Here's How Powerful Pittsburgh-Area Tornadoes Were

SOUTHWESTERN PENNSYLVANIA — The National Weather Service sent teams into the field Friday to unearth details of an unexpected outbreak of tornadoes Thursday night in the Pittsburgh forecast area. The weather service has now confirmed five twisters, but that number could increase as the investigation continues.

The five occurred in the weather service's Pittsburgh region, which includes northwestern and southwestern Pennsylvania, southeastern Ohio, the West Virginia northern panhandle and Garrett County in Maryland.

No deaths or injuries were reported as a result of the violent weather, but the storms triggered numerous power outages and caused significant property damage throughout the region.

Weather service storm survey teams on Friday confirmed an EF-1 tornado with maximum winds of 100 mph in Hampton in Allegheny County and Mt. Pleasant, Jefferson County, Ohio. An EF-1 with maximum winds between 90 and 95 mph was confirmed near Warnock in Belmont County, Ohio.

Survey teams also confirmed an EF-0 tornado in the Mt. Nebo section of Ohio Township, Allegheny County.

A survey team was scheduled to visit a confirmed tornado site in Peters, Washington County, on Saturday.

Damage surveys occurred Friday in Beaver and Butler counties and one was scheduled specifically for Hopewell in Beaver County. Survey teams will be sent to West Finley in Washington County, Slippery Rock in Butler County and Mercer County.

The weather service on Friday released startling statistics regarding tornadoes in the Pittsburgh region. The area averages three confirmed tornadoes per year, but 27 have been confirmed thus far in 2021.

None of the twisters have occurred within Pittsburgh city limits.

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