Strong winds were observed across central Pennsylvania on April 11, 2024, as an area of low pressure rapidly intensified as it moved from the Ohio Valley into the eastern Great Lakes.
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The episode as NWS CTP wrote it up.
Strong winds were observed across central Pennsylvania on April 11, 2024, as an area of low pressure rapidly intensified as it moved from the Ohio Valley into the eastern Great Lakes.
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 11, 7:44 PM EST, 2 hours 15 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service State College PA 844 PM EDT Thu Apr 11 2024 .SYNOPSIS... -Periods of locally heavy rain moving quickly across the area this evening through tonight; southeast wind gusts up to 45 mph -Remaining windy Friday-Saturday with gusts 40+ mph and showers ending by Saturday night; max/min temps cooling down by 10-15F -Showers return on Sunday; temperatures trending above average && .NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 AM FRIDAY MORNING/... Radar loop at 00Z shows a dry slot working into South-Central PA. The latest HRRR, which is performing well in this strongly-forced event, indicates the band of moderate rain over the N Mtns will shift into NY state by 01Z, but abundant low level moisture and upsloping southeast flow will result in continuing light rain/drizzle. The focus for later tonight remains on the possibility of locally strong to severe convection associated with increasing large scale forcing ahead of a deepening mid level trough over the Midwest. Favorable upper jet dynamics, and anomalous pwats (+2-3SD) driven northward into CPA by a southerly 50+kt 850mb jet should result in increasing coverage of showers, as stability decreases ahead of the approaching cold front. The convective environment will be characterized by high shear and low CAPE, but given the magnitude of the low level flow it's conceivable that even with meager instability that we could see an isolated wind gust of 50-60 mph. The latest RAP indicates surface-based CAPE peaking around 300 J/kg across the southeast half of the forecast area late tonight, in conjunction with ESRH values near 300, which could be supportive of rotating updrafts and low-topped supercells. As for the flooding threat, strong flow aloft and quick movement of convection will limit the flood threat in general and precludes watch issuance at this time. However, wet antecedent conditions make isolated minor flooding a possibility, especially over the central mountains, where FFG values are the lowest. Ensemble mean qpf through tonight is generally between 0.5 and 1.5 inches. && .SHORT TERM /6 AM FRIDAY MORNING THROUGH SUNDAY/... WINDY FRIDAY-SATURDAY: The deep upper level trough/closed low carved out from the eastern Great Lakes into the southeast U.S. on Friday will lift out over the weekend. Large scale forcing associated with the upper low combined with the arrival of sub zero air at 850mb, steepening lapse rates, and a blustery west wind will result in considerable shower activity Friday into early Saturday. Showers on Friday appear to be more instability driven, while lingering showers early Saturday are more orographically enhanced. Temps look cold enough for rain/snow mix over the NW mtns Friday night-AM Saturday with a coating possible on non paved surfaces. Gusty west-southwest winds are anticipated in the tight gradient behind the exiting cold front Friday. However, the stronger signal for advisory level wind gusts comes Saturday, as large scale subsidence overspreads the region behind the exiting trough. Bufkit soundings and EPS plumes indicate 40kt+ gusts are possible during the late morning into the afternoon. Gusty winds should gradually fade by Saturday night along with lingering showers over the Allegheny Plateau. Conditions dry out Saturday night into early Sunday before POPs ramp up again from northwest to southeast ahead of a cold front pushing Southeast from the Great Lakes Sunday afternoon/evening. After a noticeably cool down Fri-Sat with gusty winds, expect a nice warm up to end the weekend with highs rebounding +10-15F into the 60-75F range. && .LONG TERM /SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY/... A cold front associated with a shortwave passing to our north will lead to the possibility of some light rain and possibly a thunderstorm into Monday morning. This front will then move back of the area in the Tuesday/Wednesday time frame as a warm front and will provide another chance for some light rain. All guidance suggests that this rainfall will be light and will not lead to any additional flooding concerns. Ensembles currently support above average temps Sunday into the middle of next week. EPS mean 850mb temps surge to around 12-13C by Tue/Wed, sufficient for highs in the 75-80F range given enough sun. && .AVIATION /01Z FRIDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/... Conditions will gradually deteriorate into the evening as showers and thunderstorms work their way in from the south and west. At least a few hours of IFR conditions are expected for all of central PA overnight. A few rumbles of thunder are possible with the heaviest rain showers, but instability is marginal. A LLJ will intensify over central PA through the first half of tonight. The low levels are stable enough that there have been some periods of sfc wind gusts 20-30 kts, but other periods where gusts have subsided. LLWS will be a concern during periods of lighter sfc winds. Higher gusts will be possible in any thunderstorms overnight, especially for western airfields. Winds will shift to the west- southwest behind a cold front early tomorrow morning and remain gusty into the afternoon. Most guidance shows ceilings gradually improving into the early afternoon Friday (MVFR in the west, VFR in the east). More stratiform precip is expected farther north and west towards BFD. As colder air moves in after 00z Sat, rain will turn to snow across the west and north. Outlook... Sat...Scattered showers with sub-VFR possible over the western airfields (KBFD and KJST). A gusty west wind continues. Sun...Mainly VFR, but a chance of late day showers/thunderstorms and brief restrictions. Mon-Tue...A few lingering showers across the west. && .CTP WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None. && SYNOPSIS...Steinbugl NEAR TERM...Fitzgerald/Steinbugl SHORT TERM...Fitzgerald/Steinbugl LONG TERM...Fitzgerald/Bauco AVIATION...Colbert/Bauco
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service State College PA 741 PM EDT Thu Apr 11 2024 PAZ004>006-010>012-017>019-024>028-033>037-041-045-046-049>052- 056>059-063>066-122345- Warren-McKean-Potter-Elk-Cameron-Northern Clinton-Clearfield- Northern Centre-Southern Centre-Cambria-Blair-Huntingdon-Mifflin- Juniata-Somerset-Bedford-Fulton-Franklin-Tioga-Northern Lycoming- Southern Clinton-Southern Lycoming-Union-Snyder-Montour- Northumberland-Perry-Dauphin-Schuylkill-Lebanon-Cumberland-Adams- York-Lancaster- 741 PM EDT Thu Apr 11 2024 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for central Pennsylvania. .DAY ONE...Tonight. A few strong thunderstorms with gusty winds and minor flooding are possible late tonight. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday. Westerly wind gusts up to 45 mph may cause isolated tree damage and localized power outages Saturday. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time. PAZ042-053-122345- Sullivan-Columbia- 741 PM EDT Thu Apr 11 2024 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for central Pennsylvania. .DAY ONE...Tonight. Locally heavy rain may result in isolated urban, small stream and poor drainage flooding late tonight. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday. Wind gusts up to 45 mph may cause isolated tree damage and localized power outages Saturday. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotters are encouraged to report significant hazardous weather.
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
1 strong wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Breezy winds estimated 40-45 mph coupled with saturated ground in Blacklick Township knocked down live wires onto U.S. Route 422 between Station Road and Cardiff Road.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Pennsylvania in 2024Every state in 2024This day in weather historyWarnings in Pennsylvania, April 2024
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: 1165688.