A strong cold front stationed over western Pennsylvania during the early morning hours began moving eastward through the morning hours, exiting central Pennsylvania by the early afternoon hours. Strong wind gusts, generally observed to be between 35 to 45 mph occurred along the cold frontal passage, knocking down multiple trees in York County.
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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 stationed over western Pennsylvania during the early morning hours began moving eastward through the morning hours, exiting central Pennsylvania by the early afternoon hours. Strong wind gusts, generally observed to be between 35 to 45 mph occurred along the cold frontal passage, knocking down multiple trees in York County.
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 Mar 1, 8:51 AM EST, 2 hours 9 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service State College PA 851 AM EST Sat Mar 1 2025 .SYNOPSIS... *March coming in like a lion as strong cold front brings gusty winds, tumbling daytime temperatures, and snow showers *Brisk and cold for the remainder of the weekend; minimum wind chills between 10 above and 10 below zero tonight-AM Sunday *Spring-like warming trend precedes rain into next Wednesday followed by another cool down for late week && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/... Sfc cold front blasting through central PA here at mid morning. High temps have been reached across the central mountains, with temps tumbling from the 40s back through the 30s immediately behind the FROPA. Most southeast PA areas will see their highs before 18z as the front flies eastward. Strong cold advection in gusty post-frontal NW flow will bring lake effect and orographically enhanced snow showers to the Allegheny Plateau region through the afternoon with steepening lapse rates supporting at least some potential for a few locally heavy bands. The SNSQ parameter peak values appear to coincide with or just lag behind the arctic cold front. Snow showers continue this evening into tonight with hires models showing strong signal for multiple bands extending well inland to the southeast of Lake Erie with Huron connection. Snow amounts by 12Z Sunday range from C-1" fcst over the higher elevations across the northern and western Alleghenies to locally 1-2" of fluffy snow possible in the perennial LES snowbelts in the NW mtns and summits/ski resorts on the Laurel Mtn ridgetops in Somerset County. Gusty winds 30-45 mph will also increase in the wake of the CFROPA driven by deep BL mixing (via strong llvl CAA) and 3hr sfc pressure rises between 3-6mb. Max-min temp deltas are an impressive 20-30 degree swing over a 12-18hr time window. Low temps tonight will range from 10-20F or 5 to 10 degrees below the historical average. Winds will begin to trend lower tonight, but remain brisk and produce chills between 10 above and 10 below zero. A cold wx advisory is not expected at this time with bulk of lowest/coldest wind chills in the 0 to -5F bin. && .SHORT TERM /SUNDAY THROUGH MONDAY NIGHT/... Not as windy on Sunday - but the first weekend of March will end rather cold with most locations recording max temps at or below the freezing mark (mid 30s in the lower Susquehanna Valley). Low clouds will likely be stubborn across the Alleghenies with more sunshine found across the south central and southeastern portions of the forecast area. Sunday night is likely the one of the coldest nights until next winter with plenty of downside risk (toward sfc dewpoints) and fcst lows in the +single digits to mid teens. A cold start as temps bottom early Monday morning and rebound +5 to +12 degrees higher vs. Sunday. A milder return flow on the backside of departing high pressure begins a spring-like warmup into midweek with a series of higher lows starting Monday night trending +6 to +16 degrees warmer vs. Sunday night. && .LONG TERM /TUESDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/... Snow showers and flurries likely linger into Sunday morning especially over the northern tier. Low clouds are also likely to persist in the NW Alleghenies under the subsidence inversion. Max temps in the 20-35F range will be 10 to 20 degrees below the historical average for the start of March. Diminishing wind and clearing underneath the sfc high will make for a seasonably cold Sunday night/early Monday morning. We maintained lower min temps across the far north to account for efficient radiational cooling. Fcst lows in the single digits to mid teens are about 10 degrees below climo. Dry wx to start next week as high pressure slowing drifts to the east. Expect Monday and most of Tuesday to remain dry. Warmer weather for Tuesday, as the surface high moves off of the Mid Atlantic Coast and a southerly flow ensues. The next mild day looks to be Wednesday, as low pressure tracks west of the area. This will push temperatures well above normal. Widespread showers expected as well, thus high POPS. Gusty northwest winds are expected late Wednesday/Wed night into Thursday. The synoptic set up of an intensifying low tracking north of PA would support wind gusts >40ts on Thursday. Deep moisture within the deformation zone of the exiting low will likely bring lingering light rain to mainly the Allegheny Plateau Wed night, with change to snow showers Thursday as colder air arrives. After the departure of this quasi full-latitude trough over the N. Atlantic and Canadian Maritimes on Friday, a developing split flow will support the chance for a light wintry mix headed into next weekend. As expected at this time range, the amount of phasing between waves in both branches of the jet stream will dictate the precip potential and type. && .AVIATION /14Z SATURDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/... Mid morning update. Strong cold front moving across the area this morning, with a rapid drop in temperature. Main change was to move things along a bit faster and add in LLWS in for a few hours at sites that are not mixing out yet, such as IPT and LNS. Earlier forecast below. VFR conditions prevail ahead of the cold frontal passage with BFD recently outlining IFR conditions. Low-level moisture is progged by the bulk of model guidance to increase at JST in the next hour-two with modest agreement in at least MVFR ceilings continuing well into the evening hours. Recent HREF probabilities for visibilities dipping below 2SM (mainly due to heavier snow showers) remains highest (~60-70%) at BFD; however, GLAMP is not as keen on heavier snow showers brining IFR conditions. JST also does light up with < 2SM visibilities; however, trend has decreased thus have nixed mentions out of the newest TAF package. Timeframe of most concern for BFD/JST prevailing with IFR conditions will be 12Z-15Z when the most favorable forcing (cold front overhead) and increased moisture (surging PWATs) will be available. Restrictions at AOO/UNV will remain very limited with a combination of GLAMP/RAP model guidance outlining some potential for lower ceilings in the 12Z-14Z timeframe. VFR prevails elsewhere through the entire TAF package with high (~80-90%) confidence at IPT/MDT/LNS. Breezy winds are expected to continue throughout much of the TAF period with moderate to high (~70-80%) confidence. Highest probabilities of wind gusts exceeding 30kts remain in closest proximity to JST/AOO as favorable mixing from 850mb will remain possible, mainly during the afternoon (16-22Z Saturday) timeframe. Outlook... Sun...Lingering SHSN N Early; otherwise, VFR. Mon...Mainly VFR. Tue...PM SHRA and restrictions poss. Wed...Widespread Rain and sub VFR conditions. && .FIRE WEATHER... The passage of a strong cold front this morning will be followed by gusty west to northwest winds (30-45 mph) and an elevated risk of fire spread over the far southeastern part of the forecast area. Below normal precipitation and moderate to severe drought conditions have persisted over the last 2 months and will perpetuate the fire spread risk. Sfc dewpoints will fall off markedly in the afternoon Saturday and combine with the gusty winds to help dry our 10 hour fuels into the teens. Minimum relative humidity values are forecast in the 30-35% range, but could go 5-10% lower depending on how quickly temps warm and dewpoints fall around the timing of the frontal passage. We issued a special wx statement highlighting the elevated fire spread risk (particularly in Adams, York, and Lancaster Counties) in coordination with DCNR/BOF fire partners. && .CLIMATE... The average temperature at Harrisburg for winter 2024-2025 was 31.1 degrees or -2.2 degrees below normal. It was the coldest winter in the last 10 years and coldest since the 2014-2015 season. && .CTP WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None. && SYNOPSIS...DeVoir/Steinbugl NEAR TERM...DeVoir/Steinbugl SHORT TERM...Steinbugl LONG TERM...Lambert/Martin AVIATION...Martin/NPB FIRE WEATHER...Lambert/Steinbugl CLIMATE...Steinbugl
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service State College PA 359 AM EST Sat Mar 1 2025 PAZ004>006-010>012-017>019-024>028-033>037-041-042-045-046-049>053- 056>059-063-020900- 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- 359 AM EST Sat Mar 1 2025 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...Sunday through Friday. The probability for widespread hazardous weather is low. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time. PAZ064>066-020900- Adams-York-Lancaster- 359 AM EST Sat Mar 1 2025 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for central Pennsylvania. .DAY ONE...Today and tonight. Low humidity and windy conditions will result in an elevated risk of wildfire spread this afternoon. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday. The probability for widespread hazardous weather is low. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotters are encouraged to report significant hazardous weather. MRS
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service State College PA 750 AM EST Sat Mar 1 2025 PAZ064>066-012200- Adams-York-Lancaster- 750 AM EST Sat Mar 1 2025 ...ELEVATED RISK OF FIRE SPREAD ACROSS PORTIONS OF SOUTH CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA THIS AFTERNOON... Gusty west to northwest winds between 30 and 35 mph at times will combine with sharply falling dewpoints and relative humidity this afternoon to create an elevated potential for fire spread. Minimum relative humidity values will be between 25 and 35 percent. These conditions could lead to rapid spread of any fires that ignite, which could quickly become difficult to control. Outdoor burning is strongly discouraged. Refer to your state's forest fire management agency for more information on burn restrictions for your local area. DeVoir
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service State College PA 942 AM EST Sat Mar 1 2025 PAZ004>006-010>012-017-018-024-033-011800- Warren-McKean-Potter-Elk-Cameron-Northern Clinton-Clearfield- Northern Centre-Cambria-Somerset- 942 AM EST Sat Mar 1 2025 ...LOCAL SLICK SPOTS POSSIBLE THROUGH MIDDAY AS TEMPERATURES PLUNGE THROUGH THE 20S BEHIND STRONG COLD FRONT... Gusty winds and plunging temperatures behind a strong cold front will drop temperatures into and through the 20s over the Alleghenies through midday. Strong northwest winds gusting over 35 mph will accelerate surface drying from frontal rain and snow showers, but lack of chemicals on roadways after recent mild temperatures and rainfall will create local slick spots due to the rapid temperature drops over the Laurel Highlands and the West Central, Northwest and North Central Mountains through midday. DeVoir
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
1 strong wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Strong winds, estimated near 45 mph, throughout the late morning and early afternoon hours of March 1, 2025 knocked down multiple trees in York County.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Pennsylvania in 2025Every state in 2025This day in weather historyWarnings in Pennsylvania, March 2025
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: 1231045.