Low pressure crossed central Pennsylvania before rapidly intensifying as it pulled off the East Coast. As the storm pulled colder air in behind it, rain changed over to snow across much of central Pennsylvania.
Every event with a place to put it; 17 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.
Low pressure crossed central Pennsylvania before rapidly intensifying as it pulled off the East Coast. As the storm pulled colder air in behind it, rain changed over to snow across much of central Pennsylvania. The northern tier of central PA counties received 6-12 inches of snowfall, with lesser amounts to the south. Blustery northwest winds developed as the storm intensified, with numerous reports of damage to trees and power lines. The most widespread wind damage was across southern PA.
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 Mar 1, 7:04 PM EST, 2 hours 56 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service State College PA 704 PM EST Thu Mar 1 2018 .SYNOPSIS... March will come in like a lion with a complex storm system set to impact central PA Thursday and Friday. The storm will bring a widespread soaking rain to the area which will change to snow from west to east tonight. Strong, gusty winds are also expected later tonight into Friday. Improving conditions are expected over the weekend with winds gradually subsiding by Saturday as high pressure builds into the area. && .NEAR TERM /UNTIL 11 PM THIS EVENING/... Rain shield blossomed this afternoon in the left exit region of 150+ kt jet over TN. Baroclinic leaf pealing off towards the mid Atlantic coastline this evening with classic cyclogenesis taking place over southeast VA where 3 hr pressure falls are maximized near Richmond at this hour. Parent low tracking just south of Youngstown this evening. HRRR indicates the heaviest rain ends over the West Central Mountains/Laurels and South Central Mountains by 04z. Rain changes to snow over far North Central and Northwest by that time. Parent low tracks to the central mountains by 08z, with rain changing to snow elsewhere behind the sfc trof axis. By 12z, rain should still be falling from Williamsport southward to Gettysburg and eastward to the Piedmont region, but expect rain to change to snow there by 15z Fri. All headlines look well placed this evening. Biggest threats for PA with this storm are for heavy wet snow north, strong winds and possible power outages (due to 40-50+ mph wind gusts and saturated soil). Rises are expected on mainstem rivers, with many expected to reach Caution stages Fri-Sat if forecast rainfall pans out. The wind will be an extended duration player with strong wind gusts lasting for most of Friday across central PA. Additional details on this in Short Term discussion. && .SHORT TERM /11 PM THIS EVENING THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT/... The upper level low will dig southeast overnight...as the low reforms to the east. Potential for strong winds...snow...and heavy rain. Strongest winds still looking to be across the south...while areas near the NY border will have the highest potential for heavy wet snow. Some area rivers will approach or exceed CS if fcst rain occurs. Not looking as bad as last week...where it was quite wet for many days. Thus no flood watch at this point. Big issue for snow accumulation will be rather mild temperatures. WPC mentioned that the NAM is a little too cold. Thus snow grids a little higher than earlier shifts...but did not want to go too high. Temps on Friday will stay nearly steady. Winds will slowly die down Friday Night. && .LONG TERM /SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/... Large low pressure moves further off the East Coast on Saturday, but breezy conditions will linger, with possibility for light rain/snow showers to stick around the northeast mountains. Conditions dry out Sunday into Monday as surface and upper level ridge traverse the region. Next system and accompanying precip set to begin impacting central PA on Tuesday mainly in the form of rain, though could mix with snow showers in the NE and other usually colder areas. Timing and strength differences remain between primary models this far out, but indicators are increasingly pointing to potential for this to develop another coastal low. Temps fall back to near normal for the weekend yet stay near or a bit on the mild side of climo early next week. && .AVIATION /00Z FRIDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/... Rapidly developing storm will affect the region for the next 36 hours. This evening, on the warm side of the storm, light to moderate rain will continue. As the low passes to the east and rapidly intensifies, look for winds to back to the north then northwest rapidly between 04z and 06z. This will change rain to snow from north to south overnight into early Friday. In the far southeast, snow will be spotty, while central and especially northern areas will see a steady snow, heavy at times overnight. Winds will significantly pick up with the intensifying storm later tonight and Friday. Look for gusts 30-40 knots across the north, and 40-50 knots across the south. LLWS will be an issue tonight, first directionally in places like KBFD and KIP where surface winds currently under 10 knots, but wind aloft strong from the east/southeast. Later tonight into Friday morning, speed shear will dominate, with winds aloft at 2k feet approaching 60 knots. Winds will be the big factor Friday. However, with winds well mixed, surface winds and winds aloft will be well aligned and similarly strong. Improving conditions for the weekend. Outlook... Sat...Windy early. Sun-Mon...No sig wx expected. Tue...Mainly VFR, but with SHRA approaching from the west during the day. && .CLIMATE... February 2018 will also go down as a top-5 wettest month at several sites in south central PA including locally with the wettest February at the State College COOP site on the PSU campus. Monthly climate products will be disseminated by early this afternoon. && .CTP WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Winter Storm Warning from 4 AM Friday to midnight EST Friday night for PAZ042. Winter Weather Advisory from midnight tonight to midnight EST Friday night for PAZ010>012-017-018-024-033-041. Wind Advisory from midnight tonight to midnight EST Friday night for PAZ017>019-026-045. High Wind Warning from 6 AM Friday to 6 AM EST Saturday for PAZ036-056>059-063>066. Winter Storm Watch from 4 AM EST Friday through Friday evening for PAZ053-058. High Wind Warning from midnight tonight to midnight EST Friday night for PAZ024-025-033>035. Wind Advisory from 4 AM Friday to 6 AM EST Saturday for PAZ027- 028-046-049>053. Winter Storm Warning from 10 PM this evening to midnight EST Friday night for PAZ004>006-037. && SYNOPSIS...Dangelo/Martin NEAR TERM...DeVoir/Martin SHORT TERM...Martin LONG TERM...Lambert/RXR AVIATION...Jung/Martin CLIMATE...
Hazardous Weather Outlook...UPDATED National Weather Service State College PA 405 PM EST Thu Mar 1 2018 PAZ042-022115- Sullivan- 405 PM EST Thu Mar 1 2018 ...WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 4 AM FRIDAY TO MIDNIGHT EST FRIDAY NIGHT... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for central Pennsylvania. .DAY ONE...Tonight. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov/StateCollege on the internet for more information about the following hazards. Winter Storm Warning. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov/StateCollege on the internet for more information about the following hazards. Winter Storm Warning. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotters are encouraged to report significant hazardous weather. PAZ036-056-057-059-063>066-022115- Franklin-Perry-Dauphin-Lebanon-Cumberland-Adams-York-Lancaster- 405 PM EST Thu Mar 1 2018 ...HIGH WIND WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 6 AM FRIDAY TO 6 AM EST SATURDAY... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for central Pennsylvania. .DAY ONE...Tonight. No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday. 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. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotters are encouraged to report significant hazardous weather. PAZ010>012-041-022115- Elk-Cameron-Northern Clinton-Northern Lycoming- 405 PM EST Thu Mar 1 2018 ...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO MIDNIGHT EST FRIDAY NIGHT... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for central Pennsylvania. .DAY ONE...Tonight. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov/StateCollege on the internet for more information about the following hazards. Winter Weather Advisory. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov/StateCollege on the internet for more information about the following hazards. Winter Weather Advisory. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotters are encouraged to report significant hazardous weather. PAZ024-033-022115- Cambria-Somerset- 405 PM EST Thu Mar 1 2018 ...HIGH WIND WARNING IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO MIDNIGHT EST FRIDAY NIGHT... ...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO MIDNIGHT EST FRIDAY NIGHT... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for central Pennsylvania. .DAY ONE...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. Winter Weather Advisory. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday. 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. Winter Weather Advisory. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotters are encouraged to report significant hazardous weather. PAZ027-028-046-049>052-022115- Mifflin-Juniata-Southern Lycoming-Union-Snyder-Montour- Northumberland- 405 PM EST Thu Mar 1 2018 ...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 4 AM FRIDAY TO 6 AM EST SATURDAY... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for central Pennsylvania. .DAY ONE...Tonight. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov/StateCollege on the internet for more information about the following hazards. Wind Advisory. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov/StateCollege on the internet for more information about the following hazards. Wind Advisory. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotters are encouraged to report significant hazardous weather. PAZ019-026-045-022115- Southern Centre-Huntingdon-Southern Clinton- 405 PM EST Thu Mar 1 2018 ...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO MIDNIGHT EST FRIDAY NIGHT... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for central Pennsylvania. .DAY ONE...Tonight. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov/StateCollege on the internet for more information about the following hazards. Wind Advisory. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov/StateCollege on the internet for more information about the following hazards. Wind Advisory. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotters are encouraged to report significant hazardous weather. PAZ004>006-037-022115- Warren-McKean-Potter-Tioga- 405 PM EST Thu Mar 1 2018 ...WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 10 PM THIS EVENING TO MIDNIGHT EST FRIDAY NIGHT... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for central Pennsylvania. .DAY ONE...Tonight. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov/StateCollege on the internet for more information about the following hazards. Winter Storm Warning. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov/StateCollege on the internet for more information about the following hazards. Winter Storm Warning. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotters are encouraged to report significant hazardous weather. PAZ025-034-035-022115- Blair-Bedford-Fulton- 405 PM EST Thu Mar 1 2018 ...HIGH WIND WARNING IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO MIDNIGHT EST FRIDAY NIGHT... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for central Pennsylvania. .DAY ONE...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...Friday through Wednesday. 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. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotters are encouraged to report significant hazardous weather. PAZ053-022115- Columbia- 405 PM EST Thu Mar 1 2018 ...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 4 AM FRIDAY TO 6 AM EST SATURDAY... ...WINTER STORM WATCH IN EFFECT FROM 4 AM EST FRIDAY THROUGH FRIDAY EVENING... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for central Pennsylvania. .DAY ONE...Tonight. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov/StateCollege on the internet for more information about the following hazards. Wind Advisory. Winter Storm Watch. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov/StateCollege on the internet for more information about the following hazards. Wind Advisory. Winter Storm Watch. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotters are encouraged to report significant hazardous weather. PAZ058-022115- Schuylkill- 405 PM EST Thu Mar 1 2018 ...WINTER STORM WATCH IN EFFECT FROM 4 AM EST FRIDAY THROUGH FRIDAY EVENING... ...HIGH WIND WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 6 AM FRIDAY TO 6 AM EST SATURDAY... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for central Pennsylvania. .DAY ONE...Tonight. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov/StateCollege on the internet for more information about the following hazards. Winter Storm Watch. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov/StateCollege on the internet for more information about the following hazards. Winter Storm Watch. High Wind Warning. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotters are encouraged to report significant hazardous weather. PAZ017-018-022115- Clearfield-Northern Centre- 405 PM EST Thu Mar 1 2018 ...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO MIDNIGHT EST FRIDAY NIGHT... ...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO MIDNIGHT EST FRIDAY NIGHT... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for central Pennsylvania. .DAY ONE...Tonight. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov/StateCollege on the internet for more information about the following hazards. Winter Weather Advisory. Wind Advisory. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov/StateCollege on the internet for more information about the following hazards. Winter Weather Advisory. Wind Advisory. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotters are encouraged to report significant hazardous weather.
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
14 high wind, 3 winter storm. Local standard time, as filed.
A winter storm produced 6 to 9 inches of snow across Warren County in a 12 hour period.
A winter storm produced 6 to 9 inches of snow across McKean County in a 12 hour period.
A winter storm produced 6 to 9 inches of snow across Potter County in a 12 hour period.
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 Bedford 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 Cambria 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 Lancaster County. A large tree fell onto a home in East Hempfield Township as well.
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 Adams County.
A non-thunderstorm wind gust was measured at 59 mph at Harrisburg International Airport. Trees and wires were reported down across Dauphin County.
Non-thunderstorm wind gusts estimated near 60 mph knocked down trees and wires across Lebanon County. A large tree fell onto a vehicle in Lebanon as well.
Non-thunderstorm wind gusts estimated near 60 mph knocked down trees and wires across Franklin County. A portion of a barn roof was peeled off near Edenville as well.
Non-thunderstorm wind gusts estimated near 60 mph knocked down trees and wires across Schuylkill County.
Non-thunderstorm wind gusts estimated near 60 mph knocked down trees and wires across Cumberland County. A tree fell onto a home on Oyster Mill Road near Camp Hill as well.
Non-thunderstorm wind gusts estimated near 60 mph knocked down trees and wires across Perry 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, March 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: 734648, 734649, 734650, 733240, 733241, 733242, 733243, 733244, 733228, 733229, 733230, 733231, 733232, 733233, 733234, 733236, 733237.