Alert archive / Pennsylvania / Tornado Warnings in 2026

Tornado Warning 21, NWS State College, PA

July 18, 2026Somerset County, Pennsylvania

NWS State College, PA issued this tornado warning at Jul 18, 2026, 5:37 PM EDT for Somerset County, Pennsylvania. It was in force for 23 min. 3 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 18, 2026, 5:37 PM EDT (21:37 UTC)
Expired
Jul 18, 2026, 6:00 PM EDT
In force
23 min
Issued by
NWS State College, PA
Area
Storm-based polygon
Tornado
Radar indicated
Hail
0.75 in

County Somerset County, PA

The radar

The Pittsburgh radar (KPBZ), 107 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 21:38 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

TimeReportWhereRemark
Jul 18, 5:38 PM EDTTORNADO5 Wnw Jerome, PAEF-2 tornado with maximum wind speed of 125mph. Path width 100 yards. Path length 0.72 miles. Extensive tree damage near the Conemaugh Twp Reservoir.
Jul 18, 5:43 PM EDTTSTM WND DMG3 Nw Jerome, PAMultiple trees and wires down in the 200 block of North Fork Dam Rd.
Jul 18, 5:50 PM EDTTSTM WND DMG1 N Benson, PATrees down on wires reported near Jerome. Time estimated by radar.

Local storm reports filed while the alert was in force, from inside its polygon or its counties.

The watch it was issued in

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

IssuedProductOfficeLasted
Jul 18, 1:02 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WatchSPC8 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Pittsburgh, PA (KPIT), launched 12:00Z, 9.6 hours before the alert went out and 94 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 12:00Z on 2026-07-18Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 510 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Pittsburgh, PA at 12:00Z on 2026-07-18The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 139 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
510 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-51 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
790 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
31 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
139 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
160 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

049 
WFUS51 KCTP 182137
TORCTP
PAC111-182200-
/O.NEW.KCTP.TO.W.0021.260718T2137Z-260718T2200Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service State College PA
537 PM EDT Sat Jul 18 2026

The National Weather Service in State College PA has issued a

* Tornado Warning for...
  North central Somerset County in south central Pennsylvania...

* Until 600 PM EDT.

* At 537 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
  was located over Jerome, moving east at 25 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...
  Jerome around 540 PM EDT.
  Davidsville around 550 PM EDT.

Other locations impacted by this tornadic thunderstorm include
Benson.

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.

Torrential rainfall is occurring with this storm, and may lead to
flash flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways.

&&

LAT...LON 4027 7907 4029 7905 4024 7887 4016 7890
      4022 7910
TIME...MOT...LOC 2137Z 291DEG 21KT 4025 7909 

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

$$

Beaty
2 follow-up statements
456 
WWUS51 KCTP 182148
SVSCTP

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service State College PA
548 PM EDT Sat Jul 18 2026

PAC111-182200-
/O.CON.KCTP.TO.W.0021.000000T0000Z-260718T2200Z/
Somerset PA-
548 PM EDT Sat Jul 18 2026

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 600 PM EDT FOR NORTH
CENTRAL SOMERSET COUNTY...

At 548 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located over Jerome, moving southeast 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...
  Davidsville and Jerome around 550 PM EDT.

Other locations impacted by this tornadic thunderstorm include
Benson.

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.

Torrential rainfall is occurring with this storm, and may lead to
flash flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways.

&&

LAT...LON 4021 7906 4028 7901 4024 7887 4016 7890
TIME...MOT...LOC 2148Z 298DEG 16KT 4023 7901 

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

$$

Beaty
424 
WWUS51 KCTP 182157
SVSCTP

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service State College PA
557 PM EDT Sat Jul 18 2026

PAC111-182207-
/O.EXP.KCTP.TO.W.0021.000000T0000Z-260718T2200Z/
Somerset PA-
557 PM EDT Sat Jul 18 2026

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR NORTH CENTRAL SOMERSET COUNTY WILL EXPIRE
AT 600 PM EDT...

The storm which prompted the warning has weakened below severe
limits, and no longer appears capable of producing a tornado.
Therefore, the warning will be allowed to expire.

A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 900 PM EDT for
south central Pennsylvania.

&&

LAT...LON 4021 7906 4028 7901 4024 7887 4016 7890
TIME...MOT...LOC 2157Z 291DEG 21KT 4021 7895 

$$

Beaty

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jul 18, 7:29 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCTPCambria31 min
Jul 18, 8:22 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCTPBlair38 min
Jul 18, 9:21 AM EDTFlood WatchCTPAdams, Bedford, Blair, Cambria, Cameron, Centre and 23 more13 hr
Jul 18, 11:03 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCTPDauphin, Lebanon, Schuylkill57 min
Jul 18, 11:52 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCTPCambria38 min
Jul 18, 12:08 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCTPWarren67 min
Jul 18, 12:21 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPWarren39 min
Jul 18, 12:32 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPBedford, Somerset43 min
Jul 18, 12:38 PM EDTTornado WarningCTPBedford, Somerset37 min
Jul 18, 1:00 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCTPForest45 min
Jul 18, 1:18 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCTPFulton42 min
Jul 18, 2:09 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPCameron, Elk51 min
Jul 18, 2:18 PM EDTTornado WarningCTPElk27 min
Jul 18, 2:37 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPElk40 min
Jul 18, 2:47 PM EDTTornado WarningCTPElk28 min
Jul 18, 2:58 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPCameron, Clinton, Elk47 min
Jul 18, 3:01 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningCTPBedford, Somerset3 hr
Jul 18, 3:14 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPAdams, York31 min
Jul 18, 3:15 PM EDTTornado WarningCTPCameron, Elk30 min
Jul 18, 3:22 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCTPLancaster23 min
Jul 18, 3:42 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPCameron, Centre, Clinton, Elk48 min
Jul 18, 4:29 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPCentre, Clinton46 min
Jul 18, 4:34 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPMcKean, Warren56 min
Jul 18, 4:55 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPClearfield50 min
Jul 18, 4:59 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPClearfield19 min
Jul 18, 5:00 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPCentre, Clinton, Union45 min
Jul 18, 5:25 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPCambria, Somerset50 min
Jul 18, 5:28 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPCameron, Elk, McKean, Potter, Warren62 min
Jul 18, 5:50 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCTPUnion55 min
Jul 18, 6:02 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPClearfield43 min
Jul 18, 6:04 PM EDTTornado WarningCTPCameron, Clinton, Potter14 min
Jul 18, 6:26 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPCameron, Centre, Clearfield, Clinton, Elk, Lycoming and 1 more64 min
Jul 18, 6:34 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPClearfield, Elk56 min
Jul 18, 7:25 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCTPUnion20 min
Jul 18, 7:34 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPClearfield41 min
Jul 18, 7:36 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCTPCentre24 min
Jul 18, 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; local storm reports from the same archive; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.