EF1 tornado in Centre County, Pennsylvania

An EF1 tornado was confirmed just east of Boalsburg on Nittany Farm between US 322 (General Potter Highway) and Route 45 (Earlystown Road). The maximum wind speed was 100 mph. Eyewitnesses said the tornado pulled a small tree in a holding pond about 50 feet in the air. Visible damages included sporadic trees snapped/knocked down and metal roofing off of several outbuildings and corn crib. The last observed damage was near Cedar Run road or about 1 mile to the northwest from the initial touchdown. There were no injuries or deaths.

A MCV and broader mid-level trough crossed the central Appalachians and triggered strong to severe thunderstorms from the central ridges into the Susquehanna River Valley during the afternoon and evening. Very high boundary layer moisture and humidity contributed to heavy rainfall/flash flooding and precipitation loading within consolidating convection. While the deep layer flow and shear were somewhat modest, ambient vertical vorticity just ahead of the MCV and low LCLs aided in the development of two weak, short-lived (EF1) tornadoes in Centre and Perry Counties. Deep moisture (PWAT) values around two inches along with relatively slow, south-to-north training cells and bands produced significant flash flooding, particularly in DuBois and Beech Creek which sustained extensive flood damages due localized 4-6+ inch rainfall amounts. Both towns were declared a State of Emergency. The Bald Eagle Creek at Beech Creek Station surged nearly 8 feet in 4 hours and crested just below major flood stage. The creek officially crested at 13.75 feet which was the sixth highest crest on record. An 86-year old man was swept away and killed by the rising flood waters in Beech Creek.