Performance and Use of Machine Learning During the Record-Setting 2024 Tornado Season in the National Weather Service Pittsburgh Forecast Area

The year 2024 was a record-setting tornado year for the National Weather Service in Pittsburgh (NWS WFO PBZ) since official records began in 1950, with 29 confirmed tornadoes before July 1st, most of which occurred in a three-month span from April through June. This presentation will focus on a few prolific tornado days in May when an unusually large number of tornadoes occurred. It will review machine-learning forecasts to determine if any information can be gleaned to help forecasters supplement the information provided by the Storm Prediction Center, and better anticipate the threat of tornadoes. The author will also outline newly developed practices now used by WFO PBZ in tandem with national guidance on tornado messaging.