Jun 9, 2007 By Amanda Clegg 2 min read

UNIONTWON – Customers in Westmoreland County were hit the hardest with power outages after thunderstorms pounded the area along with Greene, Washington and Fayette counties Friday. Holly Plevyak, Allegheny Energy spokeswoman, explained that the entire service area – which covers West Virginia, Maryland and Pennsylvania – were reporting power outages throughout the evening.

Westmoreland County reported 13,035 customers without power, while Washington, Fayette and Greene reported 3,220, 2,456 and 351, respectively.

The total in Pennsylvania was 23,589 customers without power and in all three states 28,658 customers waited to see the light, Plevyak counted.

Plevyak commented that gathering the numbers was frustrating because they kept changing.

“It’s not concentrated. It’s so widespread,” she noted. “That’s the frustrating part.”

At approximately 7 p.m. Friday, line men were assessing the damage, Plevyak explained, adding that the time that power would be restored was unknown.

Meteorologist Terry Parrish of the National Weather Service based in Pittsburgh explained that a severe thunderstorm watch was issued until 9 p.m. for the counties.

According to Parrish, the difference between a weather watch and a weather warning is timing.

“A watch is issued nationally when conditions are ripe for a severe storm,” he explained. “A warning we believe is happening or a storm is imminent.”

Most of the reports for the counties were of “nickel-sized hail” and “trees down,” he noted, adding that the weather after Friday’s storms was going to be “clear and cooling down.”

Fayette and Washington 911 centers reported trees down throughout the counties.