State College, PA

Weather Forecast Office

Past Weather Event Summaries

Thunderstorms / Tornadoes
Tropical Systems
Flooding
Winter
Heat / Cold
Winds
Other

Thunderstorms & Tornadoes

The following summaries cover "significant" or widespread thunderstorm outbreaks and tornadoes. Tornadoes, hail, wind damage, and flooding impacts can be found in these summaries. If the event was focused mainly on flooding it will be found under the "Flooding" section.

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2026

June 14: Multiple tornadoes occurred, 4 in Central PA
July 5: Lamb's Gap Tornado
July 18: Severe Weather (Multiple Tornadoes, including 2 EF2s)
August 20: York and Lancaster County Tornadoes
September 1st: Gaines Twp (Potter/Tioga Counties), Montour County, Lancaster County.
September 9th: Cyclone, PA Tornado (Lafayette Twp, McKean Co)

2026 Tornado Stats
	Pennsylvania tornado count for 2026 (as of 9/23/2026) = 50 Central PA (CTP CWA) tornado count for 2026 (as of 9/23/2026) = 19 PDF Table of (49) Tornadoes in PA during 2026 (current list as of 9/14/2026) * more tornadoes may be added to this list * Normal yearly tornadoes in PA == 15 to 20

2025

April 29: Widespread Wind Damage from a QLCS in Central PA.
September 4: EF-0 Tornado in Collins, Lancaster County, PA

2024

May 27: EF-1 Tornado in Mahanoy City, Schuylkill County, PA
July 10: Wind Damage
July 15: Wind Damage in Northern PA
August 9: Flooding (widespread) and Tornado (Harrisburg) from Remnants of Hurricane Debby
August 29: Roaring Spring Tornado
August 31: Greenville Twp, Somerset County Tornado

2023

June 12: EF-0 Tornado in York County
July 2: Multiple Tornadoes in Central PA
July 9: Severe Downburst Damage in Perry County
August 7: Severe Winds in Central PA
August 12: Tornado in Cambria County PA

2022

June 16: Damage from Storms in Elk County

2021

July 29: Multiple Tornadoes in Central PA

2020

June 3: Pennsylvania Derecho
August 28: Severe Weather Event

2019

April 14-15: Damaging Winds, Small Hail, and a Few Tornadoes Across Central PA
April 19: Multiple Tornadoes Across South Central PA
May 19: EF-1 Tornado in Northern Lancaster County
May 23: EF-0 Tornado in Southern Cambria County
May 29: Multiple Tornadoes Across Central PA

2018

October 2: Most Active Day for Tornadoes in October in History for PA

2017

2016

February 24: EF-2 Tornado near White Horse, PA
September 17: EF-1 Tornado in Northeastern Warren County

2015

April 20: EF-0 Tornado near Colyer Lake
June 8: EF-0 Tornado near Gowen City, PA in Northumberland, County
June 30: EF-1 Tornado near Riverside, PA
September 30: EF-1 Tornado in Rohrerstown, PA

2014

June 11: EF-1 Tornado in Bedford County
July 2: Severe Weather Event

2013

April 19: Microburst in Schuylkill County

2012

June 1: EF-0 Tornadoes in Clearfield County and York County
July 15: Severe Weather, Tornadoes in Bradford County
August 26: EF-0 Tornado in Greencastle
October 19: EF-1 Tornado in Lancaster County

2011

April 16: Severe Weather of April 16th
April 27 - April 28: Severe Weather of April 27th and 28th
May 18: EF-1 Tornado in Dauphin County
May 23: Three Tornadoes in Central PA
May 26: Six Tornadoes in Central PA
May 27: Two EF-1 Tornadoes in Huntingdon County
May 30: EF-1 Tornado in Tioga County
June 12: Two Tornadoes in York County

2010

April 16: Severe Weather of April 16th
May 14: Severe Thunderstorms of May 14th
July 21: Severe Weather of July 21st
July 24: Severe Weather of July 24th
July 25: Severe Weather of July 25th
August 16: Severe Weather of August 16th
September 22: Severe Weather of September 22nd

2009

March 29: York and Lancaster County Tornado
March 29: York County Straight Line Wind Damage
May 16: Severe Weather, Large Hail Event
June 9: Severe Weather, Large Hail Event
June 20: Flash Flooding and Damaging Wind Event
June 25-26: Two Rounds of Severe Thunderstorms
July 11: Severe Weather and Union County Tornado
August 9: Severe Weather and Clearfield County Tornado
August 20: Severe Weather and Funnel Clouds over Dauphin County

2008

May 27: Lone Severe Thunderstorm of May 2008
June 10: First Widespread Severe Event of the Season
June 16: Severe Weather Moderate Risk
July 20: Widespread Severe Wind Event
August 10: Funnel Clouds and Severe Weather
September 27-28: Heavy Rain along the Susquehanna River

2007

May 10: Round of Thunderstorms Dropped Hail
May 27: Hail Storms Dropped Copious Hail
June 12: Squall Line Event
June 12: Day 1 of Severe Weather, Storms Moved In from the Northeast
June 13: Day 2 of Severe Weather, Storms Moved In from the Northeast
June 19: Widespread Severe Weather and Downburst
June 27: Pulse Strong Storms and Record Heat
July 5: Heavy Rain and Hail around Harrisburg
July 28: Pulse Severe Thunderstorms Brought Hail and Wind Damage
July 29: Severe Thunderstorms and Flooding, Mostly Harrisburg Metro
August 7: Severe Thunderstorms and Centre County Tornado
August 17: Significant Hailstorm and Strong Winds
August 30: Hail and Strong Winds
September 26: Severe Weather and Tornado in Tidioute

2006

March 13: Mini Severe Weather Outbreak
April 3: Hail Storms and Strong Winds
May 30: Pulse Severe Thunderstorms
May 31: Pulse Severe Thunderstorms Round Two
June 1: Severe Thunderstorms & Flash Flooding
June 2: Severe Thunderstorms & Flash Flooding Round Two
June 9: Pulse Severe Thunderstorms
June 22: Widespread Severe Storms
July 9: More Severe Pulse Thunderstorms
July 10: Elk County Severe Thunderstorm Anti-Cyclonic
July 18: Hail and Wind Producing Storms
July 27: Severe Storm Summary
August 25: Long-Lived Supercell Storms
November 16: Mid-November Severe Weather Event
December 1: Severe Weather Event Across Pennsylvania (Halifax, PA Tornado)

2005

June 6: Severe Weather Outbreak
July 26: Severe Weather Outbreak
September 29: Severe Weather w/ Narrow Cold Front Squall
November 6: Late Seasons Severe Storms w/ Cold Front
November 29-30: Severe Weather and Some Flooding

2004

July 14: Lebanon County Tornado & Severe Weather
July 27: Lancaster County Tornado
August 8: Severe Weather Outbreak and Tornadoes

2003

May 11: Lycoming County Tornado
July 21: Storm Damage and Multiple Tornadoes (Kinzua Bridge Tornado)

2002

2001

2000

1999

1998

May 31, 1998: Tornado Outbreak

Historic

May 31, 1985: Tornado Outbreak Across Pennsylvania

Tropical Systems

The following summaries cover Tropical Systems and its remnants that have impacted Central PA including flooding, tornadoes, and winds.

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2024

August 9: Flooding (widespread) and Tornado (Harrisburg) from Remnants of Hurricane Debby

2023

2022

2021

2020

2019

2018

2017

2016

2015

2014

2013

2012

October 29 - November 1: Hurricane Sandy

2011

2010

2009

2008

September 6: Rain and Winds from Tropical Storm Hanna
September 14-15: High Winds from Remnants of Hurricane Ike

2007

2006

September 1-2: Flooding Regarding Remnants of Tropical Storm Ernesto

2005

August 31: Severe Weather with Katrina Remnants
October 8: Flooding Regarding Remnants of Tropical Storm Tammy
October 24-25: Snowfall and Heavy Rainfall remnants of Hurricane Wilma

2004

September 27-28: Rainfall from Hurricane Jeanne

2003

September 19: Hurricane Isabel

2002

2001

2000

Historic

June 20 - June 24: Hurricane Agnes

Flooding

The following summaries cover "significant" or widespread flooding. River and flash flooding can be found in these summaries. If the flooding event accompanied severe thunderstorms or tornado outbreaks, it will likely be included in that event's summary under the "Thunderstorms / Tornadoes" section.

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2024

August 9: Flooding (widespread) and Tornado (Harrisburg) from Remnants of Hurricane Debby

2023

2022

2021

2020

2019

2018

July 23-26: Central PA high rainfall event

2017

2016

October 20-21: Flooding Across Regions of PA
October 21: Northern Central Pennsylvania Flooding Event

2015

2014

2013

2012

2011

March 10 - March 13: Flooding of March 10-13
April 16: River Flooding of April 16th
First Week of September: Historical Flooding from Tropical Storm Lee in Central PA
Harrisburg Setting Rainfall Records: Harrisburg Sets Annual and September Rainfall Record

2010

January 24-25: Late January 2010 Flooding
August 12: Flash Flooding Event of August 12th
September 30 - October 1: Flooding of September 30th and October 1st
Nov 31st - Dec 1st: Early December Flooding

2009

January 6-8: Ice and Heavy Rainfall Event
July 23: Heavy Rain, Flooding from storms

2008

September 27-28: Heavy Rain Event from Thunderstorms

2007

2006

Late June 2006: Late June Flooding
September 1-2: Flooding Regarding Remnants of Tropical Storm Ernesto

2005

April 2-5: Heavy Rainfall and Late Snow Event

2004

2003

June 13: York County Flash Flooding Event

2002

2001

2000

Historic

January 1996: The Winter Flood of January 1996
July 19, 1977: Johnstown Flood of 1977
September 30, 1911: Austin Dam Break and Flood
May 31, 1889: Great Johnstown Flood of 1889

Winter Storms

The following summaries cover "significant" or widespread winter storms. Heavy snow, sleet, freezing rain, and blizzards can be found in these summaries. If the event focused on wind chills, it will be found under the "Heat / Cold" section.

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2026

January 24-26: January 24–26, 2026 Winter Storm

2025

February 6: Freezing Rain and Sleet Event Across Central PA
February 15-17: Wintery Mixed Precipitation and High Winds in Central PA

2024

2023

2022

2021

January 1: Freezing Rain Event Across Central PA

2020

November 30 - December 2: Lake Effect Snow Effect
December 16-17: Snowstorm Across Central PA

2019

2018

March 20-21: Major Late-season Snow Storm
November 21: Winter Weather and Snow Squalls

2017

2016

January 22-23: South Central Pennsylvania Blizzard
December 30: Winter Weather and Snow Squalls

2015

2014

November 27-28: Nor'easter impacts Central PA and northeast US
December 11-12: Snowstorm

2013

November 24: Lake Effect Snow in Central PA
December 8: Snowfall near the Mason-Dixon Line

2012

January 20 - January 21: Snow Event of Jan 20 and 21
April 22 - April 24: Late April 2012 Snowfall
December 26: Heavy Snow in Southeastern PA

2011

February 20 - February 21: February 20-21 Snow Event
October 29: October 29th Record Snowfall

2010

February 6: February 6th Snow Storm
February 10: February 10th Snow Storm

2009

January 6-8: Ice and Heavy Rainfall Event
January 10: Heavy Snow Event in central PA
January 27-28: Snow and Ice Event
February 3-4: Mesoscale Heavy Snow in Lancaster
March 1-2: Coastal Low Heavy Snow Event
October 15-16: Very Early Heavy Snow Event

2008

January 1: New Years Light Snowfall
February 12: Winter Storm, Heaviest Snow in Laurels
February 20: Clipper Snowfall Event
February 22: Long-Duration Winter Storm, Snow and Wintry Mix
February 26-27: Yet Another Messy Winter Storm
February 29 - March 1: Leap Day Clipper System
March 22: Quick Alberta Clipper System
November 20-22: Lake Effect from Arctic Outbreak
December 11-12: First Widespread System of 2008-2009 Winter
December 16: Winter Storm of Snow and Ice
December 24: Christmas Eve Ice Storm

2007

February 13-14: Valentine's Day Storm
March 16-17: Late Season Nor'Easter
November 17-18: Early Season Snowfall Event
December 2-3: Snow and Ice Storm
December 5: First Alberta Clipper of the Season
December 13: Widespread Winter Storm, Snow and Ice

2006

2005

December 9: Widespread Snow Event
December 15: Widespread Snow-Sleet Event

2004

2003

February 16-17: President's Day Winter Storm of 2003

2002

2001

2000

Historic

March 13, 1993: Superstorm of 1993

Extreme Heat & Cold

The following summaries cover "significant" or widespread high heat or extreme cold. Dangerous wind chills and life threatening heat indices can be found in these summaries. If the extreme temperatures were associated with a summer or winter storm, it may be found under the "Thunderstorms & Tornadoes" or "Winter" sections. These events tend to more "rare" compared to others, and has not been broken into yearly sections. If wished, that can be done here also (copy and past a snippet of yearly code from another section, then repeat as needed).

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2023

2022

2021

2020

January 11: Record Warm Event
May 9: Record Cold in Central PA

2019

2018

2017

2016

2015

2014

2013

May 15: Dramatic Temperature Rise in Central PA

2012

May 2012: 5th Warmest on Record for Harrisburg and Williamsport

2011

2010

2009

January 17: Coldest Morning in at least a decade
April 25-27: Mid-Summer-Like Pattern, Early Heatwave

2008

January 7-8 : January Thaw, Record Warmth

2007

October 1-31: Warmest October for Harrisburg and Williamsport

2006

2005

2004

2003

2002

2001

2000

Historic

Winds

The following summaries cover events that had high wind gusts, not necessarily associated with thunderstorms.

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2023

2022

2021

2020

2019

2018

2017

2016

September 18: Wind Damage in Lycoming County

2015

2014

2013

2012

2011

2010

2009

February 11-12: Strong Cold Front, Sustained Damaging Wind gusts

2008

2007

December 23: Strong Wind Event

2006

2005

2004

2003

2002

2001

2000

Historic

Other Events

The following summaries cover events that don't fall under the other categories - such as high wind events (not associated with thunderstorms). Other atmospheric events, such as auroras, may be found here.

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