A weak area of low pressure and associated trough crossed central Pennsylvania during the afternoon and evening hours of August 15, 2019, generating scattered showers and storms in a moderate CAPE, low-to-moderate shear environment. Some of these storms produced wind damage and marginally severe hail.
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 weak area of low pressure and associated trough crossed central Pennsylvania during the afternoon and evening hours of August 15, 2019, generating scattered showers and storms in a moderate CAPE, low-to-moderate shear environment. Some of these storms produced wind damage and marginally severe hail.
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 15, 2:37 PM EST, 23 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service State College PA 337 PM EDT Thu Aug 15 2019 .SYNOPSIS... A trough of low pressure will keep the weather unsettled for the next several days. Temperatures will remain near normal and it will be rather humid. By late in the weekend into early next week look for hot and humid conditions, especially across the southeast portions of the area. && .NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 AM FRIDAY MORNING/... Radar shows numerous showers and thunderstorms breaking out under the strong August sun. The near term CAMs continue to advertise a noisy afternoon. RAP shows ML CAPE between 1500-2000J with moderate shear. SPC has issued a SWOMCD with a 40% of a watch. Isolated rotating storms will be possible as we progress into the afternoon. The highest threat will be for some gusty winds with the strongest storms along with brief heavy downpours. Convection will continue into the evening hours before decreasing in coverage and intensity later. It will be a muggy night with patchy fog if skies manage to clear at all. Lows will be in the 60s. && .SHORT TERM /6 AM FRIDAY MORNING THROUGH 6 PM FRIDAY/... Weak upper troughing will once again tend to lead to mainly diurnal showers and thunderstorms Friday. Models develop moderate instability and shear so we could be looking at a virtual repeat of today. Highs will range from the upper 70s to mid 80s. && .LONG TERM /FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY/... Prevalent zonal west-southwest flow aloft will persist from this weekend through the early part of next week before significant pattern amplification unfolds over the CONUS. A strong upper builds builds from the Four Corners region to the south central Plains by mid week. Downstream upper troffing will be prevalent over much of the GLAKS and eastern seaboard, with perhaps a trend towards slightly less heat and humidity late next week. It still looks quite warm however. Initially, a very warm air mass should build north and east into PA this weekend with heat indices by Sunday likely topping 90F over much of the southeast. Mainly diurnal convection chances persist each day, although in this pattern most areas will remain dry at any given time, and scattered afternoon/evening variety is favored. && .AVIATION /20Z THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/... Most of the area as improved to VFR, and any impacts going into the evening will be confined to those terminals that experience a hit from the scattered thunderstorms that are breaking out. Low clouds and fog are expected to bring more widespread restrictions again tonight into early Friday morning, with Friday afternoon seeing scattered showers and thunderstorms developing once again. .Outlook... Sat-Tue...VFR. Isolated-scattered showers/thunderstorms possible, mainly in the afternoon/early evening hours. Late night and early morning fog/low clouds. && .CTP WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None. && SYNOPSIS...La Corte NEAR TERM...La Corte SHORT TERM...La Corte LONG TERM...Ross AVIATION...DeVoir
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service State College PA 328 PM EDT Thu Aug 15 2019 PAZ004>006-010>012-017>019-024>028-033>037-041-042-045-046-049>053- 056>059-063>066-161030- 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- 328 PM EDT Thu Aug 15 2019 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for central Pennsylvania. .DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight. Scattered strong to severe thunderstorms are possible into early this evening across the region. Some storms could contain damaging winds and hail. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday. Slow moving showers and storms along an old frontal boundary could result in isolated heavy downpours. Areas that receive repeated storms could have localized runoff issues. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time. Martin
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service State College PA
129 PM EDT Thu Aug 15 2019
PAZ017-018-151815-
Northern Centre PA-Clearfield PA-
129 PM EDT Thu Aug 15 2019
...SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT...
At 128 PM EDT, Doppler radar indicated a strong thunderstorm 7 miles
northwest of Prince Gallitzin State Park, moving northeast at 10 mph.
Pea size hail, wind gusts to 40 mph and heavy downpours are expected.
Locations impacted include...
Osceola Mills, Chester Hill, Houtzdale, South Philipsburg, Jeffries,
Irvona, West Decatur, Coalport, Ramey, Brisbin, Westover, Wallaceton
and Glen Hope.
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 4100 7832 4087 7821 4078 7826 4073 7837
4073 7867 4078 7871
TIME...MOT...LOC 1728Z 244DEG 8KT 4077 7862
DeVoirSpecial Weather Statement National Weather Service State College PA 213 PM EDT Thu Aug 15 2019 PAZ033-034-151900- Bedford PA-Somerset PA- 213 PM EDT Thu Aug 15 2019 ...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT PARTS OF BEDFORD AND SOMERSET COUNTIES UNTIL 300 PM EDT... At 212 PM EDT, Doppler radar indicated a strong thunderstorm 7 miles east of Berlin, moving east at 10 mph. Wind gusts 40 to 50 mph and penny size hail are possible. Locations impacted include... Buffalo Mills, Schellsburg, Manns Choice and New Baltimore. 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 3986 7886 3997 7888 4007 7857 3989 7853 TIME...MOT...LOC 1812Z 258DEG 11KT 3993 7881 La Corte
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service State College PA
339 PM EDT Thu Aug 15 2019
PAZ017-018-152030-
Northern Centre PA-Clearfield PA-
339 PM EDT Thu Aug 15 2019
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT PARTS OF CLEARFIELD AND CENTRE
COUNTIES UNTIL 430 PM EDT...
At 338 PM EDT, Doppler radar indicated a strong thunderstorm 9 miles
south of Curwensville, moving east at 20 mph. Other storms were
quickly forming nearby.
Wind gusts 40 to 50 mph and half inch hail are possible.
Locations impacted include...
Philipsburg, Osceola Mills, Chester Hill, Houtzdale, North
Philipsburg, South Philipsburg, Sandy Ridge, Jeffries, Morrisdale,
Irvona, West Decatur, Coalport, Ramey, Brisbin, Kylertown, Wallaceton
and Glen Hope.
LAT...LON 4103 7819 4083 7809 4078 7817 4072 7857
4072 7859 4086 7866
TIME...MOT...LOC 1938Z 247DEG 18KT 4084 7855
MartinSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service State College PA
347 PM EDT Thu Aug 15 2019
PAZ012-041-045-152015-
Southern Clinton PA-Northern Clinton PA-Northern Lycoming PA-
347 PM EDT Thu Aug 15 2019
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT PARTS OF LYCOMING AND CLINTON
COUNTIES UNTIL 415 PM EDT...
At 346 PM EDT, Doppler radar indicated a strong thunderstorm over
Keating, moving east at 20 mph.
Wind gusts 40 to 50 mph and penny size hail are possible.
Locations impacted include...
Lock Haven, Keating, Dunnstown, Renovo, McElhattan, South Renovo,
Westport, Glen Union, Waterville, Hyner and Lock Haven University.
LAT...LON 4135 7730 4112 7734 4121 7790 4125 7790
4123 7792 4123 7794 4122 7794 4122 7796
4135 7790
TIME...MOT...LOC 1946Z 274DEG 19KT 4126 7787
MartinThe State College radar (KCCX), 93 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 20:02 UTC.
20 thunderstorm wind, 3 hail. Local standard time, as filed.
A severe thunderstorm producing winds estimated near 60 mph knocked down a few trees near Divine Providence Medical Center in Williamsport.
A severe thunderstorm producing winds estimated near 60 mph knocked down a tree onto a home on Northwood Drive in Williamsport.
A severe thunderstorm producing winds estimated near 60 mph knocked down trees and wires onto Route 120 near Renovo.
A severe thunderstorm producing winds estimated near 60 mph knocked down a few trees near Hollidayburg.
A severe thunderstorm produced quarter-sized hail northeast of Hollidaysburg.
A thunderstorm produced nickel-sized hail near Avis.
A severe thunderstorm producing winds estimated near 60 mph knocked down multiple trees between Route 44 and Wild Cat Road near Shinglehouse.
A severe thunderstorm producing winds estimated near 60 mph knocked down trees and wires onto Juniata Valley Road between Linds Crossing Road and Upper Reese Road east of Frankstown.
A severe thunderstorm producing winds estimated near 60 mph knocked down trees and wires southwest of Pine Grove Mills.
A severe thunderstorm producing winds estimated near 60 mph knocked down trees and wires near Whipple Dam State Park.
A severe thunderstorm producing winds estimated near 60 mph knocked down trees and wires on Juniata Gap Road near Penn State Altoona.
A severe thunderstorm producing winds estimated near 60 mph knocked down trees and wires north of Mill Creek.
A severe thunderstorm producing winds estimated near 60 mph knocked down trees and wires across Sugar Grove Road north of Mill Creek.
A severe thunderstorm producing winds estimated near 60 mph knocked down trees and wires in another location north of Mill Creek.
A severe thunderstorm producing winds estimated near 60 mph knocked down numerous trees near Port Allegheny.
A severe thunderstorm producing winds estimated near 60 mph knocked down multiple trees in Keating Township.
A severe thunderstorm producing winds estimated near 60 mph knocked down a few trees and wires near Saxton.
A severe thunderstorm producing winds estimated near 60 mph knocked down several trees, prompting the closure of Route 913 east of Saxton.
A severe thunderstorm producing winds estimated near 60 mph knocked down multiple trees in Lack and Tuscarora Townships.
A severe thunderstorm produced quarter-sized hail in Kane.
A severe thunderstorm producing winds estimated near 60 mph knocked down multiple trees in Dickinson Township.
A severe thunderstorm producing winds estimated near 60 mph knocked down numerous trees in Dickinson Township.
A severe thunderstorm producing winds estimated near 60 mph knocked down numerous trees near Dillsburg.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Pennsylvania in 2019Every state in 2019This day in weather historyWarnings in Pennsylvania, August 2019
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: 850981, 850982, 850983, 850984, 848293, 848294, 850985, 850987, 850989, 850990, 850991, 850993, 850995, 850996, 850997, 850998, 850999, 851000, 851001, 848295, 851002, 851003, 851004.