Hail in Pennsylvania, July 14, 2004

Name: Hail in Pennsylvania, July 14, 2004
Start: 2004-07-14T15:25
End: 2004-07-14T15:25
Location: Pennsylvania

July 14, 2004 · NWS CTP · 1 event in 1 county or zone

00 inch/ reported in Lancaster.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.

Tornadoes
Tropical storms and surge
Floods
Wind
Hail
Winter weather
Heat and drought
Cold
Fire, smoke and dust
Marine and coastal
Other

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 1

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

What happened

The episode as NWS CTP wrote it up.

Quarter size hail /1.00 inch/ reported in Lancaster.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before the first event, 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 the first event at Jul 14, 2:24 PM EST, 1 hour 1 minute earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jul 14, 2:24 PM EST, 1 hour 1 minute before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA
324 PM EDT WED JUL 14 2004

.AVIATION...

SCATTERED MVFR/IFR IN EVENING TSTMS...THEN MAINLY VFR ACROSS LOWER
SUSQ LATER TNT...WITH MVFR ACROSS NORTHERN AREAS DEVELOPING. EXPECT
MVFR TO LOCAL IFR ACROSS NORTHERN AREAS LATE TNT INTO MIDDAY THU
ACROSS THE N...AND VFR TO SCATTERED MVFR ACROSS CENTRAL AND SOUTH
AREAS.

&&

.SHORT TERM (TONIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT)...

SEVERAL LINES OF TSTMS PROGRESSING E ACROSS CWA. MOST INTENSE ONE
ACROSS EASTERN AREAS...STRETCHING FROM SULLIVAN CO S INTO YORK CO.
SEVERAL EMBEDDED MINI BOWS...WITH DISTINCT MESOS IN DAUPHIN/LEBANON
CO. FRONT ADVANCING ACROSS CENTRAL AREAS WITH DECREASING DEWPTS TO
THE W. THIS FRONT HAS MORE SHOWERS/TSTMS ALONG IT...BUT THESE ARE
LOWER TOPPED. STILL COULD BE SOME HAIL AS MID LEVEL CONTINUE TO COOL
RAPIDLY.

TNT...EXPECT TSTM COVERAGE TO DIMINISH BY LATE EVE...BUT STILL
EXPECT SCATTERED TO NUMEROUS SHOWERS ACROSS THE N...AND SCATTERED
ACROSS CENTRAL AREAS. LITTLE OR NO PRECIP EXPECTED ACROSS SE AREAS
AFTER MIDNIGHT IN DEVELOPING DOWNSLOPE FLOW.

THU-FRI NT...NUMEROUS SHOWERS AND ISOLATED TSTMS ACROSS THE N...WITH
DECREASING COVERAGE TO THE S AND E. MAIN ACTIVITY SHOULD BE
DIURNALLY BASED...WITH COVERAGE MORE THU THAN FRI. ALSO...COULD BE
SOME SMALL HAIL WITHIN ANY STRONGER CELLS THAT DO DEVELOP. ELS
QUITE LOW...WHICH SHOULD INHIBIT CONVECTION POTENTIAL AS COMPARED TO
TDY. ALSO...ON THU...MAXES MAY HOLD IN THE MID 60S ACROSS THE FAR
NW...BUT SHOULD REACH M-U 70S ACROSS FAR SE AREAS WHERE BREAKS OF AM
SUN...AND DOWNSLOPE FLOW SHOULD AID IN WARMING. WL BECOME QUITE
BREEZY ON THU AFTN...AND A BIT LESS ON FRI.

&&

.LONG TERM (SATURDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY)...

BASED ON 00Z/14 MREFS...WL KEEP CHANCES FOR SHOWERS INTACT FOR SAT
NT-SUN NT WITH POTENTIAL WAVE DEVELOPMENT ACROSS MID ATL COAST. WL
LINGER SLIGHT CHC INTO MON FOR FAR SE...DRY ELSEWHERE. WL KEEP MON
AFTN-WED DRY.

&&

.CTP WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
PA...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH FOR ZONES PAZ012-018-019-
     025>028-034>036-041-042-045-046-049>053-056>059-063>066 UNTIL 7
     PM EDT.
&&

AVIATION...ONDREJIK
SHORT TERM/LONG TERM...KL

Hazardous weather outlook, Jul 14, 5:06 AM EST, 10 hours 19 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA
606 AM EDT WED JUL 14 2004

PAZ004>006-010>012-017>019-024>028-033>037-041-042-045-046-049>053-
056>059-063>066-151005-
ADAMS PA-BEDFORD PA-BLAIR PA-CAMBRIA PA-CAMERON PA-CLEARFIELD PA-
COLUMBIA PA-CUMBERLAND PA-DAUPHIN PA-ELK PA-FRANKLIN PA-FULTON PA-
HUNTINGDON PA-JUNIATA PA-LANCASTER PA-LEBANON PA-MCKEAN PA-
MIFFLIN PA-MONTOUR PA-NORTHERN CENTRE PA-NORTHERN CLINTON PA-
NORTHERN LYCOMING PA-NORTHUMBERLAND PA-PERRY PA-POTTER PA-
SCHUYLKILL PA-SNYDER PA-SOMERSET PA-SOUTHERN CENTRE PA-
SOUTHERN CLINTON PA-SOUTHERN LYCOMING PA-SULLIVAN PA-TIOGA PA-
UNION PA-WARREN PA-YORK PA-
606 AM EDT WED JUL 14 2004

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA.

.DAY ONE...TODAY:

DEEPENING LOW PRESSURE AT THE SURFACE AND ALOFT OVER LAKE HURON THIS
MORNING WILL MOVE SLOWLY SOUTHEAST TODAY. A STRONG COLD FRONT
EXTENDING SOUTH FROM THE LOW WILL SWEEP ACROSS CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA
AND THE SUSQUEHANNA VALLEY DURING THE AFTERNOON HOURS.

THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE WIDESPREAD ALONG AND IN ADVANCE OF THIS FRONT.
SOME OF THE STORMS MAY BECOME SEVERE...AND PRODUCE LARGE HAIL AND
DAMAGING WIND GUSTS AROUND 60 MPH.

IN ADDITION...LOCALLY HEAVY RAIN OF OVER AN INCH IN A 30 TO 60 MINUTE
PERIOD FROM THE THUNDERSTORMS COULD PRODUCE MINOR FLOODING PROBLEMS
ALONG SMALL STREAMS...ON ROADS...AND THROUGHOUT POOR DRAINAGE AREAS.

SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED TODAY.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY:

NO SEVERE WEATHER IS ANTICIPATED.

LAMBERT

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Jul 14, 10:48 AM EST, 4 hours 37 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA
1148 AM EDT WED JUL 14 2004

PAZ010-141630-
ELK-
1148 AM EDT WED JUL 14 2004

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT ELK COUNTY...

AT 1144 AM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM 14 MILES WEST OF RIDGWAY...MOVING NORTHEAST AT
30 MPH. THE THUNDERSTORM WILL BE NEAR RIDGWAY AROUND 1210
PM...JOHNSONBURG AROUND 1215 PM...WILCOX AROUND 1220 PM...EAST
BRANCH DAM AND ST. MARYS AROUND 1225 PM.

WIND GUSTS TO 50 MPH AND SMALL HAIL ARE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM.
ADDITIONALLY...DANGEROUS LIGHTNING WILL BE PRESENT IN THIS
THUNDERSTORM. WHEN THE STORM APPROACHES...MOVE INDOORS AND AVOID
PLUMING AND ELECTRICAL ITEMS IN YOUR HOME. STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS.

ONDREJIK

Special weather statement, Jul 14, 11:42 AM EST, 3 hours 43 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA
1242 PM EDT WED JUL 14 2004

PAZ006-011-141730-
CAMERON-POTTER-
1242 PM EDT WED JUL 14 2004

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT CAMERON AND POTTER COUNTIES...

AT 1240 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR EMPORIUM...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 25 MPH. THE
THUNDERSTORM WILL BE NEAR WHARTON AROUND 1250 PM...CHERRY SPRINGS
STATE PARK AROUND 110 PM...OLE BULL STATE PARK AROUND 115 PM...LYMAN
RUN STATE PARK AND DENTON HILL STATE PARK AROUND 125 PM.

WIND GUSTS TO 50 MPH AND SMALL HAIL ARE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM.

EXPECT INTENSE LIGHTNING FROM THIS STORM. DO NOT SEEK SHELTER UNDER
TREES OR STAY IN THE OPEN WHEN LIGHTNING THREATENS.

ONDREJIK/HEAD

Special weather statement, Jul 14, 12:21 PM EST, 3 hours 4 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA
121 PM EDT WED JUL 14 2004

PAZ012-018-019-025>028-034>036-041-042-045-046-049>053-056>059-
063>066-142300-
ADAMS PA-BEDFORD PA-BLAIR PA-COLUMBIA PA-CUMBERLAND PA-DAUPHIN
PA-FRANKLIN PA-FULTON PA-HUNTINGDON PA-JUNIATA PA-LANCASTER
PA-LEBANON PA-MIFFLIN PA-MONTOUR PA-NORTHERN CENTRE PA-NORTHERN
CLINTON PA-NORTHERN LYCOMING PA-NORTHUMBERLAND PA-PERRY PA-SCHUYLKILL
PA-SNYDER PA-SOUTHERN CENTRE PA-SOUTHERN CLINTON PA-SOUTHERN LYCOMING
PA-SULLIVAN PA-UNION PA-YORK PA-
121 PM EDT WED JUL 14 2004

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 700 PM EDT
WEDNESDAY EVENING FOR THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES IN CENTRAL
PENNSYLVANIA...

ADAMS...BEDFORD...BLAIR...CENTRE...CLINTON...COLUMBIA...CUMBERLAND...
DAUPHIN...FRANKLIN...FULTON...HUNTINGDON...JUNIATA...LANCASTER...
LEBANON...LYCOMING...MIFFLIN...MONTOUR...NORTHUMBERLAND...PERRY...
SCHUYLKILL...SNYDER...SULLIVAN...UNION AND YORK.

REMEMBER A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH MEANS CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE
FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS IN AND CLOSE TO THE WATCH AREA. PEOPLE IN
THESE AREAS SHOULD BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR THREATENING WEATHER
CONDITIONS AND LISTEN FOR LATER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS.

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH MEANS THAT SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE
POSSIBLE IN AND CLOSE TO THE WATCH AREA...PRODUCING DAMAGING WINDS...
LARGE HAIL AND FREQUENT LIGHTNING.

Local storm report, Jul 14, 3:02 PM EST, 23 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA
402 PM EDT WED JUL 14 2004

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

0205 PM     TSTM WND DMG     4 NE WELLSBORO          41.79N 77.25W
07/14/2004                   TIOGA              PA   EMERGENCY MNGR

            TREES AND POWER LINES DOWN AT NILES VALLEY

0230 PM     TSTM WND DMG     BIGLERVILLE             39.93N 77.25W
07/14/2004                   ADAMS              PA   EMERGENCY MNGR

            TREES AND POWER LINES DOWN

0235 PM     TSTM WND GST     SHIREMANSTOWN           40.22N 76.96W
07/14/2004  0 MPH            CUMBERLAND         PA   TRAINED SPOTTER

            GUST TO 62 MILES PER HOUR WAS REPORTED

0252 PM     TSTM WND DMG     DAUPHIN                 40.37N 76.93W
07/14/2004                   DAUPHIN            PA   EMERGENCY MNGR

            TREES AND LIMBS DOWN

0255 PM     TSTM WND DMG     YORK                    39.96N 76.73W
07/14/2004                   YORK               PA   EMERGENCY MNGR

            TREES DOWN AT NEWBERRY TOWNSHIP

0300 PM     TSTM WND DMG     DAUPHIN                 40.37N 76.93W
07/14/2004                   DAUPHIN            PA   EMERGENCY MNGR

            TREES DOWN

0315 PM     TSTM WND DMG     6 SE PALMYRA            40.25N 76.51W
07/14/2004                   LEBANON            PA   EMERGENCY MNGR

            MANY HOUSES DAMAGED EAST AND ALONG ROUTE 322

0315 PM     HAIL             4 N DOVER               40.06N 76.85W
07/14/2004  0.75 INCH        YORK               PA   TRAINED SPOTTER

            PENNY SIZE HAIL REPORTED AT ROUTE 30

0320 PM     HAIL             MANCHESTER              40.06N 76.72W
07/14/2004  0.25 INCH        YORK               PA   TRAINED SPOTTER

            PEA SIZE HAIL REPORTED

0320 PM     HAIL             MANHEIM                 40.16N 76.40W
07/14/2004  0.88 INCH        LANCASTER          PA   TRAINED SPOTTER

            NICKEL SIZE HAIL REPORTED

0354 PM     HAIL             4 N BLOOMSBURG          41.06N 76.46W
07/14/2004  0.75 INCH        COLUMBIA           PA   TRAINED SPOTTER

            3/4 INCH HAIL REPORTED ALONG WITH 40-50 MPH WINDS

&&

VGC

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

1 hail. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Lancaster

When: July 14, 3:25 PM EST
Where: Lancaster County, Lancaster
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 40.067, -76.300

What these are

Hail: Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Pennsylvania in 2004 Every state in 2004 This day in weather history Warnings in Pennsylvania, July 2004

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5413551.