High Wind — Westmoreland Ridges, Pennsylvania

2019-02-24 to 2019-02-25 · Westmoreland Ridges, Pennsylvania

Event narrative

Multiple trees and power lines were reported to be blown down in the area of Ligonier.

Wider weather episode

Strong low pressure lifted from the central Plains on the morning of the 23rd into the western Great Lakes by the 24th. A cold front then rushed across the region during the late morning/early afternoon hours of the 24th. Some rain showers accompanied the front, but the main story was the prolonged period of damaging wind gusts that followed the frontal passage. A very tight pressure gradient, 3 hour pressure rises on the order of 7-8 mb/hr, and deep mixing of up to 700 mb allowed for the efficient downward transport of strong wind aloft. The result was an extended period of 40-60 MPH wind gusts across the region. Several reports of peak gusts of 60 MPH or greater were received.

The highest recorded gust was 74 MPH at a mesonet sensor east of Canaan Heights in Tucker County, WV. A number of peak wind gusts in excess of 60 MPH were observed as well. Pittsburgh International Airport recorded a gust of 61 MPH at 8:20 PM on the night of the 24th. This was the highest non-thunderstorm wind gust that had been recorded at that location since the airport opened in 1952. There were widespread reports of downed trees, power lines, and structural damage across the entire region, with some examples noted in the county entries. Thankfully, no injuries were reported from wind effects.

Power outages were widespread as well. First Energy reported a total of 97,000 Pennsylvania customers without power as of 10:30 PM on the evening of the 24th, with over 49,000 Duquesne Light customers in the Pittsburgh area without power as of that evening. Full restoration took multiple days due to the extent of damage and the initially unsafe working conditions due to the ongoing wind.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 808519. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.