Tornadoes confirmed overnight in Ligonier area, Findlay Township
The National Weather Service has confirmed that a tornado passed through Derry and Ligonier townships early Wednesday, damaging trees, while another touched down briefly in Allegheny County, tearing off a roof.
Shannon Hefferan, a meteorologist at the NWS Pittsburgh office, said the EF1 tornado in the Ligonier area generated gusts of up to 100 mph shortly after 3 a.m.
The winds toppled trees, cut electric service and blocked access along at least three roads in Ligonier Township, according to local officials.
No injuries were reported in either of the tornadoes. Crews still were assessing potential damage to homes later Wednesday in the Ligonier area.
The tornado in Allegheny County — also rated as an EF1 — was on the ground for about two-tenths of a mile along Aten Road, west of Interstate 376 in Findlay Township, according to fellow NWS meteorologist Chris Leonardi.
That tornado’s 105 mph winds blew the roof off an outbuilding and left it in pieces a quarter mile downwind, he said.
Teams were traveling to other locations around the region to check on damages created by the severe weather — including areas of Westmoreland County, Hancock County, W.Va., and eastern Ohio, said NWS meteorologist Lee Hendricks.
3:10 AM | We have issued a Tornado Warning for Westmoreland county. The rotation is currently between Derry and Ligonier. Seek shelter immediately if you're in this warning. https://t.co/4w4hJ0DZ0k
— NWS Pittsburgh (@NWSPittsburgh) May 8, 2024
Significant tree damage was sighted in Ligonier, Hendricks said.
“We had one possible tornado over in Hancock County, W.Va., and a possible one out in Eastern Ohio,” he said.
A number of homes were damaged in Fairhaven, and one person was injured.
Overnight tornado warnings were issued moving eastward from Ohio to the eastern edge of Westmoreland County beginning around 12:55 a.m. and finishing around 3:45 a.m.
“The last one was gone by generally probably quarter to 4,” Hendricks said. “The severe weather was pretty much done over the area (by then.)”
Julia Maruca is a TribLive reporter covering health and the Greensburg and Hempfield areas. She joined the Trib in 2022 after working at the Butler Eagle covering southwestern Butler County. She can be reached at jmaruca@triblive.com.
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