Central PA Summer 2026 Discussion/Obs Thread

[mahantango#1]

 

PA Weather Plus,

 

** PENNSYLVANIA TORNADO COUNT 2026 **

Pennsylvania is now up to 41 confirmed tornadoes for 2026! An EF2 tornado has been confirmed in eastern York County and an EF1 in western Lancaster County from the severe thunderstorms this past Thursday, August 20th. It has been quite the severe weather season, and we are not done yet, with strong storms expected throughout the weekend. The 41 tornadoes are the 3rd most recorded in the state, followed by 44 in 2021 and 59 in 1998.

To put it into more perspective, Pennsylvania has seen more tornadoes than Nebraska (37) and Texas (33), and we are not far behind Kansas (44) and Oklahoma (47). How do you feel that Pennsylvania is ranking up with some of the traditional 'Tornado Alley' states?

[Mount Joy Snowman]

Low of 63 with .59” of rainfall from the overnight line of storms. This month is starting to climb the record books for me. I’ll check my spreadsheet tomorrow but I think I’m over 13” for the month. Should be a beautiful few days ahead. We are hitting the river today. 

[pawatch]

68 degrees for the low.
1.22” of rain over night. 5.82” of rain for the week.

[Superstorm]

0.81” of rain today.


.

[ChescoWx]

Per our new ChescoWx model some great weather ahead with below normal highs through Tuesday with highs ranging from the low to mid 70's through Tuesday and then upper 70's through next weekend. Comfortable lows in the 50's through Wednesday morning before low 60's through the weekend. Our only rain chances look to be Thursday into Thursday night.

[TheDreamTraveler]

3 hours ago, mahantango#1 said:

 

PA Weather Plus,

 

** PENNSYLVANIA TORNADO COUNT 2026 **

Pennsylvania is now up to 41 confirmed tornadoes for 2026! An EF2 tornado has been confirmed in eastern York County and an EF1 in western Lancaster County from the severe thunderstorms this past Thursday, August 20th. It has been quite the severe weather season, and we are not done yet, with strong storms expected throughout the weekend. The 41 tornadoes are the 3rd most recorded in the state, followed by 44 in 2021 and 59 in 1998.

To put it into more perspective, Pennsylvania has seen more tornadoes than Nebraska (37) and Texas (33), and we are not far behind Kansas (44) and Oklahoma (47). How do you feel that Pennsylvania is ranking up with some of the traditional 'Tornado Alley' states?

Thankfully in terms of ranking we don't rank with tornado alley in intensity. Anything over EF3 is usually pretty rare in most of the state and slightly less rare in the western half. Still very impressive. We might be able to beat 2021 but 1998 might be hard to beat unless the fall season is very active

[TheDreamTraveler]

I'm pretty sure when I checked yesterday there wasn't a chance for showers or thunderstorms today yet there's a storm coming right for me lmao these forecasts are actual trash now

[canderson]

1 hour ago, TheDreamTraveler said:

I'm pretty sure when I checked yesterday there wasn't a chance for showers or thunderstorms today yet there's a storm coming right for me lmao these forecasts are actual trash now

Two-plus years of eliminating funding, closing offices and firing experts has consequences. 

[canderson]

Whatever that little cell that went overhead dropped zero rain. 

[mahantango#1]

3 hours ago, TheDreamTraveler said:

Thankfully in terms of ranking we don't rank with tornado alley in intensity. Anything over EF3 is usually pretty rare in most of the state and slightly less rare in the western half. Still very impressive. We might be able to beat 2021 but 1998 might be hard to beat unless the fall season is very active

You right. And thankfully that most of thse wernt long tracked tornados through urban and city areas.

[Yardstickgozinya]

7 hours ago, TheDreamTraveler said:

I'm pretty sure when I checked yesterday there wasn't a chance for showers or thunderstorms today yet there's a storm coming right for me lmao these forecasts are actual trash now

It was in the nws forecast discussion, and SPC had a good chunk of the area highlighted for marginal risk of severe thunderstorms today for the past several days and had all of pennsylvania included in the thunderstorm outlook, other than that, I never heard it mentioned either. I actually had two thunderstorms here today, about two hours apart.