PA Weather: Thunderstorms, Heavy Rain, Tornadoes Possible

PENNSYLVANIA - Severe thunderstorms are heading towards the Keystone State again, bringing with it the potential for heavy rain, damaging winds, large hail and even tornadoes Saturday, forecasters said.

Showers and thunderstorms will be possible across Pennsylvania starting Saturday afternoon and lingering through the wee hours of Sunday morning, the National Weather Service said. Localized flash flooding is also in the cards.

Given the recent rainfall in the region, it won’t take much for flash flooding to take over some small streams, AccuWeather Meteorologist Alex DaSilva said, adding that downpours lasting more than a few minutes can result in street and poor-drainage area flooding.

The greatest threat for severe weather will be in northeast Pennsylvania and northern New Jersey.

"While the primary threat is from damaging winds, hail and even an isolated tornado or two are possible," the National Weather Service State College Station said.

Portions of northeast PA and northern NJ are now under an Enhanced Risk for severe weather this afternoon and tonight. Damaging winds, large hail, and tornadoes will be possible with storms that become severe later today. Make sure you have multiple ways to receive warnings! pic.twitter.com/F9dqSObY0E
— NWS Mount Holly (@NWS_MountHolly) August 12, 2023

Showers and thunderstorms will develop today, and some of the storms could become severe this afternoon into this evening. While the primary threat is from damaging winds, hail and even an isolated tornado or two are possible. #ctpwx pic.twitter.com/SQuqSZlGCd
— NWS State College (@NWSStateCollege) August 12, 2023

As of 11:30 a.m., all 67 Pennsylvania counties are under a hazardous weather outlook due to possible flooding, which could continue through Monday.

“Several instances of flooding are possible on Monday, especially in urban and poor-drainage areas and near particularly vulnerable small creeks and streams,” the weather service said.

Precipitation will continue through around 7 a.m. Sunday. The forecast for the entire state will gradually become sunny with a high near 84 degrees, forecasters said.

Monday will see partly sunny skies with a high near 80 before severe thunderstorms return Monday night, the weather service said. Flooding downpours, damaging wind gusts up to 70 mph and isolated tornadoes are all possible.

Here’s the latest forecast around Pennsylvania, per the National Weather Service:

Saturday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Some of the storms could be severe. Partly sunny, with a high near 88. Southwest wind 10 to 13 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40 percent. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Saturday Night: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before 8 p.m., then showers and thunderstorms likely between 8 p.m. and 2 a.m., then a chance of showers after 2 a.m. Some of the storms could be severe. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 67. Southwest wind 5 to 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Sunday: A chance of showers before 8 a.m. Sunny, with a high near 84. Northwest wind 8 to 11 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 62. Northwest wind 3 to 6 mph.

Monday: A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2 p.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 81. North wind 6 to 9 mph becoming south in the morning. Chance of precipitation is 20 percent.

Monday Night: Showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 8 p.m. Low around 67. Chance of precipitation is 80 percent. New rainfall amounts between three quarters and one inch possible.