Pittsburgh residents should prepare for damaging winds and potential isolated flash flooding as severe storms are expected to move through the region late Thursday. The National Weather Service Pittsburgh office meteorologist, Jared Rackley, warned that storms are likely to arrive around 8 or 9 p.m., bringing cooler temperatures and hazardous conditions. Temperatures are projected to peak in the low 70s on Thursday before the storm system arrives. While the primary concern is strong winds, Rackley noted that isolated tornadoes and hail are possible. The storms could produce gusts up to 70 mph, which he described as capable of causing significant damage, such as downed tree limbs. Flash flooding is also a risk, particularly in flood-prone areas, during the late Thursday and early Friday timeframe. Rackley emphasized that these conditions could lead to localized water accumulation, urging residents to stay alert. The Pittsburgh area has experienced multiple instances of high winds this month, including a March 13 storm that left approximately 260,000 customers without power from West Penn Power and Duquesne Light. Rackley explained that while the recent activity seems intense, it aligns with typical spring weather patterns in the region. He noted that the time of year often brings active wind and cold front systems, contributing to the frequent severe weather. The region is expected to remain dry from Friday through Sunday, with temperatures gradually cooling. Friday will see highs in the high 40s before dropping below 30 degrees overnight. Saturday is forecast to have a high of 43 and a low of 30 in the evening, while Sunday will bring temperatures into the high 50s, cooling to 45 degrees overnight.#national_weather_service #pittsburgh #jared_rackley #west_penn_power #duquesne_light
Meteor explodes with force of 250 tons of TNT, creates sonic boom over Ohio A massive meteor weighing nearly seven tons lit up the skies over the U.S. Midwest on Tuesday morning, exploding high above Ohio with an energy release equivalent to 250 tons of TNT, according to NASA. The space rock, estimated to be about six feet in diameter, entered Earth’s atmosphere at an astonishing speed of nearly 45,000 miles per hour. The dramatic event startled residents across several states, many of whom reported hearing a loud boom and feeling ground tremors. The intense fragmentation produced a bright fireball visible across at least 10 states, as well as Washington, DC, and parts of Ontario, Canada. Eyewitnesses described the spectacle as a blazing streak of light cutting across the sky shortly before 9 a.m. Eastern Time. Reports quickly flooded in from Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New York, where several residents also heard a powerful sonic boom. Some initially mistook the sound for an explosion or earthquake. One Ohio resident told local media that the shockwave was strong enough to shake their entire house. NASA explained that the loud boom resulted from the meteor breaking apart in the atmosphere, generating a pressure wave that traveled down to the ground. Despite the dramatic nature of the event, experts say such explosions, known as bolides, are not uncommon, though they rarely occur over populated areas. The National Weather Service (NWS) confirmed the object as a meteor and noted that it was detected using a geostationary lightning mapper, an instrument typically used to track lightning activity. The device identified a rapid atmospheric flash, similar to lightning, over the Cleveland area, capturing a distinctive green burst associated with the meteor’s breakup.#nasa #national_weather_service #pittsburgh #cleveland #jared_rackley
