Western Pennsylvania could see some severe thunderstorms heading into Saturday afternoon and evening, but the potential for serious storms should dissipate by Sunday, according to the National Weather Service.
Meteorologist Timothy Cermak said the region can expect “low end strong to severe thunderstorm potential” in the late afternoon Saturday, he said, with potential for damaging wind gusts and quarter-sized hail.
“Sunday we do have shower and thunderstorm potential again, mainly in the afternoon hours,” he said. “I don’t see any risks of severe thunderstorms (Sunday). It should be more likely run-of-the-mill summertime showers and storms.”
A quiet night ahead, but active weather returns tomorrow with more showers and storms in the afternoon and evening, some potentially strong to severe. Damaging winds and large hail are the primary threats. Localized flooding also possible in heavier storms. #pawx #ohwx #wvwx pic.twitter.com/015xNvi59N
— NWS Pittsburgh (@NWSPittsburgh) July 15, 2023
The storm that swept through Southwestern Pennsylvania on Thursday downed trees and, at its worst, left about 28,700 customers of West Penn Power and Duquesne Light Co. without power in Westmoreland, Allegheny and Washington counties.
Crews continued to work to restore power throughout Friday.
As of 9:45 p.m. Friday, just over 150 customers were still without power across Westmoreland and Allegheny counties.
Duquesne Light Co. reported it was down to 10 outages affecting about 24 customers in Allegheny County as of 9:45 p.m. Friday.
West Penn Power reported around 98 affected customers in Westmoreland County, 337 in Washington County and 31 in Allegheny County.
Power was expected to be restored for most by 11 p.m. or midnight.
The severe thunderstorms the region experienced Thursday were heavy, but no one area bore the brunt.
“Generally, most places got an inch or under because of how fast the storms were moving,” Cermak said. “It was pretty intense rain, but it was also moving along at about 40 or 50 mph. They really blew through.”
Storm caused a big tree to fall near the intersection of Gross Street and Friendship Avenue in Bloomfield! pic.twitter.com/PbybyINX8w
— Ryan Deto (@RyanDeto) July 14, 2023
In Westmoreland County on Thursday night, most of the downed trees were in the New Kensington, Allegheny Township and Washington Township, said a Westmoreland County Public Safety supervisor. In the New Kensington-Lower Burrell-Upper Burrell area, trees were reported down on Seventh Street Road, Dutchman’s Run Road and Lower Drennan Road to name a few.
Severe Thunderstorm Warning including Pittsburgh PA, Monroeville PA and Plum PA until 9:00 PM EDT pic.twitter.com/H35X7B6cTu
— NWS Pittsburgh (@NWSPittsburgh) July 14, 2023
Firefighters were dispatched to numerous locations to cut trees that had fallen onto roadways.
No serious damage was reported, the supervisor said.
Across the Allegheny River, Short Street in Tarentum was blocked off.
A woman was trapped in a car after a tree fell on it on Willow Street in Springdale, but she escaped unharmed.
