A few storms developed over the Laurel Highlands during the evening of August 12, 2018 and one storm produced wind damage in Somerset 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.
A few storms developed over the Laurel Highlands during the evening of August 12, 2018 and one storm produced wind damage in Somerset 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 Aug 12, 2:43 PM EST, 2 hours 29 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service State College PA 343 PM EDT Sun Aug 12 2018 .SYNOPSIS... A cut off upper low over Lake Erie will slowly lift east across Pennsylvania Monday and Tuesday. A ridge of high pressure will build into the region on Wednesday, followed by the arrival of a weak cold front late in the week. && .NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 AM MONDAY MORNING/... Slowly filling upper low over centered over northeast OH...as it makes a slow southward propogation through this evening. Upper level forcing ahead of the upper low center is nearly non- existent, as a couple of stronger shortwaves digging southward on its backside are actually promoting rising heights over PA due to a slight westward retrogression as the low slowly drops southward at the same time. The result is sufficient capping to prevent widespread diurnal convection, and cells that do form on the higher terrain are only able to rain themselves out before weakening (after dropping locally 0.5 to 1" amounts), as anvil formation and precipitation shield are preventing maintenance and subsequent updraft formation thus far. CAMs generally agree with this scenario, with no strong signal for concentrated heavy rainfall anywhere in central PA. A few slow moving cells may locally drop 1"+ and will be monitored through this evening, particularly over the south and southeast. But earlier thinking still holds that with the best deep layer moisture shunted well east of central PA, we are seeing only a minimal risk of flash flooding from thunderstorms this afternoon and evening. Scattered, diurnally-driven convection should diminish shortly after sunset across the western half of the state. Lift in the favored left exit region of potent upper jet streak will keep slgt chc showers going overnight over the eastern half of the state. && .SHORT TERM /6 AM MONDAY MORNING THROUGH 6 PM MONDAY/... Upper low becomes centered over central PA on Monday. With cool air aloft, combined with diurnal heating and sufficient low level and deep layer moisture, we should see a marked increase in diurnally- driven convection Monday afternoon. Keeping POPs in the likely to categorical ranges for Monday afternoon and evening as a result. Some discussion of locally heavy rainfall threat and while eastern areas appear more prone based on synoptic setup and recent heavy rainfall, want to hold off on any headline issuance to better place a Watch box in the 24 to 30 hour timeframe. The plume of anomalous pwats remain well east of Pa, so the flash flood risk is on the lower side for central and western PA. && .LONG TERM /MONDAY NIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY/... Not much signal for any large pattern change. Looking at a tendency to semi-phase 3 bundles of energy with time. New 12Z GFS trending toward recent runs of the EC. Same trends all season. Anyway, not a lot of change. For next Sunday, went with mainly the superblend, but lower POPS. Otherwise mainly small changes. Still looking at showers and storms Monday night into Tuesday evening. I did up POPS some across the south central areas Monday night, given POPs, location of the upper lvl low, trends this wet summer season, and to fit in better with others. Wednesday into Thursday still look mainly dry, as weak ridging occurs over western PA. There could be a shower across the far northwest late Wednesday into Thursday morning. Showers and storms more likely late Thursday evening into Friday, as warm advection sets up. Weak cold front moves across the region late Friday, so I still think Saturday will be mainly dry. For Sunday, highest chc of showers and storms looks to be across the south, based on the 00Z EC and comparison of recent runs of several models. && .AVIATION /19Z SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/... VFR conditions should prevail late this afternoon. Isolated showers and storms across the far south and east this aft, in the area of higher dewpoint air in the Lower Susq and parts of the southern/central mountains. Limited tstm coverage making it hard to mention VCTS in terminals, but did bracket a several hour period later this afternoon in the SE. Scattered showers remain possible over the east tonight, with scattered valley fog returning after midnight. For Monday, convection expected to be more numerous with intermittent impacts. .Outlook... Mon-Tue...AM cig/vsby restrictions likely. Otherwise, showers/ sct tstms will bring intermittent restrictions. Wed...AM fog. Otherwise no six wx. Thu...AM fog. Otherwise, scattered showers/tstms will bring local restrictions. Fri...Still a chance of showers and storms. && .CTP WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None. && SYNOPSIS...DeVoir/Martin NEAR TERM...DeVoir SHORT TERM...DeVoir LONG TERM...Martin AVIATION...DeVoir/Martin/RXR
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service State College PA 615 AM EDT Sun Aug 12 2018 PAZ004>006-010>012-017>019-024>028-033>037-041-042-045-046-049>053- 056>059-063>066-131015- Warren-McKean-Potter-Elk-Cameron-Northern Clinton-Clearfield- Northern Centre-Southern Centre-Cambria-Blair-Huntingdon-Mifflin- Juniata-Somerset-Bedford-Fulton-Franklin-Tioga-Northern Lycoming- Sullivan-Southern Clinton-Southern Lycoming-Union-Snyder-Montour- Northumberland-Columbia-Perry-Dauphin-Schuylkill-Lebanon-Cumberland- Adams-York-Lancaster- 615 AM EDT Sun Aug 12 2018 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for central Pennsylvania. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight. The probability for widespread hazardous weather is low. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday through Saturday. The probability for widespread hazardous weather is low. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time.
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service State College PA
349 PM EDT SUN AUG 12 2018
PAZ035-122015-
Fulton PA-
349 PM EDT SUN AUG 12 2018
...SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT...
At 348 PM EDT, Doppler radar indicated a thunderstorm with very
heavy rain near Needmore, moving east at 5 mph.
Very heavy rain is expected.
Winds in excess of 30 mph are possible.
Locations impacted include...
McConnellsburg, Harrisonville, Needmore and Saluvia.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm, and may lead
to localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.
&&
LAT...LON 3996 7822 4006 7796 3997 7792 3992 7795
3979 7816
TIME...MOT...LOC 1948Z 254DEG 6KT 3990 7810
TyburskiSpecial Weather Statement National Weather Service State College PA 509 PM EDT SUN AUG 12 2018 PAZ058-122145- Schuylkill PA- 509 PM EDT SUN AUG 12 2018 ...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT PARTS OF SCHUYLKILL COUNTY UNTIL 545 PM EDT... At 509 PM EDT, Doppler radar indicated a strong thunderstorm over Altamont. This storm was nearly stationary. Dime size hail and winds in excess of 40 mph are possible. Locations impacted include... Shenandoah, Mahanoy City, Frackville, St. Clair, Tuscarora, Grier City-Park Crest, Altamont, Englewood, Delano, Heckscherville, Brandonville, Locust Lake State Park, New Boston-Morea, Shenandoah Heights, Gilberton, Park Place and Trenton. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm, and may lead to localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways. && LAT...LON 4071 7625 4082 7628 4090 7610 4077 7603 TIME...MOT...LOC 2109Z 257DEG 4KT 4079 7620 Jung
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service State College PA 534 PM EDT SUN AUG 12 2018 PAZ033-122200- Somerset PA- 534 PM EDT SUN AUG 12 2018 ...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT PARTS OF SOMERSET COUNTY UNTIL 600 PM EDT... At 534 PM EDT, Doppler radar indicated a strong thunderstorm near Meyersdale. This storm was nearly stationary. Very heavy rain is expected. Dime size hail and winds in excess of 40 mph are possible. Locations impacted include... Meyersdale, Rockwood, Salisbury and Garrett. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm, and may lead to localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways. && LAT...LON 3973 7915 3991 7921 3996 7900 3978 7893 TIME...MOT...LOC 2134Z 182DEG 2KT 3985 7908 Jung
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service State College PA 606 PM EDT SUN AUG 12 2018 PAZ058-122230- Schuylkill PA- 606 PM EDT SUN AUG 12 2018 ...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT PARTS OF SCHUYLKILL COUNTY UNTIL 630 PM EDT... At 605 PM EDT, Doppler radar indicated a strong thunderstorm over Pottsville, moving east at 10 mph. Dime size hail and winds in excess of 50 mph are possible. Locations impacted include... Pottsville, Schuylkill Haven, Minersville, St. Clair, Orwigsburg, Port Carbon, New Philadelphia, Friedensburg, Marlin, Renningers, Forrestville, Seltzer, Heckscherville, Cressona, Palo Alto, Cumbola, Middleport, Landingville, Mount Carbon and Mary-D. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm, and may lead to localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways. && LAT...LON 4058 7629 4074 7632 4079 7606 4065 7602 TIME...MOT...LOC 2205Z 260DEG 20KT 4069 7622 Jung
The Pittsburgh radar (KPBZ), 114 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 22:10 UTC.
1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
A severe thunderstorm producing winds estimated near 60 mph knocked down trees onto wires northeast of Rockwood.
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, August 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: 769765.