A sharp cold front crossed central Pennsylvania during the morning of April 4. A tight pressure gradient behind the front produced strong to damaging non-thunderstorm winds through the afternoon and early evening.
Every event with a place to put it; 32 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 sharp cold front crossed central Pennsylvania during the morning of April 4. A tight pressure gradient behind the front produced strong to damaging non-thunderstorm winds through the afternoon and early evening. Widespread gusts of 50-60 mph were observed along with sporadic tree and roof damage.
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 Apr 4, 1:13 AM EST, 3 hours 47 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service State College PA 213 AM EDT Wed Apr 4 2018 .SYNOPSIS... Low pressure over Illinois early this afternoon will track northeast across the Great Lakes tonight, pushing a trailing cold front through Pennsylvania Wednesday morning. An upper level trough will set up over the northeast conus late this week into early next week. A shortwave rotating through the base of this trough will affect the region Thursday night into Friday and another could possibly affect the area early next week. && .NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 AM THIS MORNING/... Sfc front pushing into western OH at this hour. Earlier line of weakening convection is now elevated as it traverses the central mountains...a tad rumbly out the window here at Innovation Park with positive strokes making quite a racket with air temperatures in the 40s. The line earlier featured wind gusts of 30 to 40 mph as it reached the Laurels, which are in the mild 50s. A quick quarter to half inch of rain is accompanying this area as it continues to weaken and track northeastward towards the Lycoming Valley. The Allegheny Plateau will remain in the warm sector tonight with rising temperatures into Wednesday morning, while model surface lifted indices suggest the stubborn wedge of cool air east of the mountains may hold on until arrival of occluded front Wed morning. Another lull in the shower activity will prevail overnight until the cold front approaches in the pre dawn hours. Increasingly gusty southwest winds are expected in the warm sector over the western counties tonight, with model soundings supporting gusts in the 25-30kt range after midnight, especially on the ridgetops. && .SHORT TERM /6 AM THIS MORNING THROUGH 6 PM THURSDAY/... The cold front will quickly sweep east across the area Wednesday morning with gusty winds mixing to the surface immediately following fropa. Bufkit soundings indicate gusts to around 50kts are likely in its wake, and wind advisory has been issued across forecast area, with strongest winds Wed morning into early-mid afternoon. Strong forcing and marginal instability support mention of thunder with the fropa Wed morning. The low CAPE/high shear environment could support a marginal wind damage threat across the Lower Susq Valley, which is clipped by the D2 SPC MRGL risk. Temperatures should briefly surge ahead of the cold front before exhibiting a non- diurnal trend into the afternoon. Large scale subsidence in wake of cold front will shut off precip over most of the area by midday Wednesday. However, scattered lake-enhanced, orographic snow showers appear likely over the Allegheny Plateau, as unseasonably chilly northwest flow crosses the Grt Lks. && .LONG TERM /THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY/... Diminishing lake effect snow showers/flurries anticipated Wed night into early Thursday. A light coating of snow accumulation appears possible over parts of the NW Alleghenies and Laurel Highlands by Thursday morning. The second half of the week (Thursday) will start off dry before the next clipper-like system arrives with rain/snow Thu. Night into Friday. A light snow accumulation is possible into early Friday morning, mainly across northwest 1/2 of the CWA. A shot of unseasonably cold air is expected in the wake of this system, punctuated by gusty winds with minimum chills in the 10s and 20s (for early April!) Model guidance has trended northward with a frontal wave into the weekend. Enough cold air will be in place on the northern periphery of the precip shield to generate a period of snowfall in the Saturday timeframe. It now appears the second half of the weekend will be mainly dry. Another opportunity for rain/snow sometime in the Mon-Wed period. The blocking pattern at high latitudes of the NH will continue to support below average temperatures through the second week of April. && .AVIATION /06Z WEDNESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/... As the cold front continues to move in from the west showers continue to move through the region. Thunder has ended overall. The low level moisture and a strong inversion will allow for IFR cigs at IPT, MDT and LNS overnight. The wester TAF sties will slowly follow suit as another wave of precipitation will move through the region over the next few hours. Cigs will slowly improve this morning with restrictions improving between 13Z to 15Z. Wind shear out ahead of the system will bring LLWS to all TAF sites of around 220 at 40KTS from Southwest and spreading to the northeast. The LLWS will continue around 13Z. Outlook... wed...Widespread restrictions likely in SHRA. LLWS. Thunder possible. Thur...MVFR in isolated shsn BFD/JST. VFR elsewhere. Fri...Reductions psbl in rain/snow north and rain south. Sat...Reductions psbl, mainly north and west. Sun...Mainly VFR. && .CTP WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Wind Advisory from 8 AM this morning to 8 PM EDT this evening for PAZ004>006-010>012-017>019-024>027-033>035-037-041-042-045- 046. Wind Advisory from 10 AM this morning to 8 PM EDT this evening for PAZ028-036-049>053-056>059-063>066. && SYNOPSIS...RXR NEAR TERM...DeVoir/RXR SHORT TERM...RXR LONG TERM...Steinbugl AVIATION...Ceru
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service State College PA 438 AM EDT Wed Apr 4 2018 PAZ027-028-037-041-042-046-049>053-056-058-050845- Mifflin-Juniata-Tioga-Northern Lycoming-Sullivan-Southern Lycoming- Union-Snyder-Montour-Northumberland-Columbia-Perry-Schuylkill- 438 AM EDT Wed Apr 4 2018 ...HIGH WIND WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 9 AM THIS MORNING TO 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING... 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. High Wind Warning. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday. The probability for widespread hazardous weather is low. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time. PAZ004>006-010>012-017>019-024>026-045-050845- Warren-McKean-Potter-Elk-Cameron-Northern Clinton-Clearfield- Northern Centre-Southern Centre-Cambria-Blair-Huntingdon- Southern Clinton- 438 AM EDT Wed Apr 4 2018 ...HIGH WIND WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING... 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. High Wind Warning. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday. The probability for widespread hazardous weather is low. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time. PAZ036-057-059-063>066-050845- Franklin-Dauphin-Lebanon-Cumberland-Adams-York-Lancaster- 438 AM EDT Wed Apr 4 2018 ...HIGH WIND WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 9 AM THIS MORNING TO 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING... 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. High Wind Warning. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday. A few inches of wet snow is possible across the southern tier of Pennsylvania on Saturday. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time. PAZ033>035-050845- Somerset-Bedford-Fulton- 438 AM EDT Wed Apr 4 2018 ...HIGH WIND WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING... 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. High Wind Warning. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday. A few inches of wet snow is possible across the southern tier of Pennsylvania on Saturday. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time.
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
32 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Non-thunderstorm wind gusts estimated near 60 mph knocked down trees and wires across Bedford County.
Non-thunderstorm wind gusts estimated near 60 mph knocked down trees and wires across Blair County.
Non-thunderstorm wind gusts estimated near 60 mph knocked down trees and wires across Cambria County.
Non-thunderstorm wind gusts estimated near 60 mph knocked down trees and wires across Cameron County.
Non-thunderstorm wind gusts estimated near 60 mph knocked down trees and wires across Clearfield County.
Non-thunderstorm wind gusts estimated near 60 mph knocked down trees and wires across Elk County.
Non-thunderstorm wind gusts estimated near 60 mph knocked down trees and wires across Fulton County.
Non-thunderstorm wind gusts estimated near 60 mph knocked down trees and wires across Huntingdon County.
Non-thunderstorm wind gusts estimated near 60 mph knocked down trees and wires across McKean County.
Non-thunderstorm wind gusts estimated near 60 mph knocked down trees and wires across Northern Centre County.
Non-thunderstorm wind gusts estimated near 60 mph knocked down trees and wires across Northern Clinton County.
Non-thunderstorm wind gusts estimated near 60 mph knocked down trees and wires across Potter County.
Non-thunderstorm wind gusts estimated near 60 mph knocked down trees and wires across Somerset County.
Non-thunderstorm wind gusts estimated near 60 mph knocked down trees and wires across Southern Centre County.
Non-thunderstorm wind gusts estimated near 60 mph knocked down trees and wires across Southern Clinton County.
Non-thunderstorm wind gusts estimated near 60 mph knocked down trees and wires across Warren County.
Non-thunderstorm wind gusts estimated near 60 mph knocked down trees and wires across Columbia County.
Non-thunderstorm wind gusts estimated near 60 mph knocked down trees and wires across Cumberland County.
Non-thunderstorm wind gusts estimated near 60 mph knocked down trees and wires across Dauphin County.
Non-thunderstorm wind gusts estimated near 60 mph knocked down trees and wires across Juniata County.
Non-thunderstorm wind gusts estimated near 60 mph knocked down trees and wires across Lancaster County.
Non-thunderstorm wind gusts estimated near 60 mph knocked down trees and wires across Mifflin County.
Non-thunderstorm wind gusts estimated near 60 mph knocked down trees and wires across Montour County.
Non-thunderstorm wind gusts estimated near 60 mph knocked down trees and wires across Northern Lycoming County.
Non-thunderstorm wind gusts estimated near 60 mph knocked down trees and wires across Northumberland County.
Non-thunderstorm wind gusts estimated near 60 mph knocked down trees and wires across Perry County.
Non-thunderstorm wind gusts estimated near 60 mph knocked down trees and wires across Snyder County.
Non-thunderstorm wind gusts estimated near 60 mph knocked down trees and wires across Southern Lycoming County.
Non-thunderstorm wind gusts estimated near 60 mph knocked down trees and wires across Sullivan County.
Non-thunderstorm wind gusts estimated near 60 mph knocked down trees and wires across Tioga County.
Non-thunderstorm wind gusts estimated near 60 mph knocked down trees and wires across York County.
Non-thunderstorm wind gusts estimated near 60 mph knocked down trees and wires across Union County.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Pennsylvania in 2018Every state in 2018This day in weather historyWarnings in Pennsylvania, April 2018
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: 743022, 743023, 743024, 743025, 743026, 743030, 743031, 743032, 743035, 743038, 743039, 743043, 743045, 743046, 743047, 743053, 743027, 743028, 743029, 743033, 743034, 743036, 743037, 743040, 743041, 743042, 743044, 743048, 743049, 743050, 743052, 743055.