Youngstown, Ohio – A line of strong thunderstorms is racing across northern Ohio and western Pennsylvania Tuesday afternoon, prompting a Severe Thunderstorm Watch for more than 20 counties until 7 p.m. EDT. Heavy rain, damaging wind gusts, and isolated hail could disrupt travel and outdoor activities into the evening.
According to the National Weather Service offices in Pittsburgh and Cleveland, the watch remains active for cities including Youngstown, Canton, Zanesville, and Wheeling. Counties under the watch span east-central and northeast Ohio as well as the Northern Panhandle of West Virginia, including Stark, Mahoning, Belmont, and Ohio counties.
In Ohio, high-impact areas include major roadways such as I-70 near Zanesville and I-77 through Canton, where sudden gusts could make driving hazardous. Communities like Coshocton, Marion, and Mansfield are also at risk for brief power outages and localized flooding in poor-drainage areas.
Residents in Steubenville, Martins Ferry, and New Martinsville, West Virginia, should stay alert for rapidly changing conditions, especially with scattered storms capable of producing winds over 60 mph. Drivers are urged to delay non-essential travel and secure outdoor objects that could become airborne.
While tornado development is not the primary threat, embedded rotation within stronger cells cannot be ruled out completely, especially near the Ohio River corridor.
Severe Thunderstorm Watches remain in effect across the region until 7 p.m., with additional warnings possible if storms strengthen. Residents should monitor NOAA Weather Radio or local news for updates through the evening.
