State College, PA

Weather Forecast Office

Briefing page

This page can be used to plan for a particular weather hazard.

For additional graphics see the PEMA Briefing Page

Winter
Thunderstorms
Flooding
Fire
Tropical
Precipitation
Heat

	Today's Maximum Temperature Map displays 24 hour Maximum Temperature for Day 1. Map is updated every time the forecaster issues a new forecast.		Tomorrow's Maximum Temperature Map displays 24 hour Maximum Temperature for Day 2. Map is updated every time the forecaster issues a new forecast.
	Today's Minimum Relative Humidity Map displays 24 hour minimum relative humidity values for Day 1. Map is updated every time the forecaster issues a new forecast.		Tomorrow's Minimum Relative Humidity Map displays 24 hour minimum relative humidity values for Day 2. Map is updated every time the forecaster issues a new forecast.

	Today's Maximum Wind Gust Map is updated every time the forecaster issues a new forecast.		24 Hour Maximum Heat Index Temperature Map displays the maximum heat index temperature for the next 24 hours. Map is updated every time the forecaster issues a new forecast.



Day 1 Fire Weather Discussion	Today's Outlook The Day 1 Outlook covers the 24-hour period from 12Z on the morning of product issuance to 12Z the following morning, with the update covering the 19-hour period from 17Z at issuance to 12Z the following morning.	Day 2 Fire Weather Discussion	Tomorrow's Outlook The Day 2 Outlook covers the following 24-hour period after Day 1 out to 48 hours. The Day 2 Fire Weather Outlook is scheduled for issuance at 10Z and is updated at 20Z.

Day 3-8 Fire Wx Discussion	Day 3-8 Outlook The Day 3-8 Outlook covers the period of 48 to 192 hours from 12Z on the morning of product issuance. The Day 3-8 Fire Weather Outlook is scheduled for issuance at 22Z.	use Firefox to view	Short-Range Ensemble Forecast (SREF) Short-Range Ensemble Forecast is produced by postprocessing the 21 members NCEP SREF plus the operational WRF-NAM for a total of 22 members. Special emphasis is placed on high-impact, mesoscale guidance including fire weather.

Hazards Assessment	Weather Hazards Map displays active watch, warnings, advisories and short term forecasts in the lower 48 states. Map automatically refreshes every five minutes. Loop of sea-level pressures and fronts through day 7	National Forecast Maps	Surface Analysis The Weather Prediction Center (WPC) produces surface maps which depicts the analysis of highs, lows, fronts, troughs, outflow boundaries, squall lines, and drylines.

	River Forecast Points Map displays river points in Central Pennsylvania. Just click on the point where you want a forecast. Map is updated every time a new observation or forecast is generated. Mid Atlantic River Forecast Center		Observed Precipitation Map displays observed precipitation in the last 24 hours. 2-Day Total Precipitation
Day 1 Day 2 Day 3	National Rainfall Forecasts National Rainfall Forecasts. Mouse over each day for a quick view and click on the links to see a larger image for that day.	Days 1-2 Days 1-3 Days 1-5	Multi-Day Rainfall Forecasts Multi-Day National Rainfall Forecasts. 2-Day, 3-Day, or 5-Day Total Amount Mouse over each day for a quick view and click on the links to see a larger image for that day.

	24 Hour Total Precipitation Forecast Map displays 24hr forecast precipitation amounts. Map is updated every time the forecaster issues a new forecast.		Total Precipitation Forecast Map displays a Storm Total forecast of precipitation amounts. Map is updated every time the forecaster issues a new forecast.
Periods: 1 2 3 4 5 6	6 Hour Precipitation Forecast Map displays 6hr forecast precipitation amounts. Mouse over each period for a quick view and click on the links to see a larger image for that period.	Periods: 1 2 3 4 5 6	6 Hour Precipitation Forecast for County Warning Area Map displays 6hr forecast precipitation amounts for Central Pennsylvania. Mouse over each period for a quick view and click on the links to see a larger image for that period.

Periods: 1 2 3	12 Hour Precipitation Forecast Map displays 12hr forecast precipitation amounts. Mouse over each period for a quick view and click on the links to see a larger image for that period.
	Severe Storm Reports		Rain, Snow, Ice and Wind Reports


	24 Hour Observed Precipitation Map displays 24 hour observed precipitation amounts.		48 Hour Observed Precipitation Map displays 48 hour observed precipitation amounts.

	Month To Date Precipitation Displays precipitation total from the first of the month to the current day.		Monthly Precipitation from Previous Month Displays 30 day precipitation total from the previous month.

1 Hour 3 Hour 6 Hour	Flash Flood Guidance Flash Flood Guidance is an estimate of the amount of rainfall required over a given area during a given duration to cause small streams to flood. Mouse over each period for a quick view and click on the links to see a larger image for that period.		Precipitation / Departure Precipitation Departure from Normal

	Weather Hazards Map displays active watch, warnings, advisories and short term forecasts in the lower 48 states. Map automatically refreshes every five minutes.		Significant River Flood Outlook ThisFlood Outlook is intended to provide a general outlook for significant river flooding. It is not intended to depict all areas of minor flooding or small-scale events such as localized flooding and/or flash flooding.

	Historical Streamflow Map of real-time streamflow compared to historical streamflow for the day of the year.		National Snow Analyses Includes data on snow water equivalent, snow depth and more. The data can be view for a day or animated for a two week period or a seaon. CONUS & Mid Atlantic

	Today's Maximum Temperature Map is updated every time the forecaster issues a new forecast.		Tomorrow's Maximum Temperatur e Map displays the maximum temperature for day two. Map is updated every time the forecaster issues a new forecast.

	Day 3 Maximum Temperature Map displays the maximum temperature for day three. Map is updated every time the forecaster issues a new forecast.		24 Hour Maximum Heat Index Temperature Map displays the maximum heat index temperature for the next 24 hours. Map is updated every time the forecaster issues a new forecast.


Hazards Assessment	Weather Hazards Map displays active watch, warnings, advisories and short term forecasts in the lower 48 states. Map automatically refreshes every five minutes. Loop of sea-level pressures and fronts through day 7	National Forecast Maps	Surface Analysis The Weather Prediction Center (WPC) produces surface


State College Radar	Pittsburgh Radar	Ohio Valley	Northeast
	Convective Outlook Day 1 Convective outlook for organized severe thunderstorms over the region for Day 1.		Convective Outlook Day 2 Convective outlook for organized severe thunderstorms over the region for Day 2.

	Convective Outlook Day 3 Convective outlook for organized severe thunderstorms over the region for Day 3.		Storm Prediction Center Overview Graphic / Map Radar of the contiguous United States with Storm Prediction Center (SPC) products - Day 1. SPC & its Products


About Convective Outlooks	Convection Outlooks Convective outlook for organized severe thunderstorms over the contiguous United States. Day 1 Outlook Day 2 Outlook Day 3 Outlook Days 4-8 Outlook	About Severe Weather Watches	Current Watches Graphic showing any severe thunderstorm and tornado watches which are in effect over the contiguous United States. Severe & Tornado Watches

National Forecast Maps	Surface Analysis The Weather Prediction Center (WPC) produces surface maps which depicts the analysis of highs, lows, fronts, troughs, outflow boundaries, squall lines, and drylines. Regional Observations Rainfall Reports		Mesoscale Discussions Describe what is currently happening, what is expected in the next few hours, the meteorological reasoning for the forecast, and when / where SPC plans to issue the watch. Current Mesoscale Discussions

	Upper Air Soundings Skew-T charts for all observed soundings across the United States. An archive of seven days of data is available. Observed Soundings	Monthly / Annual Summaries	Storm Reports These reports are preliminary and are plotted and listed "as is" from NWS Local Storm Reports usually sent in realtime. Preliminary Local Storm Reports for Central PA

			Severe Storm Reports

	Forecast Tools Including upper air maps, upper air soundings, mesoanalysis graphics, Short-Range Ensemble Forecast (SREF), Storm-Scale Ensemble of Opportunity (SSEO) and Compmap.		Mesoscale Analysis Nine fixed regional sectors and a national sector provide hourly gridded mesoanalysis graphics across the CONUS. Northeast Sector

Active Tropical Cyclones

Indicates areas/chances of tropical/sub-tropical cyclone development over the next 48 hours.

Atlantic Tropical Weather Discussion

NHC Data in GIS Formats

Graphical Tropical Weather Outlook

Highlights the location of areas of disturbed weather and shows the 48 hour probabilistic genesis potential.

Atlantic Tropical Weather Outlook

Tropical Cyclone Potential Impacts

The TCI Graphics web site is an internet-based decision-support service consisting of at least four graphics: high wind impacts, coastal flooding impacts, inland flooding impacts, and tornado impacts.

NHC's Tropical Satellite Imagery Page

Numerous images and loops for various sectors can be found here

Tropical Atlantic Weather Map

Surface analysis of weather features across the tropical Atlantic.

NHC's Tropical Satellite Imagery Page

Numerous images and loops for various sectors can be found here

Short Range Forecast Maps

Surface Analysis

The Weather Prediction Center (WPC) produces surface maps which depicts the analysis of highs, lows, fronts, troughs, outflow boundaries, squall lines, and drylines.

NOAA nowCOAST - GIS mapping Portal

Radar

WSR-88D Doppler Radar

National Forecast Maps

Weather Hazards

Map displays active watch, warnings, advisories and short term forecasts in the lower 48 states. Map automatically refreshes every five minutes.

Loop of sea-level pressures and fronts through day 7

National Data Buoy Center

NDBC provides hourly observations from a network of about 90 buoys and 60 Coastal Marine Automated Network stations. All stations measure wind (speed/direction/gust) and barometric pressure and air temperature.

Storm Surge

Along the coast, storm surge is often the greatest threat to life and property from a hurricane. The size of a storm surge for a particular location depends on a number of factors. Storm surge is very sensitive to the shape of the coast, and to changes in storm track, intensity, forward speed, and size. Tidal height at the time of maximum storm surge is an important factor.

Category	Winds mph
Depression	<39
T. Storm	39-73
Hurricane 1	74-95
Hurricane 2	96-110
Hurricane 3	111-129
Hurricane 4	130-156
Hurricane 5	> 156

Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale

Category 1 to 5 rating based on a hurricane's sustained wind speed.

Number of Tropical Cyclones per 100 Years Tropical Cyclone Names

Tropical Cyclone Climatology

The official hurricane season for the Atlantic Basin (the Atlantic Ocean, the Caribbean Sea, and the Gulf of Mexico) is from June 1st to November 30th.

The peak of the season is from mid-August to late October. However, deadly hurricanes can occur anytime in the hurricane season.

Historical Hurricane Tracks

NOAA Historical Hurricane Tracks Tool - interactive database.

More than 6,000 tropical cyclones, ranging from 1842 and occurring in over seven major ocean basins around the world, are now searchable thanks to the incorporation of NOAA’s International Best Track Archive for Climate Stewardship (IBTrACS) data set.


	Storm Total Snow Forecast Shows current Storm Total Snow forecast. Map is updated every time the forecaster issues a new forecast.		Storm Total Ice Forecast Shows current Storm Total Snow forecast. Map is updated every time the forecaster issues a new forecast.


	Snow, Ice and Wind Reports		Probability Snow and Ice Shows the probability of Snow or Ice accumulation for various ranges of snow or ice for an impending storm. Displays minimum amount, maximum amount, and most likely amount snowfall graphics. Updated 2 times per day.


Period 1 Period 2 Period 3	12 Hour Snowfall Forecast Shows forecast snowfall accumulations in 12 hour increments. Mouse over each period for a quick view and click on the links to see a larger image for that period. Map is updated every time the forecaster issues a new forecast.	Period 1 Period 2 Period 3	12 Hour Ice Accumulation Forecast Shows forecast ice accumulations in 12 hour increments. Mouse over each period for a quick view and click on the links to see a larger image for that period. Map is updated every time the forecaster issues a new forecast

Period 1 Period 2	24 Hour Snow Accumulation Forecast Shows forecast snow accumulations in 24 hour increments for the next 2 periods. Mouse over each period for a quick view and click on the links to see a larger image for that period. Map is updated every time the forecaster issues a new forecast.		24 Hour Ice Accumulation Forecast Shows forecast ice accumulation for the next 24 hours. Map is updated every time the forecaster issues a new forecast.

	48 Hour Snowfall Forecast Shows forecast snowfall for the next 48 hours. Map is updated every time the forecaster issues a new forecast.

	Today's Maximum Temperature Map displays the maximum temperature for day one. Map is updated every time the forecaster issues a new forecast.		Today's Minimum Temperature Shows forecasted minimum temperature for the first day of the forecast. Map is updated every time the forecaster issues a new forecast.

	Tomorrow's Maximum Temperature Map displays the maximum temperature for day two. Map gets updated every time the NWS in Burlington produces a new grid. Map is updated every time the forecaster issues a new forecast.		Tomorrow's Minimum Temperature Shows forecasted minimum temperature for the second day of the forecast. Map is updated every time the forecaster issues a new forecast.

	24 Hour Minimum Windchill Maps displays the lowest windchill in the next 24 hours. Map is updated every time the forecaster issues a new forecast.		24 Hour Maximum Wind Gust Map display the highest wind gusts expected in the next 24 hours Map is updated every time the forecaster issues a new forecast.



State College Radar	Pittsburgh Radar	Ohio Valley	Northeast

U.S. Snow Monitoring	National Snow Analyses Includes data on snow water equivalent, snow depth and more. The data can be view for a day or animated for a two week period or a season. CONUS & Mid Atlantic		Hourly Weather Graph Shows hourly information for locations across Pennsylvania.

Overview of Storm Total Forecasts

QPF Forecasts
	12 Hour QPF Forecast - Period 1 Map is updated once per hour.		Storm Total QPF Forecast Map shows the expected storm total precipitation. Map is updated several times per day.
	12 Hour QPF Forecast - Period 2 Map is updated once per hour.		24 Hour QPF Forecast Map is updated once per hour.
	12 Hour QPF Forecast - Period 3 Map is updated once per hour.		48 Hour QPF Forecast Map is updated once per hour.
	12 Hour QPF Forecast - Period 4 Map is updated once per hour.
	12 Hour QPF Forecast - Period 5 Map is updated once per hour.
	12 Hour QPF Forecast - Period 6 Map is updated once per hour.

Snow Amount Forecasts
	12 Hour Snow Forecast - Period 1 Map is updated once per hour.		Storm Total Snow Forecast Map shows the expected storm total snowfall. Map is updated several times per day.
	12 Hour Snow Forecast - Period 2 Map is updated once per hour.		24 Hour Snow Forecast Map is updated once per hour.
	12 Hour Snow Forecast - Period 3 Map is updated once per hour.		48 Hour Snow Forecast Map is updated once per hour.
	12 Hour Snow Forecast - Period 4 Map is updated once per hour.
	12 Hour Snow Forecast - Period 5 Map is updated once per hour.
	12 Hour Snow Forecast - Period 6 Map is updated once per hour.

Ice Accumulation Forecasts
	12 Hour IceAccum Forecast - Period 1 Map is updated once per hour.		Storm Total IceAccum Forecast Map shows the expected storm total ice accumulation. Map is updated several times per day.
	12 Hour IceAccum Forecast - Period 2 Map is updated once per hour.		24 Hour IceAccum Forecast Map is updated once per hour.
	12 Hour IceAccum Forecast - Period 3 Map is updated once per hour.		48 Hour IceAccum Forecast Map is updated once per hour.
	12 Hour IceAccum Forecast - Period 4 Map is updated once per hour.
	12 Hour IceAccum Forecast - Period 5 Map is updated once per hour.