Power outages related to heavy winds on Saturday afternoon were clearing up by Sunday morning as a temperature record was broken.
Clear skies earlier Saturday helped the Pittsburgh area set a new record high temperature, reaching 78 degrees at about 3 p.m., meteorologist Andrew Kienzle said. The previous record of 76 degrees had stood since 1983.
High temperatures will dip into the low 60s Sunday though more spring-like weather is expected for the next few days. Kienzle said Sunday’s forecasted highs are still about 15 degrees above normal.
The average high this time of year is 46 degrees.
Rise and shine! As you hit that snooze button a little harder this morning, just remember we've got a few days of beautiful spring-like weather in store! pic.twitter.com/nuRfccACZG
— NWS Pittsburgh (@NWSPittsburgh) March 8, 2026
Storms with damaging wind and the threat of tornadoes swept across the region Saturday afternoon into early evening.
Between a quarter and a half inch of rain fell. While some pea-sized hail was seen in the Pittsburgh area, the biggest impact was from wind that, based on damage, was between 60 and 70 mph, said Matt Brudy, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Moon.
Wind damage — downed trees and power lines — came from straight-line winds, Brudy said.
Power outages began increasing in the late afternoon. At the peak, some 5,000 Duquesne Light customers were without power. The majority of those outages were rectified by Sunday morning.
First Energy had reported about 4,100 out in Westmoreland County, with most of those in Salem Township, Derry Township, New Alexandria, Hempfield, Unity, Sewickley Township, North Huntingdon and Loyalhanna Township. By Sunday morning, about 500 customers in Westmoreland County were still without power.
Despite heavy downpours, flooding was not a concern because of the speed of the storms, Kienzle said.
