Hail in Pennsylvania, July 9, 2006

Name: Hail in Pennsylvania, July 9, 2006
Start: 2006-07-09T17:31
End: 2006-07-09T17:31
Location: Pennsylvania

July 9, 2006 · NWS CTP · 1 event in 1 county or zone

88 inch/ hail in Stevens, about 2 miles eastsoutheast of Ephrata.

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.

Thunderstorms produced nickel size /0.88 inch/ hail in Stevens, about 2 miles eastsoutheast of Ephrata.

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 9, 2:15 PM EST, 3 hours 16 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jul 9, 2:15 PM EST, 3 hours 16 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA
315 PM EDT SUN JUL 9 2006

.SHORT TERM /TONIGHT THROUGH MONDAY/...
ONGOING...ISOLATED SEVERE...CONVECTION ON BACK EDGE CIRCULATION OF
UPR LOW LIFTING THROUGH THE REGION IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE INTO THIS
EVENING AND THEN DIMINISH AROUND SUNSET. THE OVERNIGHT HOURS SHOULD
BE MAINLY DRY PCPN WISE...BUT SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL
APPROACH FROM THE NORTHWEST STARTING MONDAY MORNING AHEAD OF
SHORTWAVE TROF...SO A SHOWER COULD REACH INTO NW PA EARLY MONDAY
MORNING. HAVE HAD A COUPLE REPORTS OF HAIL AND WIND DAMAGE AND WITH
STRONGER DYNAMICS EXPECTED MONDAY WITH THE SHORT WAVE
TROF...INCLUDED LIKELY POPS FOR NW HALF OF CWA ON MONDAY WITH AT
LEAST SOME ISOLATED SEVERE POSSIBLE AGAIN MONDAY AFTERNOON.

&&

.LONG TERM /MONDAY NIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY/...
WITH NO AIRMASS CHANGE EXPECTED THROUGH MOST OF THE WEEK AND AN
ACTIVE NRN STREAM FLOW PATTERN TO THE NORTH OF THE REGION...ABOVE
NORMAL CLIMO CHANCES OF SHOWERS AND TSTMS ARE EXPECTED THROUGH
FRIDAY. AT THIS TIME MOISTURE APPEARS DIMINISH BY THE WEEKEND WITH
THE PASSAGE OF SOME SEMBLANCE OF AN UPR TROF AXIS.

&&

.AVIATION...
UPPER LEVEL LOW OVER SE HALF OF CWA ALONG WITH GENEROUS AMOUNTS OF
CAPE KICKING OFF SCATTERED PULSE TSTORMS THIS AFTERNOON.  THESE WILL
BRING ISOLATED MVFR CONDITIONS WHILE THE REMAINDER OF THE REGION
REMAINS VFR.  CONVECTIVE ACTIVITY WILL TAPER OFF EARLY THIS EVENING
WITH LOSS OF HEATING.  DECENT MID LEVEL WAVE WITH ASSOCIATED COLD
FRONT MOVE INTO THE NORTHWEST LATER TONIGHT AND CROSS CWA DURING THE
DAY MONDAY BRINGING NUMEROUS SHOWERS/TSTORMS ALONG WITH LOCAL
REDUCTIONS OF VSBY/CIGS...BUT IN GENERAL VSBYS WILL BE 6+ WITH CIGS
REMAINING ABOVE 3KFT.  WINDS WILL REMAIN LIGHT THROUGH THE PERIOD.

&&

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

SHORT TERM...RXR/GARTNER
LONG TERM...GARTNER
AVIATION...RXR

Hazardous weather outlook, Jul 9, 10:34 AM EST, 6 hours 57 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA
1134 AM EDT SUN JUL 9 2006

PAZ004>006-010>012-017>019-024>028-033>037-041-042-045-046-
049>053-056>059-063>066-101545-
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-
1134 AM EDT SUN JUL 9 2006

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL
PENNSYLVANIA.

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT

ISOLATED TO SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE DURING THE MID
TO LATE AFTERNOON. MAINLY ACROSS THE LOWER SUSQUEHANNA VALLEY...A
FEW OF THESE THUNDERSTORMS MAY BECOME STRONG TO SEVERE...WITH THE
MAIN THREAT BEING HAIL. THE THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY IS EXPECTED TO
DIMINISH AS SUNSET APPROACHES THIS EVENING.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL NOT BE NEEDED.

RXR

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Jul 9, 4:51 PM EST, 40 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA
551 PM EDT SUN JUL 9 2006

PAZ057-092215-
DAUPHIN-
551 PM EDT SUN JUL 9 2006

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT DAUPHIN COUNTY...

AT 549 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM OVER THE BOROUGH OF DAUPHIN...MOVING NORTHEAST
AT 15 MPH. THE THUNDERSTORM WILL BE NEAR ELLENDALE FORGE AROUND 600
PM...HALIFAX AROUND 605 PM AND DEHART DAM AROUND 615 PM.

WIND GUSTS TO 40 MPH AND SMALL HAIL ARE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM.

THIS WILL IMPACT THE FOLLOWING MAJOR ROADS...ROUTE 209 AND ROUTE
322/22.

FORECASTER: DANGELO

Local storm report, Jul 9, 5:16 PM EST, 15 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA
616 PM EDT SUN JUL 09 2006

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

0546 PM     HAIL             SNOW SHOE               41.03N 77.95W
07/09/2006  E0.50 INCH       CENTRE             PA   TRAINED SPOTTER

0607 PM     TSTM WND DMG     ADAMSTOWN               40.24N 76.06W
07/09/2006                   LANCASTER          PA   TRAINED SPOTTER

            SOME TREES DOWN. WIND GUSTS OF 49 MPH

&&

CRUZ

Local storm report, Jul 9, 5:25 PM EST, 6 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA
625 PM EDT SUN JUL 09 2006

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

0621 PM     HAIL             MANHEIM                 40.16N 76.40W
07/09/2006  E0.88 INCH       LANCASTER          PA   EMERGENCY MNGR

&&

CRUZ

Local storm report, Jul 9, 5:26 PM EST, 5 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA
626 PM EDT SUN JUL 09 2006

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

0150 PM     HAIL             MOUNT HOLLY SPRINGS     40.11N 77.18W
07/09/2006  E0.75 INCH       CUMBERLAND         PA   PUBLIC

            HAIL LASTED 20 MINUTES

0225 PM     TSTM WND DMG     ALEXANDRIA              40.56N 78.10W
07/09/2006                   HUNTINGDON         PA   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            WIRES DOWN

0430 PM     HAIL             MCCLURE                 40.71N 77.31W
07/09/2006  E0.88 INCH       SNYDER             PA   TRAINED SPOTTER

0505 PM     HAIL             COGAN STATION           41.31N 77.03W
07/09/2006  E0.75 INCH       LYCOMING           PA   TRAINED SPOTTER

0540 PM     HAIL             2 W HOGESTOWN           40.23N 77.08W
07/09/2006  E1.00 INCH       CUMBERLAND         PA   NWS EMPLOYEE

0541 PM     HAIL             EPHRATA                 40.18N 76.18W
07/09/2006  E0.50 INCH       LANCASTER          PA   EMERGENCY MNGR

0544 PM     HAIL             LEWISBURG               40.96N 76.89W
07/09/2006  E0.25 INCH       UNION              PA   EMERGENCY MNGR

0545 PM     HAIL             WATSONTOWN              41.08N 76.86W
07/09/2006  E0.50 INCH       NORTHUMBERLAND     PA   TRAINED SPOTTER

0546 PM     HAIL             SNOW SHOE               41.03N 77.95W
07/09/2006  E0.50 INCH       CENTRE             PA   TRAINED SPOTTER

0607 PM     TSTM WND DMG     ADAMSTOWN               40.24N 76.06W
07/09/2006                   LANCASTER          PA   TRAINED SPOTTER

            SOME TREES DOWN. WIND GUSTS OF 49 MPH

0621 PM     HAIL             MANHEIM                 40.16N 76.40W
07/09/2006  E0.88 INCH       LANCASTER          PA   EMERGENCY MNGR

&&

CRUZ

Special weather statement, Jul 9, 5:27 PM EST, 4 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA
627 PM EDT SUN JUL 9 2006

PAZ012-092330-
NORTHERN CLINTON-
627 PM EDT SUN JUL 9 2006

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT CENTRAL AND NORTHEAST CLINTON
COUNTY THROUGH 730 PM...

AT 626 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM 20 MILES NORTHWEST OF LOCK HAVEN...MOVING
NORTHEAST AT 15 MPH. THE THUNDERSTORM WILL BE NEAR HYNER AROUND 635
PM.

WIND GUSTS TO 40 MPH AND SMALL HAIL ARE POSSIBLE WITH THESE STORMS.
WINDS OF THIS MAGNITUDE MAY DOWN TREE LIMBS...AND CAN PROPEL LOOSE
OUTDOOR OBJECTS.

ALSO...VERY HEAVY RAIN WILL FALL FROM THESE STORMS...AND WILL CAUSE
WATER TO POND ON ROADS AND QUICKLY FILL ROADSIDE DITCHES AND SMALL
STREAMS.

IN ADDITION...EXPECT INTENSE LIGHTNING FROM THESE STORMS. DO NOT
SEEK SHELTER UNDER TREES WHEN LIGHTNING THREATENS...MOVE INDOORS
WHEN A THUNDERSTORM APPROACHES.

FORECASTER: KL

Local storm report, Jul 9, 5:31 PM EST, 0 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA
631 PM EDT SUN JUL 09 2006

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

0625 PM     HAIL             MILLERSBURG             40.54N 76.96W
07/09/2006  E0.88 INCH       DAUPHIN            PA   EMERGENCY MNGR

0625 PM     HAIL             ADAMSTOWN               40.24N 76.06W
07/09/2006  E0.88 INCH       LANCASTER          PA   TRAINED SPOTTER

&&

CRUZ

The radar

The Philadelphia radar (KDIX), 150 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 22:29 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

1 hail. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Lancaster

When: July 9, 5:31 PM EST
Where: Lancaster County, 2 mi ESE of Ephrata
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates: 40.167, -76.150

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 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: 5526993.