Alert archive / Pennsylvania / Flash Flood Warnings in 2025
Flash Flood Warning 8, NWS State College, PA
NWS State College, PA issued this flash flood warning at May 15, 2025, 6:39 AM EDT for Adams County, Cumberland County, York County, Pennsylvania. It was in force for 2 hr. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.
The area
The outline as issued.
The facts
- Issued
- May 15, 2025, 6:39 AM EDT (10:39 UTC)
- Expired
- May 15, 2025, 8:55 AM EDT
- In force
- 2 hr
- Issued by
- NWS State College, PA
- Area
- Storm-based polygon
- Flood severity
- None
Counties Adams County, PA, Cumberland County, PA, York County, PA
The radar
The Sterling radar (KLWX), 118 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 10:42 UTC, the scan nearest the moment this went out.
Open the radar archive at this moment
The archived warnings, watches and discussions in force at that minute are drawn over the scan, this one among them.
Did it verify
Not verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow found no qualifying storm report inside this flash flood warning while it was in force. That is not proof nothing happened: reports are thin where few people live.
Cow counts a report within 15 km of the polygon while the warning was in force: a tornado for a tornado warning; hail of 1 inch or more, a gust of 58 mph or more or wind damage for a severe thunderstorm warning; a flash flood report for a flash flood warning.
The nearest sounding before it
Washington/Dulle, VA (KIAD), launched 00:00Z, 10.7 hours before the alert went out and 119 km from the middle of its area. This is the routine balloon launch nearest before it, the air the forecaster had in hand, not a measurement taken for the alert.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 366 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- 0 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 577 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 11 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 45 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 62 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 0.0
The text
As transmitted.
652
WGUS51 KCTP 151039
FFWCTP
PAC001-041-133-151345-
/O.NEW.KCTP.FF.W.0008.250515T1039Z-250515T1345Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Flash Flood Warning
National Weather Service State College PA
Issued by National Weather Service Binghamton NY
639 AM EDT Thu May 15 2025
The National Weather Service in State College has issued a
* Flash Flood Warning for...
Northeastern Adams County in south central Pennsylvania...
South Central Cumberland County in south central Pennsylvania...
West Central York County in south central Pennsylvania...
* Until 945 AM EDT.
* At 639 AM EDT, Local law enforcement reported heavy rain and flash
flooding across the warned area. Between 1 and 2 inches of rain
have fallen. Additional rainfall amounts of 0.5 to 1 inch are
possible in the warned area. Flash flooding is ongoing or expected
to begin shortly.
HAZARD...Flash flooding caused by heavy rain.
SOURCE...Law enforcement reported.
IMPACT...Flash flooding of small creeks and streams, urban
areas, highways, streets and underpasses as well as
other poor drainage and low-lying areas.
* Some locations that will experience flash flooding include...
Hampton, Lake Meade, New Oxford, York Springs, Heidlersburg,
Hunterstown, Franklintown, Idaville and Gardners.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood
deaths occur in vehicles.
In hilly terrain there are hundreds of low water crossings which are
potentially dangerous in heavy rain. Do not attempt to cross flooded
roads. Find an alternate route.
&&
LAT...LON 4011 7716 4011 7706 4009 7703 3991 7705
3983 7706 3982 7718 3993 7721 4000 7722
4006 7721
FLASH FLOOD...OBSERVED
EXPECTED RAINFALL RATE...1-2 INCHES IN 1 HOUR
$$
JRB/MLJ1 follow-up statement
758
WGUS71 KCTP 151255
FFSCTP
Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service State College PA
Issued by National Weather Service Binghamton NY
855 AM EDT Thu May 15 2025
PAC001-041-133-151305-
/O.CAN.KCTP.FF.W.0008.000000T0000Z-250515T1345Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Adams PA-Cumberland PA-York PA-
855 AM EDT Thu May 15 2025
...FLASH FLOOD WARNING IS CANCELLED FOR NORTHEASTERN ADAMS, SOUTH
CENTRAL CUMBERLAND AND WEST CENTRAL YORK COUNTIES...
Flood waters are receding. The heavy rain has ended. Flooding is no
longer expected to pose a threat. Please continue to heed remaining
road closures.
&&
LAT...LON 4011 7716 4011 7706 4009 7703 3991 7705
3983 7706 3982 7718 3993 7721 4000 7722
4006 7721
$$
MLJWhat forecasters said that day
The local office's own words before this flash flood warning went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.
NWS State College, PA wrote its last area forecast discussion before this flash flood warning went out at May 15, 5:58 AM EDT, 41 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, May 15, 5:58 AM EDT, 41 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service State College PA Issued by National Weather Service Binghamton NY 558 AM EDT Thu May 15 2025 .SYNOPSIS... * Daily chances for thunderstorms continue through Saturday with potential for damaging winds and localized flooding. * Temperatures trend warmer Friday and Saturday with a notable uptick in humid/sticky weather. * A cold front will bring much colder temperatures and less rainy/more sunny weather later this weekend and early next week with breezy conditions. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/... Low ceilings, reduced visibility and some drizzle evident all across Central PA this morning as persisent southeast flow continues to keep moisture locked into place. Weak ridging aloft has contributed to a decrease in shower activity overnight and daybreak temperatures are generally in the 50s. Later today, the upper low that has enveloped the region over the past couple days will continue to lift northeast, but will be replaced by an approaching and rather vigorous northern stream upper- level wave. Lingering energy aloft from the opening up and former cutoff low could still well produce diurnally favored showers and thunderstorms this afternoon, with most of the coverage probably occurring near and east of US-15. Although precipitable water values look a little lower today than previous days, any sustained convection over hydrologically sensitive areas will have to be watched. Fortunately, most of the rain/storms today should fire up east of the areas that got hit hard by rainfall the last couple days. A Marginal Risk of excessive rainfall is in place for all of PA, but the most vulnerable locations are in Somerset and Bedford County. Good news is we should see more sunshine by this afternoon as winds turn more southerly and ridging builds in. Highs today will moderate nicely compared to yesterday, generally in the 70s across the region (+10F day over day). By this evening, a warm front will lift through the Commonwealth and bring the potential for more showers and storms overnight. The best shear/instability is not expected to make it into central PA, but decaying storms will roll through during the predawn hours and linger into Friday morning. SPC has hoisted a MRGL risk for the western half of PA where a few storms could produce some gusty winds or small hail. Daybreak temperatures on Friday will be around 60F areawide. && .SHORT TERM /FRIDAY THROUGH SATURDAY NIGHT/... Latest guidance indicates a lull in the precipitation during the late morning and afternoon on Friday following the passage of the warm front. Southwest flow will continue to funnel moisture up into the northeast US as dewpoints reach their highest values so far this year (in the mid to upper 60s). It will feel noticeably humid as well. Highs in the 80s across the area appear likely with the only exception being if thunderstorms can fire up in the afternoon. Another round of convection appears likely Friday night into Saturday morning (yet again decaying as it moves across Pennsylvania from the Midwest). Severe weather appears a bit more likely with this round as 2500J/kg of MLCAPE overlaps with sufficient shear in the evening. The SPC Slight Risk gets into southwest PA, but would not be surprised to see an eastward expansion across southern PA with subsequent updates. By Saturday, a cold front will approach the Commonwealth with a convective outflow boundary likely surging out ahead of it from the previous night's convection. The outflow boundary will encounter a warm and moist airmass that could lead to development of sustained strong thunderstorms on Saturday afternoon. Still some uncertainty with how quickly a line of thunderstorms will congeal Saturday afternoon, but southeast PA would be favored for a primarily damaging wind threat, as outlined by SPC's Slight Risk (level 2 out of 5) that covers York and Lancaster County. With all 3 rounds of storms, progressive storm motions should limit the risk of signficant flooding, but cannot rule out some isolated issues for locations who's soil moistures/creeks are already running high. && .LONG TERM /SUNDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/... The latest model timing now brings a surface cold front through PA a little faster than earlier model runs (by later Saturday night). Although some upper-level energy could still produce isolated showers on Sunday, an overall drier trend should be underway. Early next week (Monday and Tuesday), a confluent NW flow pattern aloft over the Commonwealth will encourage the approach of expansive surface high pressure and a dry, cooler air mass. By the middle of next week, once the upper ridge line passes off the coast, the approach of the next disturbance aloft and surface warm front should bring a renewed threat of showers. && .AVIATION /10Z THURSDAY THROUGH MONDAY/... Reduced ceilings and visibility evident across the entire area this morning as southeast flow continues to keep low clouds/moisture locked in. Conditions should gradually improve into this afternoon as winds turn to come out of the south. VFR conditions should prevail by this evening everywhere. A few scattered showers and thunderstorms are possible this afternoon, but predicability remains too low to prevail any thunder. Conditions will deteriorate again tonight. A decaying line of thunderstorms could bring some restrictions to western airfields before daybreak Friday with gusty winds possible. Outlook... Fri...Morning storms (some could be strong), improving conditions in the afternoon. Sat...Mainly VFR, isolated PM showers/storms. Sun...Some improvement, as a series of cold fronts move southeast of the area. Mon...Mainly dry with VFR conditions. Perhaps a shower early at BFD and JST, with MVFR CIGS early at these sites. && .CTP WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None. && SYNOPSIS...Jurewicz/Banghoff NEAR TERM...Jurewicz/Banghoff SHORT TERM...Jurewicz/Banghoff LONG TERM...Jurewicz/Banghoff AVIATION...Banghoff/Martin
Hazardous weather outlook, May 15, 4:47 AM EDT, 1 hour 52 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service State College PA Issued by National Weather Service Binghamton NY 447 AM EDT Thu May 15 2025 PAZ028-037-041-042-046-049>053-056>059-063>066-160900- Juniata-Tioga-Northern Lycoming-Sullivan-Southern Lycoming-Union- Snyder-Montour-Northumberland-Columbia-Perry-Dauphin-Schuylkill- Lebanon-Cumberland-Adams-York-Lancaster- 447 AM EDT Thu May 15 2025 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for central Pennsylvania. .DAY ONE...Today and tonight. The probability for widespread hazardous weather is low. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday. Strong to severe thunderstorms with gusty winds are possible Friday and Saturday. Isolated flooding may also occur. In addition to typical afternoon thunderstorms, a few strong storms may occur overnight. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotters are encouraged to report significant hazardous weather. PAZ004>006-010>012-017>019-024>027-033>036-045-160900- Warren-McKean-Potter-Elk-Cameron-Northern Clinton-Clearfield- Northern Centre-Southern Centre-Cambria-Blair-Huntingdon-Mifflin- Somerset-Bedford-Fulton-Franklin-Southern Clinton- 447 AM EDT Thu May 15 2025 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for central Pennsylvania. .DAY ONE...Today and tonight. Strong to severe thunderstorms with gusty winds are possible late tonight into early Friday morning. Locally heavy rainfall from thunderstorms could produce flash flooding. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday. Strong to severe thunderstorms with gusty winds are possible again Friday afternoon and overnight. Flooding is possible in locations that have had significant rainfall recently. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotters are encouraged to report significant hazardous weather.
The office that day
Everything else NWS State College, PA issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 15, 6:10 AM EDT | River Flood Warning | CTP | Cumberland | 23 hr |
| May 15, 3:50 PM EDT | Flood Watch | CTP | Bedford, Somerset | 17 hr |
Nearby
Flash Flood Warnings in Pennsylvania, 2025Every flash flood warning in 2025
Sources
The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.