A widespread, long-lived thunderstorm line (bow echo) raced across Ohio and western Pennsylvania on the afternoon and early evening of 29 April 2025. The gusts associated with the line of storms reached above 80 MPH at times, producing widespread damage.
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 widespread, long-lived thunderstorm line (bow echo) raced across Ohio and western Pennsylvania on the afternoon and early evening of 29 April 2025. The gusts associated with the line of storms reached above 80 MPH at times, producing widespread damage.
The thunderstorms which would eventually turn into the bow echo began to form over southern OH in the late morning hours. The storms became a line and began to bow out. The storms intensified as the bow moved across western PA in the afternoon. As it reached the Laurel Highlands, it was nearing it's peak intensity.
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 29, 1:58 PM EST, 29 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Pittsburgh PA 258 PM EDT Tue Apr 29 2025 .SYNOPSIS... A severe weather threat, mainly damaging wind gusts, remains this afternoon and evening with a convective complex rolling through. A cold front providing additional showers and storms crosses overnight. Mostly dry and cooler weather is expected Wednesday, before another possible round of severe weather on Thursday. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/... KEY MESSAGES: - Severe weather threat, mainly damaging wind, with convective complex moving across Ohio - Additional showers and storms with a crossing cold front overnight ------------------------------------------------------------------- Main concern in the near term is the convective complex rolling across Ohio, and a Severe Thunderstorm Watch is already in effect for this activity. Main threat with this is damaging wind, as there have been some measured wind gusts in excess of 60 MPH already. This will be moving into an environment characterized by 1000-2000 J/kg of surface-based CAPE, as well as 30-40 knots of deep shear, so maintenance is highly likely. Recent HRRR runs are catching on to the overall scenario. Some cells developing in eastern Ohio ahead of the main complex will need to be watched for some hail potential/low-end tornado threat if they become superrcelluar. Overall though, hail should be a lesser threat with marginal mid-level lapse rates. A QLCS tornado threat remains as well, given sufficient low- level instability and hodograph curvature. Additional thunderstorms are expected along the cold front, which is currently across lower Michigan and will arrive in our area from the north during the late evening and overnight, dropping south through the area by sunrise. This activity should be arriving into worked-over air and present less of a severe threat, tapering to showers late. && .SHORT TERM /WEDNESDAY THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT/... KEY MESSAGES: - The front remains south of Pittsburgh Wednesday, with mostly dry weather. - Front returns north Wednesday night with scattered showers - Increased rain chances Thursday with another severe weather chance ------------------------------------------------------------------- Models now generally push the front fully south of the CWA by 12Z Wednesday, with any shower potential generally confined to the southeastern ridges. Otherwise, a dry and cooler day is anticipated. Isolated shower chances may start to lift north Wednesday night as the boundary returns north as a warm front. Rain chances increase Thursday into Thursday night as a shortwave moves up the Ohio Valley ahead of a deepening trough over the Upper Midwest/Plains. Severe thunderstorms are a possibility, with the NBM showing 50 percent or greater chance of 1000 J/kg of CAPE to the southwest of Pittsburgh, and there appears to be better potential for daytime heating, better than some scenarios yesterday. Soundings show instability profiles and shear of sufficient depth to support hail and wind threats at least on an isolated basis. Temperatures warm back up into the upper 70s/lower 80s in most spots in the warm sector. && .LONG TERM /FRIDAY THROUGH MONDAY/... KEY MESSAGES: - Rain chances continues into Saturday at least - Uncertainty increases thereafter, with various scenarios possible for early next week ------------------------------------------------------------------- Wet weather continues into Friday and Saturday as additional shortwaves/the main trough swing through the region. Despite the moist southwest flow, model ensembles are not too excited about heavy rain potential; the NBM generally has only 40-50% chance of greater than 0.50 inch through the 48-hour period ending Saturday morning. Models become more uncertain after this time. Some scenarios sweep the trough through with a period of dry weather following, while others develop a closed upper low somewhere over the eastern CONUS. Thus, PoPs/temps remain uncertain, and for now, will follow NBM suggestions. && .AVIATION /18Z TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/... A low-end VFR cu field (cigs around 3-5kft) is developing across the area as southwest winds gust to 25-30 knots ahead of an approaching cold front. Showers and thunderstorms currently over western Ohio are expected to continue eastward, reaching ZZV between 19z-20z, PIT/AGC between 21z-22z, and LBE/DUJ after 22z. This will be the first wave of storms and carry the greatest potential for strong wind gusts, hail, and possibly a brief tornado. Gusts over 55 knots and power outages have already been reported with these storms over portions of eastern Indiana. This first wave will be followed by a brief lull in activity early this evening until the cold front itself makes its way into the area after 00z. Another round of showers and storms will accompany the front, this time moving from NW to SE reaching FKL/BVI around 01z-03z, PIT/AGC around 03z-05z, and MGW after 06z. The frontal passage brings an end to convection as generally light north- northwest winds usher drier air into the area. Expect locally lower ceilings and visibilities in and around all showers and storms. Outside of convection, VFR generally prevails except for possible MVFR ceilings at MGW starting after 04z and lasting through the frontal passage into early morning hours on Wednesday. Widespread VFR is expected to return by the end of the TAF period Wednesday afternoon. Outlook... VFR is expected on Wednesday as high pressure briefly builds in. Occasional restrictions in showers and thunderstorms return Wednesday night and Thursday as a warm front lifts north. Showers/storms and restrictions continue Thursday night and Friday with the approach and passage of a cold front. VFR returns Saturday under high pressure. && .PBZ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... PA...None. OH...None. WV...None. && SYNOPSIS...CL NEAR TERM...CL SHORT TERM...CL LONG TERM...CL AVIATION...Cermak/WM/AK
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Pittsburgh PA 1242 PM EDT Tue Apr 29 2025 OHZ039>041-048>050-057>059-068-069-WVZ001>004-012-301645- Tuscarawas-Carroll-Columbiana-Coshocton-Harrison-Jefferson OH- Muskingum-Guernsey-Belmont-Noble-Monroe-Hancock-Brooke-Ohio-Marshall- Wetzel- 1242 PM EDT Tue Apr 29 2025 ...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 188 IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 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. Severe Thunderstorm Watch. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday. There also is a potential for severe weather on Thursday as well but confidence is low at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time. PAZ007>009-013>016-020>022-029-031-073>078-301645- Mercer-Venango-Forest-Lawrence-Butler-Clarion-Jefferson PA-Beaver- Allegheny-Armstrong-Washington-Greene-Westmoreland- Higher Elevations of Westmoreland-Fayette- Higher Elevations of Fayette-Indiana-Higher Elevations of Indiana- 1242 PM EDT Tue Apr 29 2025 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for western Pennsylvania. .DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight. Showers and thunderstorms are likely this afternoon and into tonight with the approach and passage of a cold front. There is an Enhanced Risk, or level 3 out of 5, for severe storms this afternoon into tonight. The main hazard is expected to be damaging wind, though large hail and isolated tornadoes are also possible. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday. There also is a potential for severe weather on Thursday as well but confidence is low at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time. WVZ021-509>514-301645- Marion-Monongalia- Ridges of Eastern Monongalia and Northwestern Preston-Preston- Eastern Preston-Western Tucker-Eastern Tucker- 1242 PM EDT Tue Apr 29 2025 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for northern West Virginia. .DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight. Showers and thunderstorms are expected to develop this afternoon and into tonight with the approach and passage of a cold front. There is a Slight Risk, or level 2 out of 5, for severe storms late this afternoon into tonight. The main hazard is expected to be damaging wind, though large hail and isolated tornadoes are also possible. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday. There also is a potential for severe weather on Thursday as well but confidence is low at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Weather spotters are encouraged to report significant weather conditions according to Standard Operating Procedures. CL
The Cleveland radar (KCLE), 121 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 19:25 UTC.
49 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Multiple trees and limbs were reported down.
Multiple trees and wires were reported down.
A tree was reported down.
Multiple trees and wires were reported down along Dresden Road.
A 180 year old oak tree was blown down along Main Street in Trinway.
Numerous trees were reported down across the county, including a large tree that fell into a house.
Trees reported down along Ferrell Road.
Porch and shingle damage.
Multiple trees and limbs were reported down along Cambridge Road.
Limbs were reported down.
Tress snapped along with structural damage in the area.
Multiple trees down along Lookout Road.
One tree fell onto a house.
Tree damage reported along Old Twenty One Road.
Multiple trees and power lines were reported down.
Multiple trees and limbs were reported down.
A roof was blown off a home with straight line winds.
Trees reported down along Science Hill Road.
Multiple trees were reported down.
A shed was damaged along South James Street.
A tree fell onto a house.
Multiple trees and limbs were reported down at numerous locations.
Several trees were snapped.
Trees were uprooted.
Trees were uprooted.
Multiple trees were reported down.
Multiple trees were reported down.
Multiple trees were reported down.
Multiple trees were reported down, including one into an Amish buggy.
Multiple trees and power lines were reported down across the county, and 60 roads were closed due to storm damage.
A roof was blown off a barn along Avon Road.
Multiple trees down, and a barn roof was blown off.
Multiple trees were reported down across the area.
Significant roof damage was reported to Dodds Funeral Home.
Numerous trees and powerlines down.
Numerous trees and powerlines down.
Several trees reported down, while one fell on a car.
Multiple trees were reported down, as well as a powerline.
A tree fell on a house.
Multiple trees were reported down.
A tree was reported down along County Road 56.
Numerous trees were reported down.
Several large trees were reported to be snapped.
A fence was blown down.
Several trees were reported down.
Numerous tress were reported down through Wellsville and East Liverpool.
Several trees were snapped or uprooted, and a large number of limbs were snapped off.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Ohio in 2025Every state in 2025This day in weather historyWarnings in Ohio, April 2025
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: 1258296, 1258298, 1258299, 1258300, 1258302, 1258308, 1258311, 1258313, 1258316, 1258351, 1258352, 1258317, 1258318, 1258319, 1258320, 1258322, 1258323, 1258325, 1258327, 1258329, 1258331, 1258333, 1258334, 1258335, 1258336, 1258337, 1258338, 1258339, 1258340, 1258341, 1258342, 1258344, 1258347, 1258348, 1258349, 1256697, 1256696, 1256695, 1256692, 1256694, and more.