Scattered storms developed along a surface trough of low pressure and produced sporadic wind damage across the Lower Susquehanna Valley.
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.
Scattered storms developed along a surface trough of low pressure and produced sporadic wind damage across the Lower Susquehanna Valley.
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, 12:21 PM EST, 28 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA 121 PM EDT WED MAY 27 2015 .SYNOPSIS... HIGH PRESSURE AT THE SFC AND ALOFT WILL REMAIN ANCHORED JUST OFF THE EAST COAST THROUGH THE END OF THIS WEEK. A COLD FRONT WILL LIKELY PUSH ACROSS THE REGION SATURDAY NIGHT OR SUNDAY...THEN STALL JUST SOUTH OF THE STATE EARLY NEXT WEEK. && .NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 PM THIS EVENING/... SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 227 ISSUED FOR THE SOUTHEAST CORNER OF THE FORECAST AREA THROUGH THIS EVENING. ALONG WITH THE SEVERE POTENTIAL...TRAINING OF ECHOES WITH ABUNDANT PRECIPITABLE WATER MAY LEAD TO FLOODING ISSUES INTO THE EVENING. WEST OF THIS AREA...THUNDERSTORM THREAT HAS DIMINISHED WITH A FEW SHOWERS POSSIBLE THROUGH THE AFTERNOON. IN GENERAL...THIS WILL NOT BE THE TYPE OF RAIN NEEDED TO BREAK US OUT OF THE RECENT DRY SPELL. CONSALL MDL BLENDED QPF SUGGESTS AVG RAINFALL WILL RANGE FROM SPOTTY AMTS OF JUST A FEW HUNDREDTHS OVR THE CENTRAL MTNS...TO ARND A QUARTER INCH ACROSS THE LOWER SUSQ VALLEY. HIGHER RES...CONVECTION ALLOWING MDLS INDICATE LOCAL AMTS ARND AN INCH FROM TSRA THIS AFTN ACROSS THE SE COUNTIES. MCLDY SKIES WILL HOLD TEMPS DOWN A BIT...BUT CONSALL STILL SUGGESTS HIGH TEMPS BTWN THE U70S-L80S...SEVERAL DEG ABV NORMAL FOR LATE MAY. && .SHORT TERM /6 PM THIS EVENING THROUGH 6 PM THURSDAY/... SOUTHERLY LL JET AND ASSOC PLUME OF HIGHEST PWATS/INSTABILITY WILL SHIFT EAST OF THE REGION BY THIS EVENING. THUS...EXPECT A DRY NIGHT FOR MOST OF CENTRAL PA. A WEAK COLD FRONT PUSHING INTO NW PA COULD SUPPORT AN ISOLD SHRA LATE TONIGHT OVR THE CENTRAL/NORTHERN COUNTIES. THE WEAK COLD FRONT WILL BE THE FOCUS FOR AN POSSIBLE ISOLD SHRA/TSRA ACROSS SOUTHERN PA ON THURSDAY. OTHERWISE...EXPECT FAIR AND LESS HUMID CONDS...AS NW FLOW IN WAKE OF FRONT ADVECTS A LOWER PWAT AIR MASS INTO PA. UNDER MSUNNY SKIES...ENS MEAN 8H TEMPS ARE SUPPORTIVE OF MAX TEMPS FROM THE U70S NW MTNS...TO THE M/U80S ACROSS THE LOWER SUSQ VALLEY. && .LONG TERM /THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY/... AFTER A BRIEF RESPITE FROM THE HUMIDITY THU/THU NIGHT...MED RANGE GUIDANCE SIGNALS A RETURN TO SUMMERLIKE WX FRIDAY/SATURDAY...WITH 00Z GEFS SHOWING ANOMALOUS 500MB HGTS AND SFC PRES OFF THE E COAST. DEVELOPING SOUTHERLY FLOW WILL DRAW AN INCREASINGLY HUMID/UNSTABLE AIR MASS INTO THE AREA FRIDAY...WHICH MAY SUPPORT SCT DIURNALLY-DRIVEN PM CONVECTION. HOWEVER...A BETTER CHC OF SHRA/TSRA COMES LATE SATURDAY WITH APPROACH OF A COLD FRONT. SOME MDL TIMING ISSUES WITH HOW FAST COLD FRONT PUSHES THRU SAT NIGHT/SUNDAY. HOWEVER...FAIRLY STRONG SIGNAL FROM ALL MDL DATA THAT THE FIRST COUPLE DAYS OF JUNE /MON AND TUE/ WILL BE COOL AND PERHAPS SHOWERY...WITH FRONT STALLING OUT SOUTH OF PA AND POTENTIAL OF OVERRUNNING RAIN/SHOWERS. && .AVIATION /17Z WEDNESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/... A SUMMER-TIME PATTERN WILL PERSIST THROUGH THE WEEK. THE HUMID CONDS...HAVE LEAD TO MVFR CIGS AND VSBYS...WHICH WILL PERSIST THROUGH THE MORNING HOURS...ESP LOWER SUSQ ZONES. CHANCES FOR SHOWERS/ISOLATED TSTMS PEAK ACROSS WESTERN HALF OF CWA BETWEEN THROUGH 18Z...AND SLIDE EASTWARD AFTER 16Z. OUTLOOK... WED...PATCHY A.M. MVFR FOG/BR. SCT SHOWERS/TSTMS. THU-FRI...PATCHY A.M. MVFR FOG/BR. ISOLD P.M. TSTMS. SAT...PATCHY A.M. MVFR FOG/BR. SCT-NMRS P.M TSTMS W/COLD FROPA. SUN...MVFR CIGS POSS NW. OTHERWISE MAINLY VFR IN SCT SHOWERS. && .CTP WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NONE. && SYNOPSIS...FITZGERALD NEAR TERM...DEVOIR/TYBURSKI SHORT TERM...FITZGERALD LONG TERM...FITZGERALD/CERU AVIATION...DEVOIR/GARTNER/RXR
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA 115 PM EDT WED MAY 27 2015 PAZ004>006-010>012-017>019-024>028-033>037-041-045-046-049-050- 281715- WARREN-MCKEAN-POTTER-ELK-CAMERON-NORTHERN CLINTON-CLEARFIELD- NORTHERN CENTRE-SOUTHERN CENTRE-CAMBRIA-BLAIR-HUNTINGDON-MIFFLIN- JUNIATA-SOMERSET-BEDFORD-FULTON-FRANKLIN-TIOGA-NORTHERN LYCOMING- SOUTHERN CLINTON-SOUTHERN LYCOMING-UNION-SNYDER- 115 PM EDT WED MAY 27 2015 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT. SCATTERED SHOWERS AND POSSIBLY A THUNDERSTORM IS POSSIBLE THROUGH THE AFTERNOON. NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY. 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. PAZ042-051>053-056>059-063>066-281715- SULLIVAN-MONTOUR-NORTHUMBERLAND-COLUMBIA-PERRY-DAUPHIN-SCHUYLKILL- LEBANON-CUMBERLAND-ADAMS-YORK-LANCASTER- 115 PM EDT WED MAY 27 2015 ...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 227 IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 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...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY. 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.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA
1252 PM EDT WED MAY 27 2015
PAZ042-046-053-271715-
SULLIVAN PA-COLUMBIA PA-SOUTHERN LYCOMING PA-
1252 PM EDT WED MAY 27 2015
...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT SULLIVAN...COLUMBIA...AND
SOUTHERN LYCOMING COUNTIES UNTIL 115 PM EDT...
AT 1251 PM EDT...DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A
LINE EXTENDING FROM NEAR NEW ALBANY TO NEAR IOLA...AND MOVING
NORTHEAST AT 35 MPH.
40 MPH WIND GUSTS AND DIME SIZE HAIL ARE POSSIBLE WITH THESE STORMS.
LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
JAMISON CITY...WALLER...CENTRAL...BIGGERTOWN...RICKETTS GLEN STATE
PARK AND DUSHORE.
LAT...LON 4151 7623 4132 7631 4125 7632 4112 7663
4113 7663 4154 7638 4155 7636 4154 7622
TIME...MOT...LOC 1651Z 238DEG 32KT 4152 7635 4118 7658
JUNGSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA
1259 PM EDT WED MAY 27 2015
PAZ057-063>065-271730-
CUMBERLAND PA-YORK PA-DAUPHIN PA-ADAMS PA-
1259 PM EDT WED MAY 27 2015
...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT CUMBERLAND...YORK...DAUPHIN...AND
ADAMS COUNTIES UNTIL 130 PM EDT...
AT 1259 PM EDT...DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A
LINE EXTENDING FROM NEAR MECHANICSBURG TO NEAR GETTYSBURG...AND
MOVING NORTHEAST AT 25 MPH.
50 MPH WIND GUSTS AND NICKEL SIZE HAIL ARE POSSIBLE WITH THESE
STORMS.
LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
HARRISBURG...LOWER ALLEN...COLONIAL PARK...PROGRESS...
MECHANICSBURG...CAMP HILL...GETTYSBURG...NEW CUMBERLAND...
LINGLESTOWN...ENOLA...STEELTON...LEMOYNE...HUMMELSTOWN...HAMPTON...
PAXTONIA...RUTHERFORD...SKYLINE VIEW...LAWNTON...VALLEY GREEN AND
WORMLEYSBURG.
THIS INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING INTERSTATES...
THE PENNSYLVANIA TURNPIKE FROM MILE MARKERS 232 TO 249.
INTERSTATE 81 BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 58 AND 61...AND FROM MILE MARKERS
63 TO 81.
INTERSTATE 83 FROM MILE MARKERS 32 TO 50.
INTERSTATE 283 FROM MILE MARKERS 0 TO 2.
LAT...LON 3982 7730 4027 7703 4045 7667 4038 7664
3989 7693
TIME...MOT...LOC 1659Z 240DEG 21KT 4024 7699 3987 7722
JUNGSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA 104 PM EDT WED MAY 27 2015 PAZ036-064-271730- FRANKLIN PA-ADAMS PA- 104 PM EDT WED MAY 27 2015 ...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT FRANKLIN...AND ADAMS COUNTIES UNTIL 130 PM EDT... AT 103 PM EDT...DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR ROUZERVILLE...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 25 MPH. 50 MPH WIND GUSTS AND NICKEL SIZE HAIL ARE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM. LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE... WAYNESBORO...GETTYSBURG...LITTLESTOWN...CARROLL VALLEY...WAYNE HEIGHTS...BONNEAUVILLE...LAKE HERITAGE...ROUZERVILLE...CASHTOWN... ORRTANNA...BIGLERVILLE...ARENDTSVILLE...FAIRFIELD...MCKNIGHTSTOWN... TWO TAVERNS...GETTYSBURG COLLEGE...GETTYSBURG NATIONAL MILITARY PARK AND LIBERTY MOUNTAIN RESORT. LAT...LON 3974 7766 3996 7723 3972 7708 3972 7766 TIME...MOT...LOC 1703Z 240DEG 21KT 3970 7753 JUNG
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA
126 PM EDT WED MAY 27 2015
PAZ057-063-065-066-271800-
CUMBERLAND PA-YORK PA-DAUPHIN PA-LANCASTER PA-
126 PM EDT WED MAY 27 2015
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT CUMBERLAND...YORK...DAUPHIN...
AND LANCASTER COUNTIES UNTIL 200 PM EDT...
AT 126 PM EDT...DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM OVER
SIDDONSBURG...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 30 MPH.
50 MPH WIND GUSTS AND NICKEL SIZE HAIL ARE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM.
LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
HARRISBURG...LOWER ALLEN...HERSHEY...COLONIAL PARK...ELIZABETHTOWN...
PROGRESS...MECHANICSBURG...MIDDLETOWN...CAMP HILL...PALMYRA...NEW
CUMBERLAND...LINGLESTOWN...STEELTON...LEMOYNE...HUMMELSTOWN...
PAXTONIA...RUTHERFORD...SKYLINE VIEW...LAWNTON AND VALLEY GREEN.
THIS INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING INTERSTATES...
THE PENNSYLVANIA TURNPIKE FROM MILE MARKERS 233 TO 258.
INTERSTATE 81 FROM MILE MARKERS 68 TO 81.
INTERSTATE 83 FROM MILE MARKERS 27 TO 50.
INTERSTATE 283 FROM MILE MARKERS 0 TO 2.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
THESE STORMS WILL PRODUCE LOCALLY HEAVY RAIN...AND MINOR FLOODING
MAY DEVELOP. DO NOT DRIVE INTO WATER COVERING THE ROADWAY.
&&
LAT...LON 4008 7708 4020 7706 4043 7666 4012 7654
4000 7700
TIME...MOT...LOC 1726Z 237DEG 25KT 4012 7696
JUNGSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA 129 PM EDT WED MAY 27 2015 PAZ064-065-271800- YORK PA-ADAMS PA- 129 PM EDT WED MAY 27 2015 ...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT YORK...AND ADAMS COUNTIES UNTIL 200 PM EDT... AT 128 PM EDT...DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR GETTYSBURG...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 30 MPH. 40 MPH WIND GUSTS AND DIME SIZE HAIL ARE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM. LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE... HANOVER...GETTYSBURG...PARKVILLE...HAMPTON...LITTLESTOWN... MCSHERRYSTOWN...LAKE MEADE...PENNVILLE...BONNEAUVILLE...NEW OXFORD... EAST BERLIN...LAKE HERITAGE...ABBOTTSTOWN...YORK SPRINGS... HEIDLERSBURG...HUNTERSTOWN...FAIRFIELD...TWO TAVERNS...GETTYSBURG COLLEGE AND GETTYSBURG NATIONAL MILITARY PARK. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... THIS STORM WILL PRODUCE LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL...AND MINOR FLOODING MAY DEVELOP. DO NOT DRIVE INTO WATER COVERING THE ROADWAY. TO REPORT SEVERE WEATHER...CONTACT YOUR NEAREST LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY. THEY WILL RELAY YOUR REPORT TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE IN STATE COLLEGE PA. && LAT...LON 3980 7738 4005 7705 3972 7684 3972 7734 TIME...MOT...LOC 1728Z 237DEG 25KT 3978 7729 JUNG
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA
144 PM EDT WED MAY 27 2015
PAZ058-271815-
SCHUYLKILL PA-
144 PM EDT WED MAY 27 2015
...SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT...
AT 144 PM EDT...DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR
MINERSVILLE...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 50 MPH.
30 MPH WIND GUSTS WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM.
THIS STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL BE NEAR...
ST. CLAIR AND RENNINGERS AROUND 150 PM EDT.
SHENANDOAH...FRACKVILLE AND ORWIGSBURG AROUND 155 PM EDT.
MAHANOY CITY...MCKEANSBURG AND LOCUST LAKE STATE PARK AROUND 200 PM
EDT.
TAMAQUA...TUSCARORA AND GRIER CITY-PARK CREST AROUND 205 PM EDT.
MCADOO AND HOMETOWN AROUND 210 PM EDT.
OTHER LOCATIONS IMPACTED BY THIS STORM INCLUDE BROCKTON...KELAYRES...
LANDINGVILLE...SCHUYKILL COUNTY AIRPORT AND PENN STATE SCHUYLKILL.
THIS INCLUDES INTERSTATE 81 FROM MILE MARKERS 111 TO 139.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
THIS STORM MAY INTENSIFY...SO BE CERTAIN TO MONITOR LOCAL RADIO AND
TV STATIONS...AS WELL AS LOCAL CABLE TV OUTLETS...FOR ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.
MINOR FLOODING MAY DEVELOP. DO NOT DRIVE INTO WATER COVERING THE
ROADWAY.
&&
LAT...LON 4053 7626 4066 7642 4068 7641 4092 7609
4091 7600 4080 7587 4077 7582
TIME...MOT...LOC 1744Z 230DEG 41KT 4065 7627
TYBURSKIThe State College radar (KCCX), 128 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 17:49 UTC.
6 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Thunderstorm winds estimated near 60 mph knocked down a tree on a vehicle near Chambers Hill.
Thunderstorm winds estimated near 60 mph knocked down trees limbs and wires in Londonderry Township.
Thunderstorm winds estimated near 60 mph knocked down and uprooted trees along Route 30 east of Gettysburg.
Thunderstorm winds estimated near 60 mph knocked down trees in North Londonderry Township.
Thunderstorm winds estimated near 60 mph knocked down trees and wires near Annville.
Thunderstorm winds estimated near 60 mph knocked down large trees along Route 30 west of York.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Pennsylvania in 2015Every state in 2015This day in weather historyWarnings in Pennsylvania, May 2015
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: 571352, 571354, 571361, 571365, 571367, 571364.