Alert archive / Pennsylvania / Flash Flood Warnings in 2026

Flash Flood Warning 90, NWS State College, PA

September 3, 2026McKean County, Warren County, Pennsylvania

NWS State College, PA issued this flash flood warning at Sep 3, 2026, 2:56 AM EDT for McKean County, Warren 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
Sep 3, 2026, 2:56 AM EDT (06:56 UTC)
Expired
Sep 3, 2026, 6:00 AM EDT
In force
3 hr
Issued by
NWS State College, PA
Area
Storm-based polygon
Flood severity
None

Counties McKean County, PA, Warren County, PA

The radar

The State College radar (KCCX), 115 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 06:56 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

Pittsburgh, PA (KPIT), launched 00:00Z, 6.9 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.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Pittsburgh, PA at 00:00Z on 2026-09-03Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 2581 joules per kilogram.LCLEL10008507005003002001001 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, Pittsburgh, PA at 00:00Z on 2026-09-03The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 107 square meters per square second.193958Sfc1 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
2581 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-5 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1375 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
35 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
107 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
140 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.7
Supercell composite
7.5

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

326 
WGUS51 KCTP 030656
FFWCTP
PAC083-123-031000-
/O.NEW.KCTP.FF.W.0090.260903T0656Z-260903T1000Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Flash Flood Warning
National Weather Service State College PA
256 AM EDT Thu Sep 3 2026

The National Weather Service in State College has issued a

* Flash Flood Warning for...
  McKean County in north central Pennsylvania...
  Warren County in north central Pennsylvania...

* Until 600 AM EDT.

* At 256 AM 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 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...
  Warren, Bradford, Kane, Sheffield, Columbus, Youngsville,
  Smethport, Wetmore, Russell, Betula, James City, Spring Creek, Rew,
  Kinzua Dam, Ludlow, Scandia, Warren South, Chapman State Park,
  Westline and Marshburg.

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.

&&

LAT...LON 4162 7896 4163 7925 4162 7961 4200 7961
      4200 7891 4199 7892 4200 7851 4182 7840
      4162 7833 4162 7848 4163 7848 4163 7864
      4162 7868

FLASH FLOOD...RADAR INDICATED

$$

Colbert

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 Sep 2, 8:27 PM EDT, 6 hours 29 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

  • 1) Late summer surge of heat and humidity continues severe thunderstorm and excessive rainfall threat through Thursday
Area forecast discussion, Sep 2, 8:27 PM EDT, 6 hours 29 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service State College PA
827 PM EDT Wed Sep 2 2026

.WHAT HAS CHANGED...
* No significant changes, severe weather risk continues this
  evening

&&

.KEY MESSAGES...
1) Late summer surge of heat and humidity continues severe
thunderstorm and excessive rainfall threat through Thursday

&&

.DISCUSSION...
KEY MESSAGE 1: Late summer surge of heat and humidity continues
severe thunderstorm and excessive rainfall threat through
Thursday

A series of mid level impulses tracking eastward along the
northern periphery of an expansive 500mb ridge will continue to
interact with anomalous moisture/instability and strong WNW flow
aloft to promote severe storm and excessive rain risk through
Thursday.

After a round of severe storms this morning, robust
destabilization is occurring across western and central PA with
plenty of heating and very rich dewpoints in the 70-75F range.
More thunderstorms are expected this afternoon through the
evening in an convective environment highly supportive of
organized storms capable of all severe weather hazards. There is
also the potential for heavy rain and flash flooding especially
were storms repeat over the same area.

Increased southwest to westerly flow on Thursday will push the
will continue to pump in the late summer heat and very high
dewpoints. Heat advisory remains in effect from 11a-8p Thursday
across a portion of south central PA where max heat index values
are projected to reach/exceed 100F.

The severe risk will be focused more across the southwest
quadrant of central PA Thursday, and south of the PA-MD border
on Friday. An upper trough passage favors one final round of
showers and storms on Friday, but fortunately the Labor Day
weekend is trending dry. The upper ridge is forecast to
retrograde by the end of the week which allows for a return to
more seasonal temperatures and lower humidity this weekend into
early next week.

&&

.AVIATION /00Z THURSDAY THROUGH MONDAY/...

With scattered storms taking shape over Central PA, have
included mentions of thunderstorms over northern and western
terminals this evening. Exact timing of when exactly any of
this scattered activity could impact a site remains uncertain,
but any impacts to terminals could see lightning and IFR
visibility drops in heavy rain.

Another round of forcing has kicked up storms in New York which
is dropping southward. Most guidances continues this line
southward into our area overnight with further development along
its western flanks. Have included PROB30s for most confident
timing of activity overnight, IFR restrictions in heavy
downpours are possible.

Fog remains possible but guidance has backed off prevailing fog
conditions at JST and AOO so adjusted visibilities there.
Visibility restrictions remain possible though in any
thunderstorms that cross paths with the terminals. Prevailing
IFR ceilings look most likely in the eastern terminals starting
around tomorrow. Morning thunderstorm activity may lead to these
restrictions persisting at MDT and LNS later into the morning.
Afternoon thunderstorm activity looks most likely at JST and AOO
tomorrow but seeing how these storms tonight unfold may change
timing/other sites that may see impacts.

Outlook...

Thu...Scattered-Numerous SHRA/TSRA with brief restrictions
possible; morning fog.

Fri...Scattered SHRA/TSRA SW. VFR elsewhere after morning fog.

Sat-Mon...VFR favored; morning fog possible.

&&

.CTP WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
Heat Advisory from 11 AM to 8 PM EDT Thursday for PAZ026>028-
035-036-056-057-059-063>066.

&&

WHAT HAS CHANGED...Steinbugl
KEY MESSAGES...Steinbugl
DISCUSSION...Steinbugl
AVIATION...Lambrech
Hazardous weather outlook, Sep 3, 2:08 AM EDT, 48 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service State College PA
208 AM EDT Thu Sep 3 2026

PAZ026>028-035-036-056-057-059-063>066-040615-
Huntingdon-Mifflin-Juniata-Fulton-Franklin-Perry-Dauphin-Lebanon-
Cumberland-Adams-York-Lancaster-
208 AM EDT Thu Sep 3 2026

...HEAT ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM THIS MORNING TO 8 PM EDT THIS
EVENING...

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for central Pennsylvania.

.DAY ONE...Tonight.

A few strong to severe thunderstorms with damaging winds
and heavy rainfall are possible into early Thursday morning.
Locally very heavy rain from training thunderstorms could
produce localized flash Flooding of small streams, creeks
and low lying areas.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday.

Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to
weather.gov/StateCollege on the internet for more
information about the following hazards.

   Heat Advisory.

Strong to severe thunderstorms with damaging winds and heavy
rainfall are possible again this Thursday afternoon and
evening.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation is not expected at this time.

PAZ004>006-010>012-017>019-037-041-042-045-046-040615-
Warren-McKean-Potter-Elk-Cameron-Northern Clinton-Clearfield-
Northern Centre-Southern Centre-Tioga-Northern Lycoming-Sullivan-
Southern Clinton-Southern Lycoming-
208 AM EDT Thu Sep 3 2026

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 646 IN EFFECT UNTIL 2 AM EDT EARLY THIS
MORNING...

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.

   Severe Thunderstorm Watch.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday.

Strong to severe thunderstorms with damaging winds and heavy
rainfall are possible again this Thursday afternoon and evening.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotters are encouraged to report significant hazardous weather.

PAZ024-025-033-034-049>053-058-040615-
Cambria-Blair-Somerset-Bedford-Union-Snyder-Montour-Northumberland-
Columbia-Schuylkill-
208 AM EDT Thu Sep 3 2026

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for central Pennsylvania.

.DAY ONE...Tonight.

Strong to severe thunderstorms with damaging winds and heavy
rainfall are possible into the predawn hour of Thursday.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday.

Strong to severe thunderstorms with damaging winds and heavy
rainfall are possible again this Thursday afternoon and
evening.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotters are encouraged to report significant hazardous weather.

In the hours before

Local storm report, Sep 3, 2:02 AM EDT, 54 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service State College PA
202 AM EDT Thu Sep 3 2026

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1227 AM     Flash Flood      Jersey Shore            41.20N 77.26W
09/03/2026                   Lycoming           PA   911 Call Center

            400-600 Block of Alleghany Street flooded
            and impassable.

&&

JBL
Local storm report, Sep 3, 2:09 AM EDT, 47 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service State College PA
209 AM EDT Thu Sep 3 2026

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1206 AM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     2 W Pine Grove          40.55N 76.42W
09/03/2026                   Schuylkill         PA   911 Call Center

            Tree down on the 200 block of Oak Grove Road
            in Pine Grove Township.

&&

JBL
Local storm report, Sep 3, 2:17 AM EDT, 39 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service State College PA
217 AM EDT Thu Sep 3 2026

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1143 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     1 ESE Liverpool         40.57N 76.97W
09/02/2026                   Dauphin            PA   911 Call Center

            Tree down on Tarry Hall Road.

&&

JBL
Local storm report, Sep 3, 2:32 AM EDT, 24 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service State College PA
232 AM EDT Thu Sep 3 2026

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0100 AM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     2 WNW Mill Hall         41.11N 77.53W
09/03/2026                   Clinton            PA   911 Call Center

            Wires down on Laurel Run road in Bald Eagle
            Township.

&&

JBL
Local storm report, Sep 3, 2:42 AM EDT, 14 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service State College PA
242 AM EDT Thu Sep 3 2026

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0215 AM     Flash Flood      3 E Port Matilda        40.80N 78.00W
09/03/2026                   Centre             PA   NWS Employee

            NWS Employee reported flooding on State
            route 550 in multiple locations in and
            around Stormstown.

&&

JBL
Local storm report, Sep 3, 2:53 AM EDT, 3 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service State College PA
253 AM EDT Thu Sep 3 2026

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0104 AM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     3 WNW Lamar             41.03N 77.56W
09/03/2026                   Clinton            PA   911 Call Center

            Tree down in Porter Township by I-80 EB.

&&

JBL

The office that day

Everything else NWS State College, PA issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Sep 2, 8:12 PM EDTTornado WarningCTPCentre, Clinton33 min
Sep 2, 8:22 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPClinton, Lycoming, Potter, Tioga38 min
Sep 2, 8:29 PM EDTTornado WarningCTPTioga35 min
Sep 2, 8:39 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPClinton, Lycoming51 min
Sep 2, 8:44 PM EDTTornado WarningCTPCentre, Clinton31 min
Sep 2, 8:50 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPMcKean, Potter, Tioga55 min
Sep 2, 8:58 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPClinton, Lycoming, Potter47 min
Sep 2, 9:03 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPClinton, Lycoming57 min
Sep 2, 9:24 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningCTPCentre, Clinton, Lycoming3 hr
Sep 2, 9:29 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPTioga16 min
Sep 2, 9:50 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPCentre, Clinton, Lycoming, Union40 min
Sep 2, 9:50 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPLycoming, Sullivan, Tioga40 min
Sep 2, 10:12 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningCTPCentre, Clinton, Lycoming, Union3 hr
Sep 2, 10:35 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPWarren40 min
Sep 2, 10:51 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPDauphin, Northumberland, Snyder, Union39 min
Sep 2, 11:08 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCTPClinton37 min
Sep 2, 11:09 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPElk, McKean, Warren66 min
Sep 2, 11:13 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPDauphin, Juniata, Mifflin, Northumberland, Perry, Snyder47 min
Sep 2, 11:15 PM EDTTornado WarningCTPElk, McKean, Warren15 min
Sep 2, 11:26 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningCTPNorthumberland, Snyder, Union4 hr
Sep 2, 11:26 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPDauphin, Lebanon, Northumberland, Schuylkill, Snyder, Union49 min
Sep 2, 11:40 PM EDTRiver Flood WarningCTPCentre, Clinton16 hr
Sep 2, 11:43 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPCameron, Clearfield, Clinton, Elk, Lycoming, McKean and 2 more41 min
Sep 3, 12:03 AM EDTFlash Flood WarningCTPDauphin, Lebanon, Schuylkill4 hr
Sep 3, 12:10 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCTPDauphin, Lancaster, Lebanon, Schuylkill50 min
Sep 3, 12:23 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPCameron, Centre, Clearfield, Clinton, Elk, Lycoming and 3 more61 min
Sep 3, 12:27 AM EDTAreal Flood WarningCTPCentre, Clinton, Lycoming6 hr
Sep 3, 12:28 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCTPMcKean, Warren47 min
Sep 3, 12:50 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCTPLancaster, York70 min
Sep 3, 1:09 AM EDTFlash Flood WarningCTPClinton, Lycoming4 hr
Sep 3, 1:11 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCTPCameron, Elk, McKean49 min
Sep 3, 1:14 AM EDTAreal Flood WarningCTPCentre, Clinton, Lycoming, Union6 hr
Sep 3, 1:26 AM EDTRiver Flood WarningCTPSnyder, Union15 hr
Sep 3, 1:32 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPCentre, Huntingdon43 min
Sep 3, 2:12 AM EDTFlash Flood WarningCTPCentre, Clearfield, Huntingdon, Juniata, Mifflin, Perry4 hr
Sep 3, 2:42 AM EDTFlood WatchCTPAdams, Bedford, Blair, Cambria, Cameron, Centre and 27 more20 hr
Sep 3, 3:23 AM EDTAreal Flood WarningCTPNorthumberland, Snyder, Union3 hr
Sep 3, 3:53 AM EDTAreal Flood WarningCTPDauphin, Lebanon, Schuylkill3 hr
Sep 3, 4:11 AM EDTFlash Flood WarningCTPDauphin, Lancaster, Lebanon4 hr
Sep 3, 5:03 AM EDTAreal Flood WarningCTPClinton, Lycoming117 min
Sep 3, 5:46 AM EDTAreal Flood WarningCTPCentre, Clearfield, Huntingdon, Juniata, Mifflin, Perry2 hr
Sep 3, 5:56 AM EDTAreal Flood WarningCTPMcKean, Warren3 hr
Sep 3, 6:15 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCTPWarren45 min
Sep 3, 6:55 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCTPCameron, Clearfield, Elk65 min
Sep 3, 8:37 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCTPSomerset23 min
Sep 3, 8:55 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPBedford, Somerset50 min
Sep 3, 9:34 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPBedford, Franklin, Fulton, Somerset41 min
Sep 3, 7:01 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatCTPCambria, Somerset44 min
Sep 3, 7:20 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Destructive damage threatCTPCambria, Somerset25 min
Sep 3, 7:21 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningCTPCambria, Somerset3 hr
Sep 3, 7:39 PM EDTTornado WarningCTPBedford, Cambria, Somerset36 min
Sep 3, 7:42 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatCTPBedford, Blair, Cambria, Fulton, Huntingdon, Somerset48 min
Sep 3, 7:54 PM EDTTornado WarningCTPBedford, Blair, Cambria36 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; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.