Alert archive / Pennsylvania / Tornado Warnings in 2026

Tornado Warning 35, NWS State College, PA

September 2, 2026Warren County, Pennsylvania

NWS State College, PA issued this tornado warning at Sep 2, 2026, 7:51 AM EDT for Warren County, Pennsylvania. It was in force for 24 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
Sep 2, 2026, 7:51 AM EDT (11:51 UTC)
Expired
Sep 2, 2026, 8:15 AM EDT
In force
24 min
Issued by
NWS State College, PA
Area
Storm-based polygon
Tornado
Radar indicated
Hail
0.75 in

County Warren County, PA

The radar

The Buffalo radar (KBUF), 139 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 11:52 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 nearest sounding before it

Buffalo Intl Airport, NY (KBUF), launched 00:00Z, 11.9 hours before the alert went out and 138 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, Buffalo Intl Airport, NY at 00:00Z on 2026-09-02Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 2126 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 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, Buffalo Intl Airport, NY at 00:00Z on 2026-09-02The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 26 square meters per square second.1939587897Sfc1 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
2126 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-46 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
808 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
51 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
26 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
57 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.4
Supercell composite
1.3

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

739 
WFUS51 KCTP 021151
TORCTP
PAC123-021215-
/O.NEW.KCTP.TO.W.0035.260902T1151Z-260902T1215Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service State College PA
751 AM EDT Wed Sep 2 2026

The National Weather Service in State College PA has issued a

* Tornado Warning for...
  Southern Warren County in north central Pennsylvania...

* Until 815 AM EDT.

* At 751 AM EDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
  was located over Youngsville, moving southeast at 45 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.

* Locations impacted include...
  Warren, Youngsville, Warren South, Garland, Chapman State Park,
  Tidioute, Starbrick, and Clarendon.

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 4190 7942 4181 7903 4163 7913 4163 7926
      4174 7952
TIME...MOT...LOC 1151Z 293DEG 38KT 4178 7935 

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

$$

Colbert
2 follow-up statements
156 
WWUS51 KCTP 021202
SVSCTP

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service State College PA
802 AM EDT Wed Sep 2 2026

PAC123-021215-
/O.CON.KCTP.TO.W.0035.000000T0000Z-260902T1215Z/
Warren PA-
802 AM EDT Wed Sep 2 2026

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 815 AM EDT FOR
SOUTHEASTERN WARREN COUNTY...

At 801 AM EDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located over Chapman State Park, moving southeast at 40 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.

Locations impacted include...
Warren, Youngsville, Warren South, Chapman State Park, Tidioute,
Starbrick, and Clarendon.

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 4181 7903 4163 7913 4163 7926 4170 7943
      4179 7935 4187 7930
TIME...MOT...LOC 1201Z 293DEG 35KT 4174 7925 

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

$$

Colbert
239 
WWUS51 KCTP 021216
SVSCTP

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service State College PA
816 AM EDT Wed Sep 2 2026

PAC123-021224-
/O.EXP.KCTP.TO.W.0035.000000T0000Z-260902T1215Z/
Warren PA-
816 AM EDT Wed Sep 2 2026

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR SOUTHEASTERN WARREN COUNTY WILL EXPIRE AT
815 AM EDT...

Rotation has weakened within the storm which prompted the tornado 
warning. Therefore, the tornado warning will be allowed to expire. 
However, this storm is still capable of producing damaging straight 
line winds. A Severe Thunderstorm Warning remains in effect. 

To report severe weather, contact your nearest law enforcement
agency. They will relay your report to the National Weather Service
State College PA.

&&

LAT...LON 4181 7903 4163 7913 4163 7926 4170 7943
      4179 7935 4187 7930
TIME...MOT...LOC 1214Z 293DEG 38KT 4169 7910 

$$

Colbert

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 Sep 2, 7:23 AM EDT, 28 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

  • 1) Late summer surge of heat and humidity brings multi-day severe thunderstorm and excessive rainfall threat to kickoff September
Area forecast discussion, Sep 2, 7:23 AM EDT, 28 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service State College PA
723 AM EDT Wed Sep 2 2026

.WHAT HAS CHANGED...
* A Heat Advisory has been issued for south central PA valid 11
  AM to 8 PM Thursday.

&&

.KEY MESSAGES...
1) Late summer surge of heat and humidity brings multi-day
severe thunderstorm and excessive rainfall threat to kickoff
September

&&

.DISCUSSION...
KEY MESSAGE 1: Late summer surge of heat and humidity brings
multi-day severe thunderstorm and excessive rainfall threat to
kickoff September

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 today and
tomorrow.

The first cluster of storms is already poised to move off of
Lake Erie into our NW zones between 7 and 8 AM. This cluster has
near continuous lightning and was severe warned along the lake
shore by the Cleveland WFO. Inland from the lake shore, the sfc
boundary layer is still rather stable this morning with near
150 J/kg of SBCIN, so this will at least somewhat offset the
severe wind potential across our NW zones. However the wind
threat could increase to the south and east IF the cluster is
maintained until mid-morning, by which time morning sunshine
will have eroded the sfc stable layer. Climatologically,
however, these morning MCSs rarely survive the nocturnal to
diurnal transition, and several CAMs do show it falling apart
before the boundary layer destabilizes.

The mesoscale severe weather setup will be complex this
afternoon into this evening, with key players being the presence
of a north-south stationary front / backdoor cold front across
the eastern zones, and whatever remains of the cold pool from
the morning MCS. These boundaries will likely be the focus for
new convection initiation this afternoon. Forecast vertical soundings
depict large, clockwise turning hodographs associated with a
strongly veered wind profile, with 0-3 km SRH on the order of
200-350 m2/s2 and 0-3km wind shear approaching 40 kts. Combined
with MLCAPE on the order of 1500-3000 J/kg, this setup will
likely yield both supercells and bowing line segments. If
supercells or southeast-bulging bow echos remain on the unstable
side of the stationary boundary and ingest this highly sheared
inflow, a couple stronger tornadoes and large hailers can not
be ruled out this afternoon into this evening. There will be a
large CAPE gradient across the stationary front, with limited
severe potential to its east.

Increased southwest to westerly flow on Thursday will push the
backdoor cold front out of the region, ushering in higher
temperatures and dewpoints. The Heat Index will make another run
at 100-104F across the southern zones, similar to what we saw on
Tuesday. We issued a Heat Advisory valid 11a-8p Thu for this
likely threat.

The severe risk will be focused more across the southern tier of
central PA by Thursday, and south of the PA-MD border on Friday.
An upper trough passage suggests additional showers and storms
on Friday, but fortunately the Labor Day weekend is trending
drier. The upper ridge is forecast to retrograde by the end of
the week which allows for a return to more seasonal temperatures.

&&

.AVIATION /12Z WEDNESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/...
A brief period of highly localized heavy rain occurred INVOF
KUNV between 0430Z and 0530Z overnight as an outflow boundary
pushed wwd from earlier, widespread convection over the Middle
Susq Valley and points east. Two more, brief waves of SHRA/ and
potentially a few TSRA occurred through Altoona and now KJST as
the boundary pushed steadily Southwestward. Expect some areas of
LIFR/VLIFR until around 12-13Z tdy, esp in areas that had rain
yesterday and experienced some clearing/radiational cooling
resulting in fog formation.

The aforementioned frontal/outflow boundary and some mid and
upper level jet streak lift will combine to blossom areas of
strong to severe TSRA, the first in the form of a Mesoscale
Convective System (Moving SE at 30 kts acrs NW and Central PA
this morning), followed by a several hour lull, then more
convection/TSRA from the mid afternoon to mid evening hours
today.

PROB30/Tempo groups for -TSRA are highlighted in most terminals
(exception being KIPT at this time) given a signal on CAMs for
potential lines or clusters of showers/storms moving SEward
across the CWA as noted above.

Outlook...

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

Sat...SHRA/TSRA trending less likely as cold front moves
southward across the Commonwealth; morning fog possible.

Sun...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...Colbert
KEY MESSAGES...Steinbugl/Colbert
DISCUSSION...Steinbugl/Colbert
AVIATION...Lambert/Bowen
Hazardous weather outlook, Sep 2, 4:30 AM EDT, 3 hours 21 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service State College PA
430 AM EDT Wed Sep 2 2026

PAZ026>028-035-036-056-057-059-063>066-030830-
Huntingdon-Mifflin-Juniata-Fulton-Franklin-Perry-Dauphin-Lebanon-
Cumberland-Adams-York-Lancaster-
430 AM EDT Wed Sep 2 2026

...HEAT ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM TO 8 PM EDT THURSDAY...

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for central Pennsylvania.

.DAY ONE...Today and tonight.

Multiple rounds of strong to severe thunderstorms with strong winds,
large hail, and heavy rainfall are possible today and tonight.

.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 strong winds and heavy rainfall
are possible again on Thursday. Heat index values will range from the
upper 90s to the low 100s Thursday afternoon.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotters are encouraged to report significant hazardous weather.

PAZ017>019-024-025-033-034-049-050-052-058-030830-
Clearfield-Northern Centre-Southern Centre-Cambria-Blair-Somerset-
Bedford-Union-Snyder-Northumberland-Schuylkill-
430 AM EDT Wed Sep 2 2026

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for central Pennsylvania.

.DAY ONE...Today and tonight.

Multiple rounds of strong to severe thunderstorms with strong winds,
large hail, and heavy rainfall are possible today and tonight.

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

Strong to severe thunderstorms with strong winds and heavy rainfall
are possible again on Thursday.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotters are encouraged to report significant hazardous weather.

PAZ004>006-010>012-037-041-042-045-046-051-053-030830-
Warren-McKean-Potter-Elk-Cameron-Northern Clinton-Tioga-
Northern Lycoming-Sullivan-Southern Clinton-Southern Lycoming-
Montour-Columbia-
430 AM EDT Wed Sep 2 2026

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for central Pennsylvania.

.DAY ONE...Today and tonight.

Multiple rounds of strong to severe thunderstorms with strong winds,
large hail, and heavy rainfall are possible today and tonight.

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

The probability for widespread hazardous weather is low.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotters are encouraged to report significant hazardous weather.

Colbert

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Sep 2, 6:22 AM EDT, 1 hour 29 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service State College PA
622 AM EDT Wed Sep 2 2026

PAZ004>006-010-011-017-021430-
Warren-McKean-Potter-Elk-Cameron-Clearfield-
622 AM EDT Wed Sep 2 2026

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT THE NORTHWEST MOUNTAINS DURING
THE PRIME COMMUTING HOURS THIS MORNING ...

Strong thunderstorms moving southeast across the area will create
* Wind gusts up to 50 mph.
* Hail up to half inch in diameter.
* Very heavy rainfall of 1 to 2 inches could lead to localized
  flash flooding.

* Near continuous lightning.

The storms will cross Warren County between 645 AM and 8AM before
tracking further southeast at 30 to 35 mph across McKean and Elk
Counties between 8 and 9 AM. The storms will reach a line from
Near Clearfield to Driftwood around 930 AM.

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

The storms may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio
stations and available television stations for additional information
and possible warnings from your National Weather Service.

Lambert

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Sep 1, 10:12 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCTPYork33 min
Sep 2, 3:35 AM EDTHeat AdvisoryCTPAdams, Cumberland, Dauphin, Franklin, Fulton, Huntingdon and 6 more40 hr
Sep 2, 7:06 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPWarren69 min
Sep 2, 8:10 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPCameron, Elk, McKean, Warren80 min
Sep 2, 8:38 AM EDTTornado WarningCTPElk, McKean37 min
Sep 2, 8:51 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatCTPCameron, Clearfield, Elk39 min
Sep 2, 9:03 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPCameron, Elk42 min
Sep 2, 9:25 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPCameron, Centre, Clearfield, Clinton, Elk50 min
Sep 2, 9:41 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPBlair, Cambria, Centre, Clearfield49 min
Sep 2, 10:06 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPCentre, Clinton, Mifflin39 min
Sep 2, 10:20 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPBlair, Huntingdon, Juniata, Mifflin40 min
Sep 2, 10:33 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPBlair, Cambria, Huntingdon42 min
Sep 2, 10:39 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCTPSnyder, Union51 min
Sep 2, 10:48 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPCumberland, Juniata, Mifflin, Perry42 min
Sep 2, 11:02 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPBedford, Blair, Cambria, Cumberland, Franklin, Fulton and 5 more43 min
Sep 2, 11:09 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPDauphin, Perry51 min
Sep 2, 11:24 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPAdams, Cumberland, Dauphin, Lancaster, Perry, York51 min
Sep 2, 11:39 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPAdams, Bedford, Cambria, Cumberland, Franklin, Fulton and 2 more51 min
Sep 2, 11:49 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPDauphin, Lancaster, Lebanon, Schuylkill, York56 min
Sep 2, 12:12 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPLancaster, Lebanon, York33 min
Sep 2, 12:25 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCTPFulton50 min
Sep 2, 12:43 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPLancaster, York32 min
Sep 2, 5:24 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCTPBedford36 min
Sep 2, 5:42 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPBedford, Fulton48 min
Sep 2, 6:37 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPBedford, Fulton38 min
Sep 2, 7:14 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPFranklin, Fulton46 min
Sep 2, 7:32 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPCameron, Elk, McKean, Potter43 min
Sep 2, 7:49 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPCentre, Clinton41 min
Sep 2, 7:56 PM EDTTornado WarningCTPTioga34 min

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.