Trending Now - Severe Winds Batter Pittsburgh, Causing Outages and Damage
WHO:
National Weather Service Pittsburgh
Allegheny County Emergency Services
AccuWeather senior meteorologist John Feerick
Nebraska Emergency Management Agency
WHAT:
As of March 15th, 2026, approximately 346,000 customers were still without electricity in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Michigan, according to PowerOutage.us.
The Morrill County fire has burned at least 735 square miles (about 1,880 square kilometers) across four counties as of March 15th, 2026.
An additional 225 square miles (about 580 square kilometers) were burned by other wildfires, bringing the total to nearly 938 square miles (about 2,430 square kilometers) by midday on March 15th, 2026.
High winds caused widespread power outages and property damage across parts of the United States.
Nearly 600,000 customers were affected by power outages in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Michigan.
A wind gust of 66 mph (106 kph) was recorded at Pittsburgh International Airport, marking it as the fourth-strongest on record not caused by a thunderstorm.
Cleveland Burke Lakefront Airport recorded wind speeds of 85 mph (137 km).
The Morrill County fire in Nebraska has burned at least 708 square miles (about 1,834 square kilometers) and destroyed at least 12 structures.
A death was reported in Arthur County, Nebraska, due to wildfires.
WHERE:
The Morrill County fire is located in Nebraska, affecting multiple counties.
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Allegheny County, Pennsylvania
New Franklin, Ohio
Baldwin, Pennsylvania
Chicago suburb of Niles, Illinois
Nebraska
Wisconsin-Iowa border
Minneapolis, Minnesota
WHEN:
On March 13th, 2026, high winds caused damage and outages.
The Morrill County fire began on March 10th, 2026.
Snow emergencies were declared in several Minnesota cities starting on March 12th, 2026.
WHY:
High winds were part of a broader pattern of extreme weather affecting multiple regions across the United States.
HOW:
Local farmers and volunteers are gathering water trucks and supplies to aid firefighters combating the wildfires, as stated by Chelle Ladely of Sidney.
Authorities advised people to avoid unnecessary travel and to stay away from downed power lines to assist emergency crews and power companies.
(UPDATED March 15, 2026 01:23 UTC)
As of today, approximately 346,000 customers are still without electricity in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Michigan, according to PowerOutage.us. In Nebraska, the Morrill County fire has burned at least 735 square miles across four counties, and combined with other wildfires, the total area affected has reached nearly 938 square miles. Local farmers and volunteers are stepping up to help by gathering water trucks and supplies to support the firefighters battling these blazes.
--
(UPDATED March 14, 2026 19:12 UTC)
High winds swept across parts of the United States on March 13, causing widespread power outages and property damage, with nearly 600,000 customers affected in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Michigan. Pittsburgh International Airport recorded a gust of 66 miles per hour, while Cleveland Burke Lakefront Airport saw even stronger winds at 85 miles per hour, and a fire in Nebraska has burned over 700 square miles, resulting in at least one death. Authorities are urging residents to avoid unnecessary travel and stay clear of downed power lines to help emergency crews and power companies respond effectively.