Alert archive / Pennsylvania / Flash Flood Warnings in 2026
Flash Flood Warning 45, NWS State College, PA
NWS State College, PA issued this flash flood warning at Jul 28, 2026, 5:39 PM EDT for Lancaster County, Lebanon 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
- Jul 28, 2026, 5:39 PM EDT (21:39 UTC)
- Expired
- Jul 28, 2026, 8:45 PM EDT
- In force
- 3 hr
- Issued by
- NWS State College, PA
- Area
- Storm-based polygon
- Flood severity
- None
Counties Lancaster County, PA, Lebanon County, PA
The radar
The State College radar (KCCX), 164 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 21:40 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 12:00Z, 9.7 hours before the alert went out and 168 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
- 710 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -79 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 968 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 41 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 45 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 174 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.2
- Supercell composite
- 1.2
The text
As transmitted.
968
WGUS51 KCTP 282139
FFWCTP
PAC071-075-290045-
/O.NEW.KCTP.FF.W.0045.260728T2139Z-260729T0045Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Flash Flood Warning
National Weather Service State College PA
539 PM EDT Tue Jul 28 2026
The National Weather Service in State College has issued a
* Flash Flood Warning for...
North Central Lancaster County in south central Pennsylvania...
Southeastern Lebanon County in south central Pennsylvania...
* Until 845 PM EDT.
* At 539 PM EDT, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing
heavy rain across the warned area. Between 1 and 1.5 inches of rain
have fallen. Additional rainfall amounts up to 1.5 inches are
possible in the warned area. Flash flooding is ongoing or expected
to begin shortly.
HAZARD...Flash flooding caused by thunderstorms.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
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, Manheim, Akron, Denver, Reamstown, Rothsville,
Adamstown, Brickerville, Kleinfeltersville, Reinholds, Schoeneck,
Penryn 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.
Please report observed flooding to local emergency services or law
enforcement and request they pass this information to the National
Weather Service when you can do so safely.
&&
LAT...LON 4023 7647 4033 7617 4031 7615 4024 7603
4015 7616 4010 7630 4013 7639 4015 7643
4021 7652
FLASH FLOOD...RADAR INDICATED
$$
Bowen1 follow-up statement
101
WGUS71 KCTP 290045
FFSCTP
Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service State College PA
845 PM EDT Tue Jul 28 2026
PAC071-075-290055-
/O.EXP.KCTP.FF.W.0045.000000T0000Z-260729T0045Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Lancaster PA-Lebanon PA-
845 PM EDT Tue Jul 28 2026
...FLASH FLOOD WARNING HAS EXPIRED FOR NORTH CENTRAL LANCASTER AND
SOUTHEASTERN LEBANON COUNTIES...
Flood waters are receding. Flooding is no longer expected to pose a
threat. Please continue to heed remaining road closures.
&&
LAT...LON 4023 7647 4033 7617 4031 7615 4024 7603
4015 7616 4010 7630 4013 7639 4015 7643
4021 7652
$$
BanghoffWhat 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 28, 1:54 PM EDT, 3 hours 45 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
- 1) Severe thunderstorms capable of damaging winds and heavy rainfall remain possible today into this evening. An isolated tornado will also be possible.
Area forecast discussion, Jul 28, 1:54 PM EDT, 3 hours 45 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service State College PA 154 PM EDT Tue Jul 28 2026 .WHAT HAS CHANGED... * Flood Watch expanded to include portions of south-central Pennsylvania until 1 AM tonight. * Severe Thunderstorm Watch in effect for south-central and southeastern Pennsylvania until 8 PM this evening. * Increasing chance for some tornadoes across southeastern Pennsylvania this evening. && .KEY MESSAGES... 1) Severe thunderstorms capable of damaging winds and heavy rainfall remain possible today into this evening. An isolated tornado will also be possible. && .DISCUSSION... KEY MESSAGE 1: Severe thunderstorms capable of damaging winds and heavy rainfall remain possible today into this evening. An isolated tornado will also be possible. Current radar outlines a cluster of showers and thunderstorms generally south of a FIG-UNV-AVP line, generally moving east- southeastward as we move into the mid-afternoon hours. Some breaks in the clouds during the late morning and early afternoon hours has allowed for destabilization across this region, which will allow for some severe potential throughout the rest of the evening hours. Recent SPC Mesoanalysis maximized SBCAPE in the 1500-2000 J/kg range across southeastern Pennsylvania, which is more than sufficient for some strong-to-severe thunderstorms in the near-term. Shear remains the main question mark with regards to a more organized severe threat with recent bulk shear values topping out closer to 20 knots across south-central PA. Despite this lack of shear, damaging winds will remain possible over the next couple of hours and into the evening as more shear is present closer to southeastern Pennsylvania. Of note, 0-1 km shear on most recent SPC Mesoanalysis appears to be sufficient for some tornadic potential as storms move further southeast into slightly more favorable shear. In fact, the best storm (as of 1PM EDT) across Huntingdon County did show some history of rotation, and will be moving into a slightly more favorable environment this afternoon. Given all these factors, Severe Thunderstorm Watch will be in effect for portions of southern and eastern Pennsylvania until 8PM this evening. Heavy rainfall signal remains concerning for much of central Pennsylvania with some gauge reports in Clearfield County and Cambria County reporting fairly widespread 3-5" and have prompted two Flash Flood Warnings this afternoon. HREF PWATs near the 90th percentile will warrant some watching of areas that receive either multiple rounds of thunderstorms and/or slow-moving thunderstorms this evening. Overall, cells appear that they will be moving, thus locations would ultimately need to receive multiple rounds of this heavy rainfall in order for problems to arise. That being said, instantaneous rainfall rates between 2-4"/hr could cause some issues in the more urbanized areas of southeastern Pennsylvania and the rolling hills of south-central Pennsylvania where water will drain towards the lowest locations. Thus, have expanded the Flood Watch a tier of counties northward and eastward to grab the south-central mountains to cover this threat. Given the dual hydrology and severe threat this evening, have multiple ways to receive warnings! If outdoors this afternoon and evening, continue to monitor your local forecasts and have plans in case a severe storms and/or flooding occurs. Some storms will produce damaging winds and/or potentially a tornado this afternoon/evening, while some will not. Flooding will also be possible this evening given the ample rainfall rates, so if you are located near smaller streams and/or urbanized areas, be sure to monitor nearby surroundings if a thunderstorm moves over your area. && .AVIATION /18Z TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/... Current forecast package will deal primarily with -SHRA and TSRA moving across the forecast area through late evening. Very moist atmosphere is currently producing MVFR to IFR conditions in heavy rain and embedded TSRA. There is plenty of instabiity but cloud cover from earlier has kept any of the storms from becoming severe so far. This instability should be realized into stronger storms over southern PA and would affect KMDT and KLNS. Skies have cleared in this area and sun will help kick start convection which will likely be severe by late afternoon. Convection will wane later this evening as a cold front pushes through the region. A result of the heavy rain will be a lowering of conditions to MVFR and possible IFR in BR or FG. Confidence is low to medium (20-40%) of any one location dropping to LIFR at this time, so made a mention of a drop to MVFR with VCFG wording overnight. Behind the front on Wednesday, a BKN stratus layer will slowly dissipate through the day on a breezy to gusty northwest wind. Gusts will approach 20-25KTS during the afternoon. Outlook... Thu...Improving conditions with lingering -SHRA. Patchy AM fog. Fri...Mainly VFR. Sat and Sun...Patchy AM fog. Restrictions possible in isolated showers/storms mainly in the south. && .CTP WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Flood Watch through late tonight for PAZ026>028-035-036- 056>059-063>066. && WHAT HAS CHANGED...Beaty KEY MESSAGES...Beaty DISCUSSION...Beaty AVIATION...Tyburski
Hazardous weather outlook, Jul 28, 12:57 PM EDT, 4 hours 42 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service State College PA 1257 PM EDT Tue Jul 28 2026 PAZ004>006-010>012-017>019-024-025-033-034-037-041-042-045-046- 291700- Warren-McKean-Potter-Elk-Cameron-Northern Clinton-Clearfield- Northern Centre-Southern Centre-Cambria-Blair-Somerset-Bedford-Tioga- Northern Lycoming-Sullivan-Southern Clinton-Southern Lycoming- 1257 PM EDT Tue Jul 28 2026 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for central Pennsylvania. .DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight. Scattered strong to severe thunderstorms, capable of damaging wind gusts and localized heavy rainfall of 1 to 2 inches per hour are possible today. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday. The probability of widespread hazardous weather is low. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotters are encouraged to report significant hazardous weather. PAZ026>028-035-036-056>059-063>066-291700- Huntingdon-Mifflin-Juniata-Fulton-Franklin-Perry-Dauphin-Schuylkill- Lebanon-Cumberland-Adams-York-Lancaster- 1257 PM EDT Tue Jul 28 2026 ...FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT THROUGH LATE TONIGHT... ...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 525 IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for central Pennsylvania. .DAY ONE...This afternoon and 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...Wednesday through Monday. The probability of widespread hazardous weather is low. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time. PAZ049>053-291700- Union-Snyder-Montour-Northumberland-Columbia- 1257 PM EDT Tue Jul 28 2026 ...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 525 IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for central Pennsylvania. .DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov/StateCollege on the internet for more information about the following hazards. Severe Thunderstorm Watch. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday. The probability of widespread hazardous weather is low. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotters are encouraged to report significant hazardous weather. Beaty
In the hours before
Local storm report, Jul 28, 4:36 PM EDT, 1 hour 3 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service State College PA
436 PM EDT Tue Jul 28 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0420 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 2 N Steelton 40.26N 76.82W
07/28/2026 Dauphin PA 911 Call Center
Trees down on wires across Bonnymeade Ave at
Brisban Street.
&&Local storm report, Jul 28, 4:40 PM EDT, 59 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service State College PA
440 PM EDT Tue Jul 28 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0420 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 1 NW Steelton 40.24N 76.84W
07/28/2026 Dauphin PA Utility Company
Trees down on wires across North Harrisburg
Street.
&&Local storm report, Jul 28, 4:43 PM EDT, 56 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service State College PA
443 PM EDT Tue Jul 28 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0418 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 1 SSE Lower Allen 40.22N 76.90W
07/28/2026 York PA Utility Company
Trees down on wires across Forest Drive.
&&Local storm report, Jul 28, 5:02 PM EDT, 37 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service State College PA
502 PM EDT Tue Jul 28 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0415 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 2 S Waynesboro 39.73N 77.59W
07/28/2026 Franklin PA Utility Company
Trees down on wires across Lyons Farm Road.
&&Local storm report, Jul 28, 5:04 PM EDT, 35 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service State College PA
504 PM EDT Tue Jul 28 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0501 PM Flood 1 S Hanover 39.80N 76.98W
07/28/2026 York PA Public
A few to several inches of water across
multiple roads in Hanover.
&&Local storm report, Jul 28, 5:33 PM EDT, 6 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service State College PA
533 PM EDT Tue Jul 28 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0450 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 2 E Littlestown 39.74N 77.05W
07/28/2026 Adams PA Utility Company
Trees down on wires across Valleyview Drive.
&&The office that day
Everything else NWS State College, PA issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 27, 10:43 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | CTP | Warren | 32 min |
| Jul 27, 11:59 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | CTP | McKean, Potter | 61 min |
| Jul 28, 12:05 AM EDT | Special Weather Statement | CTP | Juniata, Perry | 55 min |
| Jul 28, 12:43 AM EDT | Special Weather Statement | CTP | Adams | 47 min |
| Jul 28, 1:05 AM EDT | Special Weather Statement | CTP | McKean | 55 min |
| Jul 28, 1:25 AM EDT | Special Weather Statement | CTP | Adams | 65 min |
| Jul 28, 1:41 AM EDT | Special Weather Statement | CTP | McKean | 79 min |
| Jul 28, 1:54 AM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | CTP | McKean | 3 hr |
| Jul 28, 2:00 AM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | CTP | Adams, Franklin | 45 min |
| Jul 28, 2:20 AM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | CTP | Adams, Cumberland, Franklin | 3 hr |
| Jul 28, 2:34 AM EDT | Flood Watch | CTP | Adams, Cumberland, Dauphin, Franklin, Fulton, Huntingdon and 7 more | 18 hr |
| Jul 28, 3:14 AM EDT | Special Weather Statement | CTP | Centre | 61 min |
| Jul 28, 3:22 AM EDT | Special Weather Statement | CTP | Columbia, Montour, Northumberland, Schuylkill, Snyder, Union | 53 min |
| Jul 28, 8:37 AM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | CTP | McKean | 3 hr |
| Jul 28, 9:54 AM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | CTP | McKean | 2 hr |
| Jul 28, 11:21 AM EDT | Areal Flood Warning | CTP | McKean, Potter, Warren | 114 min |
| Jul 28, 12:22 PM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | CTP | Blair, Cambria, Clearfield | 3 hr |
| Jul 28, 12:46 PM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | CTP | Blair, Huntingdon | 3 hr |
| Jul 28, 12:59 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | CTP | Huntingdon | 31 min |
| Jul 28, 1:27 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | CTP | Huntingdon, Mifflin | 33 min |
| Jul 28, 1:59 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | CTP | Huntingdon, Juniata | 31 min |
| Jul 28, 2:27 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | CTP | Cumberland | 33 min |
| Jul 28, 3:02 PM EDT | Areal Flood Warning | CTP | Blair, Cambria, Centre, Clearfield | 118 min |
| Jul 28, 3:12 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | CTP | Cumberland, Perry, York | 63 min |
| Jul 28, 3:22 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | CTP | Adams, Cumberland, Franklin, Fulton, Huntingdon, York | 53 min |
| Jul 28, 3:28 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | CTP | Adams, Franklin, York | 47 min |
| Jul 28, 3:37 PM EDT | Areal Flood Warning | CTP | Blair, Centre, Huntingdon | 83 min |
| Jul 28, 4:09 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | CTP | Cumberland, Dauphin, Lancaster, Lebanon, York | 66 min |
| Jul 28, 4:15 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | CTP | Adams, Franklin | 30 min |
| Jul 28, 4:23 PM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | CTP | Adams, Franklin | 3 hr |
| Jul 28, 4:44 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | CTP | Adams, Lancaster, York | 61 min |
| Jul 28, 5:00 PM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | CTP | Dauphin, Lebanon | 2 hr |
| Jul 28, 5:20 PM EDT | Areal Flood Warning | CTP | Cambria, 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; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.