A strong cold front crossed central Pennsylvania during the late morning and afternoon of April 13, 2020, generating two distinct lines of convection, along with a handful of cells ahead of these lines. These storms tapped into a strong low-level jet to produce scattered wind damage across the southern two-thirds of central Pennsylvania.
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 strong cold front crossed central Pennsylvania during the late morning and afternoon of April 13, 2020, generating two distinct lines of convection, along with a handful of cells ahead of these lines. These storms tapped into a strong low-level jet to produce scattered wind damage across the southern two-thirds of central Pennsylvania.
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 13, 10:12 AM EST, 1 hour 5 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service State College PA 1112 AM EDT Mon Apr 13 2020 .SYNOPSIS... Strong winds will whip across the area today. Severe storms are possible during the mid to late morning and early afternoon hours. Locally heavy rainfall may result in isolated minor flooding across parts of southeast PA. Today will be the warmest day of the week with temperatures trending below average Tuesday through Friday. && .NEAR TERM /UNTIL 4 PM THIS AFTERNOON/... Vigorous mid level vort max with a quasi-eye seen in vis satellite just SE of KPIT at 1430Z will sweep NE across Central PA through mid afternoon and help to rapidly increase Meso-B uvvel within a developing narrow wedge of partial clearing and modest MU capes of 800-1200 J/KG. Developing TSRA associate with this mid-level feature will follow closely on the heels of the 70+ KT LLVL jet across the eastern half of PA ATTM. These storms will coincide with an environment of 0-1km SR Helicity of 200-250 m2/s2 across Scent PA over the next few hours, and the Lower and Mid Susq Valley centered in the 18-19Z period. SPC MCD recently issued for the likelihood of a Tornado Watch to be issued within the next hour over a large portion of Central and Eastern PA. That will be the main show for our CWA today and we'll be focused on the structure of the anticipated mini bows and scattered, fast moving low-topped supercells in this highly sheared llvl environment. Previous... Multi-faceted storm system to impact the area early today. Initial slug of WAA precip has cleared the area with max rainfall amounts in the 0.50 to 0.75 inch range in the past 6 hours ending 06-08Z. Second round of moderate to locally heavy rain is surging into south central/southeastern PA driven by very strong and highly anomalous SSW LLJ. This area will need to be monitored for water issues through 12Z. No changes to NPW headlines wind advisory/high wind warning. Several gusts over 35 mph so far with a couple 40+ mph at KJST/K2G9 in the last hour. Higher terrain more susceptible to strong gusts early this morning but strong gap winds are also possible. As a strong cold front crosses the region later this morning through mid afternoon, wind gust direction will turn more to the west-southwest. 3hr sfc pressure rises of nearly 10mb and strong CAA across western PA will help to mix down wind gusts as high as 60 mph. A very strong shear/modest CAPE environment remains forecast ahead of the aforementioned cold front. Hires guidance shows cloud breaks/dry slot reaching south central PA between ~15-20Z which should be sufficient to realize 500-1000+ J/kg of MUcape shown on the HREF mean. This would result in a significant risk of organized severe weather with fast-moving cells and bowing line segments capable of damaging winds (primary tstm hazard) but also pose a tornado threat with any sfc based storms. SPC has maintained its categorical SLGT risk SWO including tornado probs of 5% over the eastern 2/3 of the CWA. Max temps will likely reach the L70s across the Lower Susquehanna Valley during the early afternoon and will peak in the 60s elsewhere. Temps will fall sharply across the NW half of the CWA and into the 40s-L50s by late afternoon in the wake of the cold front. && .SHORT TERM /4 PM THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH 6 PM TUESDAY/... Severe threat will clear the area by late afternoon as cold front sweeps east of the area. Strong winds will continue to impact the area through the evening before subsiding tonight. Expect at least partial clearing over the southeast early tonight before mid clouds increase into Tuesday ahead of mid level shortwave over the Ohio Valley. This wave along with confluent 700mb flow should produce an area of light QPF in far south central PA to the north of the WV/MD panhandles. Highs Tuesday will be 20 degrees colder than Monday and 10-15 degrees below average. && .LONG TERM /TUESDAY NIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY/... Below normal temperatures will persist through the remainder of the week. A weak disturbance is expected to brush southern PA with a period of light rain or wet snow Tuesday evening into early Wednesday. Another weak disturbance could bring some light rain or snow showers across primarily northern and western PA late Wed into early Thurs. Medium range guidance projects a more substantial area of low pressure impacting the region Friday or Saturday, although there are some timing differences between models. && .AVIATION /15Z MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/... A several hour period of widespread +SHRA with scattered TSRA G45KT will occur between 15Z-16Z at the SW PA airfields to 16Z- 17Z Central PA TAF sites, and 17-19Z near and to the east of a KIPT-KSEG-KMDT line. Will maintain a strong weighting twd MVFR CIGS this afternoon with brief IFR Cigs and Vsbys in the heavier Showers and TSRA. Previous... For the 12Z TAFS, been watching for more hints of high winds, such as pressure falls and gravity waves. Other than AOO earlier, have not seen anything the last few hours, but covering back side of heavier showers near the MD border with special weather statements. The main thing will be LLWS until we get a wind shift. More info below. Minor adjustments to the TAF package as of 520 AM. Strongest winds to the west and southwest so far. LWX radar would make one think the southeast area would be more an issue, but so far, not seeing much. Perhaps some weak gravity waves on the back side of the showers at times. Main thing early on will be LLWS. More information below. Not a lot of change for the 06Z TAF package. Main thing was to limit the mention of thunder to a shorter time frame. Timing looked to be good. Also added some more detail later on in time. Sunday evening discussion below. Rain showers will overspread from southwest to northeast overnight. Prevailing MVFR conditions are expected with the best possibility of IFR at AOO, UNV, and the southeastern airfields before daybreak. Gusty winds out of the south and an approaching cold front will keep LLWS a threat through the morning on Monday. Potential for a line of severe thunderstorms accompanying the cold front between 10A and 2P on Monday. Have attempted to time out cold front and passage of storms in TAfs. Strong southerly gradient winds gusting up to 40 kts at times across the higher terrain and downwind (north) of the ridges will transition into strong WSW post cold frontal winds Monday (late morning west and early afternoon east) Tue-Wed...Increasing chance for rain/snow Tue night-Wed. Thu...Still a chance of rain and snow showers across the north and west. Fri...Rain possible with reduced cigs areawide. && .CTP WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Wind Advisory until 8 PM EDT this evening for PAZ006-011-012- 018-019-025>028-034>037-041-042-045-046-049>053-056>059- 063>066. High Wind Warning until 8 PM EDT this evening for PAZ004-005- 010-017-024-033. && SYNOPSIS...Lambert/Steinbugl NEAR TERM...Lambert/Steinbugl SHORT TERM...Steinbugl LONG TERM...Evanego AVIATION...Lambert/Martin
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service State College PA 1140 AM EDT Mon Apr 13 2020 PAZ004-005-010-141545- Warren-McKean-Elk- 1140 AM EDT Mon Apr 13 2020 ...HIGH WIND WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 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. High Wind Warning. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday. The probability for widespread hazardous weather is low. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotters are encouraged to report significant hazardous weather. PAZ012-018-019-025>028-034>036-041-042-045-046-049>053-056>059- 063>066-141545- Northern Clinton-Northern Centre-Southern Centre-Blair-Huntingdon- Mifflin-Juniata-Bedford-Fulton-Franklin-Northern Lycoming-Sullivan- Southern Clinton-Southern Lycoming-Union-Snyder-Montour- Northumberland-Columbia-Perry-Dauphin-Schuylkill-Lebanon-Cumberland- Adams-York-Lancaster- 1140 AM EDT Mon Apr 13 2020 ...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING... ...TORNADO WATCH 119 IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 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. Tornado Watch. Wind Advisory. Locally heavy rain is also possible and could result in isolated minor flooding. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday. No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotters are encouraged to report significant hazardous weather. PAZ006-011-037-141545- Potter-Cameron-Tioga- 1140 AM EDT Mon Apr 13 2020 ...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 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. Wind Advisory. Locally heavy rain is also possible and could result in isolated minor flooding. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday. The probability for widespread hazardous weather is low. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotters are encouraged to report significant hazardous weather. PAZ024-033-141545- Cambria-Somerset- 1140 AM EDT Mon Apr 13 2020 ...HIGH WIND WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING... ...TORNADO WATCH 119 IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 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. High Wind Warning. Tornado Watch. Locally heavy rain is also possible and could result in isolated minor flooding. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday. The probability for widespread hazardous weather is low. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotters are encouraged to report significant hazardous weather. PAZ017-141545- Clearfield- 1140 AM EDT Mon Apr 13 2020 ...HIGH WIND WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 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. High Wind Warning. Locally heavy rain is also possible and could result in isolated minor flooding. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday. The probability for widespread hazardous weather is low. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotters are encouraged to report significant hazardous weather.
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA
637 AM EDT MON APR 13 2020
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0432 AM NON-TSTM WND DMG 3 E STOYSTOWN 40.10N 78.90W
04/13/2020 SOMERSET PA 911 CALL CENTER
TREE AND WIRES DOWN, CAUSING A BRUSH FIRE.
&&
MRCPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA
638 AM EDT MON APR 13 2020
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0453 AM NON-TSTM WND DMG 1 NNE ROCKWOOD 39.93N 79.15W
04/13/2020 SOMERSET PA 911 CALL CENTER
TREE DOWN ON HOUSE.
&&
MRCPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA
639 AM EDT MON APR 13 2020
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0502 AM NON-TSTM WND DMG CENTRAL CITY 40.11N 78.80W
04/13/2020 SOMERSET PA 911 CALL CENTER
CAR PORT FLIPPED.
&&
MRCSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service State College PA
645 AM EDT Mon Apr 13 2020
PAZ036-064-065-131130-
York PA-Adams PA-Franklin PA-
645 AM EDT Mon Apr 13 2020
...SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT FOR PARTS OF ADAMS...YORK...AND FRANKLIN
COUNTIES UNTIL 730 AM EDT...
At 644 AM EDT, Doppler radar indicated a shower 7 miles northwest of
Martinsburg, moving northeast at 50 mph.
Wind gusts of up to 55 mph are possible.
Locations impacted include...
Chambersburg, Hanover, Weigelstown, Waynesboro, Gettysburg,
Parkville, Greencastle, Hampton, Guilford, Shiloh, Littlestown,
Carroll Valley, Shrewsbury, Codorus, Fayetteville, McSherrystown,
Lake Meade, Wayne Heights, Spring Grove and Glen Rock.
This includes the following COVID-19 Test Sites...
WellSpan Health...
and WellSpan Health .
LAT...LON 3973 7796 3988 7790 3998 7746 3995 7746
3999 7741 4003 7719 4011 7688 3972 7666
TIME...MOT...LOC 1044Z 239DEG 82KT 3955 7805
MartinPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA
649 AM EDT MON APR 13 2020
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0514 AM NON-TSTM WND GST 1 SSE MARTINSBURG 40.30N 78.32W
04/13/2020 M62 MPH BLAIR PA ASOS
ASOS STATION KAOO ALTOONA AIRPORT.
&&
MRCSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service State College PA
732 AM EDT Mon Apr 13 2020
PAZ057-059-063>066-131215-
York PA-Lancaster PA-Adams PA-Cumberland PA-Lebanon PA-Dauphin PA-
732 AM EDT Mon Apr 13 2020
...SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT FOR PARTS OF LANCASTER...ADAMS...YORK...
DAUPHIN...CUMBERLAND...AND LEBANON COUNTIES UNTIL 815 AM EDT...
At 731 AM EDT, Doppler radar indicated a shower over Hanover, moving
northeast at 50 mph.
Wind gusts 40 to 50 mph are possible.
Locations impacted include...
Lancaster, York, Hanover, Ephrata, Weigelstown, Elizabethtown,
Columbia, Lititz, Middletown, Millersville, Willow Street, Mount Joy,
Parkville, Red Lion, Steelton, New Holland, Spry, Manheim, East
Petersburg and Cornwall.
This includes the following COVID-19 Test Sites...
Pennsylvania College of Health Sciences...
UPMC...
WellSpan Health...
Wellspan Family Medicine...
and York Expo Center.
LAT...LON 4016 7715 4031 7614 4016 7591 4012 7591
4010 7594 4004 7594 3996 7599 3987 7599
3985 7602 3981 7603 3973 7610 3974 7611
3972 7614 3972 7718
TIME...MOT...LOC 1131Z 256DEG 63KT 3982 7697
MartinThe Pittsburgh radar (KPBZ), 108 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 16:14 UTC.
23 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
A severe thunderstorm producing winds estimated near 60 mph knocked down trees and wires near Zimmerman.
A severe thunderstorm producing winds estimated near 60 mph knocked down numerous trees and wires around Stoystown.
A severe thunderstorm producing winds estimated near 60 mph knocked down trees and wires near Friedens.
A severe thunderstorm producing winds estimated near 60 mph knocked down trees in East Conemaugh and Franklin Borough.
A severe thunderstorm producing winds estimated near 60 mph knocked down trees on wires in Beaverdale.
A severe thunderstorm producing winds estimated near 60 mph knocked down trees on wires near Almaden.
A severe thunderstorm producing winds estimated near 60 mph knocked down trees in Waynesboro.
A severe thunderstorm producing winds estimated near 60 mph knocked down trees on Mattern Road in Frankstown Township.
A severe thunderstorm producing winds estimated near 60 mph knocked down trees and wires on Mentzer Gap Road east of Waynesboro.
A severe thunderstorm producing winds estimated near 60 mph knocked down trees onto wires near the Fort Roberdeau Historical Site.
A severe thunderstorm producing winds estimated near 60 mph knocked down trees along Lyons Road south of Waynesboro.
A severe thunderstorm producing winds estimated near 60 mph knocked down trees and wires east of Quarryville.
A severe thunderstorm producing winds estimated near 60 mph knocked down trees onto wires in Port Matilda.
A severe thunderstorm produced a 61 mph wind gust measured by a personal weather station west of Gettysburg. A large solid wooden picnic table was blown across the property.
A severe thunderstorm producing winds estimated near 60 mph knocked down trees onto Egypt Hollow Road west of Wingate.
A severe thunderstorm producing winds estimated near 60 mph knocked down trees and wires across South Harrison Road in Pleasant Gap.
A severe thunderstorm producing winds estimated near 60 mph knocked down a tree across Fish and Game Road near Quail Court in Germany Township.
A severe thunderstorm producing winds estimated near 60 mph knocked down trees and wires at Wallace Street and North East Street in York.
A severe thunderstorm producing winds estimated near 60 mph knocked down trees and wires on Williams Road near Ridgewood Road north of Yorklyn.
A severe thunderstorm producing winds estimated near 60 mph knocked down trees and wires in Middleburg.
A severe thunderstorm producing winds estimated near 60 mph knocked down a couple of trees along Globe Mills Road in Middlecreek Township.
A severe thunderstorm producing winds estimated near 60 mph knocked down trees and wires north of Montoursville.
A severe thunderstorm producing winds estimated near 60 mph knocked down trees and wires in New Providence.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Pennsylvania in 2020Every state in 2020This day in weather historyWarnings in Pennsylvania, April 2020
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: 884693, 884694, 884695, 884696, 884697, 884698, 884699, 884700, 884701, 884702, 884703, 884704, 884705, 884715, 884706, 884707, 884708, 884709, 884710, 884711, 884712, 884713, 884714.