Tornado watch issued for parts of Pennsylvania, including Centre County. What to know
8:40 p.m. Saturday update: The National Weather Service canceled the tornado watch for Centre County on Saturday evening.
A tornado watch was issued for parts of Pennsylvania, including Centre County, through 9 p.m. Saturday.
According to the National Weather Service, showers and thunderstorms are expected on Saturday afternoon and evening. Storms may produce “strong to locally damaging winds, hail and locally heavy rainfall.”
This is the second tornado watch in the past week. On Monday, the NWS issued a tornado watch and tornado warning. A fast-moving storm brought heavy rain, strong winds and hail to parts of the county, and kept emergency responders busy with calls to downed trees and wires, as well as a Penns Valley building fire reportedly caused by a lightning strike.
A tornado watch has been issued for parts of New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia until 9 PM EDT pic.twitter.com/JQWEy6GjPb
— NWS State College (@NWSStateCollege) August 12, 2023
Parts of New York and Ohio were also part of the tornado watch issued Saturday afternoon.
What is a tornado watch?
A tornado watch means a tornado is possible in or near the area. A watch generally covers a large area, likely multiple counties or even states, the weather service said. This is the time to be prepared and “review and discuss your emergency plans and check supplies and your safe room,” the NWS said.
A tornado warning indicates a tornado has been seen or indicated by radar and there is imminent danger to life or property, the NWS said. Residents should move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a sturdy building and stay away from windows. Those in a mobile home, vehicle or who are outdoors should find shelter and protect themselves from flying debris, the NWS said.
