Alert archive / Pennsylvania / Tornado Warnings in 2026

Tornado Warning 43, NWS State College, PA

September 3, 2026Bedford County, Blair County, Cambria County, Pennsylvania

NWS State College, PA issued this tornado warning at Sep 3, 2026, 7:54 PM EDT for Bedford County, Blair County, Cambria County, Pennsylvania. It was in force for 36 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 3, 2026, 7:54 PM EDT (23:54 UTC)
Expired
Sep 3, 2026, 8:30 PM EDT
In force
36 min
Issued by
NWS State College, PA
Area
Storm-based polygon
Tornado
Radar indicated
Hail
0.0 in

Counties Bedford County, PA, Blair County, PA, Cambria County, PA

The radar

The State College radar (KCCX), 78 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 23:58 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
Sep 3, 4:33 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WatchSPC6 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Pittsburgh, PA (KPIT), launched 12:00Z, 11.9 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.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Pittsburgh, PA at 12:00Z on 2026-09-03Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 2237 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, Pittsburgh, PA at 12:00Z on 2026-09-03The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 108 square meters per square second.19395878Sfc1 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
2237 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-44 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
974 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
47 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
108 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
110 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
1.2
Supercell composite
2.2

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

206 
WFUS51 KCTP 032354
TORCTP
PAC009-013-021-040030-
/O.NEW.KCTP.TO.W.0043.260903T2354Z-260904T0030Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service State College PA
754 PM EDT Thu Sep 3 2026

The National Weather Service in State College PA has issued a

* Tornado Warning for...
  Northeastern Bedford County in south central Pennsylvania...
  Southern Blair County in central Pennsylvania...
  South central Cambria County in central Pennsylvania...

* Until 830 PM EDT.

* At 753 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
  was located over Ski Gap, moving east 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.

* This dangerous storm will be near...
  Ski Gap, Roaring Spring, and Claysburg around 800 PM EDT.
  Martinsburg around 810 PM EDT.

Other locations impacted by this tornadic thunderstorm include
Woodbury, Spring Hill, Cassandra, Saxton, and East Freedom.

This includes Interstate 99 from mile markers 13 to 27.

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.

Heavy rainfall may hide this tornado. Do not wait to see or hear the
tornado. TAKE COVER NOW!

Tornadoes are extremely difficult to see and confirm at night. Do not
wait to see or hear the tornado. TAKE COVER NOW!

&&

LAT...LON 4024 7870 4042 7870 4045 7815 4030 7826
      4023 7824 4020 7820
TIME...MOT...LOC 2353Z 269DEG 39KT 4033 7860 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN

$$

Jurewicz

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 3, 7:41 PM EDT, 13 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

  • 1) Showers and thunderstorms into tonight can hold heavy rain and damaging winds. A small chance of tornadoes and hail also exists. Additional storms possible Friday. 2) Dry weather returns on Saturday and lasts through the weekend.
Area forecast discussion, Sep 3, 7:41 PM EDT, 13 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service State College PA
741 PM EDT Thu Sep 3 2026

.WHAT HAS CHANGED...
* Convection timing narrowed.

&&

.KEY MESSAGES...
1) Showers and thunderstorms into tonight can hold heavy rain
and damaging winds. A small chance of tornadoes and hail also
exists. Additional storms possible Friday.

2) Dry weather returns on Saturday and lasts through the
weekend.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
KEY MESSAGE 1: Showers and thunderstorms into tonight can hold
heavy rain and damaging winds. A small chance of tornadoes and
hail also exists. Additional storms possible Friday.

Weak wave crossing LE has been touching off a few TSRA farther
to the west. However, the shallow cu and higher stability
overhead indicate that it's influence to cause new storms
locally will be low. However, the high humidity and slight
convergence over nrn tier counties will help a couple of tall
cells to build up before 22Z. The main show is shortly
afterward, though. Much stronger short wave trough is moving
through lower MI and should drive a complex of storms through
most/all of the CWA this evening. Arrival in the NW should be
around 22Z and exit to the east of the CWA will be in the
02-03Z range. The strong dynamics and initial curve to the
hodographs in the NW may generate a few supercells. Then, the
vertical wind profile becomes more W-E/linear. That should
result in a more clustered or linear mode, ripe for a bow echo.
70-75F dewpoints and PWAT near 2" this evening (highest S) will
make heavy rain a possibility, too. The risk for flooding still
exists, especially because of the very wet ground due to the
past 36-48hr rainfall. However, the faster the storm motions
are, the lower a risk it could be. The problem this evening is
as it has been - multiple/repeated storm cores moving over the
same spots. Will keep on with the FF Watch thru midnight. Timing
should encompass all of the threat.

Heat index numbers haven't quite built to the point expected
yet, likely due to the delayed onset of sunshine. But, we'll
keep the advisory in place until 8 PM as the temps could jump
another 5-6F before it starts to cool off over the S now that
they have nearly full sunshine.

The cool air that the storms this evening generate will help to
nudge a cold front off to our S tonight. But, not very far
south of PA. It won't take much forcing to fire up SCT-NMRS
storms on Friday. PoPs may be a little high for Fri-Fri night,
but we'll follow the recent trend toward a wetter forecast.
These will stay closer to the MD border, but isold storms will
form as far as the NY border. SPC outlook has been consitently
worse (SLGT) for the Laurels on Fri.

   -------------------------------------------------------

KEY MESSAGE 2: Dry weather returns on Saturday and lasts
through the weekend.

Upper low over New England will close even more and drop a
little to the south as cooler air slides into NY/PA. The cold
front finally gets far enough to our south to keep all the
SHRA/TSRA off to our south on Sat. Other than some morning
valley fog, the wx will be really nice for the holiday weekend.
Highs mainly in the 70s and lows 45-55F both Sat night and Sun
night. Upper ridge inches to the east from the central states
into mid-week. Quiet weather stretch will be welcomed by many.
Next chc precip isn't until Wed-Thurs.

&&

.AVIATION /00Z FRIDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/...
As of early evening, isolated showers and storms so far. Line
of severe storms across the far southwest likely to still be
brushing the JST area around 00Z, so have strong wind gust in
that TAF.

For other areas, not as strong with wind gust in the tempo
group with storms this evening.

Overnight and early Friday morning, expect CIGS to lower.

Conditions will slowly improve later Friday morning into the
afternoon hours, as slightly drier air trys to edge southward.
Still a chance of a shower or storm, mainly across the south.
Left out of the TAFS for now, as much of the activity could
remain just south of the TAF sites.

Outlook...

Sat-Tue...VFR favored; morning fog possible.

&&

.CTP WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
Flood Watch until midnight EDT tonight for PAZ004>006-010>012-
017>019-024>028-033>037-041-042-045-046-049>053-056>059-
063>066.
Heat Advisory until 8 PM EDT this evening for PAZ026>028-035-
036-056-057-059-063>066.

&&

WHAT HAS CHANGED...Dangelo
KEY MESSAGES...Dangelo
DISCUSSION...Dangelo
AVIATION...Dangelo/Martin
Hazardous weather outlook, Sep 3, 4:33 PM EDT, 3 hours 21 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service State College PA
433 PM EDT Thu Sep 3 2026

PAZ026>028-035-036-056-057-059-063>066-042045-
Huntingdon-Mifflin-Juniata-Fulton-Franklin-Perry-Dauphin-Lebanon-
Cumberland-Adams-York-Lancaster-
433 PM EDT Thu Sep 3 2026

...HEAT ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING...
...FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT EDT TONIGHT...
...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 650 IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT EDT
TONIGHT...

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.
   Heat Advisory.
   Severe Thunderstorm Watch.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday.

Strong to severe thunderstorms with damaging winds and heavy
rainfall are expected again today through early tonight.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotters are encouraged to report significant hazardous weather.

PAZ004>006-010>012-017>019-024-025-033-034-037-041-042-045-046-
049>053-058-042045-
Warren-McKean-Potter-Elk-Cameron-Northern Clinton-Clearfield-
Northern Centre-Southern Centre-Cambria-Blair-Somerset-Bedford-Tioga-
Northern Lycoming-Sullivan-Southern Clinton-Southern Lycoming-Union-
Snyder-Montour-Northumberland-Columbia-Schuylkill-
433 PM EDT Thu Sep 3 2026

...FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT EDT TONIGHT...
...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 650 IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT EDT
TONIGHT...

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.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday.

Strong to severe thunderstorms with damaging winds and heavy
rainfall are expected once again today through early tonight.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotters are encouraged to report significant hazardous weather.

In the hours before

Local storm report, Sep 3, 7:30 PM EDT, 24 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service State College PA
730 PM EDT Thu Sep 3 2026

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

0722 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     2 SSW Jennerstown       40.14N 79.08W
09/03/2026                   Somerset           PA   911 Call Center

            Tree and wires down completely blocking the
            intersection of Somerset Pike and Beam
            Church Road.

&&

ANK
Local storm report, Sep 3, 7:33 PM EDT, 21 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service State College PA
733 PM EDT Thu Sep 3 2026

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

0724 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     1 N Benson              40.21N 78.93W
09/03/2026                   Somerset           PA   911 Call Center

            Tree down across Smith Street at the block
            of 158.

&&

ANK
Local storm report, Sep 3, 7:35 PM EDT, 19 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service State College PA
735 PM EDT Thu Sep 3 2026

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

0722 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     Jennerstown             40.17N 79.06W
09/03/2026                   Somerset           PA   911 Call Center

            Tree down across the intersection of Pine
            Springs Camp Road and Somerset Pike.

&&

ANK
Local storm report, Sep 3, 7:38 PM EDT, 16 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service State College PA
738 PM EDT Thu Sep 3 2026

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

0718 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     2 WSW Elim              40.29N 78.99W
09/03/2026                   Cambria            PA   911 Call Center

            Tree down on fender lane.

&&

JBL
Local storm report, Sep 3, 7:42 PM EDT, 12 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service State College PA
742 PM EDT Thu Sep 3 2026

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

0732 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     1 ESE Windber           40.22N 78.80W
09/03/2026                   Somerset           PA   911 Call Center

            Tree down blocking Jay street.

&&

JBL
Local storm report, Sep 3, 7:48 PM EDT, 6 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service State College PA
748 PM EDT Thu Sep 3 2026

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

0723 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     2 N Brownstown          40.36N 78.94W
09/03/2026                   Cambria            PA   911 Call Center

            Trees and wires down at Oakhurst Homes.

&&

JBL

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Sep 2, 8:12 PM EDTTornado WarningCTPCentre, Clinton33 min
Sep 2, 8:22 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPClinton, Lycoming, Potter, Tioga38 min
Sep 2, 8:29 PM EDTTornado WarningCTPTioga35 min
Sep 2, 8:39 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPClinton, Lycoming51 min
Sep 2, 8:44 PM EDTTornado WarningCTPCentre, Clinton31 min
Sep 2, 8:50 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPMcKean, Potter, Tioga55 min
Sep 2, 8:58 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPClinton, Lycoming, Potter47 min
Sep 2, 9:03 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPClinton, Lycoming57 min
Sep 2, 9:24 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningCTPCentre, Clinton, Lycoming3 hr
Sep 2, 9:29 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPTioga16 min
Sep 2, 9:50 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPCentre, Clinton, Lycoming, Union40 min
Sep 2, 9:50 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPLycoming, Sullivan, Tioga40 min
Sep 2, 10:12 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningCTPCentre, Clinton, Lycoming, Union3 hr
Sep 2, 10:35 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPWarren40 min
Sep 2, 10:51 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPDauphin, Northumberland, Snyder, Union39 min
Sep 2, 11:08 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCTPClinton37 min
Sep 2, 11:09 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPElk, McKean, Warren66 min
Sep 2, 11:13 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPDauphin, Juniata, Mifflin, Northumberland, Perry, Snyder47 min
Sep 2, 11:15 PM EDTTornado WarningCTPElk, McKean, Warren15 min
Sep 2, 11:26 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningCTPNorthumberland, Snyder, Union4 hr
Sep 2, 11:26 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPDauphin, Lebanon, Northumberland, Schuylkill, Snyder, Union49 min
Sep 2, 11:40 PM EDTRiver Flood WarningCTPCentre, Clinton16 hr
Sep 2, 11:43 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPCameron, Clearfield, Clinton, Elk, Lycoming, McKean and 2 more41 min
Sep 3, 12:03 AM EDTFlash Flood WarningCTPDauphin, Lebanon, Schuylkill4 hr
Sep 3, 12:10 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCTPDauphin, Lancaster, Lebanon, Schuylkill50 min
Sep 3, 12:23 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPCameron, Centre, Clearfield, Clinton, Elk, Lycoming and 3 more61 min
Sep 3, 12:27 AM EDTAreal Flood WarningCTPCentre, Clinton, Lycoming6 hr
Sep 3, 12:28 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCTPMcKean, Warren47 min
Sep 3, 12:50 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCTPLancaster, York70 min
Sep 3, 1:09 AM EDTFlash Flood WarningCTPClinton, Lycoming4 hr
Sep 3, 1:11 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCTPCameron, Elk, McKean49 min
Sep 3, 1:14 AM EDTAreal Flood WarningCTPCentre, Clinton, Lycoming, Union6 hr
Sep 3, 1:26 AM EDTRiver Flood WarningCTPSnyder, Union15 hr
Sep 3, 1:32 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPCentre, Huntingdon43 min
Sep 3, 2:12 AM EDTFlash Flood WarningCTPCentre, Clearfield, Huntingdon, Juniata, Mifflin, Perry4 hr
Sep 3, 2:42 AM EDTFlood WatchCTPAdams, Bedford, Blair, Cambria, Cameron, Centre and 27 more20 hr
Sep 3, 2:56 AM EDTFlash Flood WarningCTPMcKean, Warren3 hr
Sep 3, 3:23 AM EDTAreal Flood WarningCTPNorthumberland, Snyder, Union3 hr
Sep 3, 3:53 AM EDTAreal Flood WarningCTPDauphin, Lebanon, Schuylkill3 hr
Sep 3, 4:11 AM EDTFlash Flood WarningCTPDauphin, Lancaster, Lebanon4 hr
Sep 3, 5:03 AM EDTAreal Flood WarningCTPClinton, Lycoming117 min
Sep 3, 5:46 AM EDTAreal Flood WarningCTPCentre, Clearfield, Huntingdon, Juniata, Mifflin, Perry2 hr
Sep 3, 5:56 AM EDTAreal Flood WarningCTPMcKean, Warren3 hr
Sep 3, 6:15 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCTPWarren45 min
Sep 3, 6:55 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCTPCameron, Clearfield, Elk65 min
Sep 3, 8:37 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCTPSomerset23 min
Sep 3, 8:55 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPBedford, Somerset50 min
Sep 3, 9:34 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPBedford, Franklin, Fulton, Somerset41 min
Sep 3, 7:01 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatCTPCambria, Somerset44 min
Sep 3, 7:20 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Destructive damage threatCTPCambria, Somerset25 min
Sep 3, 7:21 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningCTPCambria, Somerset3 hr
Sep 3, 7:39 PM EDTTornado WarningCTPBedford, Cambria, Somerset36 min
Sep 3, 7:42 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatCTPBedford, Blair, Cambria, Fulton, Huntingdon, Somerset48 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.