WELL, TODAY COULD POTENTIALLY BE A VERY ACTIVE SEVERE WEATHER DAY. WE ARE IN AN ENHANCED RISK ISSUED BY THE STORM PREDICTION CENTER. THAT’S A THREE. ON A SCALE OF 1 TO 5. WE DON’T OFTEN SEE AN ENHANCED RISK ACROSS THE STATE ABOUT 5 TO 6 TIMES PER SEASON IS WHEN WE SEE THEM. STORMS. WE’RE LOOKING AT 12 TO 4 P.M. IN OUR WESTERN COUNTIES. THEY WILL BE MOVING IN. AND THEN AS WE HEAD TOWARDS DAUPHIN LIKE HARRISBURG, YORK AND YORK COUNTY, HANOVER, EASTERN ADAMS COUNTY, BETWEEN 4 AND 8 P.M. THAT’S WHEN YOU WANT TO KEEP AN EYE TO THE SKY AND THEN FURTHER TO THE EAST, A LITTLE CLOSER TO SEVEN, 8:00. WE COULD STILL HAVE THOSE STORMS MOVING THROUGH PARTS OF LEBANON COUNTY AND LANCASTER COUNTY. THE MAIN THREATS WITH THESE STORMS, THE HIGHEST THREAT WILL BE DAMAGING WINDS. AND WE’RE TALKING ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF STRAIGHT-LINE WINDS GREATER THAN 70MPH. THAT’S AS STRONG AS A WEAK TORNADO WITH 65MPH. SO THERE IS ALSO THE CHANCE FOR A FEW TORNADOES TO SPIN UP THIS AFTERNOON. LARGE HAIL WILL BE POSSIBLE AND LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL, WHICH COULD LEAD TO SOME PONDING ON ROADWAYS AND ALSO SOME LOW LYING MINOR FLOODING. BUT OVERALL FLOODING THREAT DOES APPEAR TO BE ON THE LOW SIDE. WE DO HAVE A WIND ADVISORY THAT GOES INTO EFFECT AT NOON TODAY, AND THAT’S FOR DAUPHIN, LEBANON, LANCASTER AND YORK COUNTIES UNTIL 11 P.M. THIS IS WHERE WINDS COULD GUST AS HIGH AS 50MPH. THIS IS IN ADDITION TO ANY WINDS FROM THUNDERSTORMS. SO IT IS GOING TO BE VERY WINDY DAY TODAY, ESPECIALLY IN OUR EASTERN COUNTIES. SO JUST KEEP THAT IN MIND. WE DO HAVE SOME LIGHT SHOWERS LIFTING UP THROUGH THE AREA RIGHT NOW. WE GET A LITTLE BIT OF A BREAK AHEAD OF THAT COLD FRONT THAT WILL COME THROUGH THIS AFTERNOON. THAT’S WHEN YOU’RE REALLY GOING TO WANT TO WATCH FOR THOSE STORMS. TEMPERATURES IN THE UPPER 60S WILL FALL VERY FAST. ONCE THAT FRONT MAKES ITS WAY THROUGH THE AREA. AND I’LL HAVE MORE ON THE
South-central Pennsylvania under enhanced risk for strong to severe thunderstorms
Updated: 5:41 AM EDT Mar 16, 2026
A line of strong to severe thunderstorms is likely to bring damaging winds, a few tornadoes, and locally heavy rain to south-central Pennsylvania on Monday. What to knowThe WGAL News 8 Storm Team has declared Monday an Alert Day, meaning the day features the threat of extreme, severe and possibly life-threatening weather. The National Weather Service issued a wind advisory for Dauphin, Lancaster, Lebanon and York counties from noon to 11 p.m. on Monday. Most of the Susquehanna Valley is under an enhanced risk (level 3/5) for scattered to numerous severe thunderstorms—a level that typically occurs only about five times per year. Storm timingMain window: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.Highest threat: 1 p.m. to 9 p.m.Scattered showers are possible early Monday morning. A strong cold front will move through, producing a line of strong to severe storms.The storm is expected to reach our western counties around noon to 4 p.m. and hit our eastern counties closer to 8 p.m. Instability isn’t expected to be limiting, and an impressive wind field will fuel strong storms. Main threats Damaging straight-line winds: 70+ mph very likelyBrief heavy rainfall: Likely Tornado threat: Low to moderate chanceLarge hail: Low chance Flooding: Low chance Strong windsSouth winds: 20 to 30 mph Wind gusts: Up to 50 mph Impacts, precautionsWinds may blow around unsecured objects, bring down tree limbs and cause isolated power outages. Secure outdoor items and use caution while driving, especially in high-profile vehicles. Behind the system As the front moves through Monday evening, colder air will surge in, causing temperatures to drop quickly. A brief change from rain to a rain/snow mix (or even snow) is possible, especially at higher elevations. Winds will remain blustery, with wind chills falling into the 20s overnight. SOUTH-CENTRAL PA WEATHER RESOURCES: INTERACTIVE RADAR | ACTIVE WEATHER ALERTS | CURRENT CONDITIONS | HOURLY FORECAST | 10-DAY FORECAST | WEEKEND FORECAST | MAP ROOM | DOWNLOAD THE APP | WEATHER EMAILS
A line of strong to severe thunderstorms is likely to bring damaging winds, a few tornadoes, and locally heavy rain to south-central Pennsylvania on Monday.
What to know
The WGAL News 8 Storm Team has declared Monday an Alert Day, meaning the day features the threat of extreme, severe and possibly life-threatening weather.
The National Weather Service issued a wind advisory for Dauphin, Lancaster, Lebanon and York counties from noon to 11 p.m. on Monday.
Most of the Susquehanna Valley is under an enhanced risk (level 3/5) for scattered to numerous severe thunderstorms—a level that typically occurs only about five times per year.
Storm timingMain window: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.Highest threat: 1 p.m. to 9 p.m.Scattered showers are possible early Monday morning. A strong cold front will move through, producing a line of strong to severe storms.The storm is expected to reach our western counties around noon to 4 p.m. and hit our eastern counties closer to 8 p.m. Instability isn’t expected to be limiting, and an impressive wind field will fuel strong storms.
Main threats Damaging straight-line winds: 70+ mph very likelyBrief heavy rainfall: Likely Tornado threat: Low to moderate chanceLarge hail: Low chance Flooding: Low chance
Strong windsSouth winds: 20 to 30 mph Wind gusts: Up to 50 mph
Impacts, precautionsWinds may blow around unsecured objects, bring down tree limbs and cause isolated power outages. Secure outdoor items and use caution while driving, especially in high-profile vehicles.
Behind the system As the front moves through Monday evening, colder air will surge in, causing temperatures to drop quickly. A brief change from rain to a rain/snow mix (or even snow) is possible, especially at higher elevations. Winds will remain blustery, with wind chills falling into the 20s overnight.
SOUTH-CENTRAL PA WEATHER RESOURCES: INTERACTIVE RADAR | ACTIVE WEATHER ALERTS | CURRENT CONDITIONS | HOURLY FORECAST | 10-DAY FORECAST | WEEKEND FORECAST | MAP ROOM | DOWNLOAD THE APP | WEATHER EMAILS