955
NOUS41 KPBZ 190049 AAA
PNSPBZ
OHZ040-PAZ021-029-073-191230-

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
National Weather Service PITTSBURGH PA
824 PM EDT Sat May 18 2024


...NWS Damage Surveys for 05/17/2024 Tornado Event - Update 1...

.Highland Park Tornado...

Rating:                 EF1
Estimated Peak Wind:    105 mph
Path Length /statute/:  2 miles
Path Width /maximum/:   125 yards
Fatalities:             0
Injuries:               0

Start Date:             05/17/2024
Start Time:             04:37 PM EDT
Start Location:         1 S Sharpsburg / Allegheny County / PA
Start Lat/Lon:          40.476 / -79.9308

End Date:               05/17/2024
End Time:               04:45 PM EDT
End Location:           Aspinwall / Allegheny County / PA
End Lat/Lon:            40.4872 / -79.8982

Survey Summary:
Based on initial reports of tree damage in the Morningside
neighborhood, the track of a tornadic ground circulation began
just outside of Highland Park and continued northeast across the
Pittsburgh Zoo and across the Allegheny river, weakening below
tornadic intensity as it entered Aspinwall.

Multiple trees were reported down in the Morningside neighborhood
and across Highland Park. The circulation intensified as it
approached the Pittsburgh Zoo, where several trees were felled and
large limbs snapped. A large tree fell on a vehicle in the zoo`s
parking lot. No injuries were noted at the facility to humans or
animals. Based on damage, peak wind during this phase of the
tornado was 80 mph.

The circulation strengthened considerably as it descended from
Highland Park to the river, with a large swath of hardwood trees
felled along Allegheny River Blvd near the Highland Park Bridge.
Power poles in this area also were leaning. The swath of damage
continued to riverside. Damage here was consistent with peak wind
of 105 mph.

Although no damage was observed across the river in Aspinwall,
observers in Aspinwall noted a funnel cloud at ground level before
dissipating near Waterworks shopping plaza. Additionally, radar
data is consistent with the lofting of water into the tornadic
circulation, suggesting the ground circulation was still in
progress as the storm crossed into Aspinwall.

Because of the storm`s proximity to the KPBZ radar, a tornadic
debris signature (TDS) was noted in the radar data, indicating the
lofting of debris as the tornado moved across Highland Park.
Numerous videos provided to NWS Pittsburgh also confirm the
mesocyclone structure of the storm/tornado as it advanced across
Highland Park.

NWS Pittsburgh appreciates all who provided reports, video and
tours of the damage to aid us in our assessment of the tornado`s
strength. This is the first tornado in the Pittsburgh city limits
since June 1998.

.Leesville Lake Tornado...

Rating:                 EF0
Estimated Peak Wind:    80 mph
Path Length /statute/:  0.25 miles
Path Width /maximum/:   40 yards
Fatalities:             0
Injuries:               0

Start Date:             05/17/2024
Start Time:             01:33 PM EDT
Start Location:         2 NE Leesville / Carroll County / OH
Start Lat/Lon:          40.4655 / -81.1845

End Date:               05/17/2024
End Time:               01:35 PM EDT
End Location:           2 NE Leesville / Carroll County / OH
End Lat/Lon:            40.4669 / -81.1809

Survey Summary:
Video confirmed a brief tornado occurred beginning at the
Leesville Lake South Fork Marina and continuing northeast across
Leesville Lake. Rapid development was noted as a narrow, intense
ground circulation appeared, tossing docks and pontoon boats.
Based on the destruction of a tree in tandem with the destruction
of non-DIs evident in the video and the visual of rotational
speed of the ground circulation, the peak wind in this small
tornado is estimated to be EF0 (around 80 mph).

.Allegheny County Airport Tornado...

Rating:                 EFU
Estimated Peak Wind:    Unknown
Path Length /statute/:  Estimated at 0.6 miles
Path Width /maximum/:   Unknown
Fatalities:             0
Injuries:               0

Start Date:             05/17/2024
Start Time:             02:48 PM EDT
Start Location:         1 W West Mifflin / Allegheny County / PA
Start Lat/Lon:          40.3588 / -79.9286

End Date:               05/17/2024
End Time:               02:50 PM EDT
End Location:           West Mifflin / Allegheny County / PA
End Lat/Lon:            40.3599 / -79.9171

Survey Summary:
Video evidence confirmed a brief, weak tornado tracking just
north of the Allegheny County Airport. Video analysis puts the
track across the industrial complex located at Noble Drive. No
known damage was observed, so wind estimates are unknown.

.Elrama/Elizabeth Tornado...

Rating:                 EF0
Estimated Peak Wind:    80 mph
Path Length /statute/:  5.9 miles
Path Width /maximum/:   75 yards
Fatalities:             0
Injuries:               0

Start Date:             05/17/2024
Start Time:             02:54 PM EDT
Start Location:         2 SW West Elizabeth / Washington County / PA
Start Lat/Lon:          40.2514 / -79.9271

End Date:               05/17/2024
End Time:               03:14 PM EDT
End Location:           1 E Lincoln / Allegheny County / PA
End Lat/Lon:            40.2924 / -79.83

Survey Summary:
Tornadic damage associated with this mesocyclone occurred
sporadically from near Elrama to eastern parts of Elizabeth, with
several gaps in the damage swath.

Damage in Elrama was the most notable along this track, where
multiple homes experienced removal of large portions of shingles,
with some also losing siding/soffit. Tree damage also was noted in
this area. The porch roof of a mobile home was removed and thrown
into a neighboring yard in this area, and a swimming pool
collapsed as the tornado attempted to lift it. Porch railings and
furniture were destroyed and tossed. Home owners reported extreme
difficulty attempting to close their front doors as the wind
increased rapidly within the tornadic circulation. No homes
suffered window loss, suggesting an upper bound on the wind speed.

Along the remainder of the path, sporadic tree damage was noted,
especially in the area of Boston Hollow Rd and Mansfield Rd. In
this segment of the circulation track, the swath of damage was
narrow, and characterized by uprooted trees and snapped limbs.

Video of this sporadically contracted/intensified circulation was
offered, confirming an occasional tornadic ground circulation to
supplement the reports of damage.

This tornado was rated EF0 with a peak wind speed of 80 mph.NWS
Pittsburgh appreciates those who shared their experiences and
damage with us to complete our assessment.

.Harrison City Tornado...

Rating:                 EF0
Estimated Peak Wind:    70 mph
Path Length /statute/:  2.9 miles
Path Width /maximum/:   100 yards
Fatalities:             0
Injuries:               0

Start Date:             05/17/2024
Start Time:             03:50 PM EDT
Start Location:         1 NE Manor / Westmoreland County / PA
Start Lat/Lon:          40.3578 / -79.6523

End Date:               05/17/2024
End Time:               04:00 PM EDT
End Location:           3 SSE Export / Westmoreland County / PA
End Lat/Lon:            40.381 / -79.6054

Survey Summary:
Damage was first noted in the vicinity of the Penn Township
Municipal Complex, where flag poles were bent, and a tree limb was
snapped. The damage swath continued sporadically over the
remainder of the track to Greensburg-Jeannette Regional Airport.
Although damage throughout was primarily to trees, some impact was
observed in a neighborhood along Seslar Drive, where a few homes
suffered minor removal of shingles/siding/soffit. At the Regional
Airport, a large tree was snapped.

Video was provided from multiple sources of persistent low-level
rotation that sporadically contracted and tightened the ground
circulation to tornadic strength, leading to the appearance of the
tornado skipping over areas.

The structural damage and some of the tree damage is consistent
with peak wind gusts of 70 mph. This tornado will be rated EF0.

Thank you to Penn Township and Westmoreland County Emergency
Management for their assistance with this survey, and to the
impacted public for helping us complete our understanding of the
storm`s evolution.

&&

EF Scale: The Enhanced Fujita Scale classifies tornadoes into the
following categories:

EF0.....65 to 85 mph
EF1.....86 to 110 mph
EF2.....111 to 135 mph
EF3.....136 to 165 mph
EF4.....166 to 200 mph
EF5.....>200 mph

NOTE:
The information in this statement is preliminary and subject to
change pending final review of the events and publication in
NWS Storm Data.


$$
Kramar/Rackley