Strong storm causes damage, outages; Memorial Day forecast calls for more rain

Rain and cool temperatures may put a damper on the first half of Memorial Day weekend, but bad weather wasn’t waiting for the holiday to rear its ugly head.

A strong storm system moving through the region Wednesday evening downed trees and electrical wires and caused power outages.

The National Weather Service’s warning of high wind gusts proved accurate, with winds taking the roof off a home on Wyoming Street in the Carbon section Hempfield shortly before 5 p.m.

No one was injured, according to emergency personnel at the scene.

Emergency responders in Westmoreland County were also dealing with a downed tree on Routes 56 and a tree bearing wires that fell on a Murrysville home along Route 66 during the course of the evening.

“The storm system really took off around the border of Allegheny County,” said Jason Frazier, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service. “We were getting our first reports early out of Mt. Lebanon and West Mifflin, the southern and eastern portions of the suburbs. It was still kind of sporadic, but it got stronger as it moved down and into Westmoreland County.”

A porch roof blew off a home on Wyoming Ave. in Greensburg and landed across the street.

No one was injured but neighbors tell me it was a wild scene. @WPXI @WPXIWeather pic.twitter.com/ZUkepjHEV3

— Sarafina James (@SarafinaWPXI) May 27, 2021

Frazier said storm-related damaged was widespread from Murrysville out to Derry Township and north toward Indiana County.

West Penn Power’s outage map on Wednesday night mirrored the storm’s path, with significant numbers of customers powerless starting around Canonsburg, then cutting a swath east through Upper St. Clair, Mt. Lebanon and out to Scottdale before turning northeast toward Greensburg, Derry and New Florence.

Memorial Day weekend forecast

Pittsburgh has seen warm weather recently, with the high temperature Wednesday reaching 83 degrees, according to the National Weather Service.

But those temperatures will drop for the holiday weekend, said fellow NWS meteorologist David Shallenberger.

“It does look like half of our Memorial Day weekend, we’ll be looking at some unsettled weather,” he said. “The first two days of Memorial Day weekend, it’ll be a little cooler than anticipated.”

The high temperatures in Pittsburgh on Friday are expected to be in the upper 60s or low 70s. A cold front coming through on Friday likely will bring rain and possibly thunderstorms, Shallenberger said.

In more southwestern parts of the state and West Virginia, temperatures Friday may reach the mid-70s, he added.

“Saturday, unfortunately, is going to be even cooler,” he said. “We’re still looking at the last of those showers and thunderstorms moving through.”

Temperatures on Saturday morning may dip to the mid-40s, he said. But it shouldn’t be cold enough to cause concern for plants, he said.

It will remain cool throughout the day Saturday, with the high temperatures forecast in the low 60s, Shallenberger said.

By Sunday, he said, things will look a bit better. Pittsburgh can expect to see some sunshine and clear skies, with temperatures in the upper 60s Sunday.

By Monday, the weather should cooperate for outdoor activities to celebrate Memorial Day, Shallenberger said.

“We’re going to rebound to temperatures we should be seeing about this time of year,” he said.

Memorial Day temperatures will climb to the mid-70s, with a high temperature of 74 expected for Pittsburgh. It should be dry, Shallenberger said, a positive sign for anyone hoping to host an outdoor picnic.

The average high temperature for this time of year is 71 degrees, Shallenberger said.

Last year’s Memorial Day was notably cooler than average, with a high temperature of 62 degrees, according to Shallenberger.

“This year, we’re looking at just a little bit warmer,” he said.

Early into next week, temperatures should continue to warm. Shallenberger said he anticipates temperatures next week to be a couple degrees above normal.