Pittsburgh, PA – Residents across eastern Ohio and western Pennsylvania should remain alert tonight as two storm paths threaten to bring severe weather, including damaging winds and large hail, to the region. Damaging gusts up to 75 mph could hit parts of the Upper Ohio Valley, especially if storms strengthen further north.
According to the National Weather Service in Pittsburgh, one scenario would keep the most intense storms suppressed south of I-70 due to warm air aloft limiting storm development. In this case, southern Ohio would face the highest risk. However, a second and increasingly likely scenario suggests storms could tap into a more favorable environment, pushing the severe threat north into eastern Ohio and southwest Pennsylvania.
Key cities at risk include Wheeling, Steubenville, and Pittsburgh, where late-evening storms could disrupt travel and cause power outages. The strongest cells may produce large hail or isolated tornadoes, especially in eastern Ohio. NWS meteorologists emphasize the next one to two hours are critical for storm development.
Residents should avoid unnecessary travel, secure outdoor items, and have emergency alerts enabled on mobile devices. Watches and warnings may be issued with little lead time.
Severe weather threats could linger into the early hours of Friday. Stay tuned for real-time updates.
