SkyWarn™ Spotters: Please use the 800 number

Learn more about SkyWarn™

Fill in a Form
to Submit Your Report:

Send an email to:

ctp.stormreports@noaa.gov

Use Social Media:

We are always monitoring

 Facebook

and

X 

use hashtag: #PAwx

or, just CALL US DIRECTLY   @   814.954.6440

LATEST SUMMARIES AND REPORTS:

See a video on how to properly measure snowfall 

Please Report:

We ask our SkyWarn™ Spotters to contact our office when they experience any of the events listed below.

Cold-Season (Winter) criteria:

• Snowfall
  • When (new) snow accumulation reaches 3 inches
  • When (new) snow accumulation reaches 6 inches
  • Give a final report/total at the end of the storm (water equivalent if possible)
  • 1 inch per hour or greater accumulation rates
• Ice
  • Any occurrance, or accumulation, of freezing rain
  • Accumulation of 1/4" or more of ice on trees/wires
• General Winter Reports
  • When forecast winter precipitation differs significantly from observed (i.e. snowing with no snow in forecast, sleet...when only snow is forecast...)
  • Any other significant weather occurrence/oddity (i.e. flooding due to snow melt/ice jam, damage from strong winds not associated with a thunderstorm)

Warm-season (Thunderstorms) criteria:

• Tornadoes or funnel clouds (be very wary of look-alikes; watch for rotation)
• Wall clouds, especially if they are rotating
• Hail (Please be specific with regard to size)

  Other sizes/descriptions to use for hail:
  
  * Pea 0.25 inch
  
  * Penny 0.75 inch
  
  * Nickel 0.88 inch
  
  * Quarter 1.00 inch (15/16")
  
  * Half dollar 1.25 inch
  
  * Walnut/Ping Pong 1.50 inch
  
  * Golf ball 1.75 inch
  
  * Lime 2.00 inches
  
  * Tennis Ball 2.50 inches
  
  * Baseball 2.75 inches
  
  * Large Apple 3.00 inches
  
  * Softball 4.00 inches
  
  * Grapefruit 4.50 inches
  

  • Quarter-Size (1") and larger is severe!
• Wind Gusts (40 mph or greater; specify whether estimated or recorded)
  • large branches downed (specify diameter of branch)
  • Trees/power lines downed
  • Structural damage to buildings (roof, windows, etc.)
• Rainfall
  • 1 inch or greater in an hour (NOT a 1"/hr. rate for 10 minutes)
  • 2 inches or greater storm total
• Flooding
  • Streams/Rivers -- also, when nearing bankfull
  • Street (when more than the usual poor drainage puddles)