A tornado has been confirmed by the National Weather Service to have struck Butler County during yesterday's severe storms, an event captured on video as it forcefully removed the roof of a salt shed in Center Township. The unsettling footage, shared by the Unionville Fire Department, depicted the power of the storm and played a crucial role in the NWS's early recognition of the "possible tornado" during the Tornado Warning they issued that afternoon, later confirming the tornado's occurrence Wednesday night.
According to WPXI, this incident marks Butler County's first tornado since 2021 and is the seventh to hit the Pittsburgh region in 2025. To fully assess and verify the damage, the NWS plans to survey the destruction across multiple counties, including Allegheny, Butler, and Washington.
The National Weather Service's confirmation comes after an initial uncertainty, which was later dispelled by further evidence, explaining their final determination on the nature of the storm. This specific tornado event is now amongst a series of storms battering western Pennsylvania, causing concerns about more severe weather patterns in the area.
Two NWS teams are scheduled to conduct storm surveys in the wake of the tornado, visiting areas near McGovern, White Oak, and Unionville, where the confirmed tornado activity occurred. A video posted by the Unionville Volunteer Fire Company showed the event in real time, depicting the shed's roof being blown off amidst harsh wind and rain. WTAE reported that the damage surveys, expected to be released by tonight or tomorrow, will provide further insight into the storm's impact and aid in the ongoing recovery efforts.
