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Latest PA Weather Summary:

688
AWUS81 KCTP 032103
RWSCTP
PAZ004>006-010>012-017>019-024>028-033>037-041-042-045-046-
049>053-056>059-063>066-041115-

Regional Weather Summary
National Weather Service State College PA
503 PM EDT Thu Sep 3 2026

Multiple rounds of storms are moving in from the northwest this
afternoon and evening. The first round of scattered storms is
pushing in from Western PA with the subsequent round moving in
from Michigan.

The target area for the heaviest rainfall and gusty winds the rest
of today and into tonight will be across the southwest half of
Pennsylvania, but other scattered areas of heavy rain and gusty
winds are still possible elsewhere across the eastern part of the
state.

A Flash Flood Watch and Severe Thunderstorm Watch are in effect
for all of Central PA, the Laurel Highlands and the Susquehanna
Valley until Midnight tonight, while Heat Advisories are in effect
until early this evening across all of southern PA, with the
exception of the Laurel Highlands.

The chance for showers and thunderstorms lingers into Friday
mostly across western and southern tiers of Pennsylvania with
high temperatures slipping back into the 70s and low 80s.

Temperatures, humidity and the chance for rain will all decrease
as we kick off the long, holiday weekend.

$$

Latest Forecaster's Discussion:

859
FXUS61 KCTP 032341
AFDCTP

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service State College PA
741 PM EDT Thu Sep 3 2026

.WHAT HAS CHANGED...
* Convection timing narrowed.

&&

.KEY MESSAGES...
1) Showers and thunderstorms into tonight can hold heavy rain
and damaging winds. A small chance of tornadoes and hail also
exists. Additional storms possible Friday.

2) Dry weather returns on Saturday and lasts through the
weekend.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
KEY MESSAGE 1: Showers and thunderstorms into tonight can hold
heavy rain and damaging winds. A small chance of tornadoes and
hail also exists. Additional storms possible Friday.

Weak wave crossing LE has been touching off a few TSRA farther
to the west. However, the shallow cu and higher stability
overhead indicate that it`s influence to cause new storms
locally will be low. However, the high humidity and slight
convergence over nrn tier counties will help a couple of tall
cells to build up before 22Z. The main show is shortly
afterward, though. Much stronger short wave trough is moving
through lower MI and should drive a complex of storms through
most/all of the CWA this evening. Arrival in the NW should be
around 22Z and exit to the east of the CWA will be in the
02-03Z range. The strong dynamics and initial curve to the
hodographs in the NW may generate a few supercells. Then, the
vertical wind profile becomes more W-E/linear. That should
result in a more clustered or linear mode, ripe for a bow echo.
70-75F dewpoints and PWAT near 2" this evening (highest S) will
make heavy rain a possibility, too. The risk for flooding still
exists, especially because of the very wet ground due to the
past 36-48hr rainfall. However, the faster the storm motions
are, the lower a risk it could be. The problem this evening is
as it has been - multiple/repeated storm cores moving over the
same spots. Will keep on with the FF Watch thru midnight. Timing
should encompass all of the threat.

Heat index numbers haven`t quite built to the point expected
yet, likely due to the delayed onset of sunshine. But, we`ll
keep the advisory in place until 8 PM as the temps could jump
another 5-6F before it starts to cool off over the S now that
they have nearly full sunshine.

The cool air that the storms this evening generate will help to
nudge a cold front off to our S tonight. But, not very far
south of PA. It won`t take much forcing to fire up SCT-NMRS
storms on Friday. PoPs may be a little high for Fri-Fri night,
but we`ll follow the recent trend toward a wetter forecast.
These will stay closer to the MD border, but isold storms will
form as far as the NY border. SPC outlook has been consitently
worse (SLGT) for the Laurels on Fri.

-------------------------------------------------------

KEY MESSAGE 2: Dry weather returns on Saturday and lasts
through the weekend.

Upper low over New England will close even more and drop a
little to the south as cooler air slides into NY/PA. The cold
front finally gets far enough to our south to keep all the
SHRA/TSRA off to our south on Sat. Other than some morning
valley fog, the wx will be really nice for the holiday weekend.
Highs mainly in the 70s and lows 45-55F both Sat night and Sun
night. Upper ridge inches to the east from the central states
into mid-week. Quiet weather stretch will be welcomed by many.
Next chc precip isn`t until Wed-Thurs.

&&

.AVIATION /00Z FRIDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/...
As of early evening, isolated showers and storms so far. Line
of severe storms across the far southwest likely to still be
brushing the JST area around 00Z, so have strong wind gust in
that TAF.

For other areas, not as strong with wind gust in the tempo
group with storms this evening.

Overnight and early Friday morning, expect CIGS to lower.

Conditions will slowly improve later Friday morning into the
afternoon hours, as slightly drier air trys to edge southward.
Still a chance of a shower or storm, mainly across the south.
Left out of the TAFS for now, as much of the activity could
remain just south of the TAF sites.

Outlook...

Sat-Tue...VFR favored; morning fog possible.

&&

.CTP WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
Flood Watch until midnight EDT tonight for PAZ004>006-010>012-
017>019-024>028-033>037-041-042-045-046-049>053-056>059-
063>066.
Heat Advisory until 8 PM EDT this evening for PAZ026>028-035-
036-056-057-059-063>066.

&&

$$

WHAT HAS CHANGED...Dangelo
KEY MESSAGES...Dangelo
DISCUSSION...Dangelo
AVIATION...Dangelo/Martin

Latest Public Information Statement:

467
NOUS41 KCTP 281746
PNSCTP
PAZ066-282200-

Public Information Statement
National Weather Service State College PA
146 PM EDT Fri Aug 28 2026

...NWS Damage Survey for 08/20/26 Tornado Event - Update #2...

.Update...
Based on additional drone footage, NWS State College has extended
the length of the Columbia EF-1 tornado and added an additional
short EF-0 tornado (now 4 total) from the storms that moved
through southeast PA on August 20, 2026.

..Eastern York County Tornado...

Rating: EF2
Estimated Peak Wind: 120 mph
Path Length /statute/: 1.07 miles
Path Width /maximum/: 100 yards
Fatalities: 0
Injuries: 1

Start Date: 08/20/2026
Start Time: 04:24 PM EDT
Start Location: 2 SSW Wrightsville / York County / PA
Start Lat/Lon: 39.9994 / -76.5521

End Date: 08/20/2026
End Time: 04:26 PM EDT
End Location: 2 SSE Wrightsville / York County / PA
End Lat/Lon: 39.9975 / -76.5323

Survey Summary:
An EF-2 tornado impacted eastern York County during the afternoon
of August 20, 2026. Maximum wind speeds were estimated to be 120
mph and the tornado had a maximum path width of 100 yards. Damage
was first noted near the end of Vista Lane near Wrightsville where
approximately 5 trees were snapped. Sporadic tree damage was
noted along the tornado`s track as it continued towards
Picturesque Drive. The most significant damage occurred at Eastern
York High School where the roof was fully ripped off of multiple
classrooms. There was also significant damage to the school`s
auditorium, with the roof partially ripped off and bricks at the
top of the wall shifted from their original location. The tornado
continued eastward along Winding Way, where multiple homes
sustained damage to windows and siding. One injury was reported as
a result of a window being blown into a house. The tornado
knocked down crops in a field to the east of these houses, before
lifting prior to reaching Chateau Circle.

We would like to thank York County Emergency Management and local
homeowners for their assistance in this damage survey.


..Columbia Tornado...

Rating: EF1
Estimated Peak Wind: 100 mph
Path Length /statute/: 3.01 miles
Path Width /maximum/: 100 yards
Fatalities: 0
Injuries: 0

Start Date: 08/20/2026
Start Time: 04:30 PM EDT
Start Location: Columbia / Lancaster County / PA
Start Lat/Lon: 40.0343 / -76.5015

End Date: 08/20/2026
End Time: 04:33 PM EDT
End Location: 2 SE Columbia / Lancaster County / PA
End Lat/Lon: 40.0031 / -76.4620

Survey Summary:
On August 20, 2026 at approximately 4:30 p.m. EDT, an EF-1 tornado
impacted Columbia, PA. Maximum wind speeds were estimated at 100
mph with a maximum path width of 100 yards. The damage path began
on the block where Walnut Street meets 4th Street. Damage was done
to an old firehouse where a section of the second story brick wall
was knocked down onto Avenue H and a neighboring store. The
firehouse roof and another adjacent roof were torn off and lying
nearby. The tornado continued southeast through town where a
couple small outbuildings were collapsed near Avenue K. Damage
continued down Malt Avenue with many tree limbs snapped and minor
damage to roofs. The tornado then crossed the Columbia Reading
Railway snapping some large trees along Manor Street and Furnace
Avenue. It continued into the wooded area south of town and across
Blue Lane where many trees were found uprooted and snapped.
Additional damage was discovered with numerous trees snapped or
uprooted along the western side of Richland Drive. The tornado
then continued over the ridge to the south of Richland Drive
before crossing over Shultz Road. The tornado then turned left
(toward the southeast) and left a path of convergent damage in a
corn field north of Charlestown Rd. Sporadic damage was observed
downstream of the tornado path on a farm, but it was not
continuous enough to definitely extend the tornado path further.

We would like to thank Lancaster County Emergency Management,
the Columbia Borough Police Department, and students from Millersville
University for their assistance in this damage survey.


.Habecker Rd Tornado...

Rating: EF-0
Estimated Peak Wind: 65 mph
Path Length /statute/: 0.3 miles
Path Width /maximum/: 75 yards
Fatalities: 0
Injuries: 0

Start Date: 08/20/2026
Start Time: 04:37 PM EDT
Start Location: 2 ESE Mountville / Lancaster County / PA
Start Lat/Lon: 40.0271 / -76.402

End Date: 08/20/2026
End Time: 04:37 PM EDT
End Location: 2 ESE Mountville / Lancaster County / PA
End Lat/Lon: 40.0235 / -76.3989

Survey Summary:
A brief EF-0 tornado occurred at 4:37PM EDT on August 20, 2026.
The tornado began northwest of Habecker Church Rd and carved out a
narrow convergent swath of damage in several cornfields as it
moved south-southeast. The tornado began to occlude as it crossed
Habecker Church Rd, after which the path briefly widened and
became a bit less defined. Interestingly, there may have been a
second even more narrow vortex that developed to the east of the
parent vortex (to the left from a storm-relative standpoint) and
joined up with the main circulation near Habecker Church Rd. The
tornado likely lifted as it cycled and subsequently produced more
damage to the northeast as it a crossed a residential area.

We would like to thank students from Millersville University for
their assistance in this damage survey.


..Manor Township Tornado...

Rating: EF0
Estimated Peak Wind: 85 mph
Path Length /statute/: 0.49 miles
Path Width /maximum/: 125 yards
Fatalities: 0
Injuries: 0

Start Date: 08/20/2026
Start Time: 04:38 PM EDT
Start Location: 2 E Mountville / Lancaster County / PA
Start Lat/Lon: 40.0314 / -76.3877

End Date: 08/20/2026
End Time: 04:40 PM EDT
End Location: 2 NW Millersville / Lancaster County / PA
End Lat/Lon: 40.0312 / -76.3784

Survey Summary:
An EF-0 tornado developed over Broadstone Street causing significant
damage to trees and pulling gutters off of homes. The tornado
traveled east partially ripping a roof off of a townhouse as it
crossed Sutherland Road and uprooted additional trees in the
neighborhood. Finally it crossed South Centerville Road snapping
and uprooting numerous trees as it continued east before lifting
over a field.

We would like to thank Lancaster County Emergency Management and
students from Millersville University for their assistance in this
damage survey.


&&

EF Scale: The Enhanced Fujita Scale classifies tornadoes into the
following categories:

EF0.....65 to 85 mph
EF1.....86 to 110 mph
EF2.....111 to 135 mph
EF3.....136 to 165 mph
EF4.....166 to 200 mph
EF5.....>200 mph

NOTE:
The information in this statement is preliminary and subject to
change pending final review of the events and publication in NWS
Storm Data.

$$