Alert archive / Pennsylvania / Tornado Warnings in 2026
Tornado Warning 26, NWS State College, PA
NWS State College, PA issued this tornado warning at Aug 20, 2026, 4:29 PM EDT for Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. It was in force for 31 min. 7 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
- Aug 20, 2026, 4:29 PM EDT (20:29 UTC)
- Expired
- Aug 20, 2026, 5:00 PM EDT
- In force
- 31 min
- Issued by
- NWS State College, PA
- Area
- Storm-based polygon
- Tornado
- Radar indicated
- Hail
- 0.75 in
County Lancaster County, PA
The radar
The Sterling radar (KLWX), 146 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 20:28 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
| Time | Report | Where | Remark |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 20, 4:30 PM EDT | TSTM WND DMG | Columbia, PA | Building damage. |
| Aug 20, 4:30 PM EDT | TORNADO | 0 Sw Columbia, PA | An NWS Storm Survey confirmed an EF-1 tornado occurred in Columbia, PA with a path length of 1.47 miles and a path width of 100 yards. The tornado exhibited anomalous motion from northwest to southeast despite prevailing easterly storm motion. |
| Aug 20, 4:33 PM EDT | TSTM WND DMG | Columbia, PA | Severe building damage and walls collapsed. |
| Aug 20, 4:33 PM EDT | TSTM WND DMG | Columbia, PA | Severe building damage and collapsed walls. |
| Aug 20, 4:37 PM EDT | TORNADO | 2 Ese Mountville, PA | A brief EF-0 tornado occurred near Habecker Church Rd. It had a path length of 0.3 miles and path width of 75 yards. The estimated maximum wind speed was 65 mph. |
| Aug 20, 4:38 PM EDT | TORNADO | 3 Nw Millersville, PA | EF-0 Tornado, Max Estimated winds 85 mph, path length 0.49 miles, path width 125 yards. |
| Aug 20, 4:42 PM EDT | TSTM WND DMG | Columbia, PA | Collapsed shed and shingles blown off roofs. |
Local storm reports filed while the alert was in force, from inside its polygon or its counties.
Did it verify
Verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow matched 3 storm reports to this tornado warning; the first came 1 minutes after it went out.
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.
| Issued | Product | Office | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 20, 2:31 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Watch | SPC | 7 hr |
The nearest sounding before it
Washington/Dulle, VA (KIAD), launched 12:00Z, 8.5 hours before the alert went out and 144 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
- 97 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -72 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 1192 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 47 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 115 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 230 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- -0.0
- Supercell composite
- -0.0
The text
As transmitted.
055
WFUS51 KCTP 202029
TORCTP
PAC071-202100-
/O.NEW.KCTP.TO.W.0026.260820T2029Z-260820T2100Z/
BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service State College PA
429 PM EDT Thu Aug 20 2026
The National Weather Service in State College PA has issued a
* Tornado Warning for...
Central Lancaster County in south central Pennsylvania...
* Until 500 PM EDT.
* At 428 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located over Mountville, 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...
Columbia, Millersville, and Lancaster around 430 PM EDT.
East Petersburg and Willow Street around 440 PM EDT.
Leola and Leacock around 450 PM EDT.
Bareville around 500 PM EDT.
Other locations impacted by this tornadic thunderstorm include
Smoketown, Washington Boro, Gordonville, Bird-In-Hand, and Conestoga.
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 3993 7645 3995 7648 3997 7650 3999 7650
4003 7653 4015 7617 3998 7608 3993 7643
TIME...MOT...LOC 2028Z 253DEG 21KT 4000 7645
TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...<.75 IN
$$
BowenWhat 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 Aug 20, 2:40 PM EDT, 1 hour 49 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
- 1) Elevated flooding risk shifts from central into eastern PA late this afternoon into the evening 2) A few strong to severe thunderstorms remain possible in far southeast PA through early to mid evening 3) An unsettled weekend bookended by fair weather Friday and early next week.
Area forecast discussion, Aug 20, 2:40 PM EDT, 1 hour 49 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service State College PA 240 PM EDT Thu Aug 20 2026 .WHAT HAS CHANGED... * Flood watch issued for most of central PA until 4/8PM * Severe T-storm watch issued for a portion of the LSV until 10PM * Expanded fog coverage late tonight into early Friday morning && .KEY MESSAGES... 1) Elevated flooding risk shifts from central into eastern PA late this afternoon into the evening 2) A few strong to severe thunderstorms remain possible in far southeast PA through early to mid evening 3) An unsettled weekend bookended by fair weather Friday and early next week. && .DISCUSSION... KEY MESSAGE 1: Elevated flooding risk shifts from central into eastern PA late this afternoon into the evening The right entrance (upper jet) ascent pattern will remain strong through the afternoon with a mature MCV moving eastward from around KAOO as of 1730TUC. This feature will provide strong dPVA to further enhance divergence/outflow aloft which should invigoration additional convection as it tracks into the Lower Susquehanna Valley later this afternoon. Despite lack of lightning, rainfall has been efficient particularly within the MCV comma head and banded rain features extending to the northeast near the I-80 corridor. We've expanded the flood watch issued earlier this morning eastward through the mid and lower Susquehanna Valley where 3+ inch rainfall totals are possible. Combination of the heavy rain, complex terrain, and relatively saturated soil/low FFGs was also a contributing factor in the watch issuance. The nature of the flooding has been more inundation type vs. true flash flood with some reports of ponding water/poor drainage flooding, flooded basements, and a few road secondary closures. Rain exits the eastern zones around 00Z with clouds gradually clearing out later tonight. Widespread rainfall today followed by gradually clearing conditions should allow for formation of late night valley fog which may become locally dense with vis 1/2mi or less into early Friday morning. ------------------------------------------------------------ KEY MESSAGE 2: A few strong to severe thunderstorms remain possible in southeast PA through early to mid evening Severe T-storm watch #604 issued for a portion of the Lower Susquehanna Valley (LSV) until 10PM. The severe threat won't last that long, peaking in the next 1-3 hours and likely ending by or shortly after 6PM. Previous... SPC highlighting the far southeast part of the lower Susquehanna Valley for severe watch potential (80% probability) via MCD#2052. MCV approaching that area should trigger increasing t-storm development through 4-6PM, accompanied by the risk of localized damaging wind gusts and perhaps a couple of tornadoes. ------------------------------------------------------------ KEY MESSAGE 3: An unsettled weekend bookended by fair weather Friday and early next week By Friday, the aforementioned front will drift south but remain very close to the Mason-Dixon line. As such we can't rule out a spotty shower/t-storm in far southern PA Friday afternoon. However, most locations will stay dry and Friday looks like a fairly pleasant day with plenty of sunshine. An upper trough carving out over the Great Lakes will bring increasingly unsettled weather conditions over the weekend. There is still considerable uncertainty with timing, intensity, and coverage of storms, but it is not expected to be a washout for anyone. This system will also deliver some relatively cooler air both at the surface and aloft. This setup could prove favorable for clusters of gusty t-storms with small hail both Saturday and Sunday. A cold front will move across the region Saturday and Sunday, helping focus severe weather potential. The best chance for strong storms will be west of I-99 on Saturday and then across eastern PA on Sunday. In the wake of the cold front, the start of next week looks quite nice. A decaying secondary cold front could bring some light showers north of I-80 on Monday, but dry conditions prevail otherwise. Mostly sunny skies, slightly below normal temperatures, and lower humidity will provide some very pleasant late August weather. Upper troughing will continue to support near to below average temperatures and above average precipitation into early September. && .AVIATION /18Z THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/... A 100-125 NM wide area of steady moderate to heavy rain was covering the Central and North-central Mtns, Middle Susq Valley, and Laurel Highlands at 1815Z and will continue to move steadily east at 35-40 mph. Some breaks in the thick layered clouds across the far SE zones From KTHV to KLNS will support vertical growth of the line of low-topped TSRA heavy nearing the I-81 corridor just north of KHGR. Used a roughly 2 hour tempo group during the 19-21Z and 20-22Z period respectively at KMDT and KLNS to cover some brief gusty wind and lower CIGS/VSBYS associated with the TSRA. Elsewhere to the North and West, steady moderate to heavy rain with IFR to low end MVFR conditions will prevail through 20Z across the west and about 22-23Z along and just SE of the Interstate 81 corridor. For this evening, look for a brief, several hour period of mainly VFR before the light wind and moist ground from today's rain lead to the formation of fairly widespread dense fog after midnight through about 13Z Friday. Conditions will become VFR in all areas by 14Z or shortly thereafter, with SCT flat cu topped by thin cirrus. Winds will be light and variable or light from the NW. Outlook... Fri...AM fog, otherwise trending VFR. Sat-Sun...Scattered to numerous showers/t-storms likely. Breezy. Mon...VFR returns for early next week. && .CTP WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Flood Watch until 8 PM EDT this evening for PAZ012-041-042-045- 046-049>053-057>059-065-066. Flood Watch until 4 PM EDT this afternoon for PAZ017>019- 024>028-033>036-056-063-064. && WHAT HAS CHANGED...Steinbugl KEY MESSAGES...Steinbugl DISCUSSION...Steinbugl AVIATION...Lambert/Bauco/Teare
Hazardous weather outlook, Aug 20, 2:34 PM EDT, 1 hour 55 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service State College PA 234 PM EDT Thu Aug 20 2026 PAZ012-041-042-045-046-049>053-057-058-211845- Northern Clinton-Northern Lycoming-Sullivan-Southern Clinton- Southern Lycoming-Union-Snyder-Montour-Northumberland-Columbia- Dauphin-Schuylkill- 234 PM EDT Thu Aug 20 2026 ...FLOOD WATCH 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. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday. The probability for widespread hazardous weather is low. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotters are encouraged to report significant hazardous weather. PAZ064-211845- Adams- 234 PM EDT Thu Aug 20 2026 ...FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 PM EDT THIS AFTERNOON... ...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 604 IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 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...Friday through Wednesday. The probability for widespread hazardous weather is low. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotters are encouraged to report significant hazardous weather. PAZ017>019-024>028-033>036-056-063-211845- Clearfield-Northern Centre-Southern Centre-Cambria-Blair-Huntingdon- Mifflin-Juniata-Somerset-Bedford-Fulton-Franklin-Perry-Cumberland- 234 PM EDT Thu Aug 20 2026 ...FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 PM EDT THIS AFTERNOON... 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. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday. The probability for widespread hazardous weather is low. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotters are encouraged to report significant hazardous weather. PAZ059-065-066-211845- Lebanon-York-Lancaster- 234 PM EDT Thu Aug 20 2026 ...FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING... ...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 604 IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 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...Friday through Wednesday. The probability for widespread hazardous weather is low. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotters are encouraged to report significant hazardous weather. PAZ004>006-010-011-037-211845- Warren-McKean-Potter-Elk-Cameron-Tioga- 234 PM EDT Thu Aug 20 2026 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for central Pennsylvania. .DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight. The probability for widespread hazardous weather is low. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday. The probability for widespread hazardous weather is low. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time.
In the hours before
Special weather statement, Aug 20, 1:14 PM EDT, 3 hours 15 minutes before
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service State College PA 114 PM EDT Thu Aug 20 2026 PAZ036-056>059-063>066-202115- Franklin-Perry-Dauphin-Schuylkill-Lebanon-Cumberland-Adams-York- Lancaster- 114 PM EDT Thu Aug 20 2026 ...A LINE OF OF THUNDERSTORMS WILL GRADUALLY STRENGTHEN ACROSS SOUTH-CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA AND THE LOWER SUSQUEHANNA VALLEY THROUGH THE AFTERNOON HOURS... Thunderstorms developing from Southern Huntingdon County, south along the Interstate 70 corridor at 115 PM will move east at 35 to 40 mph and strengthen during the mid afternoon as they move along the Interstate 76 and 81 corridors and approach the Lower Susquehanna Valley, including the Greater Harrisburg, York areas between 230 PM and 3 PM. This line of potentially severe thunderstorms will cross much of Schuylkill, Lebanon and Lancaster Counties between 245 PM and 415 PM. Additional heavy rain and thunderstorms will follow this initial line of storms and continue into the evening hours. * Wind gusts up to 55 MPH. * Hail up to dime size. * Very heavy rainfall of 1 to 2 inches per hour. If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building. Monitor local radio stations and available television stations for additional information and possible warnings from your National Weather Service. Lambert
Local storm report, Aug 20, 1:41 PM EDT, 2 hours 48 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service State College PA
141 PM EDT Thu Aug 20 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0130 PM Flash Flood 2 W Brisbin 40.84N 78.40W
08/20/2026 Clearfield PA Fire Dept/Rescue
Flooded basement.
&&Local storm report, Aug 20, 1:42 PM EDT, 2 hours 47 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service State College PA
142 PM EDT Thu Aug 20 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0125 PM Flash Flood 2 W Boalsburg 40.79N 77.82W
08/20/2026 Centre PA Public
Water reported across roadways.
&&Local storm report, Aug 20, 2:07 PM EDT, 2 hours 22 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service State College PA
207 PM EDT Thu Aug 20 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0151 PM Flash Flood 1 WNW Coalport 40.75N 78.55W
08/20/2026 Clearfield PA Fire Dept/Rescue
Flooded basement.
&&
ANKLocal storm report, Aug 20, 4:04 PM EDT, 25 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service State College PA
404 PM EDT Thu Aug 20 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0335 PM Flash Flood 1 S Vinco 40.40N 78.84W
08/20/2026 Cambria PA Public
Water reported across roadways.
&&
ANKLocal storm report, Aug 20, 4:05 PM EDT, 24 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report...Summary
National Weather Service State College PA
405 PM EDT Thu Aug 20 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1245 PM Flash Flood 1 SW Hyde 41.00N 78.48W
08/20/2026 Clearfield PA Fire Dept/Rescue
Flooded basement reported.
1250 PM Flash Flood 2 N Burnside 40.84N 78.79W
08/20/2026 Clearfield PA Fire Dept/Rescue
Flooded roadway reported.
0106 PM Flash Flood Curwensville 40.98N 78.53W
08/20/2026 Clearfield PA Fire Dept/Rescue
Flooded basement.
0130 PM Flash Flood 2 W Brisbin 40.84N 78.40W
08/20/2026 Clearfield PA Fire Dept/Rescue
Flooded basement.
0151 PM Flash Flood 1 WNW Coalport 40.75N 78.55W
08/20/2026 Clearfield PA Fire Dept/Rescue
Flooded basement.
0125 PM Flash Flood 2 W Boalsburg 40.79N 77.82W
08/20/2026 Centre PA Public
Water reported across roadways.
0335 PM Flash Flood 1 S Vinco 40.40N 78.84W
08/20/2026 Cambria PA Public
Water reported across roadways.
&&The office that day
Everything else NWS State College, PA issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 20, 8:25 AM EDT | Flood Watch | CTP | Adams, Bedford, Blair, Cambria, Centre, Clearfield and 21 more | 10 hr |
| Aug 20, 11:40 AM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | CTP | Cambria, Centre, Clearfield | 3 hr |
| Aug 20, 12:45 PM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | CTP | Blair, Cambria, Centre, Clearfield, Huntingdon | 3 hr |
| Aug 20, 2:33 PM EDT | Areal Flood Warning | CTP | Blair, Cambria, Centre, Clearfield | 3 hr |
| Aug 20, 2:55 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | CTP | Adams, Cumberland, Franklin, York | 50 min |
| Aug 20, 3:17 PM EDT | Areal Flood Warning | CTP | Blair, Cambria, Centre, Clearfield, Clinton, Huntingdon | 3 hr |
| Aug 20, 3:39 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | CTP | Adams, York | 51 min |
| Aug 20, 4:12 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | CTP | Lancaster, York | 78 min |
| Aug 20, 4:41 PM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | CTP | Lancaster | 3 hr |
| Aug 20, 4:47 PM EDT | Tornado Warning | CTP | Lancaster | 28 min |
| Aug 20, 5:54 PM EDT | River Flood Warning | CTP | Blair, Huntingdon | 3 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.