PITTSBURGH — A major Pittsburgh power outage has left more than 400,000 homes and businesses in the dark after severe storms with wind gusts reaching up to 70 mph swept across Southwestern Pennsylvania Tuesday evening, claiming two lives and crippling infrastructure across the region.
Emergency crews responded around 7 p.m. to the South Side Slopes, where a man was electrocuted by live wires on the 1000 block of St. Martin Street. Pittsburgh Public Safety confirmed the victim died at the scene. Authorities from Allegheny County later reported a second fatality linked to the storm, although details remain limited.
Extent of Pittsburgh Power Outage Across Counties
As of 7:15 a.m. Wednesday, Duquesne Light reported over 200,000 customers without power, with nearly 197,000 of those in Allegheny County. Meanwhile, First Energy, which includes Penn Power, indicated that over 211,000 customers were impacted, including 32,000 in Allegheny County and 25,400 in Westmoreland County.
This widespread Pittsburgh power outage has led to major disruptions, especially in residential areas and schools. Many neighborhoods remain without street lighting or functioning traffic signals, prompting officials to urge residents to stay off the roads.
School Closings and Road Disruptions Following Pittsburgh Storm
Local school districts across Allegheny and Westmoreland counties have issued school closings and delays due to power loss and unsafe conditions. Parents and students are advised to check district websites and follow updates from WPXI News for closure information.
Numerous roads also remain blocked due to downed trees and electrical lines, including:
- Allegheny River Boulevard (Oakmont & Verona): Center Avenue to Plum Street
- Allegheny River Boulevard (Penn Hills & Verona): Sandy Creek Road to James Street
- Hunter Road (Penn Hills): Colorado Street to Plum Street
- Hulton Road (Oakmont): Allegheny Avenue to 5th Street
Officials Urge Caution as Recovery Begins
Authorities continue to warn the public against approaching or touching downed wires. Utility crews are working around the clock to restore service, prioritizing hospitals, emergency services, and critical infrastructure. Full restoration is expected to take several days in hard-hit areas.
The National Weather Service is evaluating the damage and is expected to confirm whether any tornadoes were involved in the storm system that triggered the Pittsburgh power outages.
With strong winds, flooding concerns, and continued power failures, residents are encouraged to stay indoors, conserve battery power, and monitor weather today alerts from trusted news sources.