Damaging Wind in Pennsylvania, July 4, 2006

Name: Damaging Wind in Pennsylvania, July 4, 2006
Start: 2006-07-04T15:00
End: 2006-07-04T15:00
Location: Pennsylvania

July 4, 2006 · NWS CTP · 1 event in 1 county or zone

Thunderstorm winds knocked down trees in Gettysburg.

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

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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.

Thunderstorm winds knocked down trees in Gettysburg.

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 4, 2:57 PM EST, 3 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jul 4, 2:57 PM EST, 3 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA
357 PM EDT TUE JUL 4 2006

.SHORT TERM /TONIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY/...
VERY HUMID AIRMASS IN PLACE WITH DEWPOINTS IN THE UPPER 60S TO LOWER
70S OVER ALL THE AREA. UNV DEWPOINT HAS BEEN TOO LOW FOR
WEEKS...PROBABLY A GOOD 5-6 DEGREES TOO LOW. ENSEMBLES SHOW A STRIPE
OF HIGH PRECIPITABLE WATERS SETTLING ACROSS THE REGION TODAY..SOME 1
TO 3 STD DEV ABOVE NORMAL...HELPING TO SUPPORT THE CONVECTION
CURRENTLY TREKKING ACROSS MY FCST AREA. SVR TSTM WATCH IN EFFECT
OVER THE SOUTHEAST THRU EVENING...WHERE GUIDANCE SUGGESTS THE
HIGHEST CAPES WILL BE.

OTHERWISE...TIMING OF SHOWERS TODAY ALL IMPORTANT FOR THE PLANNING
OF OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES. THE SFC FRONT AROUND NOON WAS ENTERING
NORTHERN OHIO AND INDIANA. SCATTERED CONVECTION EXTENDS FROM NEAR
THE FRONT INTO PA. MODELS AGREE IN WEAKENING THE FRONT IN FAVOR OF
ABSORBING THE BEST CONVERGENCE IN THE SHARPENING LEE SIDE TROF OVER
ERN PA TWD EVENING. BY THEN WEAK COOL AIR ADVECTION IN LOW LEVELS
HAS THE ATMOSPHERE ON THE WAY TOWARD STABILIZING...HINTING THAT ANY
REMAINING SHOWER ACTIVITY WILL BE RAPIDLY ON THE WANE BETWEEN ABOUT
5 AND 9PM. AGREE WITH THE NIGHT SHIFT THAT ABOUT THE NORTHERN 2/3 OR
SO OF THE STATE SHUD BE DRYING OUT AND CONDITIONS IMPROVING FOR MOST
FIREWORKS DISPLAYS.

&&

.LONG TERM /WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY/...
UPR TROF OVER THE NORTHEASTERN U.S. IS FORECAST TO BE LIFTING OUT
/WEAKENING AT THE BEGINNING OF THE PERIOD AS AN UPPER RIDGE BUILDS
OVER THE CENTRAL U.S.  THIS SHOULD LEAD TO A SEVERAL DAY PERIOD OF
DRY WEATHER AND NEAR SEASONABLE TEMPERATURES. THIS WILL LAST FROM
LATER THURSDAY THROUGH THE WEEKEND OVER ALL OF THE CWA.

BY THE BEGINNING OF NEXT WEEK SHORTWAVE ENERGY/UPPER TROF IS PROGGED
TO MOVE ACROSS EASTERN CANADA IS FAST SEMI ZONAL FLOW. THIS WILL
COMBINE WITH INCREASING LOW LEVEL MOISTURE ON SOUTHWESTERLY SFC FLOW
TO RETURN THE DAILY CHANCE OF SHOWERS AND TSTMS TO THE FCST.

&&

.AVIATION...
WIDESPREAD MOSTLY MVFR IN REDUCED VISIBILITIES WITH HAZE AND
SCATTERED SHOWERS. SOME OF THE HEAVIER THUNDERSTORMS ARE CAUSING
BRIEF IFR CONDITIONS WITH GUSTY WINDS AS WELL. AIRMASS WILL
GRADUALLY DRY OUT LATER TONIGHT AND WED...BUT WILL HAVE TO DEAL WITH
MVFR VISIBILITY PROBLEMS ONCE AGAIN OVERNIGHT AND INTO EARLY WED.
ONCE CONDITIONS IMPROVE WED...THINK VFR WILL DOMINATE AS DRIER AIR
MOVES IN.

THINK THE BIGGEST THREAT FROM SEVERE CONVECTION WILL BE OVER THE
NEXT FEW HOURS MAINLY OVER THE SOUTHEAST. MUCH OF THE REMAINING PART
OF THE AREA HAS BEEN CLOUDY AND RAIN COOLED...AND ANY ADDITIONAL
SHOWERS AND STORMS SHUD STAY SUB SEVERE.

&&

.CTP WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
NONE.
&&

SHORT TERM...LACORTE
LONG TERM...GARTNER
AVIATION...LACORTE

Hazardous weather outlook, Jul 4, 3:03 AM EST, 11 hours 57 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA
403 AM EDT TUE JUL 4 2006

PAZ004>006-010>012-017>019-024>028-033>037-041-042-045-046-
049>053-056>059-063>066-050815-
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-
403 AM EDT TUE JUL 4 2006

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL
PENNSYLVANIA.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

VERY WARM AND HUMID AIR IN PLACE OVER CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA TODAY
WILL LEAD TO THUNDERSTORMS AS THE DAYTIME HEATING AND AN
APPROACHING COLD FRONT COMBINE TO MAKE THE AIR UNSTABLE. SOME OF
THE THUNDERSTORMS THAT DEVELOP COULD BECOME SEVERE...AND PRODUCE
DAMAGING WIND GUSTS AND HAIL.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY

THE COLD FRONT WILL MOVE THROUGH THE NORTHERN HALF OF THE STATE BY
WEDNESDAY MORNING...AND LIMIT THE THREAT OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS
ON WEDNESDAY TO THE SOUTH AND EAST...GENERALLY NEAR
HARRISBURG...YORK AND LANCASTER. THE REST OF THE REGION IS NOT
EXPECTED TO HAVE ANY HAZARDOUS WEATHER.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS ANTICIPATED. SPOTTERS...PLEASE CALL OR LOG
IN WITH ANY REPORTS.

DANGELO

In the hours before

Local storm report, Jul 4, 12:29 PM EST, 2 hours 31 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA
129 PM EDT TUE JUL 04 2006

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

0120 PM     HAIL             2 SSW CASHTOWN          39.85N 77.35W
07/04/2006  E0.75 INCH       ADAMS              PA   TRAINED SPOTTER

            PENNY SIZE HAIL IN ORRTANNA WITH WIND SPEEDS ESTIMATED AT
            57 MPH. ALSO TREES AND LIMBS DOWN.

&&

CRUZ

Local storm report, Jul 4, 12:57 PM EST, 2 hours 3 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA
157 PM EDT TUE JUL 04 2006

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

1255 PM     TSTM WND DMG     CARLISLE                40.20N 77.20W
07/04/2006                   CUMBERLAND         PA   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            NUMEROUS TREES DOWN THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY.

0110 PM     TSTM WND DMG     MIDDLETOWN              40.20N 76.73W
07/04/2006                   DAUPHIN            PA   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            SEVERAL TREES AND WIRES DOWN THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY. ALSO
            HAIL OF UNKOWN SIZE REPORTED.

0120 PM     HAIL             2 SSW CASHTOWN          39.85N 77.35W
07/04/2006  E0.75 INCH       ADAMS              PA   TRAINED SPOTTER

            PENNY SIZE HAIL IN ORRTANNA WITH WIND SPEEDS ESTIMATED AT
            57 MPH. ALSO TREES AND LIMBS DOWN.

0140 PM     TSTM WND DMG     YORK                    39.96N 76.73W
07/04/2006                   YORK               PA   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            SEVERAL TREES AND WIRES DOWN.

&&

CRUZ

Local storm report, Jul 4, 1:15 PM EST, 1 hour 45 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA
215 PM EDT TUE JUL 04 2006

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

0135 PM     TSTM WND DMG     5 SW DALLASTOWN         39.86N 76.71W
07/04/2006                   YORK               PA   TRAINED SPOTTER

            SEVERAL LARGE LIMBS DOWN. ALSO 0.55 INCHES OF
            PRECIPITATION FROM 120 PM - 135 PM.

0148 PM     TSTM WND DMG     MANHEIM                 40.16N 76.40W
07/04/2006                   LANCASTER          PA   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            SEVERAL TREES AND WIRES DOWN THROUGHOUT COUNTY...
            INCLUDING WEST PENN AND EAST DONEGAL. ALSO HOUSE STRUCK
            BY LIGHTNING IN MANHEIM BOROUGH.

&&

CRUZ

Local storm report, Jul 4, 1:45 PM EST, 1 hour 15 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA
245 PM EDT TUE JUL 04 2006

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

1255 PM     TSTM WND DMG     CARLISLE                40.20N 77.20W
07/04/2006                   CUMBERLAND         PA   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            NUMEROUS TREES DOWN THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY.

0110 PM     TSTM WND DMG     MIDDLETOWN              40.20N 76.73W
07/04/2006                   DAUPHIN            PA   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            SEVERAL TREES AND WIRES DOWN THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY. ALSO
            HAIL OF UNKOWN SIZE REPORTED.

0120 PM     HAIL             2 SSW CASHTOWN          39.85N 77.35W
07/04/2006  E0.75 INCH       ADAMS              PA   TRAINED SPOTTER

            PENNY SIZE HAIL IN ORRTANNA WITH WIND SPEEDS ESTIMATED AT
            57 MPH. ALSO TREES AND LIMBS DOWN.

0135 PM     TSTM WND DMG     5 SW DALLASTOWN         39.86N 76.71W
07/04/2006                   YORK               PA   TRAINED SPOTTER

            SEVERAL LARGE LIMBS DOWN. ALSO 0.55 INCHES OF
            PRECIPITATION FROM 120 PM - 135 PM.

0140 PM     TSTM WND DMG     YORK                    39.96N 76.73W
07/04/2006                   YORK               PA   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            SEVERAL TREES AND WIRES DOWN.

0140 PM     TSTM WND DMG     MOUNT JOY               40.11N 76.51W
07/04/2006                   LANCASTER          PA   EMERGENCY MNGR

            NUMEROUS TREES DOWN WITH WIND GUSTS AROUND 65 MPH.

0147 PM     TSTM WND DMG     RED LION                39.90N 76.61W
07/04/2006                   YORK               PA   TRAINED SPOTTER

            SEVERAL TREES AND LIMBS DOWN.

0148 PM     TSTM WND DMG     MANHEIM                 40.16N 76.40W
07/04/2006                   LANCASTER          PA   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            SEVERAL TREES AND WIRES DOWN THROUGHOUT COUNTY...
            INCLUDING WEST PENN AND EAST DONEGAL. ALSO HOUSE STRUCK
            BY LIGHTNING IN MANHEIM BOROUGH.

0235 PM     TSTM WND DMG     QUARRYVILLE             39.90N 76.16W
07/04/2006                   LANCASTER          PA   TRAINED SPOTTER

            SEVERAL TREES DOWN WITH WIND GUSTS OF 60 MPH.

&&

CRUZ

Special weather statement, Jul 4, 1:48 PM EST, 1 hour 12 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA
248 PM EDT TUE JUL 4 2006

PAZ004-042015-
WARREN-
248 PM EDT TUE JUL 4 2006

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT WARREN COUNTY THROUGH
   415 PM EDT...

AT 244 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED
STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 18 MILES SOUTHWEST
OF JAMESTOWN TO 28 MILES NORTH OF SUGARCREEK...MOVING EAST AT 40 MPH.
THE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE NEAR SUGAR GROVE...SPRING CREEK AROUND 300
PM...YOUNGSVILLE...RUSSELL AROUND 315 PM...GERMANY...WARREN AROUND
330 PM...KINZUA DAM AND CLARENDON AROUND 345 PM.

THIS WILL ALSO IMPACT THE FOLLOWING MAJOR ROADS...ROUTE 6...ROUTE
62...STATE ROAD 59.

WIND GUSTS TO 50 MPH AND SMALL HAIL ARE POSSIBLE WITH THESE
THUNDERSTORMS.

ALSO EXPECT OCCASIONAL...DANGEROUS CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING THAT IS
CAPABLE OF STRIKING SEVERAL MILES AWAY FROM THE THUNDERSTORMS.

FORECASTER: LAMBERT

The radar

The Sterling radar (KLWX), 98 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 19:58 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Adams

When: July 4, 3:00 PM EST
Where: Adams County, Gettysburg
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 39.833, -77.233

What these are

Thunderstorm Wind: Winds from a thunderstorm of 50 knots (58 mph) or more, or lower winds that caused damage or casualties. Measured gusts are marked MG, estimated EG.

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

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Pennsylvania in 2006 Every state in 2006 This day in weather history Warnings in Pennsylvania, July 2006

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: 5526906.