At least 4 dead after tornado and severe storm batters St. Louis, mayor says
ST. LOUIS — At least four people died and authorities were searching from building to building for people who were trapped or hurt after severe storms including a possible tornado swept through St. Louis. The storms Friday afternoon tore roofs off buildings, ripped bricks off of siding and downed trees...
Cold temperatures to return to Western Pa. next week
While it might feel like summer today in Western Pennsylvania, a change is headed this way. Friday had the potential to reach 85 degrees, according to David Shallenberger, meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Moon. After that, a cold front is moving into the area next week. Saturday will...
Virginia boy swept away as heavy rains and flooding hit several states
The body of a 12-year-old boy has been found after he was swept away by rushing water on a Virginia roadway, while a dozen students stayed overnight at a Maryland high school as heavy rains led to flooding in several states, officials said. A 911 caller reported Tuesday night that...
Flash flooding forces evacuation of elementary school in western Maryland
BALTIMORE — Flooding in rural western Maryland forced the evacuation of an elementary school Tuesday afternoon as water began to breach the second floor, according to local officials. Homes and businesses in downtown Westernport were also inundated with floodwaters as a result of hours of heavy rain. Officials reassured the...
U.S. to stop tracking costs of extreme weather fueled by climate change
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration will no longer track the cost of climate change-fueled weather disasters, including floods, heat waves, wildfires and more. It is the latest example of changes to the agency and the Trump administration limiting federal government resources on climate change. NOAA falls under the U.S....
A week after severe storm, nearly all have power restored
Almost everyone who lost power a week ago during a wave of severe storms has had power restored. Almost. Duquesne Light, the biggest power supplier to Allegheny and Beaver counties, said a “small subset” of households still were in the dark but should have their electric service restored Wednesday. The...
Severe storms remain a possibility as some remain without power
With the potential for severe storms brewing Monday afternoon, a National Weather Service meteorologist urged people to check on each other, especially those in areas still reeling from last week’s weather. “We encourage folks to check on eachother and to keep eachother updated,” said David Shallenberger, a meteorologist at the...
More storms possible Friday as crews continue restoring power
Another round of storms could hit the region Friday even as crews work to restore power to thousands who have been in the dark since Tuesday. The National Weather Service in Moon says there is a chance of damaging wind, large hail and heavy downpours in the Western Pennsylvania region...
Around 150,000 remain without power as crews continue restoration work
Though power was restored to more than 300,000 customers in Western Pennsylvania since Tuesday’s severe weather, about 150,000 remained without electricity in the region as of 9:30 p.m. on Thursday. And Duquesne Light and West Penn Power said it will be at least several more days before power is restored...
More storms expected in Western Pennsylvania
Another round of storms is expected to hit Western Pennsylvania on Thursday, even as communities are still reeling from severe weather that knocked down trees, ripped roofs from buildings and left thousands without power on Tuesday. A threat of thunderstorms — some severe — will return Thursday afternoon and evening,...
What is a derecho? Meteorologists weigh label after powerful storms slam Western Pa.
After powerful storms swept through Western Pennsylvania this week, meteorologists hesitated to apply labels — though terms like derecho began to circulate. A derecho is a fast-moving, long-lived windstorm that the National Weather Service says can produce tornado-like damage — but in a single, straight path. To qualify, it must...
Weather, power outage prompts Shaler Area to cancel school safety events
The Shaler Area School District canceled two safety-related events at its high school tonight because of weather impacts. The district was scheduled to host a demonstration of a new weapons detection system that will be in use at the high school and middle school this fall beginning at 6 p.m.,...
2 dead, 320K without power after storms slam region
Two people were killed Tuesday evening after a fast-moving line of storms downed trees and wires, causing power outages throughout Southwestern Pennsylvania. Just after 7 p.m., Pittsburgh emergency crews responded to reports of a man electrocuted by live wires in the 1000 block of St. Martin Street in the city’s...
Hail, wind and tornadoes possible in Western Pa.
The National Weather Service warned of potentially severe storms throughout the Western Pennsylvania region Tuesday, with a threat of large hail, damaging winds and isolated tornadoes. Pittsburgh’s National Weather Service office predicted the greatest threat for severe storms would be across eastern Ohio and northwestern Pennsylvania, with the worst hazards...
Storms with lightning, hail hitting upper Midwest with the potential for strong tornadoes
MINNEAPOLIS — Storms with lightning and hail and at least one observed tornado were moving through the upper Midwest on Monday with the potential for strong tornadoes. The National Weather Service said the highest risks — a 4 on a scale of 1 to 5 — were in portions of...
Hot enough for ya? Temperatures move above typical April in Western Pa.
Surprised by this week’s rise in temperatures? According to the National Weather Service’s Pittsburgh office in Moon, there is some validity to that reaction. Temperatures are forecast to reach into the low 80s on Thursday, with a 30% chance of going above 82 degrees, said meteorologist Liana Lupo. Late April...
Tornado-producing storm deals deadly flooding and large hail to Oklahoma and Texas
A slow-moving, active storm system brought heavy rain, large hail and tornadoes to parts of Texas and Oklahoma and left two people dead as severe weather warnings Sunday continue to threaten parts of the south-central and Midwest U.S. On Easter Sunday, communities in Texas and Oklahoma were beginning to assess...
Large hail, damaging wind possible with severe storms Monday, weather service says
Much of southwestern Pennsylvania is at a slight risk for severe thunderstorms on Monday, according to the National Weather Service. The highest overall severe risk will be near and south of Latrobe, Pittsburgh and New Philadelphia. The risk decreases for counties north and east of Allegheny County, according to an...
April ‘pink moon’ returns this weekend as micromoon
The annual April “pink moon” is set to rise this weekend — and this year, it’s going to be a micromoon. The pink moon will reach peal illumination at 8:22 p.m. EDT Saturday in the United States, according to the U.S. Naval Observatory. April’s full moon will rise when its...
Kentucky flood forces Buffalo Trace Distillery to temporarily close
FRANKFORT, Ky. — The historic Buffalo Trace Distillery has closed temporarily after deadly flooding ravaging Kentucky swept into its facilities, forcing the popular bourbon company to turn away the public and staff. In a statement released Sunday, the Frankfort, Ky.-based distillery said it would remain closed through April 10 but...
National Weather Service no longer translating products for non-English speakers
The National Weather Service is no longer providing language translations of its products, a change experts say could put non-English speakers at risk of missing potentially life-saving warnings about extreme weather. The weather service has “paused” the translations because its contract with the provider has lapsed, NWS spokesperson Michael Musher...
April snow showers: Cold front hitting Western Pa.
Snow is returning Monday to Western Pennsylvania. And local meteorologists say it’s still completely normal at this time of year. Sometimes it snows in April. Jeff Verszyla, meteorologist at WTAE-TV, said Pittsburgh receives on average about 1 inch of snow in April. “So seeing a few flakes in the area...
Swollen rivers are flooding towns in the U.S. South after a prolonged deluge of rain
FRANKFORT, Ky. — Days of unrelenting heavy rain and storms filled up rivers to near record levels across Kentucky on Monday, submerging neighborhoods and threatening a famed bourbon distillery in the state capital of Frankfort. Swollen rivers posed the latest threat from a series of persistent storms that have killed...
Rising rivers threaten South and Midwest after barrage of rain, tornadoes
FRANKFORT, Ky. — Rivers rose and flooding worsened Sunday across the U.S. South and Midwest, threatening communities already waterlogged and badly damaged by days of heavy rain and wind that killed at least 18 people. From Texas to Ohio, utilities scrambled to shut off power and gas, while cities closed...
Nearly half of National Weather Service offices have 20% vacancy rates, and experts say it’s a risk
WASHINGTON — After Trump administration job cuts, nearly half of National Weather Service forecast offices have 20% vacancy rates — twice that of just a decade ago — as severe weather chugs across the nation’s heartland, according to data obtained by The Associated Press. Detailed vacancy data for all 122...
