STATE COLLEGE, PA — A tornado warning issued Sunday night for parts of southeastern Lancaster County and southeastern York County has expired after a severe thunderstorm moved through South-Central Pennsylvania. The National Weather Service in State College said the storm showed rotation and was capable of producing a tornado.
At 8:53 p.m., forecasters said the storm was over Sunnyburn and moving east at 35 mph, with ping pong ball-sized hail and torrential rain.
Where did the storm move through?
The storm was tracked near Holtwood around 9 p.m. and near Wakefield around 9:10 p.m. Other communities in the warning area included Buck, Peach Bottom, Little Britain, Airville and Susquehanna Trails.
Route 222 from the Maryland border to Quarryville was also included in the alert area, placing a wide stretch of road and nearby towns under the warning.
What hazards were officials warning about?
Officials said the rainfall could make it hard to see or hear a tornado, which is why residents were urged not to wait for visual confirmation before taking shelter. The storm also raised concerns about flash flooding because of the heavy rain falling with it.
The maximum hail size was estimated at 1.50 inches, a level that can damage vehicles, roofs and crops if it falls heavily enough.
How do watches and warnings differ?
Weather officials use watches to signal that conditions are favorable for severe weather, while warnings mean dangerous weather is happening and action should be taken immediately. The warning Sunday night followed that standard approach, with radar showing rotation inside the thunderstorm.
Forecasters also note that outlooks can be issued days ahead of time to show where the risk is highest and help people prepare before watches or warnings are posted.
What should residents do during severe weather alerts?
Emergency guidance from weather officials uses a simple sequence: be ready when severe weather is possible, get set when a watch is issued and go when a warning is issued. In a warning, the advice is to take cover right away and protect yourself, others and property.
That message is especially important when storms move quickly and visibility drops because of rain, hail or debris.
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