Alert archive / Pennsylvania / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2026
Severe Thunderstorm Warning 178, NWS State College, PA
NWS State College, PA issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Jul 5, 2026, 7:27 PM EDT for 7 counties in Pennsylvania. It was in force for 63 min. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.
The area
The counties it named.
The facts
- Issued
- Jul 5, 2026, 7:27 PM EDT (23:27 UTC)
- Expired
- Jul 5, 2026, 8:30 PM EDT
- In force
- 63 min
- Issued by
- NWS State College, PA
- Area
- Storm-based polygon
- Tornado
- Possible
- Damage threat
- Considerable
- Hail
- 0.75 in
- Wind
- 70.0 mph
Counties Adams County, PA, Cumberland County, PA, Dauphin County, PA, Lancaster County, PA, Lebanon County, PA, Perry County, PA, York County, PA
The radar
The State College radar (KCCX), 129 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 23:27 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.
The watch it was issued in
The SPC watch in force over the same counties when this warning went out.
| Issued | Product | Office | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 5, 6:44 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Watch | SPC | 6 hr |
The nearest sounding before it
Washington/Dulle, VA (KIAD), launched 12:00Z, 11.5 hours before the alert went out and 143 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
- 61 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -350 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 1346 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 16 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 61 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 86 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 0.1
What forecasters said that day
The local office's own words before this severe thunderstorm 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 severe thunderstorm warning went out at Jul 5, 3:04 PM EDT, 4 hours 23 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, 3:04 PM EDT, 4 hours 23 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service State College PA 304 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 /18Z SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/... Showers and thunderstorms will develop during the afternoon and are once again likely to impact all TAF sites through the evening. PROB30s have been included to highlight this potential, though the timing will need to be adjusted as confidence increases. Storms will be capable of producing strong wind gusts, intense rainfall rates, and frequent lightning. Any storms that move directly over an airfield will likely lead to brief periods of IFR conditions. Much of the heavier showers and thunderstorms come to an end from west to east between 00z and 06 Mon, though lighter showers may linger past 06Z. Fog and low clouds appear likely behind these showers and widespread IFR conditions will be likely into Monday morning as easterly upslope flow provides ample moisture. Outlook... Mon-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 PAZ019-026>028-036-045- 046-049>053-056>059-063>066. && WHAT HAS CHANGED...Steinbugl/Colbert KEY MESSAGES...Steinbugl/Colbert DISCUSSION...Steinbugl/Colbert AVIATION...Colbert/Bauco CLIMATE...Steinbugl
Hazardous weather outlook, Jul 5, 6:46 PM EDT, 41 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service State College PA 646 PM EDT Sun Jul 5 2026 PAZ025>028-034>036-056>059-063>066-062300- Blair-Huntingdon-Mifflin-Juniata-Bedford-Fulton-Franklin-Perry- Dauphin-Schuylkill-Lebanon-Cumberland-Adams-York-Lancaster- 646 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. Scattered wind damage is also possible with strong to severe thunderstorms this afternoon and evening. .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>019-024-033-042-045-046-049>053-062300- Clearfield-Northern Centre-Southern Centre-Cambria-Somerset-Sullivan- Southern Clinton-Southern Lycoming-Union-Snyder-Montour- Northumberland-Columbia- 646 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. Scattered wind damage is also possible with strong to severe thunderstorms this afternoon and evening. .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>012-037-041-062300- Warren-McKean-Potter-Elk-Cameron-Northern Clinton-Tioga- Northern Lycoming- 646 PM EDT Sun Jul 5 2026 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for central Pennsylvania. .DAY ONE...Tonight. Isolated wind damage is possible with strong to severe thunderstorms this afternoon and evening. Heavy rain may make isolated minor flooding. .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. Beaty
In the hours before
Local storm report, Jul 5, 6:14 PM EDT, 1 hour 13 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service State College PA
614 PM EDT Sun Jul 5 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0540 PM Flash Flood 1 NNE Tyrone 40.68N 78.24W
07/05/2026 Blair PA 911 Call Center
Basement collapse due to flash flooding on
West 20th Street.
&&Local storm report, Jul 5, 6:25 PM EDT, 1 hour 2 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service State College PA
625 PM EDT Sun Jul 5 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0440 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 4 S Unionville 40.85N 77.87W
07/05/2026 Centre PA 911 Call Center
Trees down on wires along South Fillmore
Road.
&&Special weather statement, Jul 5, 6:27 PM EDT, 1 hour before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service State College PA
627 PM EDT Sun Jul 5 2026
PAZ017-018-024>026-052300-
Northern Centre PA-Clearfield PA-Blair PA-Cambria PA-Huntingdon PA-
627 PM EDT Sun Jul 5 2026
...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT SOUTH CENTRAL CLEARFIELD...
NORTHWESTERN HUNTINGDON...SOUTHWESTERN CENTRE...NORTHERN BLAIR AND
NORTHEASTERN CAMBRIA COUNTIES THROUGH 700 PM EDT...
At 626 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from Westover to Altoona to Portage. Movement was
east at 30 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...
Altoona, Tyrone, Bald Eagle, Lakemont, Bellwood, Warriors Mark,
Patton, Cresson, Gallitzin, Hastings, Tipton, Lilly, Houtzdale,
Sankertown, Sandy Ridge, Blandburg, Spruce Creek, Birmingham,
Horseshoe Curve, and Prince Gallitzin State Park.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with these storms.
Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe
shelter inside a building or vehicle.
These storms 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 4087 7831 4077 7819 4074 7823 4074 7817
4071 7813 4050 7811 4041 7868 4054 7860
4072 7876
TIME...MOT...LOC 2226Z 252DEG 25KT 4068 7860 4057 7852 4044 7859
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...55 MPH
BeatyLocal storm report, Jul 5, 6:30 PM EDT, 57 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service State College PA
630 PM EDT Sun Jul 5 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0523 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 4 ENE Potters Mills 40.80N 77.58W
07/05/2026 Centre PA Utility Company
Trees down on wires off of Decker Valley
Road.
&&Local storm report, Jul 5, 6:41 PM EDT, 46 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service State College PA
641 PM EDT Sun Jul 5 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0624 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 1 NE Landisburg 40.35N 77.29W
07/05/2026 Perry PA Utility Company
Trees down on wires along Milltown Road.
&&Local storm report, Jul 5, 6:50 PM EDT, 37 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service State College PA
650 PM EDT Sun Jul 5 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0629 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 3 N Prince Gallitzin St 40.70N 78.57W
07/05/2026 Cambria PA Utility Company
Trees down on wires along Kibler Lake Road.
&&The office that day
Everything else NWS State College, PA issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 4, 8:11 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | CTP | Columbia, Montour, Northumberland, Snyder, Union | 34 min |
| Jul 4, 8:43 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | CTP | Columbia, Dauphin, Montour, Northumberland, Schuylkill | 40 min |
| Jul 5, 3:17 AM EDT | Flood Watch | CTP | Adams, Bedford, Blair, Cambria, Cameron, Centre and 27 more | 52 hr |
| Jul 5, 3:17 AM EDT | Dense Fog Advisory | CTP | Bedford, Blair, Cambria, Cameron, Centre, Clearfield and 12 more | 6 hr |
| Jul 5, 2:46 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | CTP | Blair | 29 min |
| Jul 5, 3:12 PM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | CTP | Blair, Cambria, Centre, Clearfield, Huntingdon | 5 hr |
| Jul 5, 4:01 PM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | CTP | Potter, Tioga | 2 hr |
| Jul 5, 4:10 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | CTP | Centre, Mifflin | 35 min |
| Jul 5, 4:33 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | CTP | Centre, Huntingdon, Mifflin | 57 min |
| Jul 5, 4:37 PM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | CTP | Centre, Huntingdon | 3 hr |
| Jul 5, 5:08 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | CTP | Juniata, Mifflin | 52 min |
| Jul 5, 5:30 PM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | CTP | Cambria, Clearfield | 3 hr |
| Jul 5, 5:43 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | CTP | Cambria, Clearfield | 49 min |
| Jul 5, 6:09 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | CTP | Juniata, Perry | 51 min |
| Jul 5, 6:10 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | CTP | Tioga | 35 min |
| Jul 5, 6:15 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | CTP | Perry | 45 min |
| Jul 5, 6:21 PM EDT | Tornado Warning | CTP | Perry | 24 min |
| Jul 5, 6:22 PM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | CTP | Juniata, Perry | 3 hr |
| Jul 5, 6:27 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | CTP | Blair | 33 min |
| Jul 5, 6:44 PM EDT | Tornado Warning | CTP | Cumberland, Dauphin, Perry | 31 min |
| Jul 5, 6:53 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | CTP | Cumberland, Perry | 52 min |
| Jul 5, 6:59 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | CTP | Cumberland, Dauphin, Perry | 46 min |
| Jul 5, 7:13 PM EDT | Tornado Warning | CTP | Cumberland, Dauphin, Perry | 32 min |
Nearby
Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Pennsylvania, 2026Every severe thunderstorm 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.