A line of thunderstorms pushed southeastward fro the Great Lakes into a strong shear, moderate (but diminishing) CAPE environment over western Pennsylvania during the late evening hours of April 7, 2020. These storms managed to produce isolated wind damage in Warren and Huntingdon counties, with a bit more widespread wind damage in the Laurel Highlands (Cambria and Somerset counties).
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 thunderstorms pushed southeastward fro the Great Lakes into a strong shear, moderate (but diminishing) CAPE environment over western Pennsylvania during the late evening hours of April 7, 2020. These storms managed to produce isolated wind damage in Warren and Huntingdon counties, with a bit more widespread wind damage in the Laurel Highlands (Cambria and Somerset counties).
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 7, 9:32 PM EST, 1 hour 23 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service State College PA 1032 PM EDT Tue Apr 7 2020 .SYNOPSIS... Low pressure over the upper midwest will track across northern Pennsylvania tonight, then high pressure will build into the state Wednesday. A potent cold front will sweep through the area Thursday morning, followed by an upper level trough lingering over the the northeast conus into the first part of next weekend. && .NEAR TERM /UNTIL 7 AM WEDNESDAY MORNING/... Steep midlevel lapse rates and PW surging over 1" in a nose from the Ohio Valley into NW PA are now fueling scattered showers and thunderstorms over my northwest counties. Weakening trend noted from the Fingerlakes region ESE, but still some strong updrafts and hail cores to be had farther southwest, namely Crawford County where a SVR is in effect for a decent hail core. Almost all severe reports upstream (MI) tonight were hail reports, but as time wears on cells have started to take on linear shape and wind gusts could become the favored mode. Elevated instability remains in play over much of central and western PA overnight, and it looks like activity could go most of the overnight as strong shortwave trough and associated sfc low track ESE across PA. Showers will become widespread with scattered mainly elevated storms expected. Some storms along and west of the Alleghenies may be capable of strong gusty winds and will be watched. Laurel Highlands has an elevated threat of strong to locally severe storms given strong mid level winds overnight, with the risk lowering to the north and east. Convection- allowing models still indicate the risk of reaching FFG/FFH numbers are low, so believe the current risk of flooding is low. && .SHORT TERM /7 AM WEDNESDAY MORNING THROUGH 6 PM WEDNESDAY/... Lingering showers will remain possible Wednesday morning associated with departing low pressure, then expect clearing skies by afternoon, as high pressure builds in from the Grt Lks. Model 850mb temperatures averaging around 8C support highs from the upper 50s over the northwest mountains, to the low 70s across the Lower Susq Valley. && .LONG TERM /WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY/... Active weather pattern through much of the extended. First up will be a deepening trough over the NE U.S. that will be accompanied by a potent cold frontal passage early Thursday. this may bring s few gusty thunderstorms over the Lower Susq and will produce widespread rain showers CWA-wide. Behind the front, strong pressure gradient and a surge of colder air will bring brisk winds (30-40 mph gusts) and chilly temperatures (much below normal) for early to mid-April, with temperatures remaining steady or slowly falling Thursday for the Central and Northern Mountains and Laurel Highlands. On Friday, highs will struggle to get out of the 30s for the northern mountains and Alleghenies as breezy conditions continue, with some wet snow accumulations up to an inch likely Thu night into Fri. If clearing skies develop quickly enough Friday night across the Susquehanna Valley (and chances are strong), and the wind becomes light enough, frost would become likely as temps dip close to 32F and maybe even briefly reach freeze conditions. This is another forecast aspect we'll be monitoring closely this week. Temperatures should begin to moderate a bit by Sunday with weak ridge sliding over the region. But trough regenerates for early next week, and looks to pick up a developing system in the southern stream, lifting it toward PA for Mon bringing milder temps but a high probability for rain. That will be followed by yet another potent shot of colder air for midweek, pushing temperatures back below normal and reintroducing a chance for wet snow to the NW portion of CWA. && .AVIATION /03Z WEDNESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/... Second round of organized showers and thunderstorms late tonight into early Wednesday morning dropping southeast across the airspace. There may also be a brief period of marginal LLWS but not mention attm. Still expect cigs to trend lower through tonight with low to sub-VFR likely by the end of the 07/12Z TAF period. Added LLWS into western most TAF sites at this point. May need to expand inclusion eastward with time. .Outlook... Wed...Showers/low cigs early followed by drying/improving trend. Thurs...Widespread showers/isold T'storm poss. CFROPA. Gusty winds 25-35kt from 250-280 degrees. Fri...Low cigs/rain/snow showers likely NW 1/2. Gusty winds 25-35kt from 270-300 degrees subsiding Friday night. Sat...Low cigs psbl early then trending VFR. Light rain showers psbl late. Sun...VFR early. Chance rain showers by aftn. Strong/gusty southerly winds psbl Sunday afternoon depending on track/development of sfc low forecast to move east from the Mississippi Valley. && .CTP WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None. && SYNOPSIS...Fitzgerald NEAR TERM...DeVoir/Gartner SHORT TERM...Fitzgerald/Gartner LONG TERM...Jurewicz/RXR AVIATION...DeVoir/Gartner
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service State College PA 530 AM EDT Tue Apr 7 2020 PAZ004>006-010>012-017>019-037-041-042-045-046-049>053-058-080930- Warren-McKean-Potter-Elk-Cameron-Northern Clinton-Clearfield- Northern Centre-Southern Centre-Tioga-Northern Lycoming-Sullivan- Southern Clinton-Southern Lycoming-Union-Snyder-Montour- Northumberland-Columbia-Schuylkill- 530 AM EDT Tue Apr 7 2020 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...Wednesday through Monday. Gusty west to northwest winds up to 40 mph will occur Thursday afternoon. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time. PAZ024>028-033>035-056-080930- Cambria-Blair-Huntingdon-Mifflin-Juniata-Somerset-Bedford-Fulton- Perry- 530 AM EDT Tue Apr 7 2020 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for central Pennsylvania. .DAY ONE...Today and tonight. A few strong to severe thunderstorms, with gusty winds and hail, are possible late today or tonight, mainly across the Laurel Highlands. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday. Gusty west to northwest winds up to 40 mph will occur Thursday afternoon. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time. PAZ036-057-059-063>066-080930- Franklin-Dauphin-Lebanon-Cumberland-Adams-York-Lancaster- 530 AM EDT Tue Apr 7 2020 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for central Pennsylvania. .DAY ONE...Today and tonight. A few strong thunderstorms with gusty winds and small hail are possible tonight. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday. Gusty west to northwest winds up to 40 mph will occur Thursday afternoon. Cold temperatures Friday night may lead to frost or freeze conditions. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time.
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service State College PA
1056 PM EDT Tue Apr 7 2020
PAZ004-080415-
Warren PA-
1056 PM EDT Tue Apr 7 2020
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT PARTS OF WARREN COUNTY UNTIL
1215 AM EDT...
At 1054 PM EDT, Doppler radar indicated a strong thunderstorm near
Riceville, moving east at 40 mph.
Wind gusts 40 to 50 mph and dime size hail are possible.
Locations impacted include...
Warren, Sheffield, Columbus, Youngsville, Russell, Spring Creek,
Scandia, Lottsville, Grand Valley, Warren South, Garland, Kinzua Dam,
Chapman State Park, Tidioute, Sugar Grove, Starbrick, Clarendon and
Bear Lake.
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 4200 7892 4184 7891 4183 7892 4183 7895
4162 7896 4163 7961 4200 7960
TIME...MOT...LOC 0254Z 283DEG 35KT 4170 7979
Colbert/GDThe Buffalo radar (KBUF), 130 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 03:57 UTC.
12 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
A severe thunderstorm producing winds estimated near 80 mph destroyed a barn, knocked down at least a dozen trees, and damaged a home south of Lottsville.
A severe thunderstorm producing winds estimated near 60 mph knocked down a tree along Kinzua Road east of Warren.
A severe thunderstorm producing winds estimated near 60 mph knocked down trees and damaged the roof of a tavern.
A severe thunderstorm producing winds estimated near 60 mph knocked down several trees in Davidsville.
A severe thunderstorm producing winds estimated near 60 mph knocked down multiple trees on Grove Avenue in Johnstown.
A severe thunderstorm producing winds estimated near 60 mph knocked down a tree onto a house on Meadow Drive near Westmont.
A severe thunderstorm producing winds estimated near 60 mph knocked down multiple trees and wires on Center Avenue in Somerset.
A severe thunderstorm producing winds estimated near 60 mph knocked down multiple trees on Knogwood Road northwest of Casselman.
A severe thunderstorm producing winds estimated near 60 mph uprooted or snapped several large trees south of Rockwood.
A severe thunderstorm producing winds estimated near 60 mph produced damage to a roof and trees in New Buena Vista.
A severe thunderstorm producing winds estimated near 60 mph knocked down trees and wires in the Robertsdale area of southern Huntingdon County.
A severe thunderstorm producing winds estimated near 70 mph damaged a press box, bleachers, a scoreboard, sheds and fences at Meyersdale High School.
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: 884558, 884559, 884561, 884562, 884563, 884564, 884565, 884566, 884567, 884556, 884568, 884569.