A line of severe thunderstorms produced widespread wind damage across northwestern and north-central Pennsylvania during the late afternoon and early evening hours on May 4, 2018.
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 line of severe thunderstorms produced widespread wind damage across northwestern and north-central Pennsylvania during the late afternoon and early evening hours on May 4, 2018.
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 4, 2:09 PM EST, 1 hour 6 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service State College PA 309 PM EDT Fri May 4 2018 .SYNOPSIS... A cold front will push southeast across the region later this afternoon and evening, producing scattered strong to severe thunderstorms. The front will likely stall out in the vicinity of southern Pa into early next week, as an upper level trough lingers across the Ohio River Valley. && .NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 AM SATURDAY MORNING/... *Severe Thunderstorm Watch #75 issued for western and north- central PA until 9PM EDT. Radar is relatively quiet as of early afternoon. However, atmosphere is destabilizing and the threat for severe weather is increasing. Already getting gusty winds away from storms in Ohio, and the threat will spread east as the developing squall line moves eastward. SPC is considering expanding the watch into Central PA and SRN NY. We are in a very moist airmass ahead of the cold front as indicated by the SREF/GEFS PWAT anomalies. Once again today the wind fields are impressive with bulk shear already over 50kt over the entire area. Also once again, instability looks to be less than overwhelming. The latest deterministic HRRR shows a squall line moving quickly SE between about 4 and 7PM, showing a rapid weakening trend after 5PM. The front and squall line will move through during the early evening with the showers expected to have cleared the region by midnight. Cooler and drier air will allow for a much more comfortable night for sleeping. Lows will range from the mid 40s north to mid 50s SE. The humidity will also be noticeably lower. && .SHORT TERM /6 AM SATURDAY MORNING THROUGH 6 PM SATURDAY/... The cold front is forecast to become nearly stationary just south of the forecast area Saturday, with most of the area enjoying a dry day. Showers will begin to creep back northward during the second half of the day, but for now it looks like best chance of showers before the day is over will be for the Maryland border counties. It will feel cool compared to recent days with highs only in the 70s. && .LONG TERM /SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY/... A southern stream trough will team with plume of above normal PW and frontal wave to produce rain spreading SW to NE across south-central PA Saturday Night into Sunday morning. Steadier rain should taper to more showery conditions Sunday afternoon as the upper level trough lifts northeast and shears out into New England. High confidence in dry weather Mon-Wed under influence of high pressure and below normal PW airmass. Frost potential remains confined to the northern tier/NW Alleghenies which does not officially start the growing season until May 11th or May 21st. Despite lower trending RH, fire wx risk is low due to light winds and ongoing vegetation green-up. The next frontal system is slated to arrive Thursday into Friday with showers and thunderstorms. Near average temperatures should trend warmer by the end of next week. && .AVIATION /19Z FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/... Mainly VFR conditions will prevail in the warm sector with lower conditions being associated with the scattered showers and thunderstorms that are expected. Deep low will track northeast across southern Canada late today. This storm system will drag a strong cold front across the state this afternoon and early this evening. A line of showers and thunderstorms is expected to form along/ahead of the cold front later today and this evening, and some of those storms could be locally severe. Conditions will improve from west to east late afternoon into this evening. Outlook... Sat...VFR. Sun...Chance of MVFR/showers PM. Mon-Wed...Mainly VFR. && .CTP WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None. && SYNOPSIS...La Corte NEAR TERM...La Corte SHORT TERM...La Corte LONG TERM...Steinbugl AVIATION...La Corte
Hazardous Weather Outlook...UPDATED National Weather Service State College PA 252 PM EDT Fri May 4 2018 PAZ004>006-010>012-017>019-024-033-037-041-042-045-046-051900- Warren-McKean-Potter-Elk-Cameron-Northern Clinton-Clearfield- Northern Centre-Southern Centre-Cambria-Somerset-Tioga- Northern Lycoming-Sullivan-Southern Clinton-Southern Lycoming- 252 PM EDT Fri May 4 2018 ...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 75 IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 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...Saturday through Thursday. The probability for widespread hazardous weather is low. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotters are encouraged to report significant hazardous weather. PAZ025>028-034>036-049>053-056>059-063>066-051900- Blair-Huntingdon-Mifflin-Juniata-Bedford-Fulton-Franklin-Union- Snyder-Montour-Northumberland-Columbia-Perry-Dauphin-Schuylkill- Lebanon-Cumberland-Adams-York-Lancaster- 252 PM EDT Fri May 4 2018 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for central Pennsylvania. .DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight. Severe thunderstorms with damaging winds 60 mph or greater are possible Friday evening between 6 and 9 PM. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday. The probability for widespread hazardous weather is low. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotters are encouraged to report significant hazardous weather. MS
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service State College PA 342 PM EDT FRI MAY 4 2018 PAZ004-005-042030- McKean PA-Warren PA- 342 PM EDT FRI MAY 4 2018 ...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT PARTS OF WARREN AND MCKEAN COUNTIES UNTIL 430 PM EDT... At 340 PM EDT, Doppler radar indicated several strong thunderstorms along a line extending from near Clymer to Union City to near Titusville. Movement was east northeast at 60 mph. Wind gusts of 50 to 55 mph are possible. Locations impacted include... Bradford, Kane, Warren, Youngsville, Ludlow, Marshburg, Kinzua Bridge State Park, Scandia, Lottsville, Cyclone, Grand Valley, Westline, Russell, Wetmore, Enterprise, Sheffield, Columbus, Spring Creek, Warren South and Garland. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... These storms may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio stations and available television stations for additional information and possible warnings from the National Weather Service. Persons in campgrounds should consider seeking sturdy shelter until these storms pass. && LAT...LON 4200 7864 4163 7850 4162 7960 4199 7961 TIME...MOT...LOC 1940Z 261DEG 53KT 4202 7968 4191 7982 4168 7966 Lambert
The Buffalo radar (KBUF), 122 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 20:14 UTC.
19 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
A severe thunderstorm producing winds estimated near 60 mph knocked down trees and wires near Russell.
A severe thunderstorm producing winds estimated near 60 mph knocked down trees and wires near Warren.
A severe thunderstorm producing winds estimated near 60 mph knocked down a tree, trapping an individual near Westline.
A severe thunderstorm producing winds estimated near 60 mph knocked down a tree across Bliss Hill Road, blocking traffic.
A severe thunderstorm producing winds estimated near 60 mph knocked down trees onto wires at the intersection of Northland Road and Route 646.
A severe thunderstorm producing winds estimated near 60 mph knocked down numerous trees and wires on Irish Hollow Road near Smethport.
A severe thunderstorm producing winds estimated near 60 mph knocked down trees and wires across the intersection of Grant and Bingham Road near Ridgway.
A severe thunderstorm producing winds estimated near 60 mph knocked down trees and wires on South Kersey Road.
A severe thunderstorm producing winds estimated near 70 mph knocked a roof off of a structure, blocking south Michael Road at Averyville Road near Saint Marys.
A severe thunderstorm producing winds estimated near 60 mph knocked down numerous trees and wires between Roulette and Coudersport.
A severe thunderstorm producing winds estimated near 70 mph knocked down numerous large trees north of Sizerville State Park.
A severe thunderstorm producing winds estimated near 60 mph knocked down numerous trees and wires near Emporium.
A severe thunderstorm producing winds estimated near 60 mph knocked down trees and wires along Route 555.
A severe thunderstorm producing winds estimated near 60 mph knocked down trees and wires near Osceola.
A severe thunderstorm producing winds estimated near 60 mph knocked down trees on wires along Darling Run Road.
A severe thunderstorm producing winds estimated near 60 mph knocked down numerous trees in Renovo.
A severe thunderstorm producing winds estimated near 60 mph knocked down a tree across Bloss Mountain Road near Sebring.
A severe thunderstorm producing winds estimated near 60 mph knocked down numerous wires in Mylo Park near Ebensburg.
A severe thunderstorm producing winds estimated near 60 mph knocked down wires along Park Avenue in Moxham.
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, May 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: 745409, 745410, 745412, 745413, 745414, 745415, 745416, 745417, 745418, 745419, 745420, 745421, 745423, 745424, 745425, 745426, 745427, 745429, 745431.