Lightning — Cambria, Pennsylvania

2025-07-16 · near Ebensburg, Cambria, Pennsylvania

Event narrative

Lightning struck a residence on the 500 block of East Horner Street in Ebensburg, causing a fire. No injuries reported.

Wider weather episode

Mid-level shortwave approaching the region, coupled with a low-level warm front, allowed for ample lift across central Pennsylvania during the late afternoon and evening hours of July 16, 2025. Ample moisture in place, with precipitable water values in the 1.80 to 2.20 range and very little deep-layer shear promoted slow-moving showers and thunderstorms with efficient rainfall rates across much of the area. Flooding across the hydrologically sensitive areas of northern Pennsylvania resulted in multiple instances of flash flooding across Potter County, with flooding also observed across the western highlands of Pennsylvania. Ample instability brought upon a secondary thunderstorm risk during the late evening hours, with lightning causing a structural fire in Cambria County.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (40.4900, -78.7200)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1276615. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.