NWS State College PATO.W 0026August 20, 2026
Tornado Warning: Lancaster, PA
The National Weather Service office in State College issued a tornado warning for Lancaster in Pennsylvania, which was in force until 5:00 p.m. local time on August 20. It was the 26th tornado warning the NWS office in State College issued in 2026. Pennsylvania had 12 tornado warnings in August 2026, against 6 in an average August of 2008-2025 (Pennsylvania's tornado warnings by year).
ExpiredWarning
In force for 31 minutes; it has expired. The agency may have replaced it with a new notice.
The notice
- Issued by
- National Weather Service, State College PA
- Area
- Lancaster
- State
- Pennsylvania
- Level
- Warning
- Issued
- 4:29 p.m. EDT, August 20, 2026
- Expires
- 5:00 p.m. EDT, August 20, 2026
- CAP severity, certainty, urgency
- Extreme, Observed, Immediate
- VTEC event
- KCTP TO.W 0026
- Official source
- National Weather Service: the notice at its source
Tornado Warnings in Pennsylvania since 2008Every warning type in Pennsylvania
Source: National Weather Service: the notice at its source. AreaZine rebuilds this page from the agency's record; the agency's page is the one to act on. A U.S. Government work, in the public domain.
The notice as issued
TORCTP The National Weather Service in State College PA has issued a * Tornado Warning for... Central Lancaster County in south central Pennsylvania... * Until 500 PM EDT. * At 428 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado was located over Mountville, moving east at 25 mph. HAZARD...Tornado. SOURCE...Radar indicated rotation. IMPACT...Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed. Damage to roofs, windows, and vehicles will occur. Tree damage is likely. * This dangerous storm will be near... Columbia, Millersville, and Lancaster around 430 PM EDT. East Petersburg and Willow Street around 440 PM EDT. Leola and Leacock around 450 PM EDT. Bareville around 500 PM EDT. Other locations impacted by this tornadic thunderstorm include Smoketown, Washington Boro, Gordonville, Bird-In-Hand, and Conestoga.
What the agency told people to do
TAKE COVER NOW! Move to a basement or an interior room on the lowest floor of a sturdy building. Avoid windows. If you are outdoors, in a mobile home, or in a vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter and protect yourself from flying debris.
Source: National Weather Service: the notice at its source. The text is the agency's, unedited. A U.S. Government work, in the public domain.