1,248
Recorded events
1
Direct deaths
75
Direct injuries
$69.0M
Property damage
Thunderstorm Wind in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania: 1,248 recorded events between 1955 and 2026. The strongest on record measured 91. That places the county #4 nationally and #1 statewide for this hazard.
Decade by decade
Thunderstorm Wind in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania: events per decade
Reporting practice changed over time — early decades are undercounted, not calmer.
The busiest decade for thunderstorm wind in Allegheny County is the 2020s, when 481 of the county's 1,248 recorded events were logged. Comparing decades is useful for spotting active periods, but the earliest years are thin because systematic reporting for this hazard began later.
Within the Allegheny County archive, thunderstorm wind makes up 52.9% of all recorded severe weather across 8 hazard types. Nationally the county sits at #4 for this hazard and #1 within Pennsylvania, putting it in the 99.9 percentile of all U.S. counties.
Seasonality
Events by month
Jun is the peak month for thunderstorm wind in Allegheny County with 334 recorded events, while Feb is the quietest. Seasonality here is a property of the archive as much as the climate: reports cluster where population and spotter networks are densest.
Significant events
Deadliest on record
| Date | Location | Scale | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 31, 2002 | HOMESTEAD | 91 | 1 | 54 | $10.0M |
| Jun 30, 1998 | COUNTYWIDE | 74 | 0 | 10 | $41.0M |
| May 30, 2015 | BELLEVUE | 50 | 0 | 2 | $15K |
| Apr 29, 2025 | HIGHCLIFF | 55 | 0 | 1 | $1K |
| Apr 29, 2025 | HIGHCLIFF | 55 | 0 | 1 | $1K |
| May 3, 2022 | CASTLE SHANNON | 50 | 0 | 1 | $50K |
| Jun 8, 2021 | CARNEGIE | 50 | 0 | 1 | $0 |
| Jun 16, 2016 | WEST ELIZABETH | 50 | 0 | 1 | $20K |
Most recent
Latest recorded events
| Date | Location | Magnitude | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 31, 2026 | MC KEESPORT | 43 | $5K |
| Mar 31, 2026 | MC KEESPORT | 50 | $5K |
| Mar 31, 2026 | WEST MIFFLIN | 50 | $2K |
| Mar 31, 2026 | GAYLY | 50 | $0 |
| Mar 31, 2026 | (PIT)GTR PITTSBURGH | 50 | $0 |
| Mar 7, 2026 | DORMONT | 50 | $1K |
| Mar 7, 2026 | NEW TEXAS | 50 | $5K |
| Mar 7, 2026 | IMPERIAL | 50 | $500 |
| Mar 7, 2026 | WILKINS TOWNSHIP | 50 | $2K |
| Jul 16, 2025 | MC KEES ROCKS | 50 | $2K |
Other hazards here
More from Allegheny County
- Flash Flood 497
- Hail 444
- Flood 99
From the record
What the reports say
Written by National Weather Service staff at the time of the event · public domain
A microburst with winds up to 85 MPH moved diagonally from northwest to southeast across Allegheny County, leaving a wide swath of damage in its wake. These winds produced an estimated $41 million in damage across the county. Over 125,000 people across the county had their power knocked out by this storm. Across the city of Pittsburgh, the North Hills area reported numerous trees, branches, and power lines down across an area one to two miles wide and nearly five miles in length. Many homes were damaged by falling trees and branches. The Larouche College area was especially hard hit with significant roof and window damage. The roof was torn from a McCandless convent, injuring three nuns.
A microburst hit the Uptown section of Pittsburgh with damage from along Fifth Street to Moultrie Street. Numerous buildings had structural damage with walls of several buildings collapsed and roofs torn off. Several buildings also has windows broken and siding torn off. Trees were also snapped off. The damage extended for about 700 yards and was 400 yards wide.
An NWS Storm Survey found straight line wind damage brought down around 50 trees with 4 falling onto homes in the Glenwillard area. Maximum estimated winds were 85 MPH with the most pronounced damage near Saint Catherine of Siena Church near Route 151.
Quick answers
Frequently asked
How many thunderstorm wind events are on record in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania?
1,248 thunderstorm wind events are recorded in Allegheny County between 1955 and 2026, causing 1 direct deaths.
What is the strongest thunderstorm wind recorded in Allegheny County?
The strongest thunderstorm wind on record in Allegheny County measured 91.
Where does the thunderstorm wind data for Allegheny County come from?
All events come from the NOAA/NCEI Storm Events Database, the federal public-domain archive of severe weather reports. Dates are UTC, damage is as reported and not inflation-adjusted, and the most recent entries may still be revised.
Cite this page
“Thunderstorm Wind in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania.” Severe Weather History. severeweatherhistory.com/county/pennsylvania/allegheny-county/thunderstorm-wind/ · Data: NOAA/NCEI, FEMA, U.S. Census — public domain.