A cold front swept through Northeastern Pennsylvania, kicking off numerous thunderstorms. An unstable environment supported a severe thunderstorm that contained damaging wind gusts and large 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 BGM wrote it up.
A cold front swept through Northeastern Pennsylvania, kicking off numerous thunderstorms. An unstable environment supported a severe thunderstorm that contained damaging wind gusts and large hail. There were a couple reports of 1+ inch sized 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 Binghamton, NY wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Aug 4, 12:41 PM EST, 33 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Binghamton NY 141 PM EDT Fri Aug 4 2023 .SYNOPSIS... An approaching cold front will bring additional showers and thunderstorms into ths evening. Some of these storms may become strong to severe. Dry weather then moves in for the weekend, before additional showers and thunderstorms are possible on Monday. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH SATURDAY/... 100 PM Update... Updated to adjust POPs and thunder as the comvection evolves on radar. Overall forecast has been decent just needed some tweaks. Added severe winds and hail based on watch box that is in effect for our whole forecast area. 915 AM Update: Updated near term grids to reflect ongoing showers and thunderstorms in central NY which have formed a little earlier than anticipated. SPC mesoanalysis shows MLCAPE around 1000 J/kg and 0-6 km shear of around 40 knots in central NY. Short wave and associated mid-level jet streak was moving southeast from the Great Lakes. This mid level jet streak will be the impetus to push a cold front through central NY and northeast PA late this afternoon into the evening. This front will be moving through an environment that is destablizing with MLCAPEs projected to reach between 1500 to 2000 J/kg as per SPC RAP forecasts. 0-6 km wind shear is projected to be around 35-40 knots too as the mid-level jet streak moves through. This likely will lead to continued thunderstorm development this afternoon and into the evening ahead of the front. SPC slight risk for SVR over most of our area looks on track. 700 AM Update: A deepening upper level trough and associated cold front will move through the region today, which will spark an additional round of showers and thunderstorms. As the atmosphere destabilizes this afternoon, these thunderstorms will increase in coverage and slowly move southeastward ahead of the front. With relatively steep lapse rates, combined with CAPE in excess of 1000 J/kg and 25-30kts of bulk shear, some of these storms will have the potential to produce damaging winds. Heavy downpours are also possible. Before these afternoon showers and thunderstorms, conditions should actually be mainly dry this morning with just a few isolated showers. Highs are expected to be in the mid 70s to lower 80s, with afternoon convection likely limiting highs a bit. Showers and thunderstorms will quickly diminish this evening and there will be some clearing overnight behind the front. Patchy fog will be possible, especially in the valleys. Lows will be in the mid 50s to near 60. High pressure will be in control of our weather for Saturday, which will result in a dry day with mostly sunny skies. Dew points will be dropping into the 50s for most of the area, so it will be less humid as well. High temperatures are expected to be in the mid 70s to near 80. && .SHORT TERM /SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY NIGHT/... 458 AM Update Quiet and pleasant summer weather looks to prevail for Saturday night, right into the second half of the weekend as a surface high builds over the region. Temperatures will be seasonably warm, with lows in the 50s Saturday night, and highs reaching 80-85 Sunday afternoon. Humidity levels look to stay rather low, with dew points in the 50s to around 60 in the afternoon. Model guidance is trending slower with the next system, so skies look to remain mostly sunny. Clouds gradually increase Sunday night as a low deepens across the central Great Lakes. Most of the shower activity looks to hold off, with generally dry conditions continuing overnight. Southeast winds begin increasing after midnight, reaching 8-15 mph with gusts 20-25 mph before daybreak. These increasing clouds and breezy conditions will keep overnight lows milder, only dipping down into the 60s. Will need to keep a close eye on Monday, as a rather potent low moves from the Central Great Lakes east into the St Lawrence valley. At 500mb a deep, slightly negatively tilted trough swings toward western NY in the afternoon. A surface warm front is progged to lift well off to our north into southern Canada during the afternoon, as a cold front slowly presses east across NY and PA. Southerly flow increases ahead of the front, with the latest 00z GFS advertising an increasing low level jet of around 35-40 kts at 850mb. This will bring increasing moisture and instability to our area, with pwats potentially reaching 1.8 to 2.0 inches and MLCAPE could exceed 1000 J/Kg if there is enough daytime boundary layer heating. Deep layer shear continue to look sufficient for organized convection to develop, and SPC has highlighted our area in a 15% day 5 severe thunderstorm outlook, with damaging winds the greatest concerns. Exact details such as timing, and how unstable we ultimately get remain somewhat uncertain. The cold front looks to move through sometime Monday evening or Monday night, with PoPs decreasing quickly from west to east overnight. Outside of the showers and thunderstorms, Monday is forecast to be partly sunny, warm and more humid with highs in the upper 70s to lower 80s and dew points reaching the upper 60s to low 70s. Monday night is mild and still muggy with lows in the mid-60s. && .LONG TERM /TUESDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/... 458 AM Update Model difference remain on Tuesday, with the GFS showing lingering troughing with associated showers over the area. Meanwhile the 00z ECMWF quickly lifts the low/trough north up toward Hudson Bay, with a zonal 500mb flow over the area and dry mid level air overhead. With the differences in the deterministic guidance, decided to keep the official forecast in line with the blended guidance (NBM) which gave decreasing clouds through the day on Tuesday, but still chance PoPs for showers and isolated thunderstorms. Temperatures remain seasonable, with highs in the mid-70s to lower 80s. Wednesday continues to look mainly dry, with a zonal westerly flow aloft over the area. Cannot rule out a stray shower or storm in the afternoon, but overall its shaping up to mostly sunny and warm. The next upper level trough and frontal system begins developing over the Central Great Lakes on Thursday, moving east toward our CWA late in the day and right into next Friday. Again continued to use the NBM guidance for the official forecast considering the minor timing and spatial differnces in the deterministic guidance. This brought chance PoPs for showers and thunderstorms back into CNY and NE PA Thursday afternoon, evening and especially by Friday. Temperatures remains very consistent, with highs in the upper 70s to mid-80s and lows in the upper 50s to low 60s...which is close, or slightly above average for this time of year. && .AVIATION /18Z FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/... Overall our northern terminals and KELM are VFR as the storms have passed to the south. We expect cumulus clouds to fade off in these areas after sunset. Farther south from KBGM to KAVP we have passing thunderstorms in tempo groups that bring conditions down to at least IFR in thunderstorms for 1 to 3 hours before 23z. We expect these storms to pass by 19-20z at KBGM and the latest by 23z at KAVP. Once the storms pass we expect VFR conditions. But we are confident that widespread valley fog will form leading to IFR conditions after 4-6z at KELM and even some IFR fog at KBGM around 12z. After the fog lifts around 13-14z, we expect some VFR cumulus. Confidence is high for IFR at KELM from around 4z-14z. Uncertainty exists on if airport minimums are reached for a lengthy period of time. Right now we have tempo groups at KELM between 08z and 12z for airport mins. Winds will be westerly up to 10 knots most terminals before sunset and then go fairly calm overnight. For Saturday morning, we expect northwest winds under 10 knots. Outlook... Saturday afternoon through Sunday...mainly VFR, except restrictions in early morning valley fog at KELM. Monday and Tuesday...chance of showers/thunderstorms and associated restrictions. Wednesday...VFR. && .BGM WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... PA...None. NY...None. && SYNOPSIS...BJG/DJN NEAR TERM...BJG/DJN SHORT TERM...MJM LONG TERM...MJM AVIATION...DJN
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Binghamton NY 1216 PM EDT Fri Aug 4 2023 NYZ009-015>018-022>025-036-037-044>046-055>057-062-PAZ038>040-043- 044-047-048-072-051630- Northern Oneida-Yates-Seneca-Southern Cayuga-Onondaga-Steuben- Schuyler-Chemung-Tompkins-Madison-Southern Oneida-Cortland-Chenango- Otsego-Tioga-Broome-Delaware-Sullivan-Bradford-Susquehanna- Northern Wayne-Wyoming-Lackawanna-Luzerne-Pike-Southern Wayne- 1216 PM EDT Fri Aug 4 2023 ...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 584 IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for central New York and northeast Pennsylvania. .DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the Internet for more information about the following hazards. Severe Thunderstorm Watch. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday. Scattered strong to severe thunderstorms are possible Monday into Monday night. Some of these storms will have the potential to produce gusty winds and hail. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation will likely be needed. Please relay any information about severe weather to the NWS.
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Binghamton NY
144 PM EDT Fri Aug 4 2023
NYZ037-041815-
Southern Oneida NY-
144 PM EDT Fri Aug 4 2023
...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of southeastern Oneida
County through 215 PM EDT...
At 144 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Utica, moving east at 5 mph.
HAZARD...Winds in excess of 30 mph and penny size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is
possible.
Locations impacted include...
Utica, Deerfield, New York Mills, Yorkville, New Hartford, Chadwicks
and Sauquoit.
This includes the following highway exits...
Interstate 90 near 31.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 800 PM EDT for
central New York.
&&
LAT...LON 4305 7522 4297 7521 4303 7534 4310 7533
4314 7514
TIME...MOT...LOC 1744Z 280DEG 6KT 4305 7523
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.75 IN
MAX WIND GUST...30 MPH
BTLSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Binghamton NY
151 PM EDT Fri Aug 4 2023
NYZ057-041815-
Delaware NY-
151 PM EDT Fri Aug 4 2023
...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of east central
Delaware County through 215 PM EDT...
At 151 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Roxbury, or 13 miles east of Delhi, moving east at 30 mph.
HAZARD...Winds in excess of 30 mph and half inch hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is
possible.
Locations impacted include...
Roxbury, Halcottsville and New Kingston.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 800 PM EDT for
central New York.
&&
LAT...LON 4221 7453 4220 7453 4217 7446 4218 7468
4226 7472 4239 7452 4237 7448 4235 7443
TIME...MOT...LOC 1751Z 250DEG 26KT 4224 7466
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.50 IN
MAX WIND GUST...30 MPH
BTLSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Binghamton NY
153 PM EDT Fri Aug 4 2023
NYZ045-055-056-041830-
Chenango NY-Tioga NY-Broome NY-
153 PM EDT Fri Aug 4 2023
...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of northwestern Broome,
east central Tioga and southwestern Chenango Counties through 230 PM
EDT...
At 153 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Nanticoke, or near Greater Binghamton Airport, moving east at 30 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph and half inch hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is
possible.
Locations impacted include...
Nanticoke, Greene, Whitney Point, Lisle, Greater Binghamton Airport,
Sanitaria Springs, Chenango Forks, Chenango Bridge, Castle Creek and
Chenango Valley State Park.
This includes the following highway exits...
New York Interstate 81 between 6 and 8.
Interstate 88 between 2 and 4.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 800 PM EDT for
central New York.
&&
LAT...LON 4225 7617 4236 7614 4232 7568 4212 7574
TIME...MOT...LOC 1753Z 281DEG 26KT 4228 7604
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.50 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
KLSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Binghamton NY
158 PM EDT Fri Aug 4 2023
NYZ055-056-PAZ038-039-041830-
Tioga NY-Broome NY-Susquehanna PA-Bradford PA-
158 PM EDT Fri Aug 4 2023
...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of southwestern Broome,
southeastern Tioga, northwestern Susquehanna and northeastern
Bradford Counties through 230 PM EDT...
At 158 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Apalachin, or near Owego, moving east at 30 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph and half inch hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is
possible.
Locations impacted include...
Binghamton, Vestal, Johnson City, Endicott, Owego, Windham, Nichols,
Little Meadows, Friendsville and Apalachin.
This includes the following highway exits...
Interstate 86/Route 17 between 63 and 69.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 800 PM EDT for
central New York...and northeastern Pennsylvania.
&&
LAT...LON 4199 7638 4214 7632 4211 7594 4187 7602
TIME...MOT...LOC 1758Z 285DEG 27KT 4203 7620
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.50 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
KLSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Binghamton NY
209 PM EDT Fri Aug 4 2023
NYZ057-041845-
Delaware NY-
209 PM EDT Fri Aug 4 2023
...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of east central
Delaware County through 245 PM EDT...
At 209 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Margaretville, or 18 miles southeast of Delhi, moving east at 25 mph.
HAZARD...Winds in excess of 30 mph and pea size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is
possible.
Locations impacted include...
Margaretville, Fleischmanns, Arkville and Dunraven.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 800 PM EDT for
central New York.
&&
LAT...LON 4216 7448 4215 7450 4215 7453 4213 7454
4206 7468 4216 7472 4220 7453 4217 7446
4216 7446
TIME...MOT...LOC 1809Z 276DEG 24KT 4211 7464
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...30 MPH
BTLSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Binghamton NY
210 PM EDT Fri Aug 4 2023
PAZ038-041845-
Bradford PA-
210 PM EDT Fri Aug 4 2023
...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of western Bradford
County through 245 PM EDT...
At 209 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Ridgebury, or 8 miles southwest of Chemung, moving southeast at 25
mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph and half inch hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is
possible.
Locations impacted include...
Athens, Towanda, Ridgebury, West Franklin, Troy, Sheshequin, Ulster,
North Towanda, Springfield and West Burlington.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
This storm 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.
A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 800 PM EDT for
central New York...and northeastern Pennsylvania.
&&
LAT...LON 4191 7691 4201 7670 4200 7663 4185 7633
4164 7666
TIME...MOT...LOC 1809Z 312DEG 20KT 4191 7672
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.50 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
KLThe Binghamton radar (KBGM), 25 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 18:12 UTC.
2 hail, 1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Strong thunderstorm winds knocked down multiple trees.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Pennsylvania in 2023Every state in 2023This day in weather historyWarnings in Pennsylvania, August 2023
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: 1121029, 1121030, 1121031.