Thousands Without Power in Trumbull, Mercer Counties

Severe storms knock out electricity for over 3,200 customers in western Pennsylvania

Apr. 16, 2026 at 12:03am

A sweeping, atmospheric landscape painting in muted tones of grey, blue, and green, with a dramatic storm system dominating the scene and obscuring any visible man-made structures or power lines.A powerful storm system leaves thousands without power in western Pennsylvania, exposing the region's vulnerability to severe weather.Mercer Today

Thousands of customers in Trumbull and Mercer counties in western Pennsylvania are without power after severe storms moved through the region on Wednesday evening. FirstEnergy reported over 2,000 outages in Trumbull County, mostly in Bristol Township, and more than 1,200 outages in Mercer County, primarily in the Stoneboro area. Utility crews have been dispatched to make repairs.

Why it matters

Power outages can disrupt daily life, impact businesses, and pose safety risks, especially during extreme weather events. The affected counties are rural areas where extended power loss can be particularly challenging for residents and local authorities to manage.

The details

The power outages were caused by a storm that brought reports of hail and high winds to the region. FirstEnergy, the local utility provider, is working to restore electricity to the impacted customers as quickly as possible.

  • The power outages were reported on Wednesday evening, April 16, 2026.

The players

FirstEnergy

The electric utility company serving customers in Trumbull and Mercer counties.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What’s next

FirstEnergy expects to have the majority of customers' power restored within the next 12 to 24 hours, depending on the extent of damage from the storm.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the vulnerability of rural electric grids to severe weather and the importance of utility providers and local authorities being prepared to respond quickly to power outages in order to minimize disruptions to residents and businesses.