Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania – Damaging winds and large hail could hit southwestern Pennsylvania after 2 p.m. Friday, as a Level 2 severe weather threat stretches from New Philadelphia to Pittsburgh.
According to the National Weather Service in Pittsburgh, scattered strong to severe thunderstorms are expected to develop Friday afternoon and persist through 9 p.m. The highest risk area lies along and south of a New Philadelphia–to–Pittsburgh line, where the atmosphere will be most unstable. Affected counties may see gusts over 60 mph, hail up to two inches, and locally heavy downpours capable of creating brief flooding on roadways.
Pittsburgh, Washington, and Latrobe are among the cities where outdoor plans may be disrupted. Travel along I-70 and I-79 could become hazardous during peak storm activity. Emergency managers urge residents to charge electronic devices, secure loose outdoor items, and remain weather-aware throughout the evening.
While northern zones like Butler, Mercer, and Clarion remain under a lower, Level 1 risk, brief strong storms cannot be ruled out. The Level 2 designation marks increased confidence in damaging storm development, though not all areas will see severe impacts.
Storms are expected to weaken by late evening, but additional alerts may be issued if the atmosphere remains volatile.
