Severe storms swept across the Pittsburgh region Tuesday evening, leaving a trail of destruction in their wake. Ferocious wind gusts reaching up to 70 miles per hour toppled trees, downed power lines, and left more than 400,000 homes without electricity across Western Pennsylvania.
At least two fatalities have been confirmed in storm-related incidents, including one person who was electrocuted in Pittsburgh’s South Side Slopes neighborhood, according to a report by CBS News. The intense weather also prompted tornado warnings and forced local officials to issue emergency declarations.
Forest Hills Mayor Frank Porco declared a state of emergency late Tuesday, urging residents to limit travel to essential activities. “In the meantime, continue to monitor official borough communication channels for updates,” Porco said in a public statement.
Duquesne Light, which serves parts of Beaver and Allegheny counties, reported that over 225,000 customers remained without power early Wednesday morning. First Energy added that another 227,000 customers across Pennsylvania were affected, with thousands more in the surrounding counties of Armstrong, Indiana, Washington, and Westmoreland.
Utility companies are currently assessing the widespread damage. Duquesne Light acknowledged that the extent of destruction is hampering response times. “The extensive nature of the damage and the severity of the weather will likely delay assessments and estimated restoration times,” the company posted on social media. Additional crews from outside the region have been called in to aid in the recovery efforts.
In addition to residential and infrastructure damage, the storms impacted preparations for the 2025 U.S. Open Golf Championship at Oakmont Country Club. A hospitality tent near the third fairway—designated as the Trophy Club—sustained structural damage during the storm. Fortunately, no injuries were reported among staff, and U.S. Golf Association (USGA) officials expect repairs to be completed within ten days.
Oakmont is hosting the prestigious tournament for a record tenth time, and USGA organizers emphasized that course preparations will continue as planned despite the storm’s impact.
As emergency crews work around the clock to restore power and clear debris, officials continue to urge residents to stay alert, avoid downed wires, and check for updates from local authorities.
Sources By Agencies
