CENTRAL FOREST COUNTY
THROUGH 230 PM EDT...
At 208 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Marienville, moving east at 20 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph and pea size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is
possible.
This storm will remain over mainly rural areas of east central Forest
County.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 4144 7896 4144 7897 4145 7898 4145 7905
4153 7910 4159 7896
TIME...MOT...LOC 1808Z 258DEG 18KT 4151 7902
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH
MilcarekSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Pittsburgh PA
228 PM EDT Wed Jul 24 2024
OHZ041-241900-
Columbiana OH-
228 PM EDT Wed Jul 24 2024
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT NORTHERN COLUMBIANA COUNTY
THROUGH 300 PM EDT...
At 228 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Salem, moving east at 25 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph and half inch hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is
possible.
Locations impacted include...
Salem, Columbiana, East Palestine, Leetonia, New Waterford, Winona,
Guilford Lake State Park, and New Garden.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 4090 8082 4090 8056 4080 8055 4080 8098
4090 8097 4090 8090 4093 8089 4093 8082
TIME...MOT...LOC 1828Z 262DEG 23KT 4089 8086
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.50 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH
CLSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Pittsburgh PA
233 PM EDT Wed Jul 24 2024
OHZ039-040-049-050-058-241900-
Guernsey OH-Jefferson OH-Tuscarawas OH-Harrison OH-Carroll OH-
233 PM EDT Wed Jul 24 2024
...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT HARRISON...WEST CENTRAL
JEFFERSON...NORTHEASTERN GUERNSEY...SOUTH CENTRAL CARROLL AND
SOUTHEASTERN TUSCARAWAS COUNTIES THROUGH 300 PM EDT...
At 233 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from 6 miles east of Dennison to near Newcomerstown.
Movement was east at 25 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph and pea size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is
possible.
Locations impacted include...
Freeport, Scio, Jewett, Richmond, Bowerston, Leesville, Gilmore,
Tippecanoe, Piedmont, Stillwater, Deersville, Birmingham, Clendening
Lake, Leesville Lake Park, Tappan Lake, Kimbolton, and Piedmont Lake.
This includes Interstate 77 in Ohio between mile markers 56 and 60.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 4047 8120 4043 8077 4015 8126 4016 8165
TIME...MOT...LOC 1833Z 279DEG 21KT 4041 8120 4026 8155
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
CLThe Pittsburgh radar (KPBZ), 61 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 19:07 UTC.
6 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
A tree was downed near Glen Road.
A tree was downed at the intersection of South Good Hope Road and Orangeville Road.
On Pennsy Road, a tree was blown down.
On Holly Lane, a tree was downed on to power lines.
A tree was downed on to wires at the intersection of Cassady Road and Robertson Road.
A tree was blown down on Buxton Road.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Pennsylvania in 2024Every state in 2024This day in weather historyWarnings in Pennsylvania, July 2024
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: 1201288, 1201295, 1201296, 1201297, 1201298, 1201299.