State College, PA

Weather Forecast Office

Office Information Page - NWS State College Home Page

U.S. Department of Commerce
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
National Weather Service

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE - Our Mission

The National Weather Service (NWS) provides weather, hydrologic and climate forecasts and warnings for the United States, its territories, adjacent waters and ocean areas for the protection of life and property and enhancement of the national economy. NWS data and products form a national informational data base and infrastructure, which can be used by other government agencies, the private sector, the public and the global community.

NWS FORECAST OFFICE -State College, PA

Take a Virtual Tour of our office!

Serving 33 counties in central Pennsylvania. See a map of our area of responsibility.

The NWS Forecast Office in State College opened its door in May 1993. Presently, there are about 25 employees (see our Staff Page) who serve 33 counties in central Pennsylvania.

The Office Management Team oversees all office activities.

Our Forecasters and Hydrometeorological Technicians work on rotating shifts 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to produce all the forecast and warning products issued by the office. (Incoming meteorological and hydrological data, including river and stream gage information, also are monitored around the clock.)
Forecaster Bill Gartner checks out some data.

Electronic Systems Analyst and Technicians ensure that all electronic equipment is functioning properly.
One of the many complex systems our Electronic Technicians keep running properly - the Automated Surface Observing Stations.

Volunteer Cooperative Weather Observers provide daily local weather and river reports from around central Pennsylvania. This network of volunteer observers is coordinated by the NWS Forecast Office in State College.

PROGRAMS

Forecasts, Watches, Warnings, Advisories and Outlooks
Our most important function is to issue weather forecasts, watches, warnings and advisories for the 33-county service area in central Pennsylvania. Weather forecasts are issued four times daily for every county, with updates as needed. Warnings, advisories, watches and outlooks are issued when hazardous weather is expected or is occurring. Hazardous weather events include tornadoes, severe thunderstorms, flooding, snow and ice storms, high winds, extreme heat and cold, freezes and frosts.
Valentine's Day 2000 Ice storm

Warnings & Advisories: issued when event is occurring or imminent, generally within the next 12 hours.

Watches: issued when event could occur within 12 to 48 hours.

Outlooks (long-term): issued when event could occur beyond 1 or 2 days.

Specialized aviation forecasts tailored for pilots also are issued for the following central Pennsylvania airports: Bradford Regional; Johnstown; Altoona; University Park (State College); Williamsport; and Middletown (Harrisburg).

Warning Coordination and Outreach
To ensure that we remain responsive to the needs of our customers, we support a large warning coordination and outreach program, which is lead by the Warning and Coordination Meteorologist. Among the many program activities, we:
(1) ensure the quality of our products;
(2) ensure that the products are being received by our customers;
and (3) maintain our large volunteer severe weather spotter network, along with public service and education.

Our customers include the general public, along with local, county and state emergency management agencies and officials.

Scientific Research
To improve forecast and warning services for our central Pennsylvania service area, we are involved in various science research projects, which are coordinated by the Science Operations Officer. Given our convenient location adjacent to the Pennsylvania State University and the Middle Atlantic River Forecast Center, we are able to collaborate with researchers from both organizations.
A joint Map Discussion with PSU Meteorology Students and Faculty

Research projects range from observational studiesÐdesigned to increase our understanding of how severe weather occurs in PennsylvaniaÐto developing local, small-scale models of the atmosphere customized for our area.

HOW THE PUBLIC RECEIVES OUR PRODUCTS There is a wide range of dissemination systems available for the public to receive our products (forecasts, watches and warnings). The NWS web pages are the easiest way to get all the data we can provide. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Weather Radio (NWR) is probably the most reliable way to receive the fastest and most up-to-date weather information.

The Emergency Alert System (EAS) receives specific hazardous weather warnings via NOAA weather radio, then relays those warnings directly to all TV and radio stations. TV stations can then display the warnings automatically, using a system that scrolls the printed warnings along the bottom of the screen. County and local emergency management agencies receive our warnings via specialized software packages such as the Emergency Management Weather Information Network and NOAA Weather Wire Service. Our routine, daily products (forecasts, climatological summaries, etc.) are available to every TV and radio station in central Pennsylvania.

THE LATEST TECHNOLOGY

The technology available to forecast offices has increased dramatically since the early 1990s. The big improvement in technology coincided with the National Weather ServiceÕs modernization and associated restructuring, which was completed by the year 2000.

During the modernization, powerful "Doppler" radars were deployed, providing radar coverage across the nation -- allowing forecasters to diagnose potentially severe storms by examining the structure and internal motions of the storms.

The Doppler radar serving central Pennsylvania is located on Rattlesnake mountain in Black Moshanon State Forest northwest of State College.
KCCX RDA

The Advanced Weather Interactive Processing System (AWIPS) is a state-of-the-art computer system deployed at the State College forecast office in the late 1990s. Forecasters use this system to view numerous meteorological data sets simultaneously. The system allows forecasters to compare observations, satellite and radar data to computer model forecast data, in order to produce more accurate forecasts.
An AWIPS Workstation

NOAA Weather Radio 2000 also was deployed in late 1998. This automated voice system disseminates weather warnings more quickly than the previous manually produced broadcasts.

CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA
Notable Weather Events 1994-1999

January 1994 Cold and Snow - An all-time record low temperature of -22F on the 21st was set in Harrisburg, PA. Cold and heavy snow also was reported throughout the month across all of central Pennsylvania.
March 1994 Snowstorm - Heavy snow fell on the 2nd and 3rd, with totals of 10 to 28 inches over the central mountains of Pennsylvania.
November 1995 Snowstorm - Heavy snow fell across the central mountains on the 15th with totals of 10 to 32 inches. Massive tree damage occurred throughout central Pennsylvania as some leaves were still on the trees.
January 1996 Blizzard - Heavy snow fell on the 6th and 7th with 2 to 3 feet reported over the lower Susquehanna Valley.
January 1996 Flood - Severe flooding occurred when 1 to 3 inches of rain combined with strong winds and unusually warm temperatures to melt a record snow pack. Seventeen deaths were related directly to the flooding.
June 1996 Gettysburg Flash Flood - A Flash flood produced over 10 inches of rain in just a few hours near Gettysburg.
May/June 1998 Tornadoes - A series of tornadoes swept across central Pennsylvania on May 31st and again on June 2nd. Somerset County was hit by 3 tornadoes in 3 days, including two F3 tornadoes (winds of 158-206 mph). Some areas had damaging winds from 2 separate tornadoes just a couple of hours apart on the 2nd.
July 1999 Heat and Drought - A severe drought was accompanied by extreme heat over the lower Susquehanna Valley. Harrisburg reported 22 days above 90 degrees in July, with 6 days of 100 degrees or higher.
September 1999 Tropical Storms Dennis and Floyd - Tropical Storm Dennis produced localized heavy rains on the 6th, with 8 inches and massive flooding reported at Lewisburg. Tropical Storm Floyd followed on the 16th, dropping 5 to 10 inches of rain on the lower Susquehanna Valley.

NWS FORECAST OFFICE HISTORY
State College, PA

May 1993....Opened office
October 1993....Installed radar
August 1994....Issued first short-term forecasts and warnings
December 1994....Started issuing river forecasts
Fall 1995....Started issuing aviation forecasts
Spring 1998....Achieved present staffing level
Fall 1998....Assumed all the forecasting responsibilities of a modernized NWS office
Dec 2005....Moved to new location in PSU Innovation Park