Flash Flood — Lawrence, Pennsylvania

2025-05-21 · near Walmo, Lawrence, Pennsylvania

Event narrative

Old Plank Road was closed in both directions between Highland Avenue and Maitland Lane due to flooding.

Wider weather episode

An occluding surface low slowly drifted across Ohio on May 21st. Bands of showers with embedded thunderstorms moved across southwest Pennsylvania. During the mid to late afternoon, one convective band, associated with ample 0-3km CAPE and surface vorticity, was able to generate four tornadoes across southwest PA. Three were relatively brief and weak, but one longer-track EF1 was noted in Washington County. Multiple rounds of slow-moving heavier rain also produced a number of flash flooding incidents.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (41.0362, -80.3444)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1266316. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.