Severe Thunderstorm Watch Issued For Pittsburgh Area

PITTSBURGH, PA — The National Weather Service has issued a severe thunderstorm watch for five Southwestern Pennsylvania counties until 9 p.m.

The counties are Allegheny, Washington, Fayette, Greene and Westmoreland.

The watch also is in effect for 10 counties in Ohio and nine counties in West Virginia.

According to the weather service, storms that develop this afternoon and evening could contain hail up the size of ping pong balls, frequent lightning and scattered wind gusts as high as 70 mph.

An isolated tornado cannot be ruled out, the weather service said.

The entire watch area includes 5.2 million people.