Central PA Spring 2026 Discussion/Obs Thread

[canderson]

Pretty concerned with the 2”+ rain and tomorrow very strong winds. Could see some trees fall. 

[Mount Joy Snowman]

So, I just went to the highest point close to my house (Ironville Park at ~700') and sure enough got to see the transition from sleet to big wet snowflakes.  Was snowing pretty good up there when I left, with still some sleet mixing in and obviously not laying, but cool nonetheless.  Figured it may be the last time for the season (although also may not be ha) so wanted to find some elevation.  Earlier when I took the kids to school there was just some sleet mixing in as I drove over the ridge towards Mountville.  Cold air really advecting in well.   

Since midnight my high was 63 with a low of 38 occurring right now.  I'll get a gauge reading on total liquid later when things wrap up.  Not much activity around here last evening as most of the good stuff scooted by me but nice to see the discussion on that impressive cell north of Harrisburg yesterday.  Onward.

[CarlislePaWx]

I wasn't sorry to see what those impressive pictures were showing to my north.  I wonder if NWS will investigate?  I guess they always do whenever a tornado touches down.  I recorded 0.09" since midnight, 0.43" yesterday with about half that occurring in the morning and the rest in the evening.  2-day storm total of 0.52", and now 1.94" total liquid for the month.  The heaviest rain appears to have bypassed me both to the north and to the south.  Blue mountain causes unexpected things (weather-related) to happen.  The worst for me is down sloping of any snow shower activity that just dries up frequently.

[CarlislePaWx]

So far this morning here in Carlisle...the radar continues to show precip overhead with the rain about to transition over to snow.  However, it's all virga.  Nothing is reaching the ground.  Temperature continues to slowly drop, and is now down to 38.5 degrees.  Winds are gusty.

[Itstrainingtime]

44 minutes ago, Mount Joy Snowman said:

So, I just went to the highest point close to my house (Ironville Park at ~700') and sure enough got to see the transition from sleet to big wet snowflakes.  Was snowing pretty good up there when I left, with still some sleet mixing in and obviously not laying, but cool nonetheless.  Figured it may be the last time for the season (although also maybe not be ha) so wanted to find some elevation.  Earlier when I took the kids to school there was just some sleet mixing in as I drove over the ridge towards Mountville.  Cold air really advecting in well.   

Since midnight my high was 63 with a low of 38 occurring right now.  I'll get a gauge reading on total liquid later when things wrap up.  Not much activity around here last evening as most of the good stuff scooted by me but nice to see the discussion on that impressive cell north of Harrisburg yesterday.  Onward.

I had slush on my car at home this morning. On my drive to work it was snowing on Chickies and it's snowing here on top of Turkey Hill right now. 

.82" of rain since yesterday. 

[Itstrainingtime]

3 hours ago, anotherman said:

Just the fact that we may see snow is unbelievable after the last three days.  Feels so much better out there today.

I was literally dancing in the office this morning much to the chagrin of everyone else. I feel like a new lease on life with how it feels outside right now. 

[Itstrainingtime]

Snow falling and beginning to accumulate in parts of MD and VA now, pretty much spot on where it was modeled. You can even see that heavier band congealing in that area on this radar loop:

 https://weather.cod.edu/satrad/nexrad/?parms=LWX-N0B-1-24-100-usa-rad

Hills in southern York and Lancaster counties are going to turn white if they haven't already. 

[canderson]

Harrisburg set another record high yesterday (79). 
 

I’ve had 2” rain. 

[Mount Joy Snowman]

35 minutes ago, canderson said:

Harrisburg set another record high yesterday (79). 
 

I’ve had 2” rain. 

Yeah I thought the max min record of 49 might be broken too but it fell one degree short. 

[Superstorm]

I’m at my house in CT, but my ring camera at my apartment in PA shows it is snowing.


.

[pasnownut]

17 minutes ago, Superstorm said:

I’m at my house in CT, but my ring camera at my apartment in PA shows it is snowing.


.

Not sure if Etown has seen a flake yet.  

Well there is one here everyday but I do not count. 

Crazy how just W and S of here is getting in on it, and nada here...so far.

[Itstrainingtime]

6 minutes ago, pasnownut said:

Not sure if Etown has seen a flake yet.  

Well there is one here everyday but I do not count. 

Crazy how just W and S of here is getting in on it, and nada here...so far.

Not enough intensity up that way. I noticed it on the drive to work...the precip is heavier south of Rt. 30 and it's been just enough to flip it over from time to time. 

Pouring snow down in parts of Maryland and Virginia under the most intense bands. 

[pasnownut]

3 minutes ago, Itstrainingtime said:

Not enough intensity up that way. I noticed it on the drive to work...the precip is heavier south of Rt. 30 and it's been just enough to flip it over from time to time. 

Pouring snow down in parts of Maryland and Virginia under the most intense bands. 

Yeah.  as you suggested fringe folks dont have the rates for flippage.  I expected nothing as I shared yesterday, but some mood flakes always make me smile...no matter when I see em.  

Save a snowball for me down on Turk hill

 

[Mount Joy Snowman]

24 minutes ago, Itstrainingtime said:

Not enough intensity up that way. I noticed it on the drive to work...the precip is heavier south of Rt. 30 and it's been just enough to flip it over from time to time. 

Pouring snow down in parts of Maryland and Virginia under the most intense bands. 

Yeah I made sure to time my trip to Ironville Park atop the hill earlier so that it coincided with a nice band moving through, so that I got the benefit of rates and elevation.  Here at my house, just a few scattered flakes or flurries throughout the late morning.  

[Itstrainingtime]

52 minutes ago, pasnownut said:

Yeah.  as you suggested fringe folks dont have the rates for flippage.  I expected nothing as I shared yesterday, but some mood flakes always make me smile...no matter when I see em.  

Save a snowball for me down on Turk hill

 

 

14 minutes ago, Mount Joy Snowman said:

Yeah I made sure to time my trip to Ironville Park atop the hill earlier so that it coincided with a nice band moving through, so that I got the benefit of rates and elevation.  Here at my house, just a few scattered flakes or flurries throughout the late morning.  

Pictures being posted in the MA thread are something else - a lot of white landscapes in areas that were around 70 degrees at 6am this morning. 

[Superstorm]

Pictures being posted in the MA thread are something else - a lot of white landscapes in areas that were around 70 degrees at 6am this morning. 

That is awesome


.

[Itstrainingtime]

58 minutes ago, Superstorm said:

That is awesome


.

Yesterday in Richmond, the high was 88 degrees. At 6am this morning it was 74. They are currently reporting Heavy Snow and 32 degrees. Roads are covered. Already up to 2" on grassy surfaces. Yesterday it was legit hot. 

Incredible. 

[Itstrainingtime]

[Itstrainingtime]

Can you imagine leaving for work in the morning with temps in the mid 70s and then driving home in full-on winter driving conditions 8 hours later? 

[Voyager]

2 hours ago, pasnownut said:

Not sure if Etown has seen a flake yet.  

Well there is one here everyday but I do not count. 

Crazy how just W and S of here is getting in on it, and nada here...so far.

Hey, I was just in Etown a couple hours ago. We drop/hook dirty for sanitized tankers at Quala on Industrial Rd.

[Itstrainingtime]

1 minute ago, Voyager said:

Hey, I was just in Etown a couple hours ago. We drop/hook dirty for sanitized tankers at Quala on Industrial Rd.

Ah yes, right across from the Conewago Trail where my wife and I often walk. I know exactly where you were. 

[pasnownut]

8 minutes ago, Voyager said:

Hey, I was just in Etown a couple hours ago. We drop/hook dirty for sanitized tankers at Quala on Industrial Rd.

Drove through the industrial park yesterday 

[Mount Joy Snowman]

Today is a classic example of how deceiving the record books can be.  Everyone who is experiencing today thinks it's a brutal day -- daytime temps stuck in the 30s, overcast, biting winds, rain/sleet/snow, etc........and yet, because it was 60 degrees at midnight it will go in the books as a way above average temperature day ha.  This effect is even more pronounced as you head south through the mid-atlantic, as @Itstrainingtime alluded to.

[Mount Joy Snowman]

Total qpf here of .48”. 

[canderson]

21 minutes ago, Mount Joy Snowman said:

Total qpf here of .48”. 

If this had been snow you might have killed me in my sleep. 

[Yardstickgozinya]

Not even a hail report with yesterday's supercell. That looked to be one of the most  intense hail cores I've seen in these parts in a few years. I think the location of this storm during its peak played a big role in the lack of storm reports. It couldn't have taken a better path to absolutely affect nobody. I don't have the circle placed perfectly but it's very close. 

 

https://www.spc.noaa.gov/climo/reports/yesterday.html

[Yardstickgozinya]

Not even a hail report with yesterday's supercell. That looked to be one of the most  intense hail cores I've seen in these parts in a few years. I think the location of this storm during its peak played a big role in the lack of storm reports. It couldn't have taken a better path to absolutely affect nobody. I don't have the circle placed perfectly but it's very close.

 

https://www.spc.noaa.gov/climo/reports/yesterday.html