Pittsburgh Spring-Summer Severe Weather and Local wx Observations (Sewickley, Braddock: design, vehicles)

[RockLobster]

Sewickley Heights.. Sunday Peak wind gust measured... 62 mph at 7:35 p.m. Not associated with a thunderstorm... Most of the day had winds gusting between 25-50 mph..The most windy non winter day I can recall in a long long time.

[gg]

Severe is no doubt the most overused word in the media today. OMGoodness, if I hear severe one more time, I am going to be sick. Pittsburgh weather is mild and 60mph winds are nothing. If something is damaged from a wind of that power, it was a very poor design.

[ditchdigger]

If something is damaged from a wind of that power, it was a very poor design.

For stationary man made objects, perhaps, but 60 is plenty strong enough to bring down trees or just tree branches, which in turn can take out wires, or windows, or it can cause loss of control of high profile vehicles like 18 wheelers. For somebody interested in the weather, yeah, today was pretty noteworthy for how windy it was.

I do agree that it's just inane most of the year for WPXI to go the the SEVERE WEATHER CENTER(!) for a forcast of 70 and partly cloudy for the 5th day in a row.

The most windy non winter day I can recall in a long long time.

Which hurricane was it a couple of years ago that came right up this way? Not much in the way of memorable rainfall (unlike Ivan, for instance), but I stood on the front lawn for about half an hour after nightfall just watching the clouds absolutely racing by under a bright full, or nearly full, moon. It took a tree down a few blocks up my road, and there was no traffic for a couple of hours, which in itself was really weird to see, because it's usually very busy. (And no power either.)

That was some impressive wind too...

[Mugatu]

Originally Posted by ditchdigger

Which hurricane was it a couple of years ago that came right up this way? Not much in the way of memorable rainfall (unlike Ivan, for instance), but I stood on the front lawn for about half an hour after nightfall just watching the clouds absolutely racing by under a bright full, or nearly full, moon. It took a tree down a few blocks up my road, and there was no traffic for a couple of hours, which in itself was really weird to see, because it's usually very busy. (And no power either.)

That was some impressive wind too...

It was the remnants of Hurricane Ike and it really was an odd event. 80mph wind gusts were recorded, and there was really no rain from it at all. Just a quick, dry windstorm that caused lots of uprooted trees and power outages. And it moved out as quick as it moved in.

[fleetiebelle]

It's Biblically raining out there right now. But hey, as long as it's done in 45 minutes so I don't have to ruin my shoes, I'm fine.

[ditchdigger]

Originally Posted by fleetiebelle

It's Biblically raining out there right now. But hey, as long as it's done in 45 minutes so I don't have to ruin my shoes, I'm fine.

Not sure where you're at, but it's rained here for more than an hour, and I'd guesstimate I've had better than 3 inches of it. If you're downstream of me, you might do better to carry your shoes and write off your stockings...

[Hopes]

Quite a thunder/lightening storm for the past hour! The heavy rain must be hitting elsewhere. We have rain but nothing that would cause flooding.

[raubre]

I was waiting in the lobby at work waiting for it to let up (I ended up getting a ride) but anyway, lightning zigzagged across the sky and the sky lit up a wierd cobalt blue. A wire got hit. This was in Braddock Hills. Yikes!

[ForYourLungsOnly]

3 people dead from a flash flood on washington river blvd.,.what a shame. that road has been a problem for a long time.

[fleetiebelle]

Note to Pittsburgh drivers: If the power is out, the intersection becomes a four-way stop. Also, please learn the concept of "right of way". KTHNKS