At least two people have died in Pennsylvania due to a deadly storm system, which brought severe weather to the central part of the country, affecting over 3,200 kilometers of the United States since last Sunday and continuing into Tuesday. Additionally, half a million electricity customers were left without power.
A man was electrocuted in his home, as reported by the Pittsburgh Public Safety. Upon arrival, emergency services could do nothing to save his life. A second storm-related death, for which details have not yet been released, was reported by the Allegheny County Emergency Services.
The NOAA Storm Prediction Center received hundreds of reports of severe weather conditions, including fallen trees and power lines, and even some roofs damaged by wind gusts close to hurricane force.
Half a million customers across the region were left without electricity on Tuesday due to the severe storms, with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania being the most affected, according to data provided by FindEnergy.com.
Most power outages were reported in the Pittsburgh metropolitan area, where wind gusts of up to 114 km/h were recorded. Doppler radar indicated that wind gusts could have exceeded 128 km/h, with isolated and encapsulated tornadoes.
In photos and videos taken in Allegheny County, dozens of homes appeared damaged by fallen trees.
The Pittsburgh Public Safety Department even reported experiencing 911 service outages due to the extreme weather.
The department encouraged residents experiencing phone issues to call local police districts for assistance.
An extensive swath of destructive winds was observed in our area as the storms progressed. In some areas, straight-line winds reached gusts of over 128-145 km/h, stronger than many of the smaller EF-0 and EF-1 tornadoes we typically see in this region, but covering a much larger area, stated meteorologists from the National Weather Service office in Pittsburgh.
Amid a chaotic day of storms, a multi-alarm fire broke out in a building in Pittsburgh, requiring a significant number of firefighters.
The local firefighters' union said that two firefighters were trapped while battling the flames on the second floor but were quickly rescued.
Severe weather also struck parts of Missouri on Tuesday morning, with thunderstorms producing wind gusts of 146 km/h in Springfield. Additionally, schools in Ozark, Missouri, were advised to shelter in place during a tornado warning.
Numerous reports of fallen trees and power lines were received in Freistatt, Monett, and Aurora.
Another community affected by the storms was Purdy, Missouri, home to Camp Barnabas, an organization that provides camp experiences for individuals with chronic illnesses and special needs.
The camp suffered severe damage during the storms. Many trees were knocked down on the property, damaging buildings and equipment. Campers are expected to arrive in approximately a month. Volunteers and donations are needed to reopen on time and welcome campers during the summer.
Further south, radar estimates showed thunderstorms producing heavy rainfall in parts of Oklahoma, where accumulations of 41 liters per square meter are expected today.
Heavy rains led police forces to close Interstate 35 northbound at Interstate 44 in the Oklahoma City metropolitan area due to significant flooding.
Motorists were reminded not to drive through standing water and to exercise caution during heavy rains.