Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania – Two extreme weather events left a lasting mark on the Upper Ohio Valley in 2025, with catastrophic flooding in Wheeling, West Virginia, and a powerful spring derecho causing widespread wind damage across multiple states.
According to the National Weather Service in Pittsburgh, the deadliest event of the year occurred in mid-June when torrential rainfall triggered catastrophic flash flooding in Ohio County, West Virginia. The flooding unfolded over a short period and resulted in nine fatalities, making it the deadliest single flash flood event in the region since 1990. Forecasters noted that a warm, moisture-rich air mass persisted for days, creating ideal conditions for excessive rainfall and rapid runoff. Flooding was reported on nearly two-thirds of June days, with rainfall totals running more than three standard deviations above normal across parts of northern West Virginia and western Pennsylvania.
Earlier in the year, a widespread wind event tore through the region. The April 29 storm was later classified as a derecho by the Storm Prediction Center after producing long-lived, damaging winds from eastern Ohio into northern West Virginia and western Pennsylvania. The system intensified as it moved east, producing one of the strongest wind gusts ever recorded at Pittsburgh International Airport. The scale of damage led to a record number of thunderstorm wind damage reports for April.
The National Weather Service says these two events underscore the growing impact of high-end weather systems in the Upper Ohio Valley, with preparedness and timely warnings remaining critical as future seasons unfold.
