Severe Thunderstorms and Flooding Threat in the Central U.S.; Rip Currents Along East Coast Beaches

Widespread thunderstorms will continue across the central and southern Plains today ahead of an approaching cold front. Heavy to excessive rainfall could lead to instances of flash flooding. Flood Watches have been issued. Swells from Hurricane Gabrielle are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions along the U.S. East Coast over the next couple of days. Read More >

Overview

A Storm System moved northeast from the Gulf Coast States on Thursday the 11th of December, and brought with it a mix of rain, freezing rain and snow to Central PA. The precipitation lasted into the early morning of the 12th.

While the lower elevations in the Southern and Central sections of the state remained plain rain through the entire event, the ridges in the Central Mountains received heavy ice accretions from freezing rain. Most of the precipitation across the Northern Mountains fell as snow, but some icing was also seen there.

Heavy rain fell in the Lower Susquehanna Valley, and even set a record daily rainfall for the 11th at Harrisburg, where 2.29 inches of rain fell. This heavy rain created minor flooding along the Swatara Creek.


Surface map from the morning of Thursday 12-11-2008	Map of Snow and Ice Totals	Hydrograph (River Stage Time-Plot) for the Swatara Creek at Harper Tavern, PA