Wednesday’s powerful storm that swept through Western Pennsylvania caused widespread damage and power outages. Two suspected tornadoes were reported in Westmoreland and Allegheny counties.
The Westmoreland County 911 center received nearly 300 calls during the height of the storm, between 8:15 and 9 p.m., according to County Public Safety Director Bud Mertz.
Nine houses were reported to have been struck by fallen trees in a band of damage stretching east from the Trafford area, he said. “There were no evacuations, sheltering requests or reported injuries,” Mertz confirmed.
Local emergency management centers were activated in Penn, Salem and Unity townships, he said.
According to Duquesne Light, the storm created wind gusts reaching 40 mph causing downed trees and broken utility poles. Crews were working through the night to isolate and restore as many customers as possible, focusing first on critical and emergent needs.
As of 6:15 a.m., Duquesne Light is reporting over 10,000 customers in Allegheny County remain without power. That’s down from about 18,000 customers without power around 11:30 p.m. Wednesday.
About 55 Duquesne Light customers in Westmoreland County and over 400 in Butler County also remain without power.
“Crews are working to safely assess damage due to severe weather that has moved through the area this evening, June 26th,” the company said in a statement. “Once that is complete, more information will become available, including estimated times of restoration. Please check back for updates.”
To report downed wires or dangerous conditions, call Duquesne Light at 412-393-7000.
FirstEnergy is reporting 5,500 customers in Westmoreland remain without power, along with fewer than 100 customers in Allegheny County and less than 75 in Butler County. On Wednesday Around 10:15 p.m. Wednesday night, more than 12,600 First Energy customers without power in Westmoreland County, along with over 400 in Allegheny County.
Penn Township, Westmoreland County, was one of the hardest-hit areas, where firefighters responded when a tree fell on a pony on Pine Hollow Road Extension and other fallen trees blocked access on several roads, including Nature Lane.
The County Animal Response Team was called to assist with the injured pony.
Likely tornado path here near 30 Pine Hollow Rd, Trafford, PA. @NWSPittsburgh#pawxpic.twitter.com/D0m2LrLCtQ
— Nick ????⛈ (@Stormin13Norman) June 27, 2024
A fallen tree damaged a private gas well along Winchester Road in North Huntingdon, near the Penn Township line, according to a Westmoreland County 911 dispatcher. The dispatcher couldn’t confirm reports that neighboring residents were being evacuated.
The National Weather Service’s Pittsburgh office received reports of a barn that was destroyed along Hannastown Road north of the village of Crabtree and a PennDOT maintenance shed that was heavily damaged along the Pennsylvania Turnpike in Penn Township.
Tree damage also was reported in Derry Township and near New Florence. There were numerous reports of downed wires across the area.
Tornado touchdowns were reported about 7:45 p.m. 2 miles south of Imperial, Allegheny County, and about 8:15 p.m. in the Jeannette area, according to TribLive news partner WTAE.
Meteorologist Matthew Kramar said Wednesday night that the National Weather Service had not yet confirmed specific tornado touchdowns but had detected evidence of a tornado debris signature in Westmoreland County.
“Preliminarily, we have seen some evidence of debris on the radar. At least a couple of them were focused near Trafford and from south of Delmont to New Alexandria,” Kramar said. “Debris gets lofted up into the air, and radar can detect that.”
He said the weather service would send crews into the field to investigate potential tornado sites in the coming days.
Jeff Himler is a TribLive staff writer. He can be reached at jhimler@triblive.com. Haley Daugherty is a TribLive staff writer. She can be reached at hdaugherty@triblive.com.