Alert archive / Pennsylvania / Flash Flood Warnings in 2026
Flash Flood Warning 34, NWS State College, PA
NWS State College, PA issued this flash flood warning at Jul 11, 2026, 5:15 PM EDT for Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. It was in force for 2 hr. 8 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 11, 2026, 5:15 PM EDT (21:15 UTC)
- Expired
- Jul 11, 2026, 7:15 PM EDT
- In force
- 2 hr
- Issued by
- NWS State College, PA
- Area
- Storm-based polygon
- Flood severity
- None
County Lancaster County, PA
The radar
The Philadelphia radar (KDIX), 155 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 21:16 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 11, 5:25 PM EDT | FLASH FLOOD | Ephrata, PA | Report of flooding along South State Street. |
| Jul 11, 5:34 PM EDT | FLASH FLOOD | 1 Sse Akron, PA | Residential flooding on Hillcrest Rd. |
| Jul 11, 5:55 PM EDT | FLASH FLOOD | 1 S Ephrata, PA | Residential flooding reported on Akron Road. |
| Jul 11, 5:59 PM EDT | FLASH FLOOD | 1 Wsw Leola, PA | Water resuce reported near West Main Street and Granger Road. |
| Jul 11, 6:03 PM EDT | FLASH FLOOD | Ephrata, PA | Water rescue in the 300 block of West Main Street. |
| Jul 11, 6:09 PM EDT | FLASH FLOOD | Leola, PA | Residential flooding on Glenbrook Rd. |
| Jul 11, 6:11 PM EDT | FLASH FLOOD | 2 Nw Leola, PA | Forest Hill Road closed due to flooding. |
| Jul 11, 6:15 PM EDT | FLASH FLOOD | Leola, PA | Geist Rd closed due to high water. |
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 8 storm reports to this flash flood warning; the first came 10 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 12:00Z, 9.3 hours before the alert went out and 165 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
- 75 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -60 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 911 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 21 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- -1 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 28 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 0.0
The text
As transmitted.
037
WGUS51 KCTP 112115
FFWCTP
PAC071-112315-
/O.NEW.KCTP.FF.W.0034.260711T2115Z-260711T2315Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Flash Flood Warning
National Weather Service State College PA
515 PM EDT Sat Jul 11 2026
The National Weather Service in State College has issued a
* Flash Flood Warning for...
North Central Lancaster County in south central Pennsylvania...
* Until 715 PM EDT.
* At 515 PM EDT, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing
heavy rain across the warned area. Up to 1 inch of rain has
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...
Ephrata, Lititz, Akron, Leola, Rothsville, Leacock, Bareville,
Farmersville and Lancaster Airport.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood
deaths occur in vehicles.
Be aware of your surroundings and do not drive on flooded roads.
&&
LAT...LON 4010 7628 4017 7628 4019 7622 4019 7616
4013 7615 4008 7617 4005 7622
FLASH FLOOD...RADAR INDICATED
$$
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 11, 3:07 PM EDT, 2 hours 8 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
- 1) Isolated to scattered showers and thunderstorms today, mainly south of Interstate 80. Sunday will be mostly dry. 2) Hot and humid pattern set to return for the middle of next week
Area forecast discussion, Jul 11, 3:07 PM EDT, 2 hours 8 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service State College PA 307 PM EDT Sat Jul 11 2026 .WHAT HAS CHANGED... * Storms now firing up on the high terrain east of IPT. Changed timing of precip and mentioned +RA/gusty winds && .KEY MESSAGES... 1) Isolated to scattered showers and thunderstorms today, mainly south of Interstate 80. Sunday will be mostly dry. 2) Hot and humid pattern set to return for the middle of next week && .DISCUSSION... KEY MESSAGE 1: Isolated to scattered showers and thunderstorms today, mainly south of Interstate 80. Sunday will be mostly dry. Radar trends are verifying earlier forecasts and yield high confidence in CAM projections of isolated to scattered showers and thunderstorms over most of the area with the highest concentration and frequency over the eastern third of the CWA. Latest HRRR/HREF progs show convection lingering longer than NBM hourlies have them doing. Expect the timing to still be centered between now (2 PM) and sunset. However, we'll add a small amount to PoPs between 00-03Z to bend to the trend. Previous discussion: With yesterday's cold front still pushing slowly south across the Commonwealth, we'll likely see another round of showers and thunderstorms fire up late this morning and persist into the early evening hours. However, the threat for torrential downpours does not appear quite as widespread or intense as yesterday. The main area will be south of Interstate 80. Max SBCAPE is progged in the low 1000s J/kg with fairly weak NW mean flow around 15 kts in the cloud bearing layer. Given the weak flow, initiating boundaries may come from a variety of sources including terrain features, differential heating boundaries (morning fog may create some of those), and the cold front itself. HREF and REFS members have picked out the higher terrain in Schuylkill County as one such terrain feature that may focus convection initiation, with a swath of locally 1+ inch of rain coming off the high terrain and stretching southeast - a plausible solution that we'll have to watch for. Dry air advection behind the southward moving cold front will gradually bring an end to convection from north to south this evening. Fog may develop in the river valleys tonight as temps fall into the 50s and low 60s. With drier air in place on Sunday and building high pressure providing a subsidence inversion above the boundary layer, Sunday is still on track to be a mainly dry day. However, a stray shower can not be ruled out particularly over the Laurel Highlands or near the Poconos. --------------------------------------------------------------- KEY MESSAGE 2: Hot and humid pattern set to return for the middle of next week Dry conditions are expected to prevail for the first half of the week with a strong ridge expected to develop over the middle of the country. Increasing heat/humidity is forecast across central Pennsylvania although there remains some uncertainty with respect to how warm temperatures and/or humidity get across the region. Current forecast favors the hottest temps returning Tue to Thu with highs 85-95F and max heat index 90-100F, potentially rising above 100F on Wednesday. Rain chances increase into the latter half of the week. && .AVIATION /18Z SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/... SHRA and isolated TSRA dot the area this afternoon. Hoever, coverage remains around 20% so left any general mention of precipitation as VCSH or VCTS as cells are pulsing up and down and moving steadily to the south. Catching the exact time of any precipitation at any one airfield would be challenging, even as they form. In the wake of this convection, high pressure begins to build in during the overnight. The suppressive activity will begin to clear out clouds to begin a less active stretch of weather with mostly VFR conditions say for any patchy fog that develops in the late nights/early mornings. Outlook... Sun-Wed...Mainly VFR with areas of late night/AM fog. && .CTP WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None. && WHAT HAS CHANGED...Dangelo KEY MESSAGES...Dangelo DISCUSSION...Dangelo/Steinbugl/Colbert AVIATION...Tyburski
Hazardous weather outlook, Jul 11, 1:06 PM EDT, 4 hours 9 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service State College PA 106 PM EDT Sat Jul 11 2026 PAZ017-018-024-025-033-034-121715- Clearfield-Northern Centre-Cambria-Blair-Somerset-Bedford- 106 PM EDT Sat Jul 11 2026 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for central Pennsylvania. .DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight. Isolated to scattered thunderstorms with heavy rain are possible through early this evening. The heavy rain may lead to isolated flash flooding. .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. PAZ004>006-010>012-037-041-121715- Warren-McKean-Potter-Elk-Cameron-Northern Clinton-Tioga- Northern Lycoming- 106 PM EDT Sat Jul 11 2026 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for central Pennsylvania. .DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight. The probability for widespread hazardous weather is low. .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. PAZ019-026>028-035-042-045-046-049>053-121715- Southern Centre-Huntingdon-Mifflin-Juniata-Fulton-Sullivan- Southern Clinton-Southern Lycoming-Union-Snyder-Montour- Northumberland-Columbia- 106 PM EDT Sat Jul 11 2026 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for central Pennsylvania. .DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight. Isolated to scattered thunderstorms with heavy rain are possible through early this evening. The heavy rain may lead to isolated flash flooding. .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. PAZ036-056>059-063>066-121715- Franklin-Perry-Dauphin-Schuylkill-Lebanon-Cumberland-Adams-York- Lancaster- 106 PM EDT Sat Jul 11 2026 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for central Pennsylvania. .DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight. Isolated to scattered thunderstorms with heavy rain are possible through early this evening. The heavy rain may lead to isolated flash flooding. Strong to severe thunderstorms with gusty winds and small hail are possible into the early evening. .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.
In the hours before
Special weather statement, Jul 11, 2:19 PM EDT, 2 hours 56 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service State College PA
219 PM EDT Sat Jul 11 2026
PAZ051>053-058-111845-
Columbia PA-Northumberland PA-Montour PA-Schuylkill PA-
219 PM EDT Sat Jul 11 2026
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL MAKE HEAVY RAIN AND GUSTY WINDS...
At 216 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Berwick. Other, weaker, showers stretch west into Northumberland
County. These were all moving southeast at 15 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts of 50 to 55 mph and pea size hail and very heavy
rainfall.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is
possible. Minor flooding is also possible.
Locations impacted include...
Bloomsburg, Berwick, Shamokin, Mount Carmel, Shenandoah, Danville,
Mahanoy City, Frackville, Kulpmont, Ashland, Mcadoo, Elysburg,
Fairview-Ferndale, Riverside, Catawissa, Girardville, Marshallton,
Hometown, Mifflinville, and Almedia.
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.
This storm may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio
stations and available television stations for additional information
and possible warnings from the National Weather Service.
&&
LAT...LON 4071 7657 4097 7663 4105 7623 4095 7621
4090 7604 4091 7600 4084 7591
TIME...MOT...LOC 1816Z 329DEG 15KT 4095 7626
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...55 MPH
DangeloSpecial weather statement, Jul 11, 3:01 PM EDT, 2 hours 14 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service State College PA
301 PM EDT Sat Jul 11 2026
PAZ058-111945-
Schuylkill PA-
301 PM EDT Sat Jul 11 2026
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT CENTRAL SCHUYLKILL COUNTY
THROUGH 345 PM EDT...
At 258 PM EDT, trained weather spotters reported a strong
thunderstorm that passed through Ringtown and is now near Saint
Clair is moving southeast at 20 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph.
SOURCE...Trained weather spotters.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects.
Locations impacted include...
Pottsville, Schuylkill Haven, Shenandoah, Minersville, Mahanoy City,
Frackville, St. Clair, Ashland, Orwigsburg, Port Carbon, Tremont,
Girardville, Tuscarora, New Philadelphia, Friedensburg, Grier
City-Park Crest, Lavelle, Marlin, Altamont, and Renningers.
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.
This storm may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio
stations and available television stations for additional information
and possible warnings from the National Weather Service.
&&
LAT...LON 4064 7598 4057 7602 4058 7604 4057 7605
4058 7607 4057 7608 4056 7612 4053 7617
4052 7626 4052 7633 4074 7648 4087 7614
4069 7584
TIME...MOT...LOC 1901Z 326DEG 18KT 4074 7619
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH
DangeloLocal storm report, Jul 11, 4:54 PM EDT, 21 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service State College PA
454 PM EDT Sat Jul 11 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0450 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 4 NW Denver 40.28N 76.20W
07/11/2026 Lancaster PA 911 Call Center
Tree down on camper in Cocalico Creek
Campground, by 560 Cocalico Rd.
&&
MJTLocal storm report, Jul 11, 4:55 PM EDT, 20 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service State College PA
455 PM EDT Sat Jul 11 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0450 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 4 NW Denver 40.28N 76.20W
07/11/2026 Lancaster PA 911 Call Center
*** 1 INJ ***
Corrects previous tstm wnd dmg report from 4
NW Denver. Tree down on camper in Cocalico
Creek Campground, by 560 Cocalico Rd, with
an injured person.
&&
MJTThe office that day
Everything else NWS State College, PA issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 10, 8:18 PM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | CTP | Potter, Tioga | 3 hr |
| Jul 11, 2:19 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | CTP | Schuylkill | 26 min |
| Jul 11, 3:01 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | CTP | Schuylkill | 44 min |
| Jul 11, 4:11 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | CTP | Lancaster, Lebanon | 49 min |
| Jul 11, 4:55 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | CTP | Lancaster | 42 min |
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.