Destructive Thunderstorms Pummel Central Pennsylvania With 80 MPH Winds
Severe thunderstorms with 80 mph winds and quarter-size hail tear across central Pennsylvania, prompting warnings of extensive damage and power outages.
STATE COLLEGE, PENNSYLVANIA — Severe thunderstorm warnings cover central Pennsylvania this afternoon as storms with 80 mph wind gusts and quarter-size hail move through the region, prompting meteorologists to warn of “destructive storms” capable of causing extensive damage.
The National Weather Service in State College issued an urgent warning at 3:57 PM for Bedford County, Fulton County, and southern Huntingdon County, where radar detected severe thunderstorms moving east at 65 mph. The warning remains in effect until 5:00 PM.
“THESE IS A LINE OF DESTRUCTIVE STORMS,” meteorologists warned, emphasizing the severity of conditions across south central Pennsylvania.
Multiple Counties Under Threat
At 3:56 PM, the storm line extended from Ogletown to near Cessna to near Bedford to Buffalo Mills to near Lake Gordon to near La Vale. The system threatens numerous communities including Bedford, Breezewood, Warfordsburg, Clearville, New Enterprise, Everett, McConnellsburg, Osterburg, Harrisonville, Big Cove Tannery, and Crystal Springs.
Weather service officials warn that flying debris will pose extreme danger to anyone caught without shelter. Mobile homes face heavy damage while considerable damage to roofs, windows, and vehicles is expected throughout the affected areas.
A separate warning issued at 3:52 PM covers areas from Windber to Central City, with storms moving east at 70 mph. This system impacts Somerset, Bedford, Meyersdale, Berlin, Friedens, Central City, Buffalo Mills, Lake Gordon, Cessna, Hyndman, Salisbury, and Hooversville.
Major Transportation Routes Affected
The severe weather directly threatens major transportation corridors across the region. The Pennsylvania Turnpike faces dangerous conditions from mile markers 112 to 148, while Interstate 99 experiences severe weather impacts from mile markers 0 to 5.
Interstate 80 drivers encounter hazardous conditions between the Woodland and Loganton exits, according to weather service alerts.
Additional Warning Zones
Central Pennsylvania faces additional severe weather threats with warnings covering Centre County, southeastern Clearfield County, and southern Clinton County until 5:00 PM. At 3:39 PM, severe thunderstorms moved southeast at 25 mph along a line extending from Keating to Karthaus to Woodland to Rockton.
These storms threaten State College, Lock Haven, Bellefonte, Park Forest Village, Boalsburg, Keating, Pleasant Gap, Philipsburg, Woodland, Lamar, Stormstown, and Lemont with 60 mph wind gusts and penny-size hail.
An additional warning issued at 3:52 PM affects southeastern Centre County, southeastern Clinton County, south central Lycoming County, northeastern Mifflin County, northwestern Northumberland County, northern Snyder County, and Union County until 4:30 PM. A severe thunderstorm located over Mackeyville moves east at 45 mph as part of a developing cluster of dangerous storms.
Communities under this warning include Sunbury, Lock Haven, Milton, Lewisburg, Selinsgrove, Jersey Shore, Northumberland, Mifflinburg, Carroll, Woodward, and Winfield, where residents should expect hail damage to vehicles and wind damage to roofs, siding, and trees.
