Severe thunderstorms raced across Southwestern Pennsylvania Tuesday evening, downing trees, re-routing traffic and causing power outages across the region.
The initial line of storms came through between 5 and 6 p.m. and spurred severe thunderstorm and tornado warnings. As of 7 p.m., the National Weather Service couldn’t confirm any tornadoes.
The National Weather Service said to expect another line of storms between 9 and 11 p.m. with winds again reaching 60 to 70 mph.
With the first line that came through, the highest gust recorded at Pittsburgh International Airport was 71 mph.
Approaching the Pittsburgh area between 9 and 11 p.m.
Could be more damaging winds, with speeds of 60 to 70 mph.
Wind primary threat; potential for small hail.
With first line that came through, highest gust recorded at Pittsburghh International Airport was 71 mph. There was a report of 93 mph in Indiana County, but they are not sure of the accuracy of the handheld device used to measure that.
Tree blocks Hulton Road
The storm closed heavily traveled Hulton Road near Eighth Street in Oakmont thanks to a large tree that, according to homeowner Michelle Jesse, was struck by lightning and blocked all lanes of the roadway. Numerous electrical wires and an electrical pole also came down.
“I actually saw it get hit by lighting, she said. “It was a big ball of light and it just went down.”
Onlookers walked to scene at the corner of Hilton and Eighth to snap photos and get a glimpse of the destruction of one of the trademark trees that line Hulton.
Jess has lived at the Tudor-style home since 2012.
As she retreated back to her SUV in the driveway, she just shook her head.
“That is something,” she said.
Ron Kuhn looked in bewilderment as his car port rested on an electrical pole Tuesday along Milltown Road in Plum.
Kuhn, 68, has lived across the street from his recognizable barn for 17 years but said he’s never expected anything like he saw Tuesday.
“I can’t do nothing. It’s wrapped around it,” Kuhn said as cars slowly passed, careful to drive slowly across a cable wire from Kuhn’s house that lay in the road.
“It was dark as heck. It was the darkest I’ve ever seen.
“What are you going to do? I just don’t know what I’m going to do to get that down.”
Power outages throughout region
At 6 p.m., Duquesne Light reported outages affecting more than 230,000 customers in Allegheny County, 25,000 in Beaver County, more than 50 in Westmoreland County and three in Butler County.
FirstEnergy customers who were in the dark included nearly 35,000 in Allegheny County, about 25,000 in Westmoreland County, 33,000 in Washington County, about 4,000 in Butler County, about 6,700 in Butler County, about 3,700 in Armstrong County and 1,700 in Beaver County.
