High winds knock out power
Monday was a hold-onto-your-hat kind of day, as this pedestrian found out on South Main Street in Washington. Gusty winds knocked down trees, blocking roads and taking down power lines around the area.
As high winds begin to kick up Monday morning, workers with James Taylor Roofing Inc. continue to replace shingles on a steep roof in Peters Township.
No tornadoes swept through Southwestern Pennsylvania yesterday, but those who braved the gusty conditions outside may have wondered if they would end up in Oz.
Thousands of power outages were reported across the region as a result of strong winds throughout the day. The National Weather Service issued a wind advisory, which was expected to last until 10 p.m.
National Weather Service meterologist Bob Coblentz said gusts were 40 mph in most areas, and even higher in others.
“A high wind warning is issued when sustained winds of 40 mph are expected for at least an hour with gusts of 58 mph or greater at any time,” according to the NWS advisory. “Damage to trees, power lines and property are possible with wind of this magnitude.”
Diane Holder, spokeswoman for West Penn Power, said, at 12:30 p.m., there were 6,700 customers in Washington County who were without power. The most-affected areas were Bentleyville, Fallowfield Township, Somerset Township, Peters Township, North Bethlehem Township, North Strabane Township, Cecil Township and Ellsworth.
A message on the Peters Township School District Facebook page said they were expecting bus delays yesterday because of downed tree limbs and power lines.
A transformer blew near Racetrack Road and Route 19, causing the traffic light to go out. High winds also caused a tree to fall and block the intersection of Manifold Road and Fischer Road in South Strabane Township.
By 5 p.m., there were 1,200 fewer outages in Washington County, but the number of outages in Greene County rose. There were only four outages reported around noon, but there were 870 customers without power later in the afternoon.
More than half of the outages were in Center Township, but others were reported in Perry, Aleppo, Jackson, Franklin and Morris townships.
Holder said she could not estimate when power would be restored, but the company would “work around the clock.”
Coblentz said the winds will bring in weather that is “more like normal” for this time of year, with highs in the 30s today and a chance of snow Wednesday.