A prolonged heat wave impacted southeastern Pennsylvania from 10-16 August with afternoon temperatures in the low-mid 90s and overnight lows in the mid to upper 70s. When factoring in oppressive humidity with dewpoints in the upper 70s, maximum heat indices exceeded 100 degrees most afternoons.
Every event with a place to put it; 4 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. 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 prolonged heat wave impacted southeastern Pennsylvania from 10-16 August with afternoon temperatures in the low-mid 90s and overnight lows in the mid to upper 70s. When factoring in oppressive humidity with dewpoints in the upper 70s, maximum heat indices exceeded 100 degrees most afternoons. The peak of the high heat/humidity occurred on 14 August with maximum heat index values ranging from 105 to 110 degrees.
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 Aug 13, 8:52 AM EST, 2 hours 8 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service State College PA 952 AM EDT SAT AUG 13 2016 .SYNOPSIS... Hot and Humid weather will persist across Central Pennsylvania through the weekend. Excessive heat conditions will impact the lower to middle Susquehanna Valley with heat indices of 100 to 108 degrees during the afternoon and early evening.The heat and humidity will support the development of scattered thunderstorms. Storms may produce frequent lightning and heavy rainfall with the risk for some localized flooding. && .NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 PM THIS EVENING/... Muggy conditions with mostly clear skies this morning. Dew point temperatures are in the low to mid 70s through central PA with a few locations along the Susquehanna in the upper 70s. With sunshine, temperatures have quickly jumped into the 80s this morning and will again climb into the 90s this afternoon. The big ticket item in the Susq Valley for most of the weekend is the oppressive to dangerous heat conditions. The Lower Susquehanna Valley up to Harrisburg is now under an excessive heat warning into Sunday and a heat advisory extends the Mid Susq Valley up to Williamsport and out through Gettysburg and Franklin County. Maximum heat index values could reach 108-110 degrees. While daytime temperatures will be above normal, the best shot for records will be max-mins with some locations in the southeast holding around 80F for overnight lows. This factor will also contribute to the excessive/dangerous heat risk. Backed off on POPs some for today. A weak shortwave embedded in the SW flow aloft over the Middle Ohio River Valley will drift northeast across the laurel highlands and NW mtns later this morning...support a few showers or thunderstorms. Any showers/TSRA should be isolated to NIL across the SE half of the CWA that will be under the influence of the aforementioned high as it drifts east toward the Mid Atlantic coast this afternoon. A second...stronger and more extensive short wave approaches western and nrn PA in the 21Z Sat-00Z Sunday period...embedded within a belt of of slightly stronger mid-upper level winds. High cape and weak-mdt deep layer shear has prompted SPC to place the NW half of PA in a Marginal Risk for Severe TSRA later this afternoon into tonight. POPs are higher for this area in the likely to categorical. && .SHORT TERM /6 PM THIS EVENING THROUGH 6 PM SUNDAY/... A pair of fairly strong vort maxes move ENE across the CWA overnight within the plume of very high...2-2.5 inch PWAT air...likely maintaining a decent threat for mdt-hvy showers and scattered TSRA...with frequent lightning and locally excessive rainfall rates as training of the TSRA is a strong possibility. Approaching sfc cold front Sunday begins to string out and then stall on about a 240-250 deg axis as several more shortwaves ripple quickly ne above the boundary and right over the CWA...creating multiple areas of enhanced llvl Theta-E convergence with the potential for locally excessive rain/flooding. Later shifts will need to direct focus on the Flash Flood Threat. HPC's Day 1 marginal risk for excessive rainfall covers our NW zones. Although there is no current risk noted by HPC for Sunday...wouldn't be surprised to see that upgraded to a marginal or slight risk for excessive rainfl Sunday into Sun night. && .LONG TERM /SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY/... The threat for heavy rainfall may extend into early in the upcoming week as above normal moisture continues to be directed northeast around prominent subtropical ridge centered over the western Atlantic. The Bermuda high is forecast to weaken into the middle of next week with guidance depicting a gradual lowering of heights across southeast Canada. There has been a notable trend over recent days in a stronger Bermuda high (sfc/aloft) which has kept axis of max rainfall in the NW portion of the model consensus while maintaining very warm and humid weather pattern over the region. Daily chances for rain will continue through the period with a slight decrease in POPs into the second half of the week. Boosted pops for showers and sctd TSRA by about 10-20 percent (and into the low likely range) in the Tues night- Wed period - closer to NBM pops. && .AVIATION /14Z SATURDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/... IPT is the only TAF site that is seeing any type of restriction this morning with low stratocu allowing for IFR cigs. Expect these to lift by 15Z and VFR to dominate the TAF sites today. Scattered afternoon and evening convection remains possible anywhere in the region. The best chances are late in the afternoon. A cold front could bring drier air in by late Monday, which would decrease the chance of convection by then. Outlook... Fri-Mon...Localized restrictions in scattered to numerous mainly afternoon shra/tsra. Tue...Patchy fog possible early...otherwise mainly VFR. && .CTP WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Heat Advisory until 6 PM EDT Sunday for PAZ028-036-046-049>053- 056-058-063-064. Excessive Heat Warning until 6 PM EDT Sunday for PAZ057-059- 065-066. Heat Advisory until noon EDT today for PAZ057-059-065-066. && SYNOPSIS...Watson/Lambert NEAR TERM...Watson/Lambert SHORT TERM...Lambert LONG TERM...Lambert/Steinbugl AVIATION...Ceru/Gartner
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA 1010 AM EDT SAT AUG 13 2016 PAZ028-036-056-058-063-064-141415- JUNIATA-FRANKLIN-PERRY-SCHUYLKILL-CUMBERLAND-ADAMS- 1010 AM EDT SAT AUG 13 2016 ...HEAT ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM EDT SUNDAY... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT. PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV/STATECOLLEGE ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. HEAT ADVISORY. IN ADDITION...THUNDERSTORMS WITH HEAVY RAIN MAY RESULT IN LOCALIZED FLOODING LATER TODAY AND TONIGHT...ESPECIALLY IN URBAN AND POOR DRAINAGE AREAS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY. PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV/STATECOLLEGE ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. HEAT ADVISORY. THUNDERSTORMS WITH HEAVY RAIN MAY RESULT IN LOCALIZED FLOODING AGAIN SUNDAY AFTERNOON AND NIGHT...ESPECIALLY IN URBAN AND POOR DRAINAGE AREAS. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTERS SHOULD SEND HEAVY RAIN REPORTS OF OBSERVED RAINFALL GREATER THAN ONE INCH PER HOUR OR OBSERVED LOCALIZED FLOODING REPORTS TO CTP.STORMREPORTS@NOAA.GOV PAZ004>006-010-011-017-037-141415- WARREN-MCKEAN-POTTER-ELK-CAMERON-CLEARFIELD-TIOGA- 1010 AM EDT SAT AUG 13 2016 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT. THUNDERSTORMS WITH HEAVY RAIN MAY RESULT IN LOCALIZED FLOODING LATER TODAY INTO TONIGHT...ESPECIALLY IN URBAN AND POOR DRAINAGE AREAS. ISOLATED SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WITH STRONG WINDS ARE ALSO POSSIBLE. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY. THUNDERSTORMS WITH HEAVY RAIN MAY RESULT IN LOCALIZED FLOODING AGAIN SUNDAY AFTERNOON AND NIGHT...ESPECIALLY IN URBAN AND POOR DRAINAGE AREAS. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTERS SHOULD SEND HEAVY RAIN REPORTS OF OBSERVED RAINFALL GREATER THAN ONE INCH PER HOUR OR OBSERVED LOCALIZED FLOODING REPORTS TO CTP.STORMREPORTS@NOAA.GOV PAZ057-059-065-066-141415- DAUPHIN-LEBANON-YORK-LANCASTER- 1010 AM EDT SAT AUG 13 2016 ...EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM EDT SUNDAY... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT. PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV/STATECOLLEGE ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING. IN ADDITION...THUNDERSTORMS WITH HEAVY RAIN MAY RESULT IN LOCALIZED FLOODING LATE TODAY INTO EARLY TONIGHT...ESPECIALLY IN URBAN AND POOR DRAINAGE AREAS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY. PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV/STATECOLLEGE ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING. THUNDERSTORMS WITH HEAVY RAIN MAY RESULT IN LOCALIZED FLOODING AGAIN LATE SUNDAY AFTERNOON AND NIGHT...ESPECIALLY IN URBAN AND POOR DRAINAGE AREAS. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTERS SHOULD SEND HEAVY RAIN REPORTS OF OBSERVED RAINFALL GREATER THAN ONE INCH PER HOUR OR OBSERVED LOCALIZED FLOODING REPORTS TO CTP.STORMREPORTS@NOAA.GOV PAZ046-049>053-141415- SOUTHERN LYCOMING-UNION-SNYDER-MONTOUR-NORTHUMBERLAND-COLUMBIA- 1010 AM EDT SAT AUG 13 2016 ...HEAT ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM EDT SUNDAY... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT. PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV/STATECOLLEGE ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. HEAT ADVISORY. IN ADDITION...THUNDERSTORMS WITH HEAVY RAIN MAY RESULT IN LOCALIZED FLOODING LATER TODAY INTO EARLY TONIGHT...ESPECIALLY IN URBAN AND POOR DRAINAGE AREAS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY. PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV/STATECOLLEGE ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. HEAT ADVISORY. THUNDERSTORMS WITH HEAVY RAIN MAY RESULT IN LOCALIZED FLOODING AGAIN SUNDAY AFTERNOON AND NIGHT...ESPECIALLY IN URBAN AND POOR DRAINAGE AREAS. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTERS SHOULD SEND HEAVY RAIN REPORTS OF OBSERVED RAINFALL GREATER THAN ONE INCH PER HOUR OR OBSERVED LOCALIZED FLOODING REPORTS TO CTP.STORMREPORTS@NOAA.GOV PAZ012-018-019-024>027-033>035-041-042-045-141415- NORTHERN CLINTON-NORTHERN CENTRE-SOUTHERN CENTRE-CAMBRIA-BLAIR- HUNTINGDON-MIFFLIN-SOMERSET-BEDFORD-FULTON-NORTHERN LYCOMING- SULLIVAN-SOUTHERN CLINTON- 1010 AM EDT SAT AUG 13 2016 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT. HEAT INDEX VALUES WILL APPROACH 100 DEGREES THROUGHOUT THE VALLEYS AND LARGER TOWNS AND CITIES THIS AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING. THUNDERSTORMS WITH HEAVY RAIN MAY RESULT IN LOCALIZED FLOODING LATE THIS AFTERNOON INTO EARLY TONIGHT...ESPECIALLY IN URBAN AND POOR DRAINAGE AREAS. ISOLATED SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WITH STRONG WINDS ARE ALSO POSSIBLE. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY. THUNDERSTORMS WITH HEAVY RAIN MAY RESULT IN LOCALIZED FLOODING AGAIN SUNDAY AFTERNOON AND NIGHT...ESPECIALLY IN URBAN AND POOR DRAINAGE AREAS .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTERS SHOULD SEND HEAVY RAIN REPORTS OF OBSERVED RAINFALL GREATER THAN ONE INCH PER HOUR OR OBSERVED LOCALIZED FLOODING REPORTS TO CTP.STORMREPORTS@NOAA.GOV
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA
1142 AM EDT SAT AUG 13 2016
PAZ024-131615-
CAMBRIA PA-
1142 AM EDT SAT AUG 13 2016
...SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT...
AT 1141 AM EDT...DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM OVER
SOUTH FORK...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 15 MPH.
WINDS IN EXCESS OF 30 MPH ARE POSSIBLE.
LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
PORTAGE...EBENSBURG...NANTY-GLO...VINCO...EHRENFELD...
BEAVERDALE-LLOYDELL...CRESSON...BELSANO...SOUTH FORK...ST. MICHAEL...
CARROLLTOWN...GALLITZIN...SIDMAN...LILLY...SANKERTOWN...
NORTHERN CAMBRIA...HASTINGS...LORETTO...PATTON AND TUNNELHILL.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING IS OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM.
LIGHTNING CAN STRIKE 10 MILES AWAY FROM A THUNDERSTORM. SEEK A SAFE
SHELTER INSIDE A BUILDING OR VEHICLE.
&&
LAT...LON 4071 7879 4055 7848 4051 7854 4047 7854
4044 7856 4037 7856 4035 7861 4031 7864
4029 7864 4031 7884 4039 7893
TIME...MOT...LOC 1541Z 235DEG 15KT 4036 7879
RXRThe national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
4 excessive heat. Local standard time, as filed.
Maximum heat index values reached 105 to 110 degrees during the afternoon and early evening.
Maximum heat index values reached 105 to 110 degrees during the afternoon and early evening.
Maximum heat index values reached 105 to 110 degrees during the afternoon and early evening.
Maximum heat index values reached 105 to 110 degrees during the afternoon and early evening.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Pennsylvania in 2016Every state in 2016This day in weather historyWarnings in Pennsylvania, August 2016
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: 643818, 643819, 643820, 643821.