PA Severe Weather Awareness
Pennsylvania is home to various types of weather, but the most damaging is often tied to thunderstorms. Most typical in the spring and summer months, thunderstorms can occur any time of the year, with hazards ranging from tornadoes to flooding rain.
The National Weather Service issues watches and warnings for severe thunderstorms with the potential to produce tornadoes, damaging wind and large hail.
Severe Thunderstorm Watch:
A watch is issued for a large geographical area (multiple counites) over a several-hour period when conditions are ripe for severe weather. Think about having all the ingredients for a cupcake, but they haven’t been mixed yet, so naturally, you don’t have a yummy, delicious cupcake. Forecasters must feel confident that all ingredients for severe weather are present to issue a watch, but storms have yet to form or have not reached the watch area.
When a severe thunderstorm watch is issued, you should prepare for the onset of severe weather within a few hours. Consider curtailing outdoor events and plans and have access to weather information, including tv, radio and phone applications, in addition to an NOAA weather radio. Stay close to a safe shelter.
Watch Stat: Between 2006 and 2021, Pennsylvania averages 33 severe thunderstorm watches per year.
Severe Thunderstorm Warning:
A warning is issued for a smaller geographic area for a shorter period of time when severe weather is occurring or imminent. The warning is typically issued for only one or a few counties for a half-hour to an hour. Using the baking analogy, your cupcakes are baked now and you’re ready to eat them (it’s no longer a thought, it’s happening).
Severe thunderstorms are warned when a storm is capable of producing any one of the following:
- Damaging wind in excess of 58 mph,
- Hail of at least one-inch diameter (size of a quarter), or
- The potential to produce a tornado.
Note, lightning is not warned, as it is an indirect hazard of any thunderstorm. All warnings should be taken seriously. Head to a sturdy interior room away from doors and windows to ride out the storm and don’t go outdoors until a half-hour after the last rumble of thunder.
Warning Stat: Between 1990 and 2021, Pennsylvania averages roughly 460 severe thunderstorm warnings a year. In 2021, we peaked at 803 severe thunderstorm warnings!
