High wind warning in effect for 3 southwestern PA counties

High winds that hit Westmoreland, Fayette, and Indiana counties Friday evening are expected to continue until 1 p.m. Saturday, according to the National Weather Service.

Slightly less powerful gusts were hitting neighboring counties, including those in the Alle-Kiski Valley.

Westmoreland emergency services responded to numerous calls Friday night reporting downed trees and wires affecting traffic.

According to Westmoreland County 911 radio transmissions, among the slew of places that first responders were summoned to were Penn Township, Ligonier, Derry, Unity, North Huntingdon, East Huntingdon, Mt. Pleasant and Youngstown.

There were several reports of trees falling on homes throughout the county.

As of 9 p.m., West Penn Power reported almost 12,800 Westmoreland County customers, and almost 23,900 Fayette County customers affected by power outages. Repair crews were dispatched.

A high wind warning that initially was to end at 1 a.m. Saturday was extended by 12 hours in those three counties until 1 p.m. Saturday, and in Allegheny, Butler, and Armstrong counties, a wind advisory is expected to be in effect for the same length of time.

Wind speeds may climb to 35 mph to 45 mph with gusts up to 70 mph in the high wind warning region, and 25 mph to 35 mph with gusts up to 55 mph in the wind advisory region.

If you live along or near a west-facing slope in Indiana, Westmoreland, or Fayette Counties, wind gusts may ramp up into the 60 to 70 MPH range through 7 PM. Along with tree damage/power outages, there also may be incidents of stripped shingles/carport damage. Prepare now!

— NWS Pittsburgh (@NWSPittsburgh) March 3, 2023

Residents are advised to secure loose objects outside, use caution if they must drive, and be on the lookout for downed trees on roads, said NWS Pittsburgh meteorologist Jenna Lake.

“If you have patio furniture, you want it all tied together,” she said. “Don’t have any garbage cans out, and be prepared to see some downed trees and downed tree limbs, and maybe a couple of power outages. That is really what you have to be alerted to.”

The windstorm is the result a low pressure system that has also brought rainy weather to the area.

“The low pressure is in the exact right position to give us downslope wind from the Allegheny Mountains,” Lake said. “It’s going to be a windy night for us all, but definitely the most windy in the mountains and just west of there.”

What is a downslope wind? Here we have a conceptual model and GFS skew-t at Latrobe. The strong SE flow underneath the inversion just above the ridgetop will compress and channel the strongest winds down the slope of the Laurel Ridges, creating > 60 mph winds along the foothills. pic.twitter.com/5XvJaBghkg

— NWS Pittsburgh (@NWSPittsburgh) March 3, 2023