An strong upper-level low with an associated surface cold front allowed to ample lift in an environment with sufficient shear and instability for a line of showers and isolated thunderstorms to form during the afternoon and evening hours of March 13, 2026. Strong-to-damaging wind gusts were observed across northwestern Pennsylvania with these features with the most widespread wind damage in…
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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.
An strong upper-level low with an associated surface cold front allowed to ample lift in an environment with sufficient shear and instability for a line of showers and isolated thunderstorms to form during the afternoon and evening hours of March 13, 2026. Strong-to-damaging wind gusts were observed across northwestern Pennsylvania with these features with the most widespread wind damage in portions of Clearfield County during the late afternoon to early evening hours.
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 13, 1:51 PM EST, 2 hours 4 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service State College PA 251 PM EDT Fri Mar 13 2026 .WHAT HAS CHANGED... * The Wind Advisory has been expanded a bit further into parts of the Middle and Lower Susquehanna Valleys, as well as the Poconos, through early Saturday. && .KEY MESSAGES... 1) Strong winds expected through tonight and into Saturday morning for most of Central PA, along with a coating to a few inches of snow for the northern mountains. 2) Gusty winds return Sunday afternoon through Tuesday, with a temperature roller coaster, and potential for strong to severe thunderstorms Monday afternoon and evening. && .DISCUSSION... KEY MESSAGE 1: Strong winds expected through tonight and into Saturday morning for most of Central PA, along with a coating to a few inches of snow for the northern mountains. A potent upper-level disturbance will track across upstate NY late this afternoon, and eventually through southeast Canada tonight and early Saturday. As it does so, a trailing surface cold front will cross the Commonwealth through this evening. Most of our near-term guidance is suggesting that a band of rain and snow showers will form along the above mentioned cold front later this afternoon, and quickly cross PA this evening. For areas north of I-80, where temperatures are colder, a quick burst of snow is foreseen, which could sharply reduce visibilities and produce locally slick roads. We will be monitoring the far northern tier of the state for any flash freeze/snow squall potential into the evening. Farther south, where surface temperatures are milder, just a brief shot of gusty rain showers are anticipated. Late tonight and into Saturday, strong westerly winds are still expected. Isallobaric forcing and a deeper layer of steep lapse rates in the lower part of the atmosphere points to the strongest gust potential (perhaps as high as 45-55 mph) across the Laurel Highlands and also areas near and north of I-80. However, even a bit farther to the southeast into parts of the Susquehanna Valley and the Pocono plateau, occasional gusts could eclipse 45 mph, thus the above mentioned expansion of the Wind Advisory. Winds should gradually subside Saturday afternoon into Saturday evening, as the pressure gradient relaxes. A relatively brief period of cold advection crossing Lake Erie and interacting with downstream terrain will produce periods of snow for the northern snow belt areas (Warren, McKean, and parts of Potter counties). Current expectations are for 1-3" of snow locally, mostly over the higher terrain and north of US-6. KEY MESSAGE 2: Gusty winds return Sunday afternoon through Tuesday, with a temperature roller coaster, and potential for strong to severe thunderstorms Monday afternoon and evening. Another potent disturbance will emerge out of the Plains states on Sunday, eventually tracking through the Great Lakes and the northeastern states by early next week. A strong cold front tied to the main surface wave is expected to slice through the Commonwealth Monday afternoon and evening. Strengthening S-SW flow in the expanding warm sector will overspread PA later Sunday and into Monday, with gusty conditions again returning. We continue to monitor the potential for strong-severe thunderstorms along and just ahead of the aforementioned cold frontal passage later Monday afternoon into the early evening hours. We have high confidence at this early stage that it will relatively warm for mid-March, as well as strongly sheared. However, smaller scale and less predictable factors like cloud cover/associated instability, as well as convective mode (discrete vs. linear, or a combination thereof), still need to be worked out, and probably won't really be known until we head into Monday. Stay tuned for later forecasts/updates. We also have relatively high confidence that it will remain windy and turn sharply colder later Monday night and Tuesday. Some areas may see a 30+ degree temperature difference on the negative side for Tuesday, as compared to Monday. && .AVIATION /18Z FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/... Potent/energetic system moving through will be ramping up the wind speeds and gusts shortly. Some have already gusted near 40kt (JST AOO). Despite the gustiness, we have included mentions of LLWS for tonight. While we don't regularly include LLWS mentions when gusts are almost as high as the shearing layer, we felt it importnat to highlight them this time to bring some extra attention to the wind forecast for the next 24 hrs. Strong srly flow now will switch to the west as the cold front moving through OH at 18Z arrives and passes thru PA. The clouds/visbys are all VFR at the moment, but BFD is expected to dip to IFR for a few hours - or at least parts of hours - for two periods: later this aftn and then again after midnight. The reductions are not certain with cross-lake flow very strong and mostly straight westerly. That will likely keep much of the SHSN up in wrn NY. Other than BFD's problems, the wind will be just about the only flying-condition trouble elsewhere. While some MVFR (bkn-ovc030) clouds re-establish themseleves across many terminals overnight, they will be gone in the morning. The wind will be slowing in the morning, too. But, gusts will remain in the 20s for most sites for the entire day Sat even as upper heights rise and sfc high nears. Sat night, the ridge will be overhead, and wind should finally die off. But...another storm system will move toward the state from the northern Plains. Then, Sun: Low clouds creep in from the S. MVFR cigs certain (90%), IFR possible (50%). Rain and snow showers possible across the northern half of PA as a warm front lifts thru. LLWS certain (80%). Outlook... Mon...VERY strong cold fropa. Pre-frontal SHRA/TSRA with IFR possible. Then turning blustery and colder. Post-frontal MVFR cigs for most of the area. IFR likely N/W (60%) due to clouds and/or SHSN. Tue...Blustery. Sct SHSN NW. IFR poss (50%) at BFD, (30%) JST. Wed...Warm fropa. -SN or -RA poss (30%) NW. && .CTP WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Wind Advisory until 8 AM EDT Saturday for PAZ004-005-010-017- 018-024-025-033-034. Wind Advisory until 11 AM EDT Saturday for PAZ006-011-012-019- 026>028-035>037-041-042-045-046-049>053-056>059-063. && WHAT HAS CHANGED...Jurewicz KEY MESSAGES...Jurewicz DISCUSSION...Jurewicz AVIATION...Dangelo
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service State College PA 149 PM EDT Fri Mar 13 2026 PAZ011-012-019-026>028-035-036-041-042-045-046-049>053-056>059-063- 141800- Cameron-Northern Clinton-Southern Centre-Huntingdon-Mifflin-Juniata- Fulton-Franklin-Northern Lycoming-Sullivan-Southern Clinton- Southern Lycoming-Union-Snyder-Montour-Northumberland-Columbia-Perry- Dauphin-Schuylkill-Lebanon-Cumberland- 149 PM EDT Fri Mar 13 2026 ...WIND ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 AM EDT SATURDAY... 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. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov/StateCollege on the internet for more information about the following hazards. Wind Advisory. Otherwise, the probability for widespread hazardous weather is low. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time. PAZ010-017-018-024-025-033-034-141800- Elk-Clearfield-Northern Centre-Cambria-Blair-Somerset-Bedford- 149 PM EDT Fri Mar 13 2026 ...WIND ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 AM EDT SATURDAY... 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. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov/StateCollege on the internet for more information about the following hazards. Wind Advisory. Otherwise, the probability for widespread hazardous weather is low. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time. PAZ004-005-141800- Warren-McKean- 149 PM EDT Fri Mar 13 2026 ...WIND ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 AM EDT SATURDAY... 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. Also, periods of snow are expected through tonight, which could locally bring 1 to 3 inches of accumulation and slick travel conditions. Otherwise, the probability for widespread hazardous weather is low. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov/StateCollege on the internet for more information about the following hazards. Wind Advisory. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time. PAZ006-037-141800- Potter-Tioga- 149 PM EDT Fri Mar 13 2026 ...WIND ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 AM EDT SATURDAY... 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. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov/StateCollege on the internet for more information about the following hazards. Wind Advisory. Otherwise, the probability for widespread hazardous weather is low. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time. PAZ064>066-141800- Adams-York-Lancaster- 149 PM EDT Fri Mar 13 2026 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for central Pennsylvania. .DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight. No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday. We are monitoring the potential for strong to severe thunderstorms Monday afternoon and early evening. Please stay tuned for future updates in the coming days. Otherwise, the probability for widespread hazardous weather is low. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time. Jurewicz
The Buffalo radar (KBUF), 134 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 20:58 UTC.
12 thunderstorm wind, 5 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
A line of severe thunderstorms producing wind gusts estimated at 60 mph knocked a tree down across a roadway in Spring Creek.
A line of severe thunderstorms producing wind gusts estimated at 60 mph knocked a tree down across a roadway in Sugar Grove.
High winds estimated at 60 mph occurred across McKean County during the late afternoon and early evening of March 13, 2026, knocking down trees and leading to scattered power outages.
High winds occurred across Clearfield County during the late afternoon and early evening of March 13, 2026. Maximum wind gusts were estimated at 70 mph and widespread power outages were reported across the county.
A line of severe thunderstorms producing wind gusts estimated at 60 mph knocked trees down onto wires approximately 3 miles southeast of Sugar Grove.
A line of severe thunderstorms producing wind gusts estimated at 60 mph knocked multiple trees down near Tidioute.
A line of showers producing wind gusts estimated at 70 mph knocked a tree down onto a house approximately 3 miles southeast of Curwensville.
A line of showers producing wind gusts estimated at 70 mph knocked a telephone pole down onto a roadway approximately 2 miles southeast of Hyde.
A line of showers producing wind gusts estimated at 70 mph knocked a tree down onto Deer Creek Road approximately 4 miles northeast of Wallaceton.
A line of showers producing wind gusts estimated at 70 mph knocked a large tree down onto Kennedy Road approximately 4 miles north-northwest of Clearfield.
A line of showers producing wind gusts estimated at 70 mph knocked multiple trees down onto high tension lines approximately 5 miles south-southwest of Lumber City.
The PennDOT RWIS station on Interstate 80 near Kylertown reported a 68 mph wind gust as a line of showers moved through.
A 66 mph wind gust was measured at the Clearfield-Lawrence Township Airport as a line of showers moved through.
High winds occurred across Cambria County during the evening of March 13, 2026. A 63 mph wind gust was measured at the John Murtha Johnstown-Cambria County Airport and scattered power outages were reported.
High winds occurred across Blair County during the evening of March 13, 2026. A 64 mph wind gust was measured at the Altoona-Blair County Airport and scattered power outages were reported.
High winds occurred across Somerset County on the evening of March 13, 2026. A 60 mph wind gust was measured at the Somerset County Airport and sporadic power outages were reported across the county.
A line of showers producing wind gusts estimated at 60 mph knocked multiple trees down onto South Eagle Valley Road approximately 5 miles northwest of Park Forest.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Pennsylvania in 2026Every state in 2026This day in weather historyWarnings in Pennsylvania, March 2026
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: 1317577, 1317578, 1317591, 1317594, 1317579, 1317580, 1317581, 1317582, 1317583, 1317584, 1317585, 1317586, 1317587, 1317592, 1317593, 1317590, 1317589.