Several broken lines of thunderstorms formed during the afternoon hours across Central Pennsylvania as a cold front moved southeastward across the Commonwealth. The thunderstorms intensified across the Lower Susquehanna Valley and produced damaging winds in Lebanon County.
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.
Several broken lines of thunderstorms formed during the afternoon hours across Central Pennsylvania as a cold front moved southeastward across the Commonwealth. The thunderstorms intensified across the Lower Susquehanna Valley and produced damaging winds in Lebanon County.
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 27, 2:14 PM EST, 3 hours 31 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA 314 PM EDT TUE MAY 27 2008 .SYNOPSIS... A COLD FRONT WILL SLIDE THROUGH THE REGION THIS AFTERNOON...EXITING THE SOUTH AND EAST THIS EVENING. MUCH DRIER AIR WILL FILTER SOUTH ACROSS PENNSYLVANIA TONIGHT...WITH FAIR WEATHER AND NEAR NORMAL TEMPERATURES SLATED TO FOLLOW FOR WEDNESDAY THROUGH FRIDAY AS A LARGE AREA OF HIGH PRESSURE BUILDS IN FROM THE UPPER GREAT LAKES. && .NEAR TERM /UNTIL 11 PM THIS EVENING/... COLD FRONT SEEMS TO BE INTO KBFD AND KELM ATTM. LOW CLOUD COVER FROM THIS MORNING WAS SLOW TO ERODE/BREAK...AND THIS WILL MOST LIKELY KEEP TEMPS DOWN A BIT AND RESULT IN THIN CAPES THIS AFTERNOON. WIDESPREAD SEVERE TSRA NOT EXPECTED...BUT FAR ERN AREAS MOST SUSCEPTIBLE WITH HIGHEST MOISTURE THERE...AND HIGHEST EFFECCTIVE SHEARS IN NE PA. LIGHT RAIN ALONG THE MD BORDER WILL CONTINUE TO SLIDE EAST. WILL THEREFORE CONTINUE TO WORD FCST WITH NUM SHRA AND SCT TSRA IN MOST LOCATIONS. WILL MENTION SOME GUSTS TO 40-50 MPH IN STRONGER STORMS THIS AFTN/EARLY THIS EVENING. THEN...THINGS WILL QUIET DOWN AS THE COOLER-DRIER AIR MOVES FARTHER SOUTH. EXPECTED ENDING TIME OF TSRA IN SE IS APPX 00Z. && .SHORT TERM /11 PM THIS EVENING THROUGH 6 AM WEDNESDAY/... POPS FALL OFF QUICKLY THIS EVENING WITH ONLY A FEW EVENING SHOWERS EXPECTED BEFORE MUCH DRIER AIR ARRIVES FOR THE OVERNIGHT. FROST POTENTIAL IS A BIT HIGHER WITH QUITE DRY AIR MOVING IN. ONLY CONCERN IS THAT THE WIND MAY STAY UP TOO HIGH 4-5KTS FOR FROST TO FORM IN ANYWHERE BUT THE VALLEYS. SINCE MOST PEOPLE LIVE IN THE VALLEYS...WILL GO AHEAD AND POST A FROST ADVSRY FOR THE NRN TIER...BUT NOT WARREN COUNTY...AS MOST OF THAT COUNTY MAY STAY JUST ABOVE 37F. MIN TEMPS TONIGHT UNDER THE CLEARING SKIES AND LIGHT WINDS SHOULD GET INTO THE MID 30S IF NOT NEARER TO FREEZING IN THE NRN VALLEYS. && .LONG TERM /WEDNESDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/... PERSISTENCE IN THE WED-FRI PERIODS WITH MINIMAL ADJUSTMENTS IN THE GOING FORECAST. MID-LVL VORT AXIS WILL QUICKLY SWING NE INTO MAINE WED WITH STRONG LOW/MID LVL DIFFLUENT FLOW AS SFC RIDGE ARRIVES. DEW PT/S WILL FALL UNDER STRONG SUBSIDENCE. EXPECT DECOUPLED WINDS BY SUNSET TOMORROW...PROVIDING GOOD SHOT OF STRONG RADIATIONAL COOLING. GUIDANCE FOR NUMEROUS SITES ACROSS NORTHCENTRAL PA PROGGED INTO THE LOW 30S. COOL DRAINAGE IN VALLEYS COULD RESULT IN ISO TEMPS IN THE UPPER 20S. THUS ON THE FENCE TO GO WITH A FREEZE HEADLINE FOR WED NIGHT INTO THUR MORNING. MIXED HTS SHUD REMAIN SHALLOW THUR PRODUCING LGT WINDS...DESPITE RH VALUES PROGGED IN THE 20-30 PERCENT RANGE. MINIMAL SPREAD IN THE MREF MEMBERS BEYOND FRI...PRODUCING A SEMI-ZONAL FLOW ACROSS CENTRAL U.S. SEVERAL MEMBERS CONTINUE TO EJECT A SHORTWAVE FROM THE INTERIOR WEST THUR AFTN/FRI MORNING...AND SHOULD RE-DEVELOP LEE-SIDE OF THE ROCKIES SOMEWHERE IN THE CENTRAL PLAINS. GFS HAS A DIFFICULT TIME HANDLING PLACEMENT DUE TO CONVECTIVE FEEDBACK...THUS PROVIDING A SOMEWHAT AGGRESSIVE SOLUTION AND FAST TRACKING THIS VORT TOWARDS OHIO RVR VALLEY SAT. SFC RIDGE SHUD DEFLECT/STEER THIS SHORTWAVE FURTHER NW ACROSS GRT LKS REGION. WOULDN/T BE SURPRISED TO SEE THE DEVELOPMENT OF A WEAK TRAILING VORT THAT WILL ARRIVE IN THE MID-ATLANTIC REGION SAT. ENSEMBLE MEMBERS BRING THERMAL RIDGE INTO THE REGION SAT/SUN...PUSHING 850MB TEMPS INTO THE TEENS. WILDCARD CONTINUES TO BE THE MOISTURE ARRIVAL IN THE BNDRY LYR AND TIMING OF PRECIP SAT-MON...HOWEVER WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO LOWER HEAT CAPACITY AT THE SFC WITH DRY WX WED-FRI ALLOWING FOR A NICE WARMING TREND NEXT WEEKEND. && .AVIATION /19Z TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/... WELL DEFINED COLD FRONT MOVING THROUGH NORTHERN PA AT THIS TIME WITH POPCORN LIKE SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOPING JUST AHEAD. THERE IS NOT A SOLID COVERAGE OF PRECIPITATION SO DID NOT TAKE VISIBILITIES DOWN AT ANY PARTICULAR AIRFIELD FOR LONG AS THIS AREA OF SHOWERS MOVES THROUGH. LIGHTNING BEGINNING TO SHOW UP ALONG THE FRONT SO ADDED CB TO THE CEILING GROUP. AFTER THE FRONT PASSES THIS AFTERNOON...WINDS WILL SHIFT TO THE NORTH WITH CLEARING. EXPECT GOOD VFR THROUGH THE REMAINDER OF THE FORECAST PERIOD. HIGH PRES WILL BUILD INTO THE REGION ON WEDNESDAY IN THE WAKE OF THE CLD FNT AND PROVIDE VFR FLYING THRU THE END OF THE WORK WEEK. THE NEXT CHC OF PCPN LOOKS TO BE ON SAT. && .CTP WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... FROST ADVISORY FROM 2 AM TO 9 AM EDT WEDNESDAY FOR PAZ005-006- 037. && SYNOPSIS...DANGELO/DEVOIR NEAR TERM...DANGELO SHORT TERM...DANGELO LONG TERM...BEACHLER AVIATION...GARTNER/STEINBUGL/TYBURSKI
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA 1201 PM EDT TUE MAY 27 2008 PAZ004-010>012-017>019-024>028-033>036-041-042-045-046-049>053- 056>059-063>066-281615- WARREN-ELK-CAMERON-NORTHERN CLINTON-CLEARFIELD-NORTHERN CENTRE- SOUTHERN CENTRE-CAMBRIA-BLAIR-HUNTINGDON-MIFFLIN-JUNIATA-SOMERSET- BEDFORD-FULTON-FRANKLIN-NORTHERN LYCOMING-SULLIVAN-SOUTHERN CLINTON- SOUTHERN LYCOMING-UNION-SNYDER-MONTOUR-NORTHUMBERLAND-COLUMBIA-PERRY- DAUPHIN-SCHUYLKILL-LEBANON-CUMBERLAND-ADAMS-YORK-LANCASTER- 1201 PM EDT TUE MAY 27 2008 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT THE PROBABILITY FOR WIDESPREAD HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS LOW. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY THE PROBABILITY FOR WIDESPREAD HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS LOW. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. PAZ005-006-037-281615- MCKEAN-POTTER-TIOGA- 1201 PM EDT TUE MAY 27 2008 ...FROST ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 2 AM TO 9 AM EDT WEDNESDAY... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV/STATECOLLEGE ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. FROST ADVISORY. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV/STATECOLLEGE ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. FROST ADVISORY. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. DANGELO
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA 155 PM EDT TUE MAY 27 2008 PAZ037-041-271815- NORTHERN LYCOMING-TIOGA- 155 PM EDT TUE MAY 27 2008 ...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT NORTH CENTRAL LYCOMING AND SOUTHEASTERN TIOGA COUNTIES... AT 152 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS WERE TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM LOCATED NEAR BLOSSBURG...MOVING EAST AT 31 MPH. WIND GUSTS TO 45 MPH AND PEA-SIZED HAIL ARE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM. THIS STORM WILL BE NEAR OGDENSBURG AROUND 200 PM. THIS WILL ALSO IMPACT STATE ROAD 14. FORECASTER: DANGELO
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA 218 PM EDT TUE MAY 27 2008 PAZ041-042-046-271915- NORTHERN LYCOMING-SOUTHERN LYCOMING-SULLIVAN- 218 PM EDT TUE MAY 27 2008 ...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT NORTHERN LYCOMING AND SULLIVAN COUNTIES... AT 217 PM EDT...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WERE ALONG A LINE FROM ABOUT 15 MILES NORTHWEST OF WILLIAMSPORT TO NEAR LAPORTE...MOVING EAST AT 38 MPH. WIND GUSTS TO 50 MPH AND PEA-SIZED HAIL ARE POSSIBLE WITH THESE STORMS. DO NOT STAY OUTDOORS WHILE A THUNDERSTORM IS OCCURRING. THESE STORMS WILL BE OVER LAPORTE AROUND 235 PM...EAGLES MERE AROUND 240 PM...MUNCY VALLEY AROUND 305 PM AND RICKETTS GLEN STATE PARK AROUND 310 PM. THIS WILL ALSO IMPACT THE FOLLOWING MAJOR ROADS...ROUTE 15...ROUTE 220...STATE ROAD 14. FORECASTER: DANGELO
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA 314 PM EDT TUE MAY 27 2008 PAZ042-046-051-053-272015- COLUMBIA-MONTOUR-SOUTHERN LYCOMING-SULLIVAN- 314 PM EDT TUE MAY 27 2008 ...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT COLUMBIA...EAST CENTRAL LYCOMING...MONTOUR AND SULLIVAN COUNTIES... AT 312 PM EDT...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WERE ALONG A LINE FROM 6 MILES WEST OF HARVEYS LAKE TO 5 MILES NORTH OF WILLIAMSPORT... MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 25 MPH. WIND GUSTS TO 50 MPH...TORRENTIAL RAIN...DANGEROUS LIGHTNING... AND PEA-SIZED HAIL ARE POSSIBLE WITH THESE STORMS. THESE STORMS WILL BE JUST NORTH OF A DANVILLE...BLOOMSBURG LINE BY 415 PM. THIS WILL IMPACT THE FOLLOWING CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA INTERSTATES... I-80 BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 228 AND 247. THIS WILL ALSO IMPACT THE FOLLOWING MAJOR ROADS...ROUTE 11...ROUTE 220. FORECASTER: MARTIN
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA 359 PM EDT TUE MAY 27 2008 PAZ036-063-064-272030- ADAMS-CUMBERLAND-FRANKLIN- 359 PM EDT TUE MAY 27 2008 ...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT EASTERN FRANKLIN...NORTHERN ADAMS AND SOUTHERN CUMBERLAND COUNTIES... AT 354 PM EDT...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED OVER SHIPPENSBURG...MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 25 MPH. WIND GUSTS TO 40 MPH...TORRENTIAL RAIN...AND PEA-SIZED HAIL ARE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM. THIS STORM WILL BE NEAR WALNUT BOTTOM AROUND 410 PM...ARENDTSVILLE AROUND 425 PM AND BENDERSVILLE AROUND 430 PM. THIS WILL ALSO IMPACT THE FOLLOWING MAJOR ROADS...ROUTE 15. FORECASTER: MARTIN
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA 425 PM EDT TUE MAY 27 2008 PAZ063>065-272130- ADAMS-CUMBERLAND-YORK- 425 PM EDT TUE MAY 27 2008 ...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT ADAMS...SOUTHERN CUMBERLAND AND SOUTHWESTERN YORK COUNTIES... AT 424 PM EDT...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM LOCATED 11 MILES NORTHWEST OF GETTYSBURG...MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 25 MPH. WIND GUSTS TO 40 MPH...TORRENTIAL RAIN...AND PEA-SIZED HAIL ARE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM. THIS STORM WILL BE NEAR ARENDTSVILLE...AND CASHTOWN AROUND 430 PM... BENDERSVILLE AROUND 435 PM...BIGLERVILLE...AND SEVEN STARS AROUND 440 PM...GETTYSBURG AROUND 445 PM...YORK SPRINGS AROUND 450 PM AND BONNEAUVILLE AROUND 455 PM. THIS WILL ALSO IMPACT THE FOLLOWING MAJOR ROADS...ROUTE 15...ROUTE 30...STATE ROAD 94. FORECASTER: MARTIN
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA 559 PM EDT TUE MAY 27 2008 PAZ057>059-272230- DAUPHIN-LEBANON-SCHUYLKILL- 559 PM EDT TUE MAY 27 2008 ...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT NORTH CENTRAL LEBANON... NORTHEASTERN DAUPHIN AND SOUTHERN SCHUYLKILL COUNTIES... AT 557 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS WERE TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM LOCATED 12 MILES SOUTH OF SHAMOKIN...MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 22 MPH. WIND GUSTS TO 40 MPH AND PEA-SIZED HAIL ARE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM. THIS STORM WILL BE NEAR TOWER CITY AROUND 605 PM...MUIR AROUND 610 PM...TREMONT AROUND 620 PM AND PINE GROVE AROUND 630 PM. THIS WILL IMPACT THE FOLLOWING CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA INTERSTATES... I-78 BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 5 AND 8. THIS WILL ALSO IMPACT THE FOLLOWING MAJOR ROADS...ROUTE 209. FORECASTER: JUNG
The State College radar (KCCX), 149 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 22:44 UTC.
1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
A trained spotter from Lebanon County reported large limbs down approximately five miles east of Annville.
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: 90831.