A weakening area of showers and thunderstorms in an environment with sufficient instability and shear continued tracking from eastern Ohio into portions of northwestern Pennsylvania during the evening hours of March 26, 2026. The environment across northwestern Pennsylvania was slightly less favorable with respect to instability closer to sunset but still retained a favorable amount of shear for…
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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 weakening area of showers and thunderstorms in an environment with sufficient instability and shear continued tracking from eastern Ohio into portions of northwestern Pennsylvania during the evening hours of March 26, 2026. The environment across northwestern Pennsylvania was slightly less favorable with respect to instability closer to sunset but still retained a favorable amount of shear for strong-to-severe thunderstorms to continue for a couple of hours after sunset. These thunderstorms produced isolated instances of wind damage in western Warren County before thunderstorms weakened further below severe limits.
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 26, 1:34 PM EST, 5 hours 2 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service State College PA 234 PM EDT Thu Mar 26 2026 .WHAT HAS CHANGED... * Did add a mention of localized severe storms with strong winds late this afternoon and early evening, mainly for northwest and north-central PA. && .KEY MESSAGES... 1) Noticeable warmup this afternoon will precede rain and thunderstorms this evening, followed by a chilly/raw cool down for the end of the week into the last weekend of March. && .DISCUSSION... KEY MESSAGE 1: Noticeable warmup this afternoon will precede rain and thunderstorms this evening, followed by a chilly/raw cool down for the end of the week into the last weekend of March. Strong warm and moist advection is well underway this afternoon across the Commonwealth, with temperatures climbing into/through the 70s in many locations. With surface dew points also on the rise (should reach the 50s by late afternoon, at least across northwest PA), we will destabilize the environment, to the tune of 300-600 j/kg of MLCAPE by later in the day. Shear profiles will also be strengthening, as 925-700 mb flow increases markedly into the early evening. Buoyancy and shear profiles alluded to above will create an environment supportive of at least isolated severe thunderstorms from roughly 4-9 pm, as a strong cold front pushes from north- south across the state. Damaging wind gusts will be the primary threat, with areas north of US-22/I-78 having the most risk. One good thing with this system is the probability of 0.5-0.75" rainfall, with locally higher amounts possible, particularly across the Alleghenies. Given long-term dryness in many parts of the state, such rainfall is certainly welcome. Later tonight and early Friday, the front should make its way south of the Mason-Dixon line, with strong low-level cold advection ensuing. As a result, Friday will be a much chillier day, with afternoon high temperatures a good 25-35 degrees lower than on Thursday, along with a stiff N-NW breeze. For much of the weekend, uneventful weather is foreseen, as a large surface high pressure system builds into the eastern states to bring dry weather. Temperatures will start out chilly on Saturday, with daytime highs only in the 30s and 40s across central PA. Sunday will begin a moderating trend, once the aforementioned high pressure system pushes off the east coast, and winds shift into the S and SW. && .AVIATION /18Z THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/... Active period for the next 24 hrs as a cold front moves through from N to S. TSRA just N of BFD as a shortwave trough is passing over LE. The front seems to be near DTW and through YYZ, marching steadily but slowly southward. Have placed VCTS at BFD starting at 20Z, but TS could (50%) arrive before, then have a couple hour break before more TS threatens. Have timed TS thru each site with a rough 3 hr window. LLWS threatens most sites for 4-6 hrs before the front moves through with the worst WS at JST with wind field around 50KT FL020. Some of the TS will contain hail and make significant downdrafts as they move through. The storm motion will be more west to east, likely riding along the front. Not dissimilar to a few days ago. The strong llvl winds will keep moisture flowing over the front and make numerous SHRA and a few TSRA behind the front. Cigs probably (60%) lower to IFR across the N at BFD shortly aft 00Z, and remain in place for most of the night. Drying N wind will help many other sites stay MVFR behind the front when it is not raining. The drier air and wind will also keep BR from becoming FG. The highest chance for IFR will be at BFD and JST. The morning should help all sites improve to VFR and be there for the rest of the day. Outlook... Fri...Gusty AM wind diminishing aftn. Otherwise VFR. Sat-Sun...VFR. Mon...SCT -SHRA with restrictions poss, mainly W. Tue...NMRS SHRA. TSRA poss W. && .CLIMATE... Record high temperatures for March 26th: Harrisburg 80 in 1921 Williamsport 78 in 1939 Altoona 79 in 1998 Bradford 73 in 2007 State College 76 in 1949 && .CTP WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None. && WHAT HAS CHANGED...Jurewicz KEY MESSAGES...Jurewicz DISCUSSION...Jurewicz AVIATION...Dangelo CLIMATE...Steinbugl
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service State College PA 422 AM EDT Thu Mar 26 2026 PAZ042-053-057>059-065-066-270830- Sullivan-Columbia-Dauphin-Schuylkill-Lebanon-York-Lancaster- 422 AM EDT Thu Mar 26 2026 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...Friday through Wednesday. The probability for widespread hazardous weather is low. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time. PAZ004-005-010-017-024-033-270830- Warren-McKean-Elk-Clearfield-Cambria-Somerset- 422 AM EDT Thu Mar 26 2026 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for central Pennsylvania. .DAY ONE...Today and tonight. Strong to severe thunderstorms with heavy rainfall are possible this evening into early tonight. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday. The probability for widespread hazardous weather is low. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotters are encouraged to report significant hazardous weather. PAZ006-011-012-018-019-025>028-034>037-041-045-046-049>052-056-063- 064-270830- Potter-Cameron-Northern Clinton-Northern Centre-Southern Centre- Blair-Huntingdon-Mifflin-Juniata-Bedford-Fulton-Franklin-Tioga- Northern Lycoming-Southern Clinton-Southern Lycoming-Union-Snyder- Montour-Northumberland-Perry-Cumberland-Adams- 422 AM EDT Thu Mar 26 2026 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for central Pennsylvania. .DAY ONE...Today and tonight. Strong thunderstorms with heavy rainfall are possible this evening into early tonight. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday. The probability for widespread hazardous weather is low. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotters are encouraged to report significant hazardous weather. MRS
The Buffalo radar (KBUF), 136 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 23:33 UTC.
2 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
A line of severe thunderstorms producing wind gusts estimated at 60 mph knocked a tree down at the intersection of Route 426 and Blue Eye Road in Spring Creek.
A line of severe thunderstorms producing wind gusts estimated at 60 mph knocked multiple trees down on Buckley Road near Tidioute. Multiple power outages were also reported in Tidioute.
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: 1317637, 1317636.