450
FXUS61 KCTP 041350
AFDCTP

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service State College PA
950 AM EDT Thu Sep 4 2025

.SYNOPSIS...
* A series of cold fronts will bring a risk for strong
  thunderstorms Thursday and again Saturday.
* Two rounds of storms are expected today, one ahead of the cold
  front and the second along the front as it pushes southeast.
* Temperatures trend below normal again next week with high
  pressure and dry weather prevailing.

&&

.NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/...
Under a prevailing upper trough, a mid-level vorticity maximum
will rotate through the Mid Atlantic today accompanied by a
surface cold front. Morning radar and satellite imagery shows
weak convection moving across western Pennsylvania ahead of the
main cold front currently draped over the southern Great Lakes
region and into central Ohio. As the front moves east, these
showers and storm should re- intensify as they encounter
sufficient moisture with dewpoints in the upper 50s to low 60s,
marginal instability (up to 750 J/kg), and ample shear (30 -
40kts).

Convection allowing models depict potential for two distinct
rounds of showers/storms. The first would be associated with the
aforementioned line of storms that will advance into southeast
PA by later afternoon and evening. The second would be along
the surface cold front, which likely struggles to get past the
I-99/I-80 corridor by Thursday evening. The SPC has issued a
Marginal Risk for nearly all of Pennsylvania. The best shear
will be across northern PA into New York, while the best
instability will be well south of the region (Southern
Appalachians). Pennsylvania will have sufficient amounts of
instability and shear to support a marginal threat of damaging
winds.

Highs today will range from the mid 60s in northwest PA where
more clouds/precipitation will keep temperatures at bay, to the
mid 80s in southeast PA where most of the day should remain
sunny or at least partly cloudy before convection arrives.
Tonight, lower dewpoints will filter into northwest PA behind
the cold front allowing temperatures to drop into the mid 40s.
Farther southeast, more clouds/lingering showers will keep
temperatures much more mild in the upper 50s to lower 60s.

&&

.SHORT TERM /FRIDAY THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT/...
On Friday, high pressure will briefly regain control of the
region giving way to mostly sunny skies, dry conditions, and
another seasonably mild day. Friday morning will be relatively
mild with patchy valley fog likely over most of the CWA. It is
worth noting that Thursday`s cold front will get hung up across
the Central Mountains, it will still be rather humid on Friday
afternoon in southeast PA. Given that the front is expected to
stall out highs on Friday will be slightly warmer than Thursday
with parts of the southeast reaching to mid 80s.

&&

.LONG TERM /SATURDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/...
For the long term period, a prevailing upper trough across the
eastern US will remain in place, perhaps lifting a bit by the
middle of next week.

By Saturday, a stronger cold front (compared to Thursday) will
sweep through the Commonwealth and bring a renewed chance for
showers and thunderstorms. There remains some uncertainty
regarding how much instability will be in place ahead of the
front, but scattered strong to severe thunderstorms seem like a
good bet. As is typical with these systems, the best chance for
severe will likely be in southeast PA and an SPC Marginal Risk
is probable for Saturday.

After the cold front sweeps through, another fall-like pattern
will settle in for the second half of the weekend and into next
week. The airmass moving overhead will be the coolest of the
season so far. Highs in the 60s and 70s will pair with lows in
the 30s to 50s. Frost or freeze conditions seem like a good bet
for the typical cool spots in northwest PA early next week along
with river valley fog. Abundant sunshine and dry conditions are
favored, with increasing moisture and chances for rain toward
the middle to end of the week.

&&

.AVIATION /14Z THURSDAY THROUGH MONDAY/...
VFR conditions are being observed across most of Central PA,
with the exception of LNS where fog has developed and is
producing LIFR visibilities. This will gradually improve over
the next few hours. Showers and thunderstorms over western PA
will approach BFD by 13Z. These storms will move eastward
through the morning and are expected to reintensify.

PROB30s for thunder have been maintained with the 12Z TAFs to
highlight the most likely periods for thunderstorms. The timing
will have to be refined as the evolution of the storms becomes
more clear. Any thunderstorms will be capable of producing
strong wind gusts in excess of 25 to 30 knots and very heavy
rainfall which may briefly reduce visibility. Storms will exit
to the east after 02Z and there is a fairly strong signal for
MVFR or IFR ceilings across much of the region. Some fog will be
possible as well.

Outlook...

Fri...Showers lingering, mainly E PA.

Sat...Chance of SHRA w/ TSRA possible.

Sun-Mon...Clearing with VFR conditions. Breezy on Sunday.

&&

.CTP WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
None.

&&

$$

SYNOPSIS...Banghoff/Bowen
NEAR TERM...Bowen
SHORT TERM...Bowen
LONG TERM...Banghoff/Bowen
AVIATION...Bauco/NPB