A strong cold front crossed central Pennsylvania during the afternoon of December 1st, 2006. Short lines of convection developed ahead of the main front, initiating much of the severe weather.
Every event with a place to put it. 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.
A strong cold front crossed central Pennsylvania during the afternoon of December 1st, 2006. Short lines of convection developed ahead of the main front, initiating much of the severe weather. A number of severe thunderstorms were spawned, as very strong winds aloft were mixed down to the surface. The pre-frontal convection also spawned one tornado.
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, 32 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 548 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>066-011800- 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- 548 AM EST FRI DEC 1 2006 ...MODERATE RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS TODAY... THERE IS A MODERATE RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS MOST OF CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA TODAY. A LINE OF HEAVY SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL PUSH THROUGH CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA BETWEEN NOON AND 3 PM. SOME OF THESE STORMS COULD PRODUCE DAMAGING WIND GUSTS AND AN ISOLATED TORNADO IS EVEN POSSIBLE OVER THE REGION. STRONG...GUSTY WINDS WILL PERSIST THROUGH THE EVENING AS MUCH COLDER AIR RUSHES INTO THE STATE.
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
The Pittsburgh radar (KPBZ), 113 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 16:46 UTC.
23 thunderstorm wind, 1 tornado, 1 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.
Thunderstorm winds knocked down trees in Rockwood and throughout Conemaugh Township.
Thunderstorm winds knocked down trees over portions of Burnside Township.
Thunderstorm winds knocked down trees in portions of Middle Taylor Township.
Thunderstorm winds knocked down trees across Route 59 in Keating Township.
Thunderstorm winds knocked down trees across portions of Route 255 between St. Marys and Johnsonburg.
Thunderstorm winds knocked down trees and power lines in portions of Brady Township.
Thunderstorm winds knocked down trees in portions of Richland and Summerhill Townships.
Thunderstorm winds knocked down trees in Westover.
Thunderstorm winds knocked down trees along Route 147 south of Sunbury.
Thunderstorm winds knocked down trees and wires throughout Selinsgrove.
Thunderstorm winds knocked down trees and power poles in Blain.
Thunderstorm winds knocked down trees and wires in Northumberland.
Thunderstorm winds produced a 8 mile long swath of damage from 2.5 miles southwest of Halifax, to 6.5 miles east of Halifax. Damage began near the intersection of Shammons School Road, about 1 mile east of the Susquehanna River, and ended in a wooded area of Jackson Township, about 1.5 miles east of Enders. The thunderstorm winds produced minor damage to several dozen homes, and downed thousands of trees.|Embedded in the damaging thunderstorm winds was a short lived F1 tornado.
A thunderstorm spawned an F1 tornado south of the town of Halifax in Dauphin county, as determined by a National Weather Service storm survey team. The tornado was embedded within a much larger area of downburst wind damage.|The tornado touched down near Route 147 about 1.3 miles south of Halifax. The tornado traveled northeast about 1.5 miles, before dissipating in a wooded area. Major damage was sustained by 4 businesses and 1 home. Moderate damage was sustained by 4 additional residences. Minor damage occurred to several dozen homes. Top winds were estimated between 100 and 110 mph, categorizing the storm as an F1.|Damages from the tornado were estimated at nearly 2 million dollars. There was one fatality caused by a tree falling onto a car.
Thunderstorm winds knocked down numerous trees in Upper Agusta Township.
Heavy rain caused flash flooding and the closure of numerous roads throughout Northumberland County.
Thunderstorm winds knocked down trees in Washington Township along Route 3010.
Thunderstorm winds knocked down numerous trees.
Thunderstorm winds produced a swath of damage about 2 miles wide, either side of Route 487 extending from near Knobels Park to Berwick. Trees and power poles were knocked down along this path. A roof was also torn off a barn in Almedia.
A line of thunderstorms with damaging winds moved across Lebanon County, knocking down trees throughout the county as it passed through.
Thunderstorm winds knocked down trees and wires.
Thunderstorm winds knocked down trees and wires.
Thunderstorm winds knocked down trees and wires.
Thunderstorm winds damaged a trailer, and knocked down numerous trees.
Thunderstorm winds knocked down 2 chicken houses.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tornado, Dauphin | 2006-12-01 | 50 | Female | Vehicle/Towed Trailer | 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 historyThe tornado archive for Pennsylvania, 2006Warnings 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: 6250, 6260, 6256, 6264, 6262, 6261, 6266, 6267, 6268, 6269, 6301, 6322, 6363, 6358, 6324, 6374, 6326, 6330, 6300, 6371, 6367, 6368, 6369, 6372, 6373.