A line of thunderstorms intensified over northeast West Virginia and tracked northeastward across central Pennsylvania during the mid/late afternoon hours. Strong wind fields aloft and moderate instability promoted numerous reports of damaging winds across a large portion of the CWA.
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 line of thunderstorms intensified over northeast West Virginia and tracked northeastward across central Pennsylvania during the mid/late afternoon hours. Strong wind fields aloft and moderate instability promoted numerous reports of damaging winds across a large portion of the CWA.
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 7, 10:40 AM EST, 1 hour 50 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA 1140 AM EDT SUN JUL 7 2013 .SYNOPSIS... A BERMUDA HIGH ANCHORED OFF THE EASTERN SEABOARD WILL CONTINUE TO FEED VERY WARM AND HUMID AIR NORTHWARD INTO THE COMMONWEALTH. DAILY CHANCES OF AFTERNOON AND EVENING SHOWERS/THUNDERSTORMS WILL PERSIST INTO THE UPCOMING WEEK. && .NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 PM THIS EVENING/... MORE OF THE SAME IN STORE FOR TODAY...WARM AND HUMID WITH SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS COOKING UP WITH DAYTIME HEATING. MODELS GENERATE THE MOST CAPE OVER EASTERN SECTIONS TODAY...IN RESPONSE TO WHERE THE BEST SUNSHINE IS EXPECTED TO BE. THE ENTIRE REGION WILL REMAIN IN THE TROPICAL AIRMASS ABOVE NORMAL PWATS CONTINUE TO STREAM NORTH INTO THE AREA. SPC DOESN/T OUTLOOK THE REGION TODAY...THOUGH WE ARE IN SEE TEXT. THE SHEAR ALOFT IS FAIRLY IMPRESSIVE ON THE FRONT SIDE OF THE UPPER LOW THAT IS FINALLY BEGINNING TO SHEAR OUT OF THE TN/OH VALLEYS. AS A RESULT WE CANNOT RULE OUT SOME ISOLATED STRONGER STORMS AS ACTIVITY INCREASES LATER THIS MORNING INTO THE AFTERNOON. LOW LEVEL FOCUSING IS WEAK...SO WIDESPREAD ORGANIZED ACTIVITY DOESN/T SEEM LIKELY ACROSS THE NORTH. HOWEVER...A SUBTLE WAVE DRIFTING NORTH IN THE MID-LEVEL FLOW /YESTERDAY LOCATED IN W NC/ WILL PROVIDE A BIT MORE FOCUSED LIFT ACROSS THE SOUTH...AND COMBINED WITH MODERATE FLOW AND CAPE...COULD GENERATE MORE ORGANIZED ACTIVITY WITH SOME STRONGER STORMS POSS. THIS IS ALSO NOTED IN THE HRRR...WHICH HAS BEEN PERFORMING WELL OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF DAYS. ACTIVITY LOOKS TO BEGIN PICKING UP AFTER 18Z IN THE SW...AND IF SCENARIO PLAYS OUT - TRACKING EASTWARD THROUGH THE AFTERNOON HOURS. HIGHS TODAY LOOK LIKE THEY WILL NOT BE MUCH DIFFERENT THAN SUNDAY. ANOTHER VERY SUMMERY EARLY JULY DAY. && .SHORT TERM /6 PM THIS EVENING THROUGH 6 PM MONDAY/... SHORT RANGE GUIDANCE AGREES IN TRACKING THE REMNANTS OF THE AMAZINGLY PERSISTENT UPPER LOW/TROF THROUGH THE REGION OVERNIGHT AND EARLY MONDAY. THIS SYSTEM HAS ACTED AS A MOISTURE PUMP INTO THE NE US FOR OVER A WEEK AND ITS DEMISE WILL MARK A TRANSITION TO MORE OF A ZONAL FLOW ALOFT TO START THE NEW WORK WEEK. THE BEST FORCING WITH THE UPPER LOW IS EXPECTED TO PASS LATER TONIGHT...DURING THE NORMAL DIURNAL LULL IN INSTABILITY. IT WILL LIKELY KEEP A BETTER CHANCE OF SHOWERS GOING DEEPER INTO THE OVERNIGHT THAN PREVIOUS NIGHTS WITH LOCALLY HEAVY RAIN LIKELY BEING THE BIGGEST THREAT. MONDAY WILL REMAIN WARM AND HUMID AND SCATTERED CONVECTION ONCE AGAIN CANNOT BE RULED OUT...BUT CHANCES SHOULD BE LESS THAN RECENT DAYS. ENSEMBLES AGREE IN SHUNTING THE AXIS OF HIGHEST PWATS EAST OF THE AREA...AND MID LEVEL HEIGHT RISES AND WARM ADVECTION SHOULD ALL COMBINE TO LIMIT OUR INSTABILITY. TEMPS FROM NEAR 80 IN THE NW...TO THE MID 80S IN THE SE WILL BE VERY CLOSE TO NORMAL. && .LONG TERM /MONDAY NIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY/... AFTER THE PASSAGE OF THE UPPER LOW...THE UPPER PATTERN WILL BECOME QUASI-ZONAL FOR A TIME EARLY TO MID WEEK...WITH PA BEING ON THE SOUTHERN EDGE OF THE WESTERLIES. THE MODELS ARE CONSISTENT WITH PERSISTENT MOIST WESTERLY FLOW WHICH WILL LEAVE THE REGION VULNERABLE TO CONVECTION AS WEAK DISTURBANCES RIPPLE EASTWARD OUT OF THE MIDWEST AND GREAT LAKES. A STRONGER TROUGH WILL DEEPEN OVER SOUTHERN CANADA AND OVER THE GREAT LAKES REGION TOWARDS THE END OF THE WEEK. THIS SHOULD RESULT IN A FAIRLY STRONG FRONTAL PASSAGE SOMETIME LATER WED OR THU AS SLIGHTLY COOLER BUT MUCH DRIER AIR SLIDES OUT OF THE GR LAKES. FROM THERE THE UPPER PATTERN ADVERTISED IN SOME LONGER RANGE GUIDANCE TAKES ON A LOOK THAT IS EERILY FAMILIAR TO WHAT WE HAVE JUST EXPERIENCED...WITH A NEW CUTOFF LOW FCST TO FORM OVER THE EASTERN US...AND A RENEWED SURGE OF DEEP SOUTHERLY FLOW EVENTUALLY EXPECTED TO DEVELOP ONCE AGAIN OVER THE EASTERN US. A POTENTIAL COMPLICATING FACTOR IS A TROPICAL SYSTEM CURRENTLY WELL OUT IN THE ATLANTIC THAT THE TROPICAL MODELS TRACK INTO THE BAHAMAS BY LATE WEEK...MAKING A TANTALIZING FEATURE FOR THE EASTERN US TROF TO PERHAPS INTERACT WITH. WHAT HAS BEEN INTERESTING SO FAR THIS JULY HAS BEEN THE RATHER HIGH LATITUDE THE BERMUDA RIDGE HAS OCCUPIED FOR SO EARLY IN THE SEASON. THE LATEST PROGS ONCE AGAIN HAVE A STRONG CLOSED UPPER HIGH AT UNUSUALLY HIGH LATITUDES BY NEXT WEEKEND. IF THE TROPICAL SYSTEM CAN MANAGE TO HOLD TOGETHER...IT WOULD SUGGEST THE EASTERN SEABOARD WOULD BE VULNERABLE IN ABOUT A WEEK'S TIME. STAY TUNED. && .AVIATION /16Z SUNDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/... VFR NOW FOR ALL OF CENTRAL PA. SIMILAR TO THE PAST SEVERAL DAYS...EXPECT A SHOWERS AND SCT STORMS THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. STORMS WILL BE DISORGANIZED ACROSS NORTHERN MTNS...BUT POSS FOR SOME STRONGER CONVECTION TO DEVELOP AND PUSH ACROSS SOUTHERN HALFOF CWA THIS AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVE...DEVELOPING NEAR KJST-KAOO AFTER 18Z AND POSS IMPACTING KMDT-KLNS AFTER 22Z. AN UPPER LVL LOW WILL PUSH EAST TOWARD PA MONDAY. THIS WILL BRING ANOTHER HIGH PROB OF SHRA AND TSRA. OUTLOOK... MON...AM LOW CIGS POSS W MTNS. ISOLD THUNDERSTORM IMPACTS. TUE-THU...AM LOW CIGS POSS W MTNS. SCT THUNDERSTORM IMPACTS POSS...MAINLY DURING THE PM HOURS. && .CTP WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NONE. && SYNOPSIS...LA CORTE/RXR NEAR TERM...LA CORTE/RXR SHORT TERM...LA CORTE LONG TERM...LA CORTE AVIATION...MARTIN/RXR
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA 117 PM EDT SUN JUL 7 2013 PAZ012-018-019-024>028-033>036-041-042-045-046-049>053-056>059- 063>066-081730- NORTHERN CLINTON-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- 117 PM EDT SUN JUL 7 2013 ...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 394 IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING... 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. SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY. NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER CONDITIONS ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES. PAZ004>006-010-011-017-037-081730- WARREN-MCKEAN-POTTER-ELK-CAMERON-CLEARFIELD-TIOGA- 117 PM EDT SUN JUL 7 2013 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT. SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS WILL DEVELOP THIS AFTERNOON. A FEW OF THESE STORMS MAY CAUSE STRONG WIND GUSTS AND LOCALLY HEAVY RAIN. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY. NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER CONDITIONS ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES. RXR
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA
1246 PM EDT SUN JUL 7 2013
PAZ033-071745-
SOMERSET PA-
1246 PM EDT SUN JUL 7 2013
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT SOMERSET COUNTY...
AT 1242 PM EDT...A VERY STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS 6 MILES SOUTH OF
BRUCETON MILLS...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 45 MPH.
WIND GUSTS IN EXCESS OF 50 MPH ARE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM. THIS
STORM MAY AFFECT ADDISON...MOUNT DAVIS...GARRETT...BERLIN AND
SHANKSVILLE THROUGH 145 PM.
THIS WILL IMPACT THE PENNSYLVANIA TURNPIKE BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 100
AND 129.
THIS WILL ALSO IMPACT THE FOLLOWING MAJOR ROADS...ROUTE 40...ROUTE
219.
LAT...LON 3971 7939 3973 7941 3982 7937 3985 7942
3990 7941 4009 7926 4012 7921 4012 7919
4018 7914 4001 7876 3982 7875 3972 7881
FORECASTER: RXRThe Pittsburgh radar (KPBZ), 128 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 17:31 UTC.
31 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Thunderstorm winds estimated near 60 mph knocked down trees and utility wires in Meyersdale.
Thunderstorm winds estimated near 60 mph knocked down trees near Somerset.
Thunderstorm winds estimated near 60 mph knocked down several trees in Listie.
Thunderstorm winds estimated near 60 mph knocked down trees along SR 281 near Friedens.
Thunderstorm winds estimated near 60 mph knocked down trees near Hooversville.
Thunderstorm winds estimated near 60 mph knocked down trees near Currysville.
Thunderstorm winds estimated near 60 mph knocked down trees near Saxton.
Thunderstorm winds estimated near 60 mph knocked down several trees and large limbs at Lake Raystown Resort. A few trees fell onto vehicles.
Thunderstorm winds estimated near 60 mph knocked down multiple trees in Huntingdon.
Thunderstorm winds estimated near 60 mph knocked down trees near Orbisonia.
Thunderstorm winds estimated near 60 mph knocked down trees and utility lines along SR 747 near Orbisonia. The downed trees briefly closed the road.
Thunderstorm winds estimated near 60 mph knocked down trees in Mount Union.
Thunderstorm winds estimated near 60 mph knocked down several trees and damage corn crops in the Newton-Hamilton area.
Thunderstorm winds estimated near 60 mph knocked down several trees along US 22. The downed trees briefly closed both east/west bound lanes.
Thunderstorm winds estimated near 60 mph knocked down several trees in a wooded area of the Rothrock State Forest about 1/2 mile west of US 322 along Spruce Mountain/Stone Creek Road across from the Laurel Creek Reservoir.
Thunderstorm winds estimated near 60 mph knocked down utility wires in Centre Hall.
Thunderstorm winds estimated near 60 mph knocked down trees just west of Shippensburg near the Franklin/Cumberland county line.
Thunderstorm winds estimated near 60 mph knocked down trees and utility wires in Spring Mills.
Thunderstorm winds estimated near 60 mph knocked down trees in Millheim.
Thunderstorm winds estimated near 60 mph knocked down trees in Mifflinburg.
Thunderstorm winds estimated near 60 mph knocked down trees and utility wires in Lewisburg.
Thunderstorm winds estimated near 70 mph knocked down several trees in and around Sunbury. The damaging winds also partially removed two roofs from buildings.
Thunderstorm winds estimated near 60 mph knocked down trees and wires in Williamsport. One tree fell on a house and caused minor damage.
Thunderstorm winds estimated near 60 mph knocked down large tree limbs and damaged a few street lights near the Williamsport Hospital.
Thunderstorm winds estimated near 60 mph knocked down several trees near Linglestown.
Thunderstorm winds estimated near 60 mph knocked down trees and utility wires near Hughesville.
Thunderstorm winds estimated near 60 mph knocked down trees at Worlds End State Park.
Thunderstorm winds estimated near 60 mph knocked down trees near Fredericksburg.
Thunderstorm winds estimated near 60 mph knocked down trees in Muncy Valley.
Thunderstorm winds estimated near 60 mph knocked down trees and utility wires in Forksville.
Thunderstorm winds estimated near 60 mph knocked down utility wires in Lebanon city.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Pennsylvania in 2013Every state in 2013This day in weather historyWarnings in Pennsylvania, July 2013
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: 451333, 451334, 451335, 451336, 451338, 451341, 451340, 451342, 451344, 451345, 451357, 451346, 452009, 451361, 452008, 451348, 451369, 451350, 451349, 451351, 451359, 451360, 451353, 451366, 451354, 451355, 451364, 451368, 451371, 451370, 451367.