Thunderstorm Wind — Centre, Pennsylvania

2025-04-29 · near Woodycrest, Centre, Pennsylvania

Event narrative

A line of severe thunderstorms producing wind gusts estimated at 70 mph knocked a power line down onto a vehicle on Cricklewood Drive near Fox Hollow Road in State College. Multiple trees were also knocked down in the area.

Wider weather episode

Low pressure stationed over western Quebec allowed for a surface cold front to track across central Pennsylvania alongside an upper-level jet streak right entrance region. Extremely favorable shear values orthogonal to the cold front with sufficient instability allowed for a quasi-liner convective system (QLCS) to form across western Pennsylvania and continue progressing across central Pennsylvania, causing widespread damage during the evening hours of April 29, 2025. The most significant damage was observed in/around State College, where multiple trees were knocked over onto residences and cars. In Centre County, one person was electrocuted due to downed power lines. Damage in Cambria County was also observed, where a barn collapse trapped hundreds of animals in Portage Township.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (40.8312, -77.8858)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1245810. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.