Storm Trends Are Shifting — And the Data Shows It

If you live in western Pennsylvania, you’ve likely noticed that storms have become more intense in recent years. As severe weather gets stronger and lasts longer, electric utilities and communities across the region are facing a unique challenge.

National Trends

Across the country, powerful storms have become more frequent in recent decades. In the 1980s, the U.S. averaged about three major weather events per year. In just the first five years of the 2020s, that average has risen to about 23 events annually, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Severe storms, including high winds, heavy rain and strong thunderstorms, account for a significant share of these events. Warmer temperatures are also contributing to changing storm behavior, as a warmer atmosphere can hold more moisture and support heavier rainfall.

Regional Impacts

Western Pennsylvania is not immune to this troubling trend. In fact, today’s storms are having a greater impact on electric utility customers in our area by causing more prolonged power outages.

From 2013 to 2017, severe weather affected about 152,375 DLC customers each year on average. That figure grew to roughly 225,673 customers — a whopping 48% increase — between 2021 and 2025.

The impacts from a single storm are also growing. In 2013, the largest storm affected about 60,000 DLC customers. In 2025, the April 29 derecho — the most damaging storm in DLC’s history — affected more than 300,000 customers.

“The data shows a clear shift — storms are becoming more intense and disruptive to the communities we serve,” said BJ Supan, DLC’s emergency management specialist. “Not only are we seeing this trend in the Pittsburgh region, but across the entire U.S., and we’re taking action now to strengthen the grid to meet these new challenges.”

"2024 and 2025 saw the most convective storm reports — relating to tornadoes, thunderstorm wind damage and hail — across the National Weather Service Pittsburgh forecast region, since at least 2004,” said Jason Frazier, NWS Pittsburgh meteorologist. “Overall, these convective reports are up 133% so far in the 2020s compared to the average yearly amount during the 2010s. It remains important for communities to work together in building a weather-ready nation capable of mitigating and recovering from the impacts of hazardous weather."

Bigger Storms, Greater Impact

Storms aren’t just getting stronger. Their impacts are lasting longer and creating more obstacles for crews as they work to safely restore power.

In 2013, the longest storm restoration lasted 83 hours. At the time, that marked a major event. Today, it no longer stands out.

In recent years, restoration timelines for individual storms have stretched considerably — from 121 hours in 2021 to an overwhelming 309 hours in 2025 — due to their intensity and duration. Severe weather events today often bring multiple rounds of wind and rain, compounding damage and slowing progress as crews work to make repairs and restore outages.

As storms continue to intensify and linger, the electric utility industry will need to adjust how it prepares and responds.

“Over the past year, DLC has responded to two of the largest storms in company history,” said Supan. “Since then, we’ve made meaningful improvements by expanding our storm response workforce, introducing new tools to better assess impacts and enhancing how we communicate with customers.”

Always Be Prepared

In our region, severe weather is most common in the spring and summer months when conditions support thunderstorms capable of producing high winds, lightning and heavy rainfall.

As storms grow in intensity and duration, customers may experience more widespread outages and longer restoration times. That’s why it’s critical to take steps now to prepare, including having an emergency kit on standby.

Learn more about how to keep you and your family safe when severe weather hits.