Alert archive / Pennsylvania / Tornado Warnings in 2026

Tornado Warning 16, NWS State College, PA

July 5, 2026Franklin County, Pennsylvania

NWS State College, PA issued this tornado warning at Jul 5, 2026, 8:10 PM EDT for Franklin County, Pennsylvania. It was in force for 19 min. 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 5, 2026, 8:10 PM EDT (00:10 UTC)
Expired
Jul 5, 2026, 8:29 PM EDT
In force
19 min
Issued by
NWS State College, PA
Area
Storm-based polygon
Tornado
Radar indicated
Hail
0.75 in

County Franklin County, PA

The radar

The State College radar (KCCX), 100 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 00:09 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 tornado 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 watch it was issued in

The SPC watch in force over the same counties when this warning went out.

IssuedProductOfficeLasted
Jul 5, 6:44 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WatchSPC6 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Washington/Dulle, VA (KIAD), launched 00:00Z, 0.2 hours before the alert went out and 126 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, Washington/Dulle, VA at 00:00Z on 2026-07-06Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 2754 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, Washington/Dulle, VA at 00:00Z on 2026-07-06The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 25 square meters per square second.1939Sfc1 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
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

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

349 
WFUS51 KCTP 060010
TORCTP
PAC055-060045-
/O.NEW.KCTP.TO.W.0016.260706T0010Z-260706T0045Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service State College PA
810 PM EDT Sun Jul 5 2026

The National Weather Service in State College PA has issued a

* Tornado Warning for...
  Central Franklin County in south central Pennsylvania...

* Until 845 PM EDT.

* At 809 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
  was located over Fannettsburg, moving east at 20 mph.

  HAZARD...Tornado.

  SOURCE...Radar indicated rotation.

  IMPACT...Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without 
           shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed. 
           Damage to roofs, windows, and vehicles will occur.  Tree 
           damage is likely.

* This dangerous storm will be near...
  Fannettsburg around 810 PM EDT.
  Upper Strasburg around 820 PM EDT.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TAKE COVER NOW! Move to a basement or an interior room on the lowest
floor of a sturdy building. Avoid windows. If you are outdoors, in a
mobile home, or in a vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter
and protect yourself from flying debris.

&&

LAT...LON 4001 7790 4002 7791 4005 7788 4008 7784
      4010 7765 3999 7768
TIME...MOT...LOC 0009Z 275DEG 16KT 4004 7783 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...<.75 IN

$$

Bauco
1 follow-up statement
548 
WWUS51 KCTP 060029
SVSCTP

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service State College PA
829 PM EDT Sun Jul 5 2026

PAC055-060038-
/O.CAN.KCTP.TO.W.0016.000000T0000Z-260706T0045Z/
Franklin PA-
829 PM EDT Sun Jul 5 2026

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR CENTRAL FRANKLIN COUNTY IS CANCELLED...

The tornado threat has diminished and the Tornado Warning has been 
cancelled. However, damaging winds remain likely and a Severe 
Thunderstorm Warning remains in effect for the area.

A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 100 AM EDT for
south central and central Pennsylvania.

&&

LAT...LON 4001 7790 4002 7791 4005 7788 4008 7784
      4010 7765 3999 7768
TIME...MOT...LOC 0025Z 275DEG 16KT 4003 7772 

$$

Bauco

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this tornado 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 tornado warning went out at Jul 5, 8:06 PM EDT, 4 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, 4 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, 6:46 PM EDT, 1 hour 24 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, 6:25 PM EDT, 1 hour 45 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 43 minutes 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

Beaty
Local storm report, Jul 5, 6:30 PM EDT, 1 hour 40 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, 1 hour 29 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, 1 hour 20 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.

&&
Local storm report, Jul 5, 7:33 PM EDT, 37 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service State College PA
733 PM EDT Sun Jul 5 2026

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

0707 PM     Flash Flood      2 ENE Port Royal        40.54N 77.36W
07/05/2026                   Juniata            PA   Public

            Water flowing across a stretch of old Route
            22 in Walker Township.

&&

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jul 5, 8:00 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPFranklin, Fulton, Huntingdon45 min
Jul 5, 8:18 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPDauphin, Lancaster, Lebanon, York72 min
Jul 5, 8:19 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningCTPDauphin, York3 hr
Jul 5, 8:30 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPAdams, Cumberland, Franklin60 min
Jul 5, 8:38 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningCTPCentre, Huntingdon3 hr
Jul 5, 8:49 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningCTPDauphin, Lancaster, Lebanon, York3 hr
Jul 5, 9:04 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCTPCentre41 min
Jul 5, 9:16 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningCTPAdams, Cumberland, Lancaster, York3 hr
Jul 5, 9:20 PM EDTFlash Flood Warning Considerable damage threatCTPLancaster, Lebanon2 hr
Jul 5, 10:10 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCTPLancaster, Lebanon35 min
Jul 5, 11:19 PM EDTAreal Flood WarningCTPDauphin, York3 hr
Jul 5, 11:25 PM EDTAreal Flood WarningCTPDauphin, Lancaster, Lebanon, York3 hr
Jul 5, 11:28 PM EDTAreal Flood WarningCTPLancaster, Lebanon3 hr
Jul 6, 2:57 AM EDTFlash Flood WarningCTPPotter, Tioga108 min
Jul 6, 4:10 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningCTPTioga2 hr
Jul 6, 5:34 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningCTPElk, McKean3 hr
Jul 6, 6:03 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCTPElk42 min
Jul 6, 6:13 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningCTPElk3 hr
Jul 6, 6:27 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningCTPPotter, Tioga6 hr
Jul 6, 6:34 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPCameron, Elk41 min
Jul 6, 7:08 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPCameron, Clearfield, Elk52 min
Jul 6, 7:50 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningCTPClearfield3 hr

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Pennsylvania, 2026Every tornado warning in 2026Tornadoes 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.