Scattered showers, storms possible throughout the day

PITTSBURGH — Severe Weather Team 11 Meteorologist Kevin Benson said the heavy rain that advanced through western Pennsylvania is diminishing, but moderate downpours and some lightning are still expected throughout the morning.

There is a chance that additional advisories could be issued. ... Stick with Channel 11 News and WPXI.com for the latest weather alert information.

Tuesday evening, scattered but strong thunderstorms resulted in widespread -- mostly minor -- damage across the Channel 11 News viewing area. Downed trees and wires caused a mess and instigated roughly 28,000 power outages.

Several thousand of those people are still without power.

Duquesne Light is reporting about 2,900 customers without service. First Energy’s Penn Power is working to restore electricity to about 4,400 customers. Most of those outages are in Washington and Westmoreland counties.

About 600 Penn Power customers in Allegheny County are still without service.

Severe Weather Team 11 Chief Meteorologist Stephen Cropper said that the powerful storms produced wind gusts in excess of 60 mph and quarter-sized hail. Considerable lightning was also associated with the long line of storms.

A downed tree has forced Guyasuta Road to close between Fieldvue and Longfellow roads in Fox Chapel. Officials said the road will be closed for at least the next 24 hours.

And a pole is blocking Becks Run Road in Carrick. There’s no word how long it will take crews to remove the pole and reopen the road.

A Spring Garden woman was woken up Wednesday morning when a tree slammed into her house.

Crystal Rathbun told Channel 11’s Dave Bondy that she was sleeping when she heard the tree hit her house.

“I heard the thunder and saw the lightning crack. All of a sudden a tree hit the house and I guess a power line hit the house. All I could see was sparks flying everywhere through my front window,” Rathbun said.

The tree also hit a neighbor’s house left several dozen of people without power.

Paul Williamson told Bondy that he was driving on Spring Garden Avenue when the falling tree narrowly missed his car.

“I was coming down the road to my house, which is two doors down, and I heard the crack. I looked in my rearview mirror and saw it fall onto the house,” Williamson said.

Despite the damage, no injuries were reported.

Cropper said severe storms will again be possible on Wednesday, mainly after lunchtime into the early evening. Benson said the high temperature Wednesday is expected to be about 82 degrees.

Damaging winds will be the primary hazard Wednesday with lightning, heavy rain and hail potentially in the mix. Heavy downpours are possible overnight. The low temperature is expected to be about 69 degrees.

Conditions cool as less humid air arrives late Thursday. But there’s still a chance of showers and strong storms. Benson said the high temperature Thursday is expected to be about 80 degrees.

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