Tornado of March 23 2011

Confirmed EF2 Tornado and Severe Weather 23 March 2011

View Westmoreland County Tornado Mar 23, 2011 in a larger map

Summary Storm Report:

TORNADO CONFIRMED IN HEMPFIELD TOWNSHIP IN WESTMORELAND COUNTY



LOCATION...HEMPFIELD TOWNSHIP IN WESTMORELAND COUNTY IN PENNSYLVANIA

DATE...03/23/2011

ESTIMATED TIME...445 PM EDT

MAXIMUM EF-SCALE RATING...EF2

ESTIMATED MAXIMUM WIND SPEED...120 MPH

MAXIMUM PATH WIDTH...300 YARDS

PATH LENGTH...6 - 7 MILES SPORADIC

BEGINNING LAT/LON...40.28N / -79.74W

ENDING LAT/LON...40.28 / -79.57W

* FATALITIES...0

* INJURIES...0

* THE INFORMATION IN THIS STATEMENT IS PRELIMINARY AND SUBJECT TO

CHANGE PENDING FINAL REVIEW OF THE EVENT(S) AND PUBLICATION IN NWS

STORM DATA.



...SUMMARY...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN PITTSBURGH HAS CONFIRMED A

TORNADO IN HEMPFIELD TOWNSHIP WESTMORELAND COUNTY PENNSYLVANIA ON

03/23/2011.


THE TORNADO INITIALLY TOUCHED DOWN IN THE SEWICKLEY TOWNSHIP AREA

RILLTON SECTION THEN MOVED ALONG ROUTE 136 IN HEMPFIELD

TOWNSHIP. THERE WAS DAMAGE TO MULTIPLE SINGLE FAMILY HOMES IN THE

RILLTON AREA WITH SOME HOMES HAVING THEIR ENTIRE ROOF REMOVED IN

ADDITION TO ONE HOME LOOSING ONE EXTERIOR WALL. NUMEROUS TREES

WERE UPROOTED IN THIS AREA AS WELL.


DAMAGE WAS THEN OBSERVED NEAR THE HEMPFIELD BUS GARAGE WITH DAMAGE

TO MULTIPLE STRUCTURES. NEAR THIS LOCATION...THE PATH WIDTH WAS

THE LARGEST. MOVING FARTHER TO THE EAST...AT HEMPFIELD SENIOR HIGH

SCHOOL THE SCOREBOARD WAS KNOCKED DOWN ALONG WITH SEVERAL LIGHT

POSTS BEING SNAPPED. TRACK AND FIELD EQUIPMENT WAS DISPLACED

SEVERAL HUNDRED YARDS FROM THEIR PRE-TORNADIC LOCATION. EXTENSIVE

DAMAGE WAS DONE TO THE ENTRY WAY TO THE FOOTBALL STADIUM AT

HEMPFIELD HIGH SCHOOL. IN THE FORT ALLEN AREA...SEVERAL HOMES

SUSTAINED ROOF DAMAGE. ONE HOME LOST AN EXTERIOR WALL AND SAW ITS

ROOF BE DISPLACED SEVERAL HUNDRED YARDS.


THIS IS THE FIRST CONFIRMED TORNADO IN THE PITTSBURGH COUNTY

WARNING AREA. ON AVERAGE...NWS PITTSBURGH AVERAGES FOUR TO FIVE

TORNADOES A YEAR. THE LAST TORNADO TO STRIKE WESTMORELAND COUNTY

OCCURRED 1 DECEMBER 2006.


MANY THANKS TO THE WESTMORELAND COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY

 EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY FOR ALL THEIR ASSISTANCE.


FOR REFERENCE...THE ENHANCED FUJITA SCALE CLASSIFIES TORNADOES INTO

THE FOLLOWING CATEGORIES:


EF0...WIND SPEEDS 65 TO 85 MPH.

EF1...WIND SPEEDS 86 TO 110 MPH.

EF2...WIND SPEEDS 111 TO 135 MPH.

EF3...WIND SPEEDS 136 TO 165 MPH.

EF4...WIND SPEEDS 166 TO 200 MPH.

EF5...WIND SPEEDS GREATER THAN 200 MPH.

RADAR:

RADAR LOOPS:

Reflectivity (click to animate)

Storm Relavtive Motion (click to animate)

PHOTOS:

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0325 PM     HAIL             CARROLLTON              40.57N  81.09W
03/23/2011  E0.88 INCH       CARROLL            OH   EMERGENCY MNGR

0331 PM     HAIL             STEUBENVILLE            40.37N  80.65W
03/23/2011  E1.00 INCH       JEFFERSON          OH   TRAINED SPOTTER

0334 PM     HAIL             2 E SUMMITVILLE         40.68N  80.85W
03/23/2011  E1.00 INCH       COLUMBIANA         OH   TRAINED SPOTTER

0350 PM     HAIL             15 NW STEUBENVILLE      40.52N  80.85W
03/23/2011  E1.50 INCH       JEFFERSON          OH   TRAINED SPOTTER

            NEAR BURGHOLTZ

0355 PM     HAIL             ROSS TOWNSHIP           40.53N  80.02W
03/23/2011  E1.00 INCH       ALLEGHENY          PA   TRAINED SPOTTER

0355 PM     HAIL             PITTSBURGH              40.44N  79.98W
03/23/2011  E1.00 INCH       ALLEGHENY          PA   PUBLIC

0355 PM     HAIL             PITTSBURGH              40.44N  79.98W
03/23/2011  E1.25 INCH       ALLEGHENY          PA   PUBLIC

0355 PM     HAIL             DOVER                   40.52N  81.47W
03/23/2011  E1.50 INCH       TUSCARAWAS         OH   TRAINED SPOTTER

0400 PM     HAIL             2 S WELLSVILLE          40.57N  80.66W
03/23/2011  E1.00 INCH       HANCOCK            WV   TRAINED SPOTTER

0400 PM     HAIL             ROBINSON TOWNSHIP       40.46N  80.13W
03/23/2011  E1.00 INCH       ALLEGHENY          PA   TRAINED SPOTTER

0400 PM     HAIL             HANOVERTON              40.76N  80.94W
03/23/2011  E1.00 INCH       COLUMBIANA         OH   TRAINED SPOTTER

0400 PM     HAIL             FARMINGTON              39.81N  79.57W
03/23/2011  E1.00 INCH       FAYETTE            PA   TRAINED SPOTTER

0401 PM     HAIL             MCDONALD                39.86N  81.85W
03/23/2011  E0.88 INCH       MUSKINGUM          OH   TRAINED SPOTTER

0406 PM     HAIL             ROBINSON TOWNSHIP       40.46N  80.13W
03/23/2011  E1.00 INCH       ALLEGHENY          PA   TRAINED SPOTTER

0406 PM     HAIL             IMPERIAL                40.45N  80.24W
03/23/2011  E1.00 INCH       ALLEGHENY          PA   TRAINED SPOTTER

0410 PM     HAIL             BRIDGEVILLE             40.36N  80.11W
03/23/2011  E1.00 INCH       ALLEGHENY          PA   TRAINED SPOTTER

0412 PM     HAIL             LISBON                  40.77N  80.77W
03/23/2011  E0.88 INCH       COLUMBIANA         OH   TRAINED SPOTTER

0413 PM     HAIL             2 S COLUMBIANA          40.86N  80.69W
03/23/2011  E1.00 INCH       COLUMBIANA         OH   TRAINED SPOTTER

0416 PM     HAIL             PITTSBURGH              40.44N  79.98W
03/23/2011  E0.88 INCH       ALLEGHENY          PA   TRAINED SPOTTER

            OAKLAND SECTION OF PITTSBURGH

0419 PM     HAIL             ALIQUIPPA               40.62N  80.25W
03/23/2011  E1.00 INCH       BEAVER             PA   TRAINED SPOTTER

0420 PM     HAIL             BALTIC                  40.44N  81.70W
03/23/2011  E1.75 INCH       TUSCARAWAS         OH   TRAINED SPOTTER

0420 PM     HAIL             WEXFORD                 40.63N  80.05W
03/23/2011  M1.00 INCH       ALLEGHENY          PA   PUBLIC

0428 PM     HAIL             COSHOCTON               40.26N  81.85W
03/23/2011  E1.00 INCH       COSHOCTON          OH   TRAINED SPOTTER

0430 PM     HAIL             MCKEESPORT              40.34N  79.84W
03/23/2011  E1.00 INCH       ALLEGHENY          PA   TRAINED SPOTTER

0430 PM     HAIL             IRONDALE                40.57N  80.73W
03/23/2011  M1.25 INCH       JEFFERSON          OH   PUBLIC

0430 PM     HAIL             TRAFFORD                40.39N  79.76W
03/23/2011  E1.00 INCH       WESTMORELAND       PA   PUBLIC

0433 PM     HAIL             SALINEVILLE             40.62N  80.83W
03/23/2011  E1.00 INCH       COLUMBIANA         OH   TRAINED SPOTTER

0435 PM     HAIL             MONROEVILLE             40.42N  79.79W
03/23/2011  E1.25 INCH       ALLEGHENY          PA   TRAINED SPOTTER

0436 PM     HAIL             AVONMORE                40.53N  79.47W
03/23/2011  E1.00 INCH       WESTMORELAND       PA   TRAINED SPOTTER

0436 PM     HAIL             REDHOUSE                39.31N  79.45W
03/23/2011  E1.00 INCH       GARRETT            MD   TRAINED SPOTTER

0438 PM     HAIL             IRWIN                   40.32N  79.70W
03/23/2011  E1.50 INCH       WESTMORELAND       PA   TRAINED SPOTTER

0438 PM     HAIL             MCKEESPORT              40.34N  79.84W
03/23/2011  E2.00 INCH       ALLEGHENY          PA   TRAINED SPOTTER

            GREEN OAK AREA. GUST TO 60 MPH. TREES DOWN.

0442 PM     HAIL             2 S IRWIN               40.30N  79.70W
03/23/2011  E1.75 INCH       WESTMORELAND       PA   TRAINED SPOTTER

0444 PM     HAIL             IRWIN                   40.32N  79.70W
03/23/2011  E1.75 INCH       WESTMORELAND       PA   TRAINED SPOTTER

0445 PM     HAIL             SALTSBURG               40.49N  79.45W
03/23/2011  E1.75 INCH       INDIANA            PA   TRAINED SPOTTER

0445 PM     TORNADO          5 SW GREENSBURG         40.25N  79.61W
03/23/2011                   WESTMORELAND       PA   STORM CHASER

            POSSIBLE TORNADO DAMGE. ROOFS OFF OF SEVERAL HOUSES
            ALONG ROUTE 136 HEMPFIELD TWP.

0446 PM     HAIL             JEANNETTE               40.33N  79.61W
03/23/2011  E1.50 INCH       WESTMORELAND       PA   TRAINED SPOTTER

            GRAPEVILLE AREA

0449 PM     HAIL             OAKLAND                 39.41N  79.41W
03/23/2011  E0.88 INCH       GARRETT            MD   TRAINED SPOTTER

0450 PM     HAIL             GREENSBURG              40.30N  79.54W
03/23/2011  E2.00 INCH       WESTMORELAND       PA   TRAINED SPOTTER

0452 PM     HAIL             3 S HOOKSTOWN           40.56N  80.47W
03/23/2011  E1.00 INCH       BEAVER             PA   TRAINED SPOTTER

0453 PM     HAIL             GREENSBORO              39.79N  79.91W
03/23/2011  E1.75 INCH       FAYETTE            PA   TRAINED SPOTTER

0455 PM     HAIL             NEW CUMBERLAND          40.50N  80.61W
03/23/2011  E1.75 INCH       HANCOCK            WV   TRAINED SPOTTER

0456 PM     HAIL             LATROBE                 40.31N  79.38W
03/23/2011  E1.75 INCH       WESTMORELAND       PA   TRAINED SPOTTER

0457 PM     HAIL             GREENSBURG              40.30N  79.54W
03/23/2011  E1.00 INCH       WESTMORELAND       PA   TRAINED SPOTTER

            WESTMORELAND MALL

0457 PM     HAIL             LATROBE                 40.31N  79.38W
03/23/2011  E1.25 INCH       WESTMORELAND       PA   TRAINED SPOTTER

0458 PM     TSTM WND GST     1 WNW SHANNON           40.17N  80.65W
03/23/2011  M58 MPH          OHIO               WV   ASOS

            WHEELING AIRPORT

0459 PM     HAIL             LATROBE                 40.31N  79.38W
03/23/2011  E1.00 INCH       WESTMORELAND       PA   TRAINED SPOTTER

0500 PM     HAIL             1 NNW CARNOT-MOON       40.53N  80.22W
03/23/2011  M1.50 INCH       ALLEGHENY          PA   NWS OFFICE

            NWS OFFICE

0500 PM     TSTM WND DMG     GREENSBURG              40.30N  79.54W
03/23/2011                   WESTMORELAND       PA   TRAINED SPOTTER

            FORT ALLEN AREA 10 TO 20 HOMES WITH ROOF DAMAGE.

0503 PM     HAIL             GREENSBURG              40.30N  79.54W
03/23/2011  E1.25 INCH       WESTMORELAND       PA   TRAINED SPOTTER

0503 PM     HAIL             LATROBE                 40.31N  79.38W
03/23/2011  E1.75 INCH       WESTMORELAND       PA   TRAINED SPOTTER

0504 PM     HAIL             1 N WHITNEY             40.25N  79.41W
03/23/2011  E1.75 INCH       WESTMORELAND       PA   NWS EMPLOYEE

0505 PM     HAIL             WEXFORD                 40.63N  80.05W
03/23/2011  E1.25 INCH       ALLEGHENY          PA   PUBLIC

0510 PM     HAIL             LATROBE                 40.31N  79.38W
03/23/2011  E1.75 INCH       WESTMORELAND       PA   TRAINED SPOTTER

            LAWSON HEIGHTS AREA

0510 PM     HAIL             LATROBE                 40.31N  79.38W
03/23/2011  E1.75 INCH       WESTMORELAND       PA   TRAINED SPOTTER

0512 PM     HAIL             GREEN TREE              40.41N  80.05W
03/23/2011  E1.75 INCH       ALLEGHENY          PA   TRAINED SPOTTER

0514 PM     HAIL             LATROBE                 40.31N  79.38W
03/23/2011  E1.75 INCH       WESTMORELAND       PA   TRAINED SPOTTER

            LAWSON HEIGHTS

0515 PM     HAIL             GREEN TREE              40.41N  80.05W
03/23/2011  E1.75 INCH       ALLEGHENY          PA   TRAINED SPOTTER

0515 PM     HAIL             ROSS TOWNSHIP           40.53N  80.02W
03/23/2011  E1.00 INCH       ALLEGHENY          PA   TRAINED SPOTTER

0516 PM     HAIL             PITTSBURGH              40.44N  79.98W
03/23/2011  E1.75 INCH       ALLEGHENY          PA   TRAINED SPOTTER

            OAKLAND SECTION

0517 PM     HAIL             PITTSBURGH              40.44N  79.98W
03/23/2011  E1.25 INCH       ALLEGHENY          PA   TRAINED SPOTTER

            PARKWAY NORTH HAZLET ST EXIT

0518 PM     HAIL             PITTSBURGH              40.44N  79.98W
03/23/2011  E1.00 INCH       ALLEGHENY          PA   TRAINED SPOTTER

0520 PM     HAIL             LINCOLN PLACE           40.37N  79.92W
03/23/2011  E1.00 INCH       ALLEGHENY          PA   TRAINED SPOTTER

0521 PM     HAIL             PITTSBURGH              40.44N  79.98W
03/23/2011  E1.75 INCH       ALLEGHENY          PA   TRAINED SPOTTER

            OAKLAND SECTION

0530 PM     TSTM WND DMG     2 SW WEST NEWTON        40.19N  79.80W
03/23/2011                   WESTMORELAND       PA   TRAINED SPOTTER

            NUMEROUS TREES AND POWER LINES DOWN

0532 PM     HAIL             WESTMORELAND CITY       40.33N  79.68W
03/23/2011  E1.00 INCH       WESTMORELAND       PA   PUBLIC

0533 PM     TSTM WND DMG     NEWELL                  40.07N  79.89W
03/23/2011                   FAYETTE            PA   TRAINED SPOTTER

            TREES AND POWER LINES DOWN.

0537 PM     TSTM WND DMG     IRWIN                   40.32N  79.70W
03/23/2011                   WESTMORELAND       PA   PUBLIC

            TREES DOWN IN REALTON AREA.

0545 PM     TSTM WND DMG     CONNELLSVILLE           40.02N  79.59W
03/23/2011                   FAYETTE            PA   TRAINED SPOTTER

            ROOF DAMAGE

0600 PM     TSTM WND DMG     CONNELLSVILLE           40.02N  79.59W
03/23/2011                   FAYETTE            PA   911 CALL CENTER

            SEVERAL TREES AND POWER LINES DOWN

0610 PM     TSTM WND DMG     TUNNELTON               39.39N  79.75W
03/23/2011                   PRESTON            WV   TRAINED SPOTTER

            TREES DOWN ON HOUSE

0610 PM     TSTM WND DMG     FELLOWSVILLE            39.33N  79.82W
03/23/2011                   PRESTON            WV   911 CALL CENTER

            NUMEROUS TREES DOWN

0615 PM     TSTM WND DMG     4 S OAKLAND             39.35N  79.41W
03/23/2011                   GARRETT            MD   911 CALL CENTER

            SEVERAL TREES DOWN

0640 PM     TSTM WND DMG     PARSONS                 39.09N  79.68W
03/23/2011                   TUCKER             WV   911 CALL CENTER

            SEVERAL TREES DOWN IN PARSONS ALONG ROUTE 72

0645 PM     TSTM WND DMG     CHARLEROI               40.14N  79.90W
03/23/2011                   WASHINGTON         PA   PUBLIC

            SEVERAL TREES DOWN

0700 PM     TSTM WND DMG     OHIOPYLE                39.87N  79.49W
03/23/2011                   FAYETTE            PA   PUBLIC

            TREES DOWN