Public Information Statement
Issued by NWS Pittsburgh, PA
Issued by NWS Pittsburgh, PA
802 NOUS41 KPBZ 071242 PNSPBZ OHZ039-040-048>050-057>059-PAZ014-020>022-029-031-073>078- WVZ001>004-080045- PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT National Weather Service Pittsburgh PA 742 AM EST Fri Nov 7 2025 ...April 29th Storm Officially Called a Derecho... The Storm Prediction Center has officially declared the April 29th storm that went through parts of eastern Ohio, northern West Virginia, and western Pennsylvania a derecho. A derecho (pronounced similar to deh-REY-cho in English) is a widespread, severe windstorm that originates from a mid- latitude thunderstorm complex called a mesoscale convective system that is driven by a cold pool and other possible internal forcing mechanisms. Although a derecho can produce destruction similar to that of a tornado, the damage typically occurs in one direction along a relatively straight path. As a result, the term straight-line wind damage is sometimes used to describe derecho damage. By definition, if the swath of wind damage extends at least 250 miles (about 400 kilometers) long, includes wind gusts of at least 58 mph (93 km/h) along its length, with several, well-separated 75 mph (121 km/h) or greater gusts, and originates from a thunderstorm complex that moves faster than the mean wind speed (thus being primarily cold pool driven), the event may be classified as a derecho. More information can be found here: https://www.spc.noaa.gov/misc/AbtDerechos/derechofacts.htm $$ McMullen