Central PA Summer 2026 Discussion/Obs Thread

[mahantango#1]

 

Flood Watch National Weather Service State College PA 210 AM EDT Thu Jul 9 2026 PAZ056-057-059-063>066-091915- /O.NEW.KCTP.FA.A.0006.260709T1600Z-260710T0400Z/ /00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/ Perry-Dauphin-Lebanon-Cumberland-Adams-York-Lancaster- Including the cities of Carlisle, Newport, Lancaster, Gettysburg, York, Lebanon, Harrisburg, and Hershey 210 AM EDT Thu Jul 9 2026

...FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT FROM NOON EDT TODAY THROUGH THIS EVENING... * WHAT...Flash flooding caused by excessive rainfall is possible. * WHERE...A portion of central Pennsylvania, including the following counties, Adams, Cumberland, Dauphin, Lancaster, Lebanon, Perry and York. * WHEN...From noon EDT today through this evening. * IMPACTS...Excessive runoff may result in flooding of rivers, creeks, streams, and other low-lying and flood-prone locations. Creeks and streams may rise out of their banks. Flooding may occur in poor drainage and urban areas. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS... - Multiple rounds of slow moving thunderstorms will be capable of producing torrential downpours, with rain rates potentially exceeding 2 inches per hour. While there is still some uncertainty regarding where the heaviest rainfall will occur, scattered instances of flash flooding will be possible. - http://www.weather.gov/safety/flood PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... You should monitor later forecasts and be prepared to take action should Flash Flood Warnings be issued. && $$ Bauco/Lambrech

 

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service State College PA
408 AM EDT Thu Jul 9 2026

PAZ057-059-065-066-100815-
Dauphin-Lebanon-York-Lancaster-
408 AM EDT Thu Jul 9 2026

...FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT FROM NOON EDT TODAY THROUGH THIS EVENING...

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for central Pennsylvania.

.DAY ONE...Today and tonight.

Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to
weather.gov/StateCollege on the internet for more
information about the following hazards.

   Flood Watch.

Showers and thunderstorms will produce very heavy rainfall that may
lead to flash flooding. A few storms may produce strong to severe
wind gusts.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday.

Showers and thunderstorms may produce heavy rainfall on Friday.
Isolated instances of flash flooding will be possible.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotters are encouraged to report significant hazardous weather.

[pawatch]

69 for the low. DP 67

Looks like people in the southern tier might see some serious storms today.

[Jns2183]

Heavy heavy rain in camp hill. These little cells are hyper efficient rain producers. I have a feeling the main issue today is going to be some bad flooding. The whole atmosphere is primed that way. Any storm damage is going to come from wet microbursts, but any wind is bad with weakend trees, now a wet upper soil. Uprooted trees are going to happen with any semi significant wind. Hopefully the bigger wind issues stay south today. I'll gladly take my chances with 5" of rain vs even a 40mph gust today

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[Blizzard of 93]

32 minutes ago, Jns2183 said:

Heavy heavy rain in camp hill. These little cells are hyper efficient rain producers. I have a feeling the main issue today is going to be some bad flooding. The whole atmosphere is primed that way. Any storm damage is going to come from wet microbursts, but any wind is bad with weakend trees, now a wet upper soil. Uprooted trees are going to happen with any semi significant wind. Hopefully the bigger wind issues stay south today. I'll gladly take my chances with 5" of rain vs even a 40mph gust today

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This morning shower was an over performer in Marysville with .60 of rain already today.

[Jns2183]

This morning shower was an over performer in Marysville with .60 of rain already today.

They all are going to be like that today. The AFD kept hammering how efficient the warm rain process will be today with tall skinny cape and warm clouds up to 11k ft. A little blob is going to put down a whole lot of rain. Someone is going to see 2"-5" today.

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[Mount Joy Snowman]

Low of 71 with a rounded-up .01” of rain from a brief early morning mini shower. Late this afternoon could get very interesting around here. 

[Jns2183]

I'm hoping we can get some steady rain. These fast downpours suck due to run off which does nothing to recharge groundwater

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[Jns2183]

Pure swamp ass outside

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[Itstrainingtime]

I JUST Missed this morning's fun. Nothing measurable here...yet. 

@Jns2183 that heat wave graph is phenomenal! 1988 isn't talked about a whole lot, I remember that July very well. 2 extreme heat waves separated by just a few days. That summer couldn't end soon enough.

[canderson]

I did not expect heavy rain this am. But got nearly 3/4”. 

[Jns2183]

I did. It expect heavy rain this am. But got nearly 3/4”. 

I just got nicked so managed .05" but it happened in 3 mins which is 1" per hour rates

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[Jns2183]

I'm excited for this little toy to add to my sensor network. Hopefully will be here in a week. After that I'll have just about all the bases covered from ultrasonic winds to two rain gauges (one tipping bucket), to lightning detector, soil moisture at 5cm/30cm, soil temperature at 5cm along with conductivity, an indoor air quality sensor that has readings available at the 1, 2.5, 5, 10 ug level and CO2. The only little toys left are an evapotranspiration detector on back order that is sold as a "leaf wetness" detector and a really cool laser measurement one that is technically for water tanks but can be converted to snow measurement. That last one is so tempting but I feel like I would just be burning $70 with how little snow we've been getting around here.

What I really need to do is get over my fear of heights a bit more so I can move my main sensor from 15 ft up to 25 ft

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[ChescoWx]

A flood watch is in effect through midnight for the potential of some heavy rain. Some isolated spots could see the rain fall at 1" to 2" per hour. No doubt with our rain deficit let's hope we all see some beneficial rain today! Additional shower chances tomorrow before we start to clear out on Saturday. Today will be our 4th straight day with below normal temperatures this should continue through the weekend before we warm to normal on Tuesday in the mid-80's and above normal with near 90 by Wednesday. It looks like great weather for the All-Star Game in Philly next week.

[Jns2183]

I also bought a good manual rain gauge so that I could start reporting to https://www.cocorahs.org/

I implore everyone here to start that. This area is hurting for people and it would actually make a real difference since there data is ingested for model verification.

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[Superstorm]

Looks like storms are starting to fire up.


.

[Jns2183]

My forcast went to zilch

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[Voyager]

Out of area, but I'm at work. The sun came out here in Allentown, and it got instantly hot and humid...

[Itstrainingtime]

Northern York county seems to be ground zero right now. 

[Voyager]

35 minutes ago, Voyager said:

Out of area, but I'm at work. The sun came out here in Allentown, and it got instantly hot and humid...

I really wish it had stayed overcast. This right now is nasty.

[Mount Joy Snowman]

That narrow band through northern York/Lanc Counties the last couple hours has really been something to behold, as it drifts ever so slowly.  It's finally drooping down to my neck of the woods and seems imminent to start pouring as the thunder rolls.  Gonna be some big totals, I reckon. 

[Mount Joy Snowman]

Incredible wind and rain here right now, wow!

[Itstrainingtime]

18 minutes ago, Mount Joy Snowman said:

Incredible wind and rain here right now, wow!

Station at home shows .61" of rain. Dear wife says absolutely no wind during the cell. 

[Yardstickgozinya]

The furthest northeast tip of York Co did not get hit we just got missed here earlier, but there's a few more small cells popping up around me now. 

[Superstorm]

Lancaster city about to get pounded


.

[Superstorm]

Flash flood warnings going up


.

[Jns2183]

The furthest northeast tip of York Co did not get hit we just got missed here earlier, but there's a few more small cells popping up around me now. 

Laid out outflow boundary and orgraphic lift did rest for new cell development

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[Jns2183]

About to be some major convergence of cells

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[Yardstickgozinya]

17 minutes ago, Jns2183 said:

Laid out outflow boundary and orgraphic lift did rest for new cell development

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I can smell the rain.dark clouds, east-west, north and south, but nothing here at my house. looks like I might get fringed again but that elongated cell just to my south might be able to get up here and help me out a little bit. 

[canderson]

I think I need to a boat to leave my office 

[mahantango#1]

I'm missing out on the rain. Had .09 this morning tean it got hot. I hope i can cash in o. Some beneficial rain.