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Pittsburgh, PA

Weather Forecast Office

August 12th 2023 Severe Weather Event

Weather.gov > Pittsburgh, PA > August 12th 2023 Severe Weather Event

Overview

Day 1 Convective Outlook  
   NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
   1123 AM CDT Sat Aug 12 2023

   Valid 121630Z - 131200Z

   ...THERE IS AN ENHANCED RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS FROM NORTHEAST
   OHIO INTO THE NORTHERN HALF OF PENNSYLVANIA AND SOUTHERN NEW YORK...

   ...SUMMARY...
   The most concentrated area of severe-thunderstorm threats this
   afternoon extends from northeast Ohio across parts of Pennsylvania
   and into central New York, with damaging to severe wind expected,
   along with large hail and a tornado or two possible.

   ...Southern Great Lakes into the Northeast...
   Water-vapor imagery this morning shows a mid-level shortwave trough
   moving across the northern Great Lakes with a belt of stronger flow
   moving through the southern Great Lakes.  Scattered thunderstorms
   will likely continue to develop through midday into the afternoon
   with the stronger storms becoming capable of a hail/wind threat. 
   Forecast soundings show some low-level hodograph curvature,
   especially with northeast extent from northeast OH into PA and NY. 
   Supercells will likely evolve from the stronger updrafts and pose a
   large to very large hail threat.  It is with the supercells from the
   northern half of PA/northeast OH into southern NY where a tornado
   risk will seemingly focus this afternoon.  As a surface cold front
   pushes east, additional storms are possible along the front and some
   of these will probably have an attendant hail/wind risk before
   weakening this evening.
 Image
August 12th 2023 Tornado Watch

Tornadoes

Tornado - 1 N Pleasant Grove
Washington County, PA

Date 8/12/2023
Time (Local) 2015
EF Rating 1
Est. Peak Winds 105 MPH
Path Length 2.4 Miles
Max Width 30 Yards
Injuries/Deaths 0/0

Summary:

The National Weather Service in Pittsburgh conducted a storm
survey and concluded the damage on Cracraft road was from an EF-1
tornado. The damage was confined to the aforementioned road, where
an attached patio roof was taken off along with part of the roof
to the main house. Numerous softwood and hardwood trees where
uprooted or snapped. The tornado lifted as it approached State 
Road 221. 

We would like to thank South Franklin Twp Emergency Coordinator
and Washington County Department of Public Safety for their
assistance.

Track Map

Track Map EF-Scale

 
Radar/Photo Radar/Photo Radar/Photo Radar/Photo
Credit: Bookbinder/McMullen Credit: Bookbinder/McMullen Credit: Bookbinder/McMullen Credit: Bookbinder/McMullen

Tornado - 3 NW Saint Clairsville
Belmont County, OH

Date 8/12/2023
Time (Local) 2013
EF Rating 1
Est. Peak Winds 100 MPH
Path Length 3 Miles
Max Width 20 Yards
Injuries/Deaths 0/0

Summary:

An EF-1 tornado started in the Hidden Springs Drive area where at
least three homes had trees fall on them. In addition, several 
hardwood trees were uprooted. The tornado continued east-southeast
snapping softwood pines and downing large branches from hardwood 
trees on Maynard Road. There was a barn destroyed on Maynard Road
along with minor damage to soffit. The tornado lifted as it 
crossed Kagg Hill Road. 

The National Weather Service would like to thank Belmont County
Emergency Management Agency for their assistance.

Track Map

Track Map EF-Scale

 
Radar/Photo Radar/Photo Radar/Photo Radar/Photo
Credit: Bookbinder/McMullen Credit: Bookbinder/McMullen Credit: Bookbinder/McMullen Credit: Bookbinder/McMullen

The Enhanced Fujita (EF) Scale classifies tornadoes into the following categories:

EF0
Weak
65-85 mph		 EF1
Moderate
86-110 mph		 EF2
Significant
111-135 mph		 EF3
Severe
136-165 mph		 EF4
Extreme
166-200 mph		 EF5
Catastrophic
200+ mph
ef-scale

Wind & Hail:

Wind

  WFO Report Time County Location State Event Type Magnitude
  PBZ 8/12 8:57 AM Washington 3 WNW Fredericktown-Mil PA TSTM WND DMG  
  PBZ 8/12 3:40 PM Venango Dempseytown PA TSTM WND DMG  
  PBZ 8/12 3:58 PM Venango 1 SW Cherrytree PA TSTM WND DMG  
  PBZ 8/12 4:23 PM Jefferson 1 E Foxburg PA TSTM WND DMG  
  PBZ 8/12 4:30 PM Tuscarawas 1 WNW Schoenbrunn OH TSTM WND DMG  
  PBZ 8/12 4:42 PM Tuscarawas 1 NE Dover OH TSTM WND DMG  
  PBZ 8/12 4:45 PM Tuscarawas 1 W Roswell OH TSTM WND DMG  
  PBZ 8/12 5:02 PM Carroll 1 SSW Sherrodsville OH TSTM WND DMG  
  PBZ 8/12 5:03 PM Carroll 1 SW Sherrodsville OH TSTM WND DMG  
  PBZ 8/12 5:04 PM Carroll 1 NW Leesville OH TSTM WND DMG  
  PBZ 8/12 5:07 PM Carroll Leesville OH TSTM WND DMG  
  PBZ 8/12 5:12 PM Carroll 5 NE Bowerston OH TSTM WND DMG  
  PBZ 8/12 5:24 PM Harrison 1 SSE Scio OH TSTM WND DMG  
  PBZ 8/12 5:30 PM Lawrence 3 SW Portersville PA TSTM WND DMG  
  PBZ 8/12 5:40 PM Mercer Jackson Center PA TSTM WND DMG  
  PBZ 8/12 5:44 PM Mercer Sharon PA TSTM WND DMG  
  PBZ 8/12 6:15 PM Allegheny 3 W Curtisville PA TSTM WND DMG  
  PBZ 8/12 6:16 PM Allegheny 1 ENE Bakerstown Statio PA TSTM WND DMG  
  PBZ 8/12 6:42 PM Allegheny 1 ENE Bairdford PA TSTM WND DMG  
  PBZ 8/12 6:50 PM Tuscarawas Sugarcreek OH TSTM WND DMG  
  PBZ 8/12 6:52 PM Washington 1 WNW Hickory PA TSTM WND DMG  
  PBZ 8/12 6:56 PM Westmoreland 1 ESE North Washington PA TSTM WND DMG  
  PBZ 8/12 6:57 PM Tuscarawas 4 ESE Sugarcreek OH TSTM WND DMG  
  PBZ 8/12 6:59 PM Armstrong Brownstown PA TSTM WND DMG  
  PBZ 8/12 7:00 PM Westmoreland 1 E North Washington PA TSTM WND DMG  
  PBZ 8/12 7:01 PM Westmoreland 1 SSE Salina PA TSTM WND DMG  
  PBZ 8/12 7:03 PM Tuscarawas 2 S Stone Creek OH TSTM WND DMG  
  PBZ 8/12 7:04 PM Tuscarawas 1 S Stone Creek OH TSTM WND DMG  
  PBZ 8/12 7:05 PM Tuscarawas 2 SE Stone Creek OH TSTM WND DMG  
  PBZ 8/12 7:05 PM Tuscarawas 3 NE Stone Creek OH TSTM WND DMG  
  PBZ 8/12 7:09 PM Tuscarawas 1 S South Side OH TSTM WND DMG  
  PBZ 8/12 7:10 PM Tuscarawas 2 E Port Washington OH TSTM WND DMG  
  PBZ 8/12 7:41 PM Brooke Bethany WV TSTM WND DMG  
  PBZ 8/12 7:46 PM Indiana 1 N Boltz PA TSTM WND DMG  
  PBZ 8/12 7:58 PM Washington 2 WNW Rural Valley PA TSTM WND DMG  
  PBZ 8/12 8:01 PM Belmont Stewartsville OH TSTM WND DMG  
  PBZ 8/12 8:03 PM Belmont 1 NW Highland Terrace OH TSTM WND DMG  
  PBZ 8/12 8:03 PM Belmont Fairpoint OH TSTM WND DMG  
  PBZ 8/12 8:06 PM Belmont Highland Terrace OH TSTM WND DMG  
  PBZ 8/12 8:06 PM Belmont St. Clairsville OH TSTM WND DMG  
  PBZ 8/12 8:10 PM Belmont 1 NNE Claremont OH TSTM WND DMG  
  PBZ 8/12 8:11 PM Noble 2 WNW Middleburg OH TSTM WND DMG  
  PBZ 8/12 8:32 PM Allegheny 2 NW Sturgeon PA TSTM WND DMG  
  PBZ 8/12 8:34 PM Indiana 1 N Manor PA TSTM WND DMG  
  PBZ 8/12 8:35 PM Washington 1 WSW Lone Pine PA TSTM WND DMG  
  PBZ 8/12 8:40 PM Westmoreland Mount Pleasant PA TSTM WND DMG  
  PBZ 8/12 8:40 PM Washington 2 NE Amity PA TSTM WND DMG  
  PBZ 8/12 8:48 PM Washington 6 WSW Ellsworth PA TSTM WND DMG  
  PBZ 8/12 8:52 PM Greene Wind Ridge PA TSTM WND DMG  
  PBZ 8/12 8:57 PM Wetzel Pine Grove WV TSTM WND DMG  
  PBZ 8/12 8:59 PM Wetzel Reader WV TSTM WND DMG  
  PBZ 8/12 9:00 PM Washington Deemston PA TSTM WND DMG  
  PBZ 8/12 9:03 PM Washington 2 WNW Fredericktown-Mil PA TSTM WND DMG  
  PBZ 8/12 9:03 PM Washington 1 NNW Sandy Plains PA TSTM WND DMG  
  PBZ 8/12 9:04 PM Washington 1 NNW Fredericktown-Mil PA TSTM WND DMG  
  PBZ 8/12 9:10 PM Greene Rices Landing PA TSTM WND DMG  
  PBZ 8/12 9:14 PM Monongalia Blacksville WV TSTM WND DMG  
  PBZ 8/12 9:16 PM Greene Carmichaels PA TSTM WND DMG  
  PBZ 8/12 9:21 PM Fayette Church Hill PA TSTM WND DMG  
  PBZ 8/12 9:24 PM Fayette 3 WNW Leith-Hatfield PA TSTM WND DMG  
  PBZ 8/12 9:26 PM Fayette Continental Number 2 PA TSTM WND DMG  
  PBZ 8/12 9:26 PM Greene Greensboro PA TSTM WND DMG  
  PBZ 8/12 9:28 PM Fayette Uniontown PA TSTM WND DMG  
  PBZ 8/12 9:28 PM Fayette 1 ENE Smithfield PA TSTM WND DMG  
  PBZ 8/12 9:28 PM Fayette Hatfield PA TSTM WND DMG  
  PBZ 8/12 9:28 PM Monongalia Cassville WV TSTM WND DMG  
  PBZ 8/12 9:30 PM Fayette Fairchance PA TSTM WND DMG  
  PBZ 8/12 9:30 PM Monongalia Daybrook WV TSTM WND DMG  
  PBZ 8/12 9:32 PM Greene Dilliner PA TSTM WND DMG  
  PBZ 8/12 9:37 PM Monongalia Morgantown WV TSTM WND DMG  
  PBZ 8/12 9:37 PM Marion 1 SE Festus WV TSTM WND DMG  
  PBZ 8/12 9:40 PM Marion 1 SSE Everson WV TSTM WND DMG  
  PBZ 8/12 9:41 PM Marion Norway WV TSTM WND DMG  
  PBZ 8/12 9:44 PM Monongalia 1 E Little Falls WV TSTM WND DMG  
  PBZ 8/12 10:10 PM Preston Kingwood WV TSTM WND DMG  
  PBZ 8/12 10:14 PM Preston Newburg WV TSTM WND DMG  
  PBZ 8/12 10:23 PM Preston Rowlesburg WV TSTM WND DMG  
Radar/Photo Radar/Photo Radar/Photo Radar/Photo

Wind Damage in Claysville, PA

Credit: Nick Wilkes

Wind Damage in Claysville, PA

Credit: Nick Wilkes

Wind Damage in Fairpoint, OH

Credit: Nelson Tucker

Wind Damage in Fairpoint, OH

Credit: Nelson Tucker

Hail

  WFO Report Time County Location State Event Type Magnitude
  PBZ 8/12 3:46 PM Venango 5 E Cooperstown PA HAIL 1
  PBZ 8/12 3:48 PM Venango Kaneville PA HAIL 1
  PBZ 8/12 4:01 PM Venango 2 NNW Rouseville PA HAIL 1
  PBZ 8/12 4:28 PM Tuscarawas 1 W Dover OH HAIL 1
  PBZ 8/12 4:58 PM Carroll Sherrodsville OH HAIL 1.75
  PBZ 8/12 5:05 PM Carroll 1 SE Hazelton OH HAIL 1.25
  PBZ 8/12 5:50 PM Jefferson 2 W Brentwood OH HAIL 1
  PBZ 8/12 6:33 PM Allegheny Springdale PA HAIL 1
  PBZ 8/12 6:45 PM Westmoreland 1 NW Alcoa Center PA HAIL 1.25
  PBZ 8/12 6:48 PM Westmoreland 3 W North Washington PA HAIL 1.25
  PBZ 8/12 6:48 PM Washington 3 NW Hickory PA HAIL 1
  PBZ 8/12 6:55 PM Westmoreland 1 NW North Washington PA HAIL 1
  PBZ 8/12 6:55 PM Westmoreland 1 E North Washington PA HAIL 1
  PBZ 8/12 6:56 PM Westmoreland 1 ESE North Washington PA HAIL 1
  PBZ 8/12 7:01 PM Westmoreland 1 W Salina PA HAIL 0.88
  PBZ 8/12 7:41 PM Brooke 1 SW Bethany WV HAIL 1.75
  PBZ 8/12 8:00 PM Washington 3 NW Claysville PA HAIL 1.25
  PBZ 8/12 8:08 PM Washington 1 N Claysville PA HAIL 2.5
  PBZ 8/12 8:08 PM Washington 1 SSE Taylorstown PA HAIL 2
  PBZ 8/12 8:10 PM Washington 1 N Washington PA HAIL 0.75
  PBZ 8/12 8:12 PM Washington 2 ESE Claysville PA HAIL 2
  PBZ 8/12 8:14 PM Washington 2 ESE Claysville PA HAIL 3
  PBZ 8/12 8:15 PM Washington 1 WNW Green Hills PA HAIL 1.25
  PBZ 8/12 8:18 PM Washington 1 NNE Lagonda PA HAIL 1.75
 
Radar/Photo Radar/Photo

Large Hail in Claysville, PA

Credit: Lance

Large Hail in Linden, PA

Credit: NWS Pittsburgh
 

Environment

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WPC Surface Analysis.

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Pittsburgh Soundings from Aug 12th 2023.

Environment Environment Environment
August 12th 2023 12Z  August 12th 2023 18Z  August 13th 2023 00Z 

Additional Information

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SPC Day 1 Categorical Outlook SPC Day 1 Tornado Outlook SPC Day 1 Hail Outlook SPC Day 1 Wind Outlook
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