Severe thunderstorms swept through Western Pennsylvania on Thursday, June 11, leaving over 40,000 customers without power as high winds downed trees and power lines across the region. The storms struck just before 3 p.m., packing damaging winds that affected utilities and residents searching for power outage information near them.
Duquesne Light reported more than 36,000 outages across Allegheny and Beaver counties, with more than 28,000 of those in Pittsburgh itself, according to WTAE. West Penn Power reported about 5,800 customers without power by 9 p.m., down from an earlier peak of roughly 15,000, with significant outages reported in Washington and Armstrong counties.
The storms brought widespread damage beyond power disruptions. A lightning strike caused a power surge at Pittsburgh International Airport that affected both the facility’s microgrid and main electrical grid, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. The outage disrupted TSA security checkpoints, creating long lines of passengers, though backup generators restored partial power in less than an hour and full power within 90 minutes. Airport officials said the facility’s microgrid system, designed to keep the airport site-hardened, helped minimize the impact. By about 4:45 p.m., the checkpoint had reopened and flights resumed normal operations.
Across the region, emergency dispatchers reported multiple calls about downed trees and power lines, with structural damage to homes also reported. The Post-Gazette documented trees snapped along Delaware Avenue in Oakmont and one tree that fell on a car on Forbes Avenue in Squirrel Hill, illustrating the force of the microburst winds that accompanied the storms.
High winds are a common trigger for widespread outages in Pennsylvania. According to general guidance on power outages, significant outages typically begin when wind speeds reach 40 to 50 mph, with widespread disruptions common at 50 to 60 mph due to falling trees and structural damage to utility equipment. The Thursday storms produced the kind of damaging winds that bring down infrastructure and leave thousands searching for power outage information near them.
Duquesne Light said in a statement that crews were working as quickly as possible to restore service, with safety remaining the top priority. The utility advised customers to stay at least 30 feet away from downed wires and anything in contact with them. By 9 p.m., reported outages had dropped to about 6,500 for Duquesne Light as restoration efforts continued through the evening.
Sources
- WTAE — confirmed over 40,000 customers without power, Duquesne Light and West Penn Power outage numbers by 9 p.m., county-level outage distribution
- Pittsburgh Post-Gazette — documented severe thunderstorms with high winds, Pittsburgh International Airport power outage details, lightning strike cause, TSA checkpoint disruptions, backup generator restoration timeline, damage reports across region, Duquesne Light and West Penn Power outage figures
