Severe Storms, Tornado Warnings Hit Western Pennsylvania

Severe thunderstorms swept through Western Pennsylvania on Sunday, leading to confirmed tornado activity in Donegal, where an EF-1 tornado touched down with winds of 86 to 110 mph. The National Weather Service is conducting further investigations into potential tornadoes in Westmoreland and Indiana counties, as widespread damage from straight-line winds was reported across the region, including power outages and downed trees. A Tornado Watch was issued for much of western Pennsylvania, with residents warned of the dangers of further storms and advised to seek shelter if necessary. Reports of damaging winds reached up to 76 mph at Zanesville Airport, equivalent to an EF-0 tornado, while gusts of 89 mph at Latrobe Airport were noted as the third-highest recorded. As of now, no official tornadoes have been confirmed in other affected areas, but localized damage was reported in Lewis County. The severe weather outbreak on Sunday coincided with a national surge in tornado activity, resulting in over 40 fatalities across the country.