The Elk County 911 Center received a direct lightning strike that disrupted nearly all communications.
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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.
The Elk County 911 Center received a direct lightning strike that disrupted nearly all communications.
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 May 18, 2:28 PM EST, 42 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA 328 PM EDT SUN MAY 18 2008 .SYNOPSIS... A DEEP UPPER LEVEL LOW OVER EASTERN CANADA AND THE NORTHEAST U.S. WILL KEEP IT COOL AND UNSETTLED THROUGH MID WEEK. SHOWERS AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS WILL DISSIPATE THIS EVENING...BUT SOME MIXED RAIN AND SNOW SHOWERS ARE EXPECTED TONIGHT ACROSS THE NORTHWEST. MONDAY WILL BE QUITE CHILLY FOR MID MAY...AND SOME SNOW SHOWERS AND FLURRIES WILL PERSIST INTO MID MORNING ACROSS THE NORTHWEST. PARTLY TO MOSTLY SUNNY AND COOL CONDITIONS WILL PREVAIL ELSEWHERE. ANOTHER STORM SYSTEM WILL PASS SOUTH OF THE REGION ON TUESDAY BRINGING A CHANCE OF SHOWERS. TEMPERATURES SHOULD MODERATE TOWARD NORMAL THURSDAY AND FRIDAY AS THE DEEP TROUGH FINALLY SLIDES TO OUR EAST. && .NEAR TERM /UNTIL 11 PM THIS EVENING/... WATCHING SHOWERS CONTINUE TO PROPAGATE THROUGH NORTHWEST PA ON AN EARLIER LAKE BREEZE BOUNDARY...CONTINUING TO PRODUCE SOME LIGHTNING AND REPORTS OF PEA SIZED HAIL THANKS TO THE STEEP LAPSE RATES AND WET BULB ZEROES BETWEEN 5-6K FEET. THIS ACTIVITY WILL WANE BY MID EVENING AS THE HEATING IS LOST...BUT EXPECT FAVORABLE FLOW OFF OF LAKE ERIE TO KEEP SHOWERS GOING NEAR THE LAKES WITH A CHANGEOVER OR MIX TO SNOW AT KBFD LIKELY AFTER 00Z TONIGHT. CANNOT RULE OUT A SHOWER OR THUNDERSTORM JUST ABOUT ANYWHERE LATE THIS AFTERNOON OR EARLY EVENING GIVEN THE MAGNITUDE OF COLD AIR SPILLING OVERHEAD...AND ANY CELL COULD PRODUCE PEA SIZED HAIL. && .SHORT TERM /11 PM THIS EVENING THROUGH 6 PM MONDAY/... A COLD SEASON LAKE EFFECT REGIME WILL CONTINUE INTO MONDAY MORNING WITH SNOW OR RAIN AND SNOW SHOWERS EXPECTED DOWNWIND OF LAKE ERIE INTO NORTHWEST AND NORTH CENTRAL PA. THE FLOW WILL VEER TO THE WEST BY AFTERNOON WITH A DECREASING TREND IN SHOWER ACTIVITY BY THAT TIME. PREVIOUS SHIFT INTRODUCED THE MENTION SOME SNOW IN THE NORTHERN MOUNTAINS...AND THINK THIS IS STILL LOOKING REASONABLE DESPITE THE CALENDAR... IT COULD EVEN BRIEFLY ACCUMULATE ON THE COLDER/GRASSY SURFACES AGAIN DURING MONDAY MORNING IN THE NW. TEMPS ON MONDAY WILL BE QUITE COOL WITH HIGHS ONLY IN THE 40S IN THE NORTH...TO NEAR 60 IN THE SE WHERE DOWNSLOPE AND MORE SUNSHINE WILL GIVE A BOOST. NW WINDS WILL BE GUSTY AT TIMES ON MONDAY. && .LONG TERM /MONDAY NIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY/... MONDAY NIGHT LOOKS MAINLY DRY...BUT ANOTHER STORM SHOULD MOVE SOUTH OF THE AREA BY EARLY TUES MORNING CLIPPING US WITH SHOWERS. TIMING OF THESE SHORTWAVES IS PROBLEMATIC GIVEN THE STRENGTH OF THE UPPER LEVEL JET IN BETWEEN THE EASTERN CANADA LOW AND PERSISTENT AND HIGHLY AMPLIFIED RIDGE OVER THE CENTRAL UNITED STATES. TUESDAY ALSO LOOKS JUST A LITTLE BIT MILDER THAN MONDAY BUT STILL 15 DEGS COOLER THAN NORMAL FOR THIS TIME OF THE YEAR. HIGHS WILL BE MAINLY IN THE 50S/L60S. MODELS HAVE CONTINUED THE TREND OF DELAYING UPPER LEVEL RIDGING FOR THE EASTERN U.S. UNTIL LATE NEXT WEEKEND. THUS...ANOMALOUSLY DEEP UPPER LOW IS MOST LIKELY GOING TO STAY PARKED OVER EASTERN CANADA AND NEW ENGLAND FOR THE BULK OF THE FORECAST PERIOD. A HOPE FOR IMPROVEMENT IN TEMPS AND LESS RAIN WILL COME MAINLY FROM A MODIFICATION OF OUR CURRENT AIRMASS AND LESS DIRECT INTRUSIONS OF COLD AIR FROM CENT/NRN CANADA. THIS WOULD HELP OUR TEMPS MODERATE...AND A PERSISTENT NW FLOW WOULD BE A MORE-DRY FLOW PATTERN THAN THE FLOW WE ARE IN NOW...WHICH KEEPS TRANSPORTING SHOTS OF MOISTURE FROM THE GOMEX EVERY 24-36 HRS. THE LONG RANGE GUIDANCE IS POINTING TOWARD AN AMPLIFICATION OF THE CURRENT FLOW -- WITH THE UPPER LOW OPENING UP TO A LONGWAVE TROF OVER THE WESTERN ATLANTIC AND A RIDGE OVER CENTRAL NOAM. THE NORTHERLY FLOW ALOFT WOULD HELP USHER A SFC HIGH DOWN FROM CENTRAL CANADA INTO THE GREAT LAKES AT THE END OF THE WEEK. THIS - AGAIN - SHOULD BE TAKEN WITH A GRAIN OF SALT. BUT IT IS ENOUGH TO KEEP THE LATTER HALF OF THE FORECAST PERIOD /THURSDAY -SUNDAY/ DRY AT THIS POINT. && .AVIATION /20Z SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/... LOW TOPPED CONVECTION QUICKLY BECOMING THE MAIN AVIATION THREAT THIS AFTERNOON WITH SCATTERED SHOWERS...ISOLATED THUNDER AND REPORTS OF PEA SIZED HAIL AND GUSTY WINDS OVER NORTHWEST PA AS THE COLD UPPER LOW DRIFTS OVER THE EASTERN LAKES. ACCOMPANYING THESE SHOWERS ARE MVFR TO LCL IFR CIGS AND MVFR VSBYS...ALONG WITH SFC WIND GUSTS TO 35-40KTS THROUGH 00Z MON. CONVECTIVE ACTIVITY SHOULD DECREASE OVER ALL BUT AREAS DOWNWIND OF LAKE ERIE WHERE SHOWERS WILL MIX WITH AND CHANGE TO SNOW SHOWERS AFTER DARK TONIGHT... AND CONTINUE INTO MONDAY MORNING. LAKE EFFECT ACTIVITY WILL WANE BY MIDDAY MONDAY...WITH A QUIET STRETCH IN STORE MONDAY NIGHT INTO EARLY TUESDAY ACCOMPANIED BY VFR CONDS. A WEAK SFC LOW DIVES SOUTH OF THE REGION ON TUESDAY BRINGING A CHANCE OF SHOWERS TO ESPECIALLY CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN ROUTES. WEAK SFC RIDGE TRIES TO POKE INTO SOUTHERN GRT LKS WED...BUT MAY STAY WEST OF MID- ATLANTIC REGION ENUF TO KEEP WEAK NW FLOW FOR CENTRAL PA INTO WED/THUR. && .CTP WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NONE. && SYNOPSIS...DEVOIR NEAR TERM...DEVOIR SHORT TERM...DEVOIR LONG TERM...DANGELO/GARTNER AVIATION...DEVOIR
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA 353 AM EDT SUN MAY 18 2008 PAZ004>006-010>012-017>019-024>028-033>037-041-042-045-046-049>053- 056>059-063-190800- 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- 353 AM EDT SUN MAY 18 2008 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT THE PROBABILITY FOR WIDESPREAD HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS LOW. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY THE PROBABILITY FOR WIDESPREAD HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS LOW. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT ANTICIPATED AT THIS TIME. PAZ064>066-190800- ADAMS-YORK-LANCASTER- 353 AM EDT SUN MAY 18 2008 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF DAMAGING WIND GUSTS AND HAIL LATE THIS MORNING AND ALL AFTERNOON. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY THE PROBABILITY FOR WIDESPREAD HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS LOW. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED TODAY. DANGELO
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA 328 PM EDT SUN MAY 18 2008 PAZ006-010>012-017>019-037-041-182030- CAMERON-CLEARFIELD-ELK-NORTHERN CENTRE-NORTHERN CLINTON- NORTHERN LYCOMING-POTTER-SOUTHERN CENTRE-TIOGA- 328 PM EDT SUN MAY 18 2008 ...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT CAMERON...NORTHEASTERN CLEARFIELD...NORTHWESTERN CENTRE...NORTHWESTERN LYCOMING... SOUTHEASTERN ELK...SOUTHERN POTTER...SOUTHWESTERN TIOGA AND WESTERN CLINTON COUNTIES THROUGH 430 PM EDT... AT 325 PM EDT...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WERE SCATTERED ALONG A LINE FROM SIZERVILLE TO MEDIX RUN TO PENFIELD TO JEFFRIES...MOVING EAST AT 45 MPH. WIND GUSTS BETWEEN 35 MPH AND 45 MPH...ALONG WITH PEA-SIZED HAIL ARE POSSIBLE WITH THESE STORMS. THESE STORMS WILL BE NEAR WHARTON AROUND 335 PM...STEVENSON DAM... LECONTES MILLS...AND DRIFTWOOD AROUND 340 PM...PINE GLEN... MOSHANNON...KETTLE CREEK STATE PARK...AND KARTHAUS AROUND 350 PM...SNOW SHOE AND AND TAMARACK AROUND 355 PM...CEDAR RUN...HOWARD AND BELLEFONTE AROUND 420 PM. THIS WILL IMPACT THE FOLLOWING CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA INTERSTATES... I-80 BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 113 AND 164. THIS WILL ALSO IMPACT THE FOLLOWING MAJOR ROADS...ALT ROUTE 220... ROUTE 322...STATE ROAD 120. FORECASTER: LAMBERT/GARTNER/EVANEGO
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA 334 PM EDT SUN MAY 18 2008 PAZ066-182030- LANCASTER- 334 PM EDT SUN MAY 18 2008 ...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT CENTRAL AND EASTERN LANCASTER COUNTY THROUGH 430 PM EDT... AT 328 PM EDT...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WERE ALONG A LINE FROM ADAMSTOWN TO LANDISVILLE...MOVING EAST AT 25 MPH. BRIEF WIND GUSTS TO 45 MPH AND HAIL BETWEEN PEA...AND DIME SIZE IN DIAMETER ARE POSSIBLE WITH THESE STORMS. A 10 TO 15 MINUTE PERIOD OF VERY HEAVY RAIN WILL FALL FROM THESE STORMS...AND WILL CAUSE WATER TO POND ON ROADS AND QUICKLY FILL ROADSIDE DITCHES AND SOME SMALL STREAMS. EXPECT OCCASIONAL...DANGEROUS CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING FROM THESE STORMS. DO NOT SEEK SHELTER UNDER TREES WHEN LIGHTNING THREATENS...MOVE INDOORS WHEN A THUNDERSTORM APPROACHES. THESE STORMS WILL BE NEAR TERRE HILL AROUND 345 PM...NEW HOLLAND AROUND 355 PM AND CHURCHTOWN AROUND 405 PM. THIS WILL IMPACT THE FOLLOWING CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA INTERSTATES...THE PENNSYLVANIA TURNPIKE BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 288 AND 295. THIS WILL ALSO IMPACT THE FOLLOWING MAJOR ROADS...ROUTE 222...ROUTE 322. FORECASTER: LAMBERT
The State College radar (KCCX), 83 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 20:10 UTC.
1 lightning. Local standard time, as filed.
The Elk County 911 Center sustained a lightening strike that disrupted nearly all communications and damaged or destroyed key equipment. EMA officials said they lost several computers and dispatchers were using portable radios to dispatch emergency crews. There were no injuries.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Pennsylvania in 2008Every state in 2008This day in weather historyWarnings in Pennsylvania, May 2008
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: 90833.