Tornadoes possible as severe thunderstorm watch issued for Pittsburgh area
Pittsburgh and communities south of the city are under a severe thunderstorm watch until 11 p.m. Saturday, according to the National Weather Service.
Those areas could experience isolated tornadoes, hail and high winds.
“What’s making it unpredictable is how much heating is going to occur,” said Jason Frazier, meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Moon Township. “A lot of these storms need heat and an unstable environment to get to the strongest potential they have and create that severe weather.”
A severe thunderstorm watch has been issued for parts of KY, OH, PA, WV until 11 PM EDT pic.twitter.com/PJTiovxKv7
— NWS Pittsburgh (@NWSPittsburgh) August 1, 2020
Temperatures hit 79 at Pittsburgh International Airport as of about 4:30 p.m. Saturday, one degree shy of continuing the Pittsburgh area’s 37-day streak of days warmer than 80 degrees.
That streak could continue if late-day sunshine brings up the temperature.
The longest warm weather streak, 46 days, ended Aug. 9, 1878, after 46 days of temperatures above 80 degrees, according to the National Weather Service.
While we wait for potential strong to severe storm development later today, there is another (far less) important feature to track...
Will #Pittsburgh's streak of 80°+ days end?! It sits at 37, the 4th longest streak ever. Do you think we can hit 80°?? pic.twitter.com/QJVttxg1rl
— NWS Pittsburgh (@NWSPittsburgh) August 1, 2020
The Pittsburgh area is not expected to feel the effects of Hurricane Isaias, Frazier said.
That system, which is heading for Florida’s east coast, is expected to stay east of the Pittsburgh region.
Jamie Martines is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Jamie by email at jmartines@triblive.com or via Twitter .
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