Alert archive / Pennsylvania / Flash Flood Warnings in 2026
Flash Flood Warning 13, NWS State College, PA
NWS State College, PA issued this flash flood warning at Jul 5, 2026, 9:20 PM EDT for Lancaster County, Lebanon County, Pennsylvania. It was in force for 2 hr. 2 reports came from inside the area while it was in force.
The area
The outline as issued, with what was reported inside it.
The facts
- Issued
- Jul 5, 2026, 9:20 PM EDT (01:20 UTC)
- Expired
- Jul 5, 2026, 11:28 PM EDT
- In force
- 2 hr
- Issued by
- NWS State College, PA
- Area
- Storm-based polygon
- Damage threat
- Considerable
- Flood severity
- None
Counties Lancaster County, PA, Lebanon County, PA
The radar
The Philadelphia radar (KDIX), 156 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 01:24 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.
What was reported inside it
| Time | Report | Where | Remark |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 5, 9:43 PM EDT | FLASH FLOOD | 1 Wsw Ephrata, PA | A water rescue was reported in Ephrata borough near Old Mill Road and Opal Street. |
| Jul 5, 11:04 PM EDT | FLASH FLOOD | 2 Nw Myerstown, PA | Street/road flooding. |
Local storm reports filed while the alert was in force, from inside its polygon or its counties.
Did it verify
Verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow matched 2 storm reports to this flash flood warning; the first came 23 minutes after it went out.
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, 1.3 hours before the alert went out and 182 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
- 2754 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -6 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 1313 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 23 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 25 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 45 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 1.9
The text
As transmitted.
617
WGUS51 KCTP 060120
FFWCTP
PAC071-075-060430-
/O.NEW.KCTP.FF.W.0013.260706T0120Z-260706T0430Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Flash Flood Warning
National Weather Service State College PA
920 PM EDT Sun Jul 5 2026
The National Weather Service in State College has issued a
* Flash Flood Warning for...
Northeastern Lancaster County in south central Pennsylvania...
Southeastern Lebanon County in south central Pennsylvania...
* Until 1230 AM EDT.
* At 920 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 of 1 to 2 inches are
possible in the warned area. Flash flooding is ongoing or expected
to begin shortly.
HAZARD...Life threatening flash flooding. Thunderstorms
producing flash flooding.
SOURCE...Radar.
IMPACT...Life threatening flash flooding of creeks and streams,
urban areas, highways, streets and underpasses.
* Some locations that will experience flash flooding include...
Lebanon, Ephrata, New Holland, Akron, Myerstown, Leola, Denver,
Reamstown, Rothsville, Sand Hill, Newmanstown, Lebanon South,
Adamstown, Avon, Richland, Fredericksburg, Brickerville, Terre
Hill, Schaefferstown and Churchtown.
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.
Be aware of your surroundings and do not drive on flooded roads.
&&
LAT...LON 4037 7623 4036 7621 4031 7615 4014 7587
4010 7594 4005 7615 4046 7651 4047 7640
FLASH FLOOD...RADAR INDICATED
FLASH FLOOD DAMAGE THREAT...CONSIDERABLE
$$
Evanego1 follow-up statement
707
WGUS71 KCTP 060328
FFSCTP
Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service State College PA
1128 PM EDT Sun Jul 5 2026
PAC071-075-060338-
/O.CAN.KCTP.FF.W.0013.000000T0000Z-260706T0430Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Lancaster PA-Lebanon PA-
1128 PM EDT Sun Jul 5 2026
...FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR NORTHEASTERN LANCASTER AND SOUTHEASTERN
LEBANON COUNTIES HAS BEEN REPLACED WITH A FLOOD WARNING...
Flood waters are receding. Flooding is no longer expected to pose a
threat. Please continue to heed remaining road closures.
A Flood Watch remains in effect until 800 PM EDT Monday for a
portion of central Pennsylvania.
&&
LAT...LON 4037 7623 4036 7621 4031 7615 4014 7587
4010 7594 4005 7615 4046 7651 4047 7640
$$
EvanegoWhat 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 Jul 5, 8:06 PM EDT, 1 hour 14 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
- 1) Breakdown of heat wave pattern gives rise to severe storms and torrential downpours today and tonight; flood risk lingering in the east on Monday.
Area forecast discussion, Jul 5, 8:06 PM EDT, 1 hour 14 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service State College PA 806 PM EDT Sun Jul 5 2026 .WHAT HAS CHANGED... * Targeted Moderate Risk Excessive Rainfall Outlook (level 3/4) for east-central Pennsylvania through tonight * Flood Watch issued this afternoon through Monday for east- central Pennsylvania && .KEY MESSAGES... 1) Breakdown of heat wave pattern gives rise to severe storms and torrential downpours today and tonight; flood risk lingering in the east on Monday. && .DISCUSSION... KEY MESSAGE 1: Breakdown of heat wave pattern gives rise to severe storms and torrential downpours today and tonight; flood risk lingering in the east on Monday. 40 severe thunderstorm warnings issued in the past 2 days. The days following a transition from an extreme heat pattern are often marked by severe/active weather, and that trend continues through at least Monday. As the heat dome shifts to the west and troughing develops over the Great Lakes/Ohio Valley/Northeast, the upcoming week will feature relatively cooler (more seasonal) temperatures with a bullish signal for almost daily rain chances particularly early and late in the week. Another active wx day ahead with dual severe T-storm and flash flood risks. We anticipate another diurnal uptick in convective development within a very warm, moist and increasingly unstable environment indicative of steep low-mid level lapse rates. Pockets of stronger deep layer shear 30+ kt may exist in the upper OH Valley and eastern PA, but the general expectation is for pulse to multicell storms to once again merge/form into line segments with some cold pool organization to promote damaging wind potential from mid afternoon into the evening. Terrain boundaries will also play an important role in initiating/organizing convection given lack of other strong forcing. SPC placed the highest damaging wind probs near/southeast of I81/78 where max temps should reach 90F. Focus will evolve from severe to flash flood/hydro ops by later this evening and continue into Monday as a robust +RA signal continues to manifest over east-central PA. Atmos conditions will be quite favorable for heavy rainfall and flash flooding potential with 2+ inch pwats correlating to intense rain rates >2 in/hr. Still some question on degree of repeating/back- building storms along q-stnry/wavy frontal zone. Latest HREF/REFS mean QPF guidance is signaling 1-3" in the 24hr period ending 00Z Tue with PMM/LPMM max values exceeding 5 inches. WPC coordinated a targeted and relatively small moderate excessive rainfall outlook (level 3/4) within a broader level 2/4 or SLGT risk area. We issued a relatively large/broad flood watch along with WFO PHI as there remains some spatial uncertainty to exactly where the greatest rainfall will occur. The setup (multiple rounds of slow moving/torrential downpours) favors locally significant flash flooding particularly in terrain areas and highly urbanized corridors. One limiting factor is obviously the drought conditions and corresponding elevated FFG values that may offset the overall risk to some extent. && .AVIATION /00Z MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/... Convection generally confined to the eastern half of Pennsylvania to begin the forecast. Tried to time the arrival of the main areas but there will be additional -TSRA through midnight over the eastern airfields. The remainder of the night will see MVFR to IFR with lingering light rain. Dewpoints near 70 combined with earlier rainfall will result in patchy BR/FG. Confidence of LIFR in FG is around 40% in any one location. Precipitation returns during the afternoon Monday with isolated TSRA through the remainder of the forecast period. Expect MVFR to IFR during this time. Outlook... Tue...Restrictions possible in A.M. fog and P.M. T-storms. Wed- Fri...Restrictions possible in showers/storms, most widespread on Friday. && .CLIMATE... Rare Heat at Harrisburg: 3 consecutive days with maxT >= 100F from July 2-4, 2026. The last time this streak occurred was July 1999 (2x) and is only the 6th time on record going back to 1888. && .CTP WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Flood Watch through Monday evening for PAZ017>019-024>028- 033>036-042-045-046-049>053-056>059-063>066. && WHAT HAS CHANGED...Steinbugl/Colbert KEY MESSAGES...Steinbugl/Colbert DISCUSSION...Steinbugl/Colbert AVIATION...Tyburski CLIMATE...Steinbugl
Hazardous weather outlook, Jul 5, 9:17 PM EDT, 3 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service State College PA 917 PM EDT Sun Jul 5 2026 PAZ036-056>059-063>066-070130- Franklin-Perry-Dauphin-Schuylkill-Lebanon-Cumberland-Adams-York- Lancaster- 917 PM EDT Sun Jul 5 2026 ...FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT THROUGH MONDAY EVENING... ...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 465 IN EFFECT UNTIL 1 AM EDT MONDAY... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for central Pennsylvania. .DAY ONE...Tonight. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov/StateCollege on the internet for more information about the following hazards. Flood Watch. Severe Thunderstorm Watch. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday through Saturday. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov/StateCollege on the internet for more information about the following hazards. Flood Watch. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotters are encouraged to report significant hazardous weather. PAZ017>019-024>028-033>035-042-045-046-049>053-070130- Clearfield-Northern Centre-Southern Centre-Cambria-Blair-Huntingdon- Mifflin-Juniata-Somerset-Bedford-Fulton-Sullivan-Southern Clinton- Southern Lycoming-Union-Snyder-Montour-Northumberland-Columbia- 917 PM EDT Sun Jul 5 2026 ...FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT THROUGH MONDAY EVENING... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for central Pennsylvania. .DAY ONE...Tonight. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov/StateCollege on the internet for more information about the following hazards. Flood Watch. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday through Saturday. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov/StateCollege on the internet for more information about the following hazards. Flood Watch .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotters are encouraged to report significant hazardous weather. PAZ004>006-010>012-037-041-070130- Warren-McKean-Potter-Elk-Cameron-Northern Clinton-Tioga- Northern Lycoming- 917 PM EDT Sun Jul 5 2026 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for central Pennsylvania. .DAY ONE...Tonight. The probability for widespread hazardous weather is low. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday through Saturday. Heavy rain from thunderstorms may also cause flooding on Monday. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotters are encouraged to report significant hazardous weather.
In the hours before
Local storm report, Jul 5, 8:42 PM EDT, 38 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service State College PA
842 PM EDT Sun Jul 5 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0839 PM Flash Flood Hummelstown 40.27N 76.71W
07/05/2026 Dauphin PA 911 Call Center
Numerous cars underwater in Hummelstown near
Swatara Creek. Many reports of 3.5-4.0
inches of rain in 45 minutes. Water rescues
in progress.
&&Local storm report, Jul 5, 8:49 PM EDT, 31 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service State College PA
849 PM EDT Sun Jul 5 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0847 PM Flash Flood 1 WNW Hershey 40.29N 76.67W
07/05/2026 Dauphin PA 911 Call Center
Water rescues underway on Hersheypark Drive
near the Giant Center.
&&Local storm report, Jul 5, 9:01 PM EDT, 19 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service State College PA
901 PM EDT Sun Jul 5 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0840 PM Flash Flood Hummelstown 40.27N 76.71W
07/05/2026 Dauphin PA NWS Employee
Flooded underpass beneath a railroad
crossing in Hummelstown.
&&Special weather statement, Jul 5, 9:04 PM EDT, 16 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service State College PA
904 PM EDT Sun Jul 5 2026
PAZ012-018-019-060145-
Northern Centre PA-Northern Clinton PA-Southern Centre PA-
904 PM EDT Sun Jul 5 2026
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT CENTRAL CENTRE AND WEST CENTRAL
CLINTON COUNTIES THROUGH 945 PM EDT...
At 904 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Bellefonte, moving north at 15 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts of 50 to 55 mph.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects.
Locations impacted include...
Bellefonte, Milesburg, Snow Shoe, Clarence, Moshannon, Monument,
Unionville, and Orviston.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
Very heavy rainfall is also occurring with this storm and may lead to
localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.
&&
LAT...LON 4090 7773 4090 7798 4118 7803 4117 7767
TIME...MOT...LOC 0104Z 182DEG 12KT 4098 7786
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...55 MPH
DangeloLocal storm report, Jul 5, 9:18 PM EDT, 2 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service State College PA
918 PM EDT Sun Jul 5 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0840 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 2 N Rouzerville 39.77N 77.53W
07/05/2026 Franklin PA 911 Call Center
Trees down on wires on Mentzer Gap Road.
&&Local storm report, Jul 5, 9:20 PM EDT, 0 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service State College PA
920 PM EDT Sun Jul 5 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0845 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 2 NE Marion 39.88N 77.64W
07/05/2026 Franklin PA 911 Call Center
Trees and wires down across Wayne Road.
&&The office that day
Everything else NWS State College, PA issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 5, 8:00 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | CTP | Franklin, Fulton, Huntingdon | 45 min |
| Jul 5, 8:10 PM EDT | Tornado Warning | CTP | Franklin | 19 min |
| Jul 5, 8:18 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | CTP | Dauphin, Lancaster, Lebanon, York | 72 min |
| Jul 5, 8:19 PM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | CTP | Dauphin, York | 3 hr |
| Jul 5, 8:30 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | CTP | Adams, Cumberland, Franklin | 60 min |
| Jul 5, 8:38 PM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | CTP | Centre, Huntingdon | 3 hr |
| Jul 5, 8:49 PM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | CTP | Dauphin, Lancaster, Lebanon, York | 3 hr |
| Jul 5, 9:04 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | CTP | Centre | 41 min |
| Jul 5, 9:16 PM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | CTP | Adams, Cumberland, Lancaster, York | 3 hr |
| Jul 5, 10:10 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | CTP | Lancaster, Lebanon | 35 min |
| Jul 5, 11:19 PM EDT | Areal Flood Warning | CTP | Dauphin, York | 3 hr |
| Jul 5, 11:25 PM EDT | Areal Flood Warning | CTP | Dauphin, Lancaster, Lebanon, York | 3 hr |
| Jul 5, 11:28 PM EDT | Areal Flood Warning | CTP | Lancaster, Lebanon | 3 hr |
| Jul 6, 2:57 AM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | CTP | Potter, Tioga | 108 min |
| Jul 6, 4:10 PM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | CTP | Tioga | 2 hr |
| Jul 6, 5:34 PM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | CTP | Elk, McKean | 3 hr |
| Jul 6, 6:03 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | CTP | Elk | 42 min |
| Jul 6, 6:13 PM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | CTP | Elk | 3 hr |
| Jul 6, 6:27 PM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | CTP | Potter, Tioga | 6 hr |
| Jul 6, 6:34 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | CTP | Cameron, Elk | 41 min |
| Jul 6, 7:08 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | CTP | Cameron, Clearfield, Elk | 52 min |
| Jul 6, 7:50 PM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | CTP | Clearfield | 3 hr |
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; local storm reports from the same archive; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.