Pittsburgh-Area Tornado Outbreak: Latest Details

PITTSBURGH, PA — The National Weather Service has confirmed that three tornadoes hit Southwestern Pennsylvania Saturday evening.

Two people were injured when a twister hit Finleyville in northern Washington County near the Allegheny County border. The tornado traveled 5.9 miles, touching down at 6:06 p.m. and ending at 6:19 p.m.

The weather service classified the storm as an EF2 tornado with peak winds of 118 mph.

The tornado damaged Crossroads Ministries in Finleyville, according to the church's Facebook page. The force of the tornado blew the steeple off the building; more than 50 people were inside at the time, according to a CBS News report.

"Tonight during the Saturday evening service a tornado touchdown and hit our church," a post stated. "We had about 100 people in church for our service singing praise to God when it hit. We evacuated everyone to the basement and no one was injured."

According to the weather service, EF2 tornadoes also struck Washington County in August 2022 and October 2021.

An EF1 tornado with peak winds of 90 mph occurred Saturday from 7:48 p.m.-7:53 p.m. in Fike Run in Fayette County and Preston County, WV. No injuries were reported.

Another tornado touched down in Fayette County near New Salem. The EF0 twister with maximum winds of 65 mph occurred at 7:06 p.m. No one was hurt.

The Fayette tornadoes were the first in that county since August 2021, according to the weather service.