Strong gradient winds behind a cold front caused widespread tree damage across central Pennsylvania. All 36 zones in the State College area of warning responsibility reported some damage from the strong wind event.
Every event with a place to put it; 36 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.
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.
The episode as NWS CTP wrote it up.
Strong gradient winds behind a cold front caused widespread tree damage across central Pennsylvania. All 36 zones in the State College area of warning responsibility reported some damage from the strong wind event.
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 Dec 1, 11:14 AM EST, 1 hour 46 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA 1114 AM EST FRI DEC 1 2006 .SHORT TERM /THROUGH THIS AFTERNOON/... ZONE TEXT AND WEATHER GRIDS VIA THE WEB UPDATED FOR ISSUANCE OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 874 IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM. LINE OF HEAVY SHRA/TSRA WITH EMBEDDED BOW ECHOES RACING NE AT 55 TO 60 MPH. TIMING ON TRACK TO AFFECT THE WRN MTNS BETWEEN 16-18Z...THE CENTRAL ZONES 18-19Z AND THE AREA EST OF THE SUSQ MAINSTEM 19-21Z. && .PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 936 AM EST FRI DEC 1 2006/ SHORT TERM /THROUGH THIS EVENING/... NARROW COLD FRONTAL RAIN BAND WITH VIRTUALLY NO LIGHTNING ATTM WAS RACING TO THE NE AT AROUND 50 KT. SREF CAPE/AND NAM PRESSURE RISE MAXS TARGET THE SOUTHERN HALF OF THE CWA THIS AFTERNOON FOR THE GREATEST POTENTIAL OF SEVERE...CAPTURING THE GREATER PORTION OF SPC/S MDT RISK OUTLOOK AREA. ISSUED A ZONE/GRID UPDATE TO REFLECT THE POTENTIAL OF DAMAGING WIND GUSTS WITH THE NCRFB...LATE THIS MORNING ACROSS THE WRN PENN MTNS...AND DURING THE EARLY TO MID AFTERNOON ACROSS THE CENTRAL MTNS AND SUSQ VALLEY. REST OF THE PREVIOUS FCST LOOK IN PRETTY GOOD SHAPE. PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 355 AM EST FRI DEC 1 2006/ SHORT TERM /TODAY THROUGH SUNDAY/... STRENGTHENING LO PRES TRACKING TRACKING NORTHWRD THRU OHIO VALLEY THIS AM. STEADY RAIN CONFINED TO AREA NORTH OF BAROCLINIC ZONE...LEAVING PA MAINLY RAIN-FREE EARLY THIS AM. TRAILING COLD FRONT WILL SWEEP THRU CENTRAL PA THIS AFTN...ACCOMPANIED BY HVY SHWRS/TSTMS. MODEL CAPE VALUES SIGNIFICANT FOR TIME OF YEAR (ARND 500 J/KG)...COMBINED WITH TREMENDOUS SHEAR...SUPPORT THE MED RISK OF SVR WX ISSUED BY SPC. LL SHEAR NR 50KTS ALSO SUGGESTS POSSIBILITY OF ISOLATED TORNADOES. HIGH PRECIP WATER VALUES COMBINED WITH VIGOROUS LIFT ALONG COLD FRONT WILL LIKELY RESULT IN DOWNPOURS THAT COULD PRODUCE LOCALIZED POOR DRAINAGE FLOODING. 1HR FFG VALUES EXCEED STORM TOTAL QPF OVR MUCH OF THE REGION...SUGGESTING ANY FLASH FLOODING WOULD BE ISOLATED AT BEST. HOWEVER...WILL LEAVE FFA IN TACT FOR NOW...WHICH MESHES WELL WITH FLASH FLOOD WATCHES OF NEIGHBORING OFFICES. HAVE EXPANDED HIGH WIND WARNING TO COVER ENTIRE CWA PER COORDINATION WITH NEIGHBORING OFFICES. FEEL GREATEST THREAT OF DAMAGING WINDS WILL BE WITH CONVECTION ASSOCIATED WITH COLD FRONT. HOWEVER...MODEL SOUNDING DATA STILL SHOWS 50-60KT WIND AT TOP OF WELL MIXED BLYR BEHIND FRONT...SO NON-CONVECTIVE GUSTS NR WARNING CRITERIA STILL POSSIBLE INTO THE EVENING HOURS. SCT LAKE EFFECT SNOW SHWRS WILL DEVELOP OVR THE MTNS THIS EVENING AS MUCH COLDER AIR ARRIVES ON WESTERLY FLOW TONIGHT. LOW INVERSION HEIGHTS...AND ABV FREEZING SFC TEMPS EARLY THIS EVENING...WILL KEEP ACCUMS ON THE LIGHT SIDE. MTN -SHSN SHOULD TAPER TO FLURRIES ON SATURDAY AS RIDGE OF HI PRES BUILDS TOWARD PA FROM THE WEST. FAIR AND SEASONABLE CONDITIONS APPEAR LIKELY SUNDAY UNDER RIDGE. LONG TERM /SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY/... 00Z MREF SHOWING POTENT S/WV ROUNDING BASE OF GRT LKS TROUGH EARLY MONDAY. EXPECT MTN -SHSN TO ACCOMPANY PASSAGE OF THIS FEATURE. HOWEVER...ASSOCIATED COASTAL LOW IS PROGGED BY NEARLY ALL ENSEMBLE MEMBERS TO REMAIN TOO FAR EAST TO AFFECT PA. COLDEST AIRMASS OF SEASON IS LIKELY TO BE DRAWN SOUTH IN WAKE OF S/WV EARLY NEXT WEEK. MREF 850 TEMPS ARND -14C MONDAY SUGGEST HIGHS MAY REMAIN BLW FREEZING OVR ALL BUT SUSQ VALLEY. AVIATION... ROUGH FLYING WEATHER OVER THE NEXT 24-36 HOURS AS BIG CHANGES ARE ON THE WAY. WARM FRONT STRETCHED ACROSS REGION EARLY THIS MORNING KEEPING MOST AREAS VFR BUT MVFR STRATOCU BEGINNING TO MOVE INTO LOWER SUSQ AS SOUTHERLY LOW LEVEL WINDS ARE ON THE INCREASE. THE STRATOCU WILL SLOWLY LOWER AND SPREAD FURTHER WEST AND NORTH BY SUNRISE AND LLWS WILL DEVELOP FOR MAINLY EASTERN 2/3 OF CWA. SCATTERED SHOWERS WILL ALSO REDUCE VSBYS/CIGS LOCALLY EARLY...MAINLY IN THE NW. SURFACE WINDS WILL START OUT LIGHT AND THEN INCREASE TO 10-20 KTS AND BECOME GUSTY AFTER SUNRISE AS STRONGER WINDS MOVE IN ALOFT. STRONG COLD FRONT ASSOCIATED WITH DEEPENING LOW WILL THEN SWEEP ACROSS CENTRAL PA BETWEEN 16Z-20Z BRINGING MAINLY MVFR WITH SOME BRIEF IFR CONDITIONS. RAIN WITH EMBEDDED TSTORMS WILL ACCOMPANY THE FRONT...AND THE TSTORMS WILL BE CAPABLE OF LOCALLY STRONG WINDS AND HEAVIER DOWNPOURS WHICH WILL SIGNIFICANTLY AFFECT AVIATION INTERESTS. WINDS WILL SHIFT TO THE SOUTHWEST AND PICK UP TO SUSTAINED 20-30 KTS WITH HIGHER GUSTS. STRONG SOUTHWEST TO WEST WINDS CONTINUE BEHIND THE FRONT WHICH WILL KEEP LLWS IN THE FORECAST AND USHER IN MUCH COLDER AIR. RAIN SHOWERS WILL GRADUALLY CHANGE TO SNOW SHOWERS AS TEMPERATURES FALL LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND THIS EVENING...WITH AERIAL COVERAGE OF SHOWERS SLOWLY DIMINISHING. THIS WILL LEAD TO A GENERAL IMPROVING OF CONDITIONS AT MOST TAF SITES EXCEPT FOR LOCAL REDUCTIONS TO CIGS/VSBYS IN THE SHOWERS. LOWER CIGS/VSBYS MAY LAST THROUGH 12Z IN THE HIGHER ELEVATION SITES OF KBFD/KJST. && .CTP WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... HIGH WIND WARNING FOR PAZ004>006-010>012-017>019-024>028- 033>037-041-042-045-046-049>053-056>059-063>066 UNTIL MIDNIGHT SATURDAY. FLASH FLOOD WATCH FOR PAZ004>006-010>012-017>019-024>028- 033>037-041-042-045-046-049>053-056>059-063>066 UNTIL 10 PM FRIDAY. && SHORT TERM...LAMBERT
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA 533 AM EST FRI DEC 1 2006 PAZ004>006-010>012-017>019-024>028-033>037-041-042-045-046- 049>053-056>059-063>066-021045- WARREN-MCKEAN-POTTER-ELK-CAMERON-NORTHERN CLINTON-CLEARFIELD- NORTHERN CENTRE-SOUTHERN CENTRE-CAMBRIA-BLAIR-HUNTINGDON-MIFFLIN- JUNIATA-SOMERSET-BEDFORD-FULTON-FRANKLIN-TIOGA-NORTHERN LYCOMING- SULLIVAN-SOUTHERN CLINTON-SOUTHERN LYCOMING-UNION-SNYDER-MONTOUR- NORTHUMBERLAND-COLUMBIA-PERRY-DAUPHIN-SCHUYLKILL-LEBANON- CUMBERLAND-ADAMS-YORK-LANCASTER- 533 AM EST FRI DEC 1 2006 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT A STRONG COLD FRONT WILL SWEEP THROUGH CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA THIS AFTERNOON...ACCOMPANIED BY SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS. WIND GUSTS AROUND 60 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH SOME OF THESE STORMS. IN ADDITION...THE HEAVY DOWNPOURS COULD CAUSE LOCALIZED FLASH FLOODING. STRONG AND POTENTIALLY DAMAGING WIND GUSTS WILL LINGER INTO THE EVENING AS MUCH COLDER AIR RUSHES INTO THE REGION. HOWEVER...THE BEST CHANCE OF DAMAGING WINDS AND FLOODING WILL BE WITH THE FRONTAL PASSAGE...WHICH SHOULD OCCUR AROUND NOON OVER THE LAUREL HIGHLANDS AND NORTHWEST MOUNTAINS...AND AROUND 3 PM IN THE SUSQUEHANNA VALLEY. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL NOT BE NEEDED.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA 1105 AM EST FRI DEC 1 2006 PAZ004-011700- WARREN- 1105 AM EST FRI DEC 1 2006 ...A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT WARREN COUNTY BETWEEN THROUGH NOON... AT 1100 AM EST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 28 MILES WEST OF JAMESTOWN TO FRANKLIN...RACING TO THE NORTHEAST AT 55 TO 65 MPH. THE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE NEAR SPRING CREEK...GRAND VALLEY AROUND 1115 AM...YOUNGSVILLE...TIDIOUTE AROUND 1130 AM...WARREN...RUSSELL AROUND 1145 AM...KINZUA DAM AND SHEFFIELD AROUND NOON. THIS WILL ALSO IMPACT THE FOLLOWING MAJOR ROADS...ROUTE 6...ROUTE 62...STATE ROAD 59. WIND GUSTS OF 45 TO 55 MPH ARE POSSIBLE WITH THIS LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS. VERY HEAVY RAIN WILL FALL FROM THESE STORMS...AND WILL CAUSE WATER TO POND ON ROADS AND QUICKLY FILL ROADSIDE DITCHES AND SMALL STREAMS. FORECASTER: LAMBERT
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA 1211 PM EST FRI DEC 1 2006 PAZ005-011815- MCKEAN- 1211 PM EST FRI DEC 1 2006 ...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT MCKEAN COUNTY... AT 1210 PM EST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 11 MILES EAST OF JAMESTOWN TO 4 MILES NORTHEAST OF WARREN TO 11 MILES SOUTHWEST OF KANE...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 40 MPH. THE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE NEAR KANE AROUND 1220 PM...WESTLINE...MARSHBURG AROUND 1225 PM...LEWIS RUN...CYCLONE...BRADFORD AROUND 1230 PM AND REW AROUND 1235 PM. THIS WILL ALSO IMPACT THE FOLLOWING MAJOR ROADS...ROUTE 6...ROUTE 219...STATE ROAD 59...STATE ROAD 66. WIND GUSTS TO 50 MPH ARE POSSIBLE WITH THESE STORMS. RHG FORECASTER:
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA
1227 PM EST FRI DEC 01 2006
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1146 AM TSTM WND DMG ROCKWOOD 39.92N 79.16W
12/01/2006 SOMERSET PA EMERGENCY MNGR
SEVERAL TREES REPORTED DOWN IN THE TOWN OF ROCKWOOD AND
IN CONEMAUGH TOWNSHIP
&&
MBCSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA 1241 PM EST FRI DEC 1 2006 PAZ006-037-011845- POTTER-TIOGA- 1241 PM EST FRI DEC 1 2006 ...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT POTTER AND TIOGA COUNTIES... AT 1239 PM EST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 5 MILES NORTH OF JOHNSONBURG TO 12 MILES NORTHEAST OF KANE TO 4 MILES WEST OF BRADFORD...MOVING EAST AT 55 MPH. THE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE NEAR SHINGLEHOUSE AROUND 105 PM...ROULETTE...KEATING SUMMIT AROUND 110 PM...OSWAYO AROUND 115 PM...COUDERSPORT AROUND 120 PM...GENESEE AROUND 125 PM AND DENTON HILL STATE PARK AROUND 130 PM. THESE STORMS COULD PRODUCE WIND GUSTS TO 50 MPH AND A BRIEF PERIOD OF HEAVY RAIN AS THEY SWEEP ACROSS THE REGION. THIS WILL ALSO IMPACT THE FOLLOWING MAJOR ROADS...ROUTE 6...STATE ROAD 449. FORECASTER:RHG
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA
1244 PM EST FRI DEC 01 2006
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1220 PM TSTM WND DMG 3 N JOHNSTOWN 40.37N 78.92W
12/01/2006 CAMBRIA PA EMERGENCY MNGR
TREES DOWN IN PORTIONS OF MIDDLE TAYLOR TOWNSHIP.
&&
MBCSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA 1256 PM EST FRI DEC 1 2006 PAZ010-011-017-018-041-045-011830- CAMERON-CLEARFIELD-ELK-NORTHERN CENTRE-NORTHERN LYCOMING- SOUTHERN CLINTON- 1256 PM EST FRI DEC 1 2006 ...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT CAMERON...CENTRE...CLEARFIELD... CLINTON...ELK AND LYCOMING COUNTIES... AT 1252 PM EST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 13 MILES SOUTHEAST OF ST. MARYS TO 5 MILES NORTHEAST OF CLEARFIELD...MOVING EAST AT 75 MPH. THE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE NEAR PINE GLEN...MOSHANNON AROUND 105 PM...SNOW SHOE AROUND 110 PM...MILL HALL...LOCK HAVEN AROUND 125 PM...DUNNSTOWN AND MACKEYVILLE AROUND 130 PM. THIS WILL IMPACT THE FOLLOWING CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA INTERSTATES... I-80 BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 120 AND 179. THIS WILL ALSO IMPACT THE FOLLOWING MAJOR ROADS...ROUTE 220...STATE ROAD 120. STRONG WINDS UP TO 50 MPH ARE LIKELY WITH THIS LINE OF STORMS. FORECASTER:RHG
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
36 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
High winds behind a strong cold front knocked down trees and wires throughout the county.
High winds behind a strong cold front knocked down trees throughout the county. A majority of the trees were down in Clearfield Borough, Westover Township and Burnside Township.
High winds behind a strong cold front knocked down trees throughout the county. Part of the roof of a mobile home was removed by the wind near Waynesboro on Manheim Road.
High winds behind a strong cold front knocked down trees throughout the county.
High winds behind a strong cold front knocked down trees and wires throughout the county.
High winds behind a strong cold front knocked down trees throughout the county.
High winds behind a strong cold front knocked down trees and wires throughout the county.
High winds behind a strong cold front knocked down trees throughout the county.
High winds behind a strong cold front knocked down trees and wires throughout the county.
High winds behind a strong cold front knocked down trees, wires and power poles throughout the county.
High winds behind a strong cold front knocked down trees throughout the county.
High winds behind a strong cold front knocked down trees throughout the county.
High winds behind a strong cold front knocked down trees and wires throughout the county.
High winds behind a strong cold front knocked down trees throughout the county. Much of the damage occurred in the McConnellsburg area.
High winds behind a strong cold front knocked down trees throughout the county.
High winds behind a strong cold front knocked down trees throughout the county.
High winds behind a strong cold front knocked down trees and wires throughout the county.
High winds behind a strong cold front knocked down trees and wires throughout the county.
High winds behind a strong cold front knocked down trees and wires throughout the county.
High winds behind a strong cold front knocked down trees throughout the county.
High winds behind a strong cold front knocked down trees and wires throughout the county.
High winds behind a strong cold front knocked down trees and wires throughout the county.
High winds behind a strong cold front knocked down trees throughout the county.
High winds behind a strong cold front knocked down trees throughout the county. Roof damage to a house was reported in Penn Township, about 5 miles northwest of Selinsgrove.
High winds behind a strong cold front knocked down trees throughout the county. A wind gust of 60 mph was measured at the NWS office in State College.
High winds behind a strong cold front knocked down trees throughout the county. Strong winds pealed the steel roof off a storage shed in Jersey Shore. The debris struck and fatally injured one person.
High winds behind a strong cold front knocked down trees and wires throughout the county.
High winds behind a strong cold front knocked down trees throughout the county. Most of the damage was confined to the northern and western portions of the county.
High winds behind a strong cold front knocked down trees throughout the county.
High winds behind a strong cold front knocked down trees and wires throughout the county.
High winds behind a strong cold front knocked down trees throughout the county.
High winds behind a strong cold front knocked down trees throughout the county.
High winds behind a strong cold front knocked down trees throughout the county. Wires and power poles were also knocked down. Much of the damage occurred east of Carlisle.
High winds behind a strong cold front knocked down trees throughout the county. Much of the damage occurred in the cities of Harrisburg and Middletown.
High winds behind a strong cold front knocked down trees and wires throughout the county.
High winds behind a strong cold front knocked down trees throughout the county. Much of the damage occurred in Shamokin Township.
As the offices recorded each death: direct deaths were caused by the weather itself, indirect ones by something it set in motion.
| Event | Date | Age | Sex | Where | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High Wind, Southern Lycoming | 2006-12-01 | 66 | Female | Outside/Open Areas | Direct |
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Pennsylvania in 2006Every state in 2006This day in weather historyWarnings in Pennsylvania, December 2006
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: 5709, 5662, 5679, 5657, 5659, 5677, 5685, 5692, 5701, 5704, 5706, 5656, 5658, 5680, 5681, 5682, 5683, 5684, 5686, 5690, 5698, 5700, 5702, 5703, 5705, 5707, 5708, 5710, 5711, 5712, 5655, 5671, 5674, 5676, 5687, 5699.