National Weather Service United States Department of Commerce

Overview

A widespread, long-lived thunderstorm line (bow echo) raced across western and central PA 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.

A cold front was dropping down from the north across the lower Great Lakes. 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. It continued to be strong, holding very steady-state as it pushed through the  entire width of the NWS State College Forecast Office's (WFO CTP) County Warning Area (CWA). Most of the damage was confined to an area between I-80 on the northern side and US Route 22 on the southern side. 

Per SPC & AMS: A derecho wind damage swath must extend either continuously or intermittently more than 400 miles (about 650 km) with a width of at least 60 miles (about 100 km). This criterion is used to eliminate more common, shorter-lived, and generally less-organized wind-producing convective systems.

radar image
Bow Echo on Radar

WPC Surface map 00Z 30April2025

WPC Surface analysis at 8 PM EDT 29 April 2025

damage reports map Maximum wind gusts at automated reporting sites 4/29/2025 Radar Loop with Lightning Highlighted
Nationwide Damage Reports 4/29/2025 Maximum Wind Gusts 4/29/2025 Radar Loop with Lightning Highlighted
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