Alert archive / Pennsylvania / Flash Flood Warnings in 2026

Flash Flood Warning 1, NWS State College, PA

April 4, 2026Lycoming County, Sullivan County, Pennsylvania

NWS State College, PA issued this flash flood warning at Apr 4, 2026, 8:10 PM EDT for Lycoming County, Sullivan County, Pennsylvania. It was in force for 3 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
Apr 4, 2026, 8:10 PM EDT (00:10 UTC)
Expired
Apr 4, 2026, 11:15 PM EDT
In force
3 hr
Issued by
NWS State College, PA
Area
Storm-based polygon
Flood severity
None

Counties Lycoming County, PA, Sullivan County, PA

The radar

The Binghamton radar (KBGM), 102 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 00:10 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

Buffalo Intl Airport, NY (KBUF), launched 00:00Z, 0.2 hours before the alert went out and 245 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.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Buffalo Intl Airport, NY at 00:00Z on 2026-04-05Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 114 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°0°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Buffalo Intl Airport, NY at 00:00Z on 2026-04-05The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 299 square meters per square second.19395878Sfc1 km3 km6 km9 kmRMLM
The wind turning with height, colored by layer: ground to 1 km, 1 to 3 km, 3 to 6 km, 6 to 10 km.
Mixed-layer CAPE
114 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-110 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1629 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
63 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
299 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
460 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.8

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

866 
WGUS51 KCTP 050010
FFWCTP
PAC081-113-050315-
/O.NEW.KCTP.FF.W.0001.260405T0010Z-260405T0315Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Flash Flood Warning
National Weather Service State College PA
810 PM EDT Sat Apr 4 2026

The National Weather Service in State College has issued a

* Flash Flood Warning for...
  East Central Lycoming County in north central Pennsylvania...
  Southwestern Sullivan County in north central Pennsylvania...

* Until 1115 PM EDT.

* At 810 PM EDT, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing 
  heavy rain across the warned area. Between 0.5 and 1.5 inches of 
  rain have fallen. Additional rainfall amounts up to 1 inch are 
  possible in the warned area. Flash flooding is ongoing or expected 
  to begin shortly.

  HAZARD...Flash flooding caused by thunderstorms.

  SOURCE...Radar.

  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...
  Muncy Valley, Laporte and Eagles Mere.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood 
deaths occur in vehicles.

Be especially cautious at night when it is harder to recognize the 
dangers of flooding.

In hilly terrain, hundreds of low water crossings are potentially 
dangerous in heavy rain. Do not attempt to cross flooded roads. Find 
an alternate route.

&&

LAT...LON 4147 7653 4145 7649 4143 7643 4131 7658
      4127 7665 4134 7673 4140 7666

FLASH FLOOD...RADAR INDICATED

$$

Beaty
2 follow-up statements
157 
WGUS71 KCTP 050151
FFSCTP

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service State College PA
951 PM EDT Sat Apr 4 2026

PAC081-113-050315-
/O.CON.KCTP.FF.W.0001.000000T0000Z-260405T0315Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Lycoming PA-Sullivan PA-
951 PM EDT Sat Apr 4 2026

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1115 PM EDT THIS 
EVENING FOR EAST CENTRAL LYCOMING AND SOUTHWESTERN SULLIVAN 
COUNTIES...

At 951 PM EDT, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing heavy 
rain across the warned area. Between 1 and 2 inches of rain have 
fallen. Additional rainfall amounts up to 0.5 inches are possible in 
the warned area. Flash flooding is ongoing or expected to begin 
shortly.

HAZARD...Flash flooding caused by thunderstorms.

SOURCE...Radar.

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...
  Muncy Valley, Laporte and Eagles Mere.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood 
deaths occur in vehicles.

Be especially cautious at night when it is harder to recognize the 
dangers of flooding.

In hilly terrain, hundreds of low water crossings are potentially 
dangerous in heavy rain. Do not attempt to cross flooded roads. Find 
an alternate route.

&&

LAT...LON 4147 7653 4145 7649 4143 7643 4131 7658
      4127 7665 4134 7673 4140 7666

FLASH FLOOD...RADAR INDICATED

$$

Beaty
641 
WGUS71 KCTP 050305
FFSCTP

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service State College PA
1105 PM EDT Sat Apr 4 2026

PAC081-113-050315-
/O.EXP.KCTP.FF.W.0001.000000T0000Z-260405T0315Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Lycoming PA-Sullivan PA-
1105 PM EDT Sat Apr 4 2026

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 1115 PM EDT THIS EVENING FOR 
EAST CENTRAL LYCOMING AND SOUTHWESTERN SULLIVAN COUNTIES...

The heavy rain has ended. Flooding is no longer expected to pose a 
threat. Please continue to heed remaining road closures.

&&

LAT...LON 4147 7653 4145 7649 4143 7643 4131 7658
      4127 7665 4134 7673 4140 7666

$$

Beaty

What 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 Apr 4, 5:59 PM EDT, 2 hours 11 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

  • 1) Numerous showers and thunderstorms will affect Central PA late today and tonight. Some may be severe, especially across the northwest third of CTP CWA. 2) Cold front moves through later tonight and early Easter Sunday. Much colder next week but warming up again by week's end. Light snow likely across the northern tier Monday/night.
Area forecast discussion, Apr 4, 5:59 PM EDT, 2 hours 11 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service State College PA
559 PM EDT Sat Apr 4 2026

.WHAT HAS CHANGED...
* Pushed back the primary threat for scattered strong to severe
  thunderstorms by a few to several hours later today and this
  evening and greatly reduced pops through the mid afternoon
  hours.

&&

.KEY MESSAGES...
1) Numerous showers and thunderstorms will affect Central PA
late today and tonight. Some may be severe, especially across
the northwest third of CTP CWA.

2) Cold front moves through later tonight and early Easter
Sunday. Much colder next week but warming up again by week's
end. Light snow likely across the northern tier Monday/night.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
KEY MESSAGE 1: Numerous showers and thunderstorms will affect
Central PA late today and tonight. Some may be severe,
especially across the northwest third of CTP CWA.

A slowly northward moving warm front extended from near Olean
New York, southeast to near Selinsgrove and Allentown this
midday hour.

A few showers were developing along this airmass boundary
as warmer and moist air overrides it from the southwest.

A deg C or two of mid level WAA from the SW (with a several
more hour period of weak mid-level lapse rates) and a neg tilt
mid-upper level ridge (with slightly confluent flow aloft,
beneath the right exit region of jet max approaching from the
midwest) will result in a mainly dry and very warm afternoon
across much of Central and Southwestern PA.

Temperatures will peak in the 70s to low 80s with an
increasing, moderately gusty southerly breeze of 15-20 mph.
These temps will be close to record maxes in the south (see
Climo section below).

Some showers will continue across the North-Central and Endless
Mountains regions of the state this afternoon where
temperatures will be a bit cooler in the 60s.

More showers and thunderstorms are expected tonight in the very
warm and humid airmass along and ahead of a cold front.

The cold front and a band of rain and possible thunderstorms will
push through late tonight and Sunday morning.

Dewpoints will also be rising as the wind becomes more-
southerly through the day.

High res models continue to suggest that some of the first TSRA
initiation may take place across the Scent Mtns (between
20-21Z), within an area of pooling moisture and PWATs AOA 1.4
inches. However, the storms in the south-central mountains will
be displaced from the best shear, but should have some of the
best instability/CAPE of the day.

These late afternoon/early evening storms expand and move
northward through all of the central mountains. That should get
them into some of the better shear, but also put them into the
colder/more stable air.

As this convection moves over the warm frontal boundary, it
could have some enhanced low level shear/helicity and have more
potential to make a strong, rotating updraft and perhaps a risk
for a tornado. Heavy rain is also possible, and may lead to
isolated instances of minor flooding where several heavy SHRA/
TSRA northeast.

A second round of storms is expected to flare up in the NW where
a strong cold front will be moving in during the late evening
hours. Some storms in the warm sector/ahead of the cold front
could have supercellular characteristics, but the main threat
will be wind damage. The front will be the main focus for severe
weather in the evening and early nighttime. Storms reach Warren
Co just after 00Z and Coudersport/Clearfield by midnight. The
showers/storms along the front continue eastward at a slow
clip, and may not get to Harrisburg until 12Z. But, they'll only
spend 2-3 hrs there before leaving the CWA around noon on
Easter.

         ---------------------------------------

KEY MESSAGE 2: Cold front moves through later tonight and early
Easter Sunday. Much colder next week but warming up again by
week's end. Light snow likely across the northern tier
Monday/night.

The cold advection behind the cold front is going to make temps
fall slowly but steadily throughout the day over all but the
Lower Susq (where downsloping/adiabatic warming and more
insolation will likely compensate for the upstream cold
advection).

Temps may peak in the Lower Susq in the mid morning and fall
several deg or more after the rain starts, but should rebound
back by 2-4 deg F (possibly reaching the mid morning high).
Afterward, the cold air deepens and llvl cold advection
strengthens enough to resume the slow drop in temps in the mid
to late afternoon.

Mid aftn temps will be in the L40s NW and ~60F in the SE. Sfc
low will pass way to our N, but the center of the cold dome will
slide to our S. Still, 8H temps drop to -8C along the NY
border, and -4C in the S. Maxes on Monday will have some bust
potential. Lowered temps by 2-3 deg for now with more weighting
on the Northern and Western Mtns where rain/snow showers will
be more numerous.

Blended guidance mean maxes of 40F N and U50s S seems ripe for
a bust with such cold temps aloft. Wild cards include:
we may not mix to 8H that day, the April sunshine will try to
do it's best, and downsloping in the Lower Susq.

A Clipper-like system dives across the Upper Great Lakes and
into NY/PA later Mon/Mon night. After that, the flow favors
lake-effect showers. The temps will be cold enough across the
nrn tier of counties to allow it to be mostly snow anytime by
the middle of the day. Some accums of <=1" should occur on the
hills of the north, but that will be along a 48-hr stretch. Some
snow may mix into the mostly-rain showers in the central mtns
and Laurels Mon night. Dry and cold Tues with low RHs
(m20s-30s), and a little warm up on Wed will result in even
lower RHs (20s).

&&

.AVIATION /21Z SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/...
Lingering IFR to LIFR conditions were noted (as of 16Z) near and
to the north of KIPT, just to the north (on the cool-side) of a
slowly northward moving warm front.

Elsewhere within the warm sector, low clouds mixed-out and
cloud bases have greatly lifted to 6 KFT AGL or higher and will
remain that way for the bulk of the time through 22-23Z.
Afterward, scattered SHRA/TSRA will be developing over the Scent
Mtns and moving/expanding NE across the Middle Susq Valley.

PROB30s for -TSRA are maintained for these sites, with HREF
mean SBCAPE values around 1000 J/kg suggesting sufficient
instability for thunderstorm development given the moisture/lift
in place.

Flight conditions will likely deteriorate again after 00Z
Sunday as low-level moisture transport increases ahead of an
approaching cold front. Widespread MVFR ceilings are probable
(60-70%), with IFR ceilings being possible as well (30% chance).
Moreover, a backdoor cold front is expected to nose into the
Lower Susquehanna Valley (KMDT/KLNS), and potentially reach as
far west as KUNV by around 03Z, which could reinforce flight
restrictions. While instability will be waning overnight, HREF
mean MUCAPE values of around 100 J/kg suggests isolated thunder
may be possible with the frontal passage. A PROB30 for -TSRA was
included at KBFD between 05-08Z, given that MUCAPE values
further diminish thereafter. LLWS is also a concern overnight as
850 mb winds increase to 40-50 kts over a decoupled boundary
layer, with LLWS mentions included at KBFD/KMDT/KLNS at this
time.

Outlook...

Sun...Restrictions possible with showers and thunderstorms
ahead of and along a strong cold front.

Mon...Breezy and cooler with MVFR N/W and VFR elsewhere, with
scattered rain/snow showers possible.

Tue...Mainly VFR with a few rain/show showers.

Wed...VFR.

&&

.CLIMATE...
Record high temperatures were set at the following locations on
April 4th:

Harrisburg set a record high temperature of 83 degrees,
breaking the old record of 82 degrees set in 1999. A continuous
weather record has been kept in Harrisburg since 1888.

Bradford set a record high temperature of 76 degrees, breaking
the previous record of 72 degrees set in 1981.

Altoona tied a record high of 80 degrees, where the previous
record was set in 1950.

&&

.CTP WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
None.

&&

WHAT HAS CHANGED...Lambert/Dangelo
KEY MESSAGES...Lambert/Dangelo
DISCUSSION...Lambert/Dangelo
AVIATION...Lambert/Teare
CLIMATE...Beaty
Hazardous weather outlook, Apr 4, 11:53 AM EDT, 8 hours 17 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service State College PA
1153 AM EDT Sat Apr 4 2026

PAZ004-005-010-011-017-051600-
Warren-McKean-Elk-Cameron-Clearfield-
1153 AM EDT Sat Apr 4 2026

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for central Pennsylvania.

.DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight.

Severe thunderstorms with damaging winds 60 mph or greater are
possible this evening and early tonight. An isolated weak, short-
lived tornado is also possible.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday.

The probability for widespread hazardous weather is low.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotters are encouraged to report significant hazardous weather.

PAZ006-012-018-019-024>028-033>037-041-042-045-046-049>053-056>059-
063>066-051600-
Potter-Northern Clinton-Northern Centre-Southern Centre-Cambria-
Blair-Huntingdon-Mifflin-Juniata-Somerset-Bedford-Fulton-Franklin-
Tioga-Northern Lycoming-Sullivan-Southern Clinton-Southern Lycoming-
Union-Snyder-Montour-Northumberland-Columbia-Perry-Dauphin-
Schuylkill-Lebanon-Cumberland-Adams-York-Lancaster-
1153 AM EDT Sat Apr 4 2026

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for central Pennsylvania.

.DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight.

Scattered strong to severe thunderstorms with gusty winds are
possible late today into tonight.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday.

The probability for widespread hazardous weather is low.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation is not expected at this time.

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in Pennsylvania, 2026Every flash flood warning in 2026

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.