PITTSBURGH (WKBN) — Another round of severe thunderstorms impacted the Midwest and northeastern United States on Wednesday.

This time, the strongest thunderstorms impacted the Pittsburgh area. Damaging wind gusts and multiple tornadoes moved through western Pennsylvania Wednesday evening resulting in downed trees and damage to homes and powerlines. The map below shows all of the wind damage and tornado reports from Wednesday.

Severe weather reports from Wednesday, June 26, 2024. White icons represent locations where damaging wind gusts occurred. Red icons represent areas where tornadic damage likely occurred. Red icons designate where the National Weather Service has confirmed tornadoes.
Severe weather reports from Wednesday, June 26, 2024. White icons represent locations where damaging wind gusts occurred. Red icons represent areas where tornadic damage likely occurred. Red icons designate where the National Weather Service has confirmed tornadoes.

While the exact track and length of the tornado paths is still being investigated, the NWS has released additional details on two of the tornadoes. The NWS confirmed an EF-2 tornado south of Delmont, PA with maximum wind speeds of 115 MPH. Additionally, an EF-1 tornado with maximum wind speeds of 90 MPH was confirmed near Oakdale, PA.

While there was a severe thunderstorm warning in the Valley, the severity of the thunderstorms did not begin to increase until after they pushed further into Pennsylvania. The Storm Team 27 radar from Wednesday shows the increase in severe thunderstorms and tornado warnings when the storms pushed to the east.

Radar loop from Wednesday showing severe thunderstorms pushing through the Pittsburgh areas.
Radar loop from Wednesday showing severe thunderstorms pushing through the Pittsburgh areas.

Pennsylvania averages 16 tornadoes per year, but there were 14 confirmed during May so the 3 confirmed tornadoes moves the total count to 17 for 2024. The most Pennsylvania tornadoes ever recorded in a year occurred in 1998 when there were 61 confirmed tornadoes, so 2024 is still well behind the record year.

The Storm Team 27 meteorology team will continue to report updates regarding the confirmed tornado count from Wednesday in the coming days.