Severe thunderstorms swept through western Pennsylvania on Tuesday evening, April 29, 2025, leaving more than 800,000 residents without power. The storms caused widespread damage, with reports of downed trees and power lines, particularly in Allegheny and Centre Counties.
As of 8:30 p.m., Duquesne Light reported over 230,000 customers in Allegheny County alone were without power. Additionally, another 20,000 customers in Beaver County were affected. West Penn Power also reported that more than 270,000 of its customers were experiencing outages. The sheer scale of the outages indicates a significant impact from the storms, which were characterized by high winds and heavy rainfall.
According to the online outage tool PowerOutage.us, tens of thousands of customers were without power in Cambria County, where Penelec (First Energy Corp.) estimated restoration times to be around 9:30 p.m. for much of the area. Officials have urged residents to stay away from downed power lines, which pose additional hazards during such severe weather conditions.
In Centre County, the storm left approximately 34,496 customers without power, with over 200 separate outages reported. The National Weather Service had issued a severe thunderstorm warning for much of the county earlier in the evening, predicting wind gusts of up to 80 mph. This warning expired at 7:30 p.m., but the damage had already been done, with numerous reports of downed trees and wires throughout the region.
Road closures were widespread, with Axemann Road from Steeplechase to Rishel Hill Road in Spring Township closed due to wires down in the roadway. Part of West College Avenue in Ferguson Township was also closed near Harner Farm because of a downed pole. The public was advised to stay informed about road conditions and report any outages directly to their utility providers.
Pittsburgh’s Public Safety department reported experiencing outages in its 911 system due to the extreme weather, complicating emergency response efforts. Residents in need of emergency assistance were advised to contact their local police zones directly.
Utility companies are working diligently to assess the damage and restore power to affected customers. Duquesne Light stated on its website, "crews are working to safely assess damage due to severe weather that has moved through the area on April 29th. Once that is complete, more information will become available, including estimated times of restoration." West Penn Power echoed similar sentiments, urging customers to remain alert and maintain a safe distance from downed power lines.
For customers experiencing outages, utility companies provided guidelines on what to do. Residents were reminded to check circuits and fuses to confirm that the power was indeed out before reporting it. Checking with neighbors to see if others were affected was also advised. Keeping refrigerators and freezers closed during outages can help preserve food, and disconnecting appliances and electronics is recommended to prevent damage when power is restored.
This storm has been a stark reminder of the power of nature and the vulnerabilities in our infrastructure. As the situation continues to develop, residents are encouraged to stay updated through their utility companies' websites and local news outlets. The community is urged to remain patient as crews work to restore power and clear the debris left in the storm’s wake.
As this breaking news story unfolds, further updates will be provided as more information becomes available. Residents are encouraged to check back frequently for the latest on power restoration efforts and safety advisories.
