PENNSYLVANIA — Large portions of Pennsylvania remain under severe thunderstorm watches Thursday night as forecasters warn of the potential for damaging winds, large hail, frequent lightning and heavy rainfall.
According to the National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center, Severe Thunderstorm Watch 315 remains in effect until 10 p.m. for 23 counties across central and northeastern Pennsylvania. Counties included in the watch are Adams, Columbia, Cumberland, Dauphin, Franklin, Juniata, Lackawanna, Lancaster, Lebanon, Luzerne, Lycoming, Montour, Northumberland, Perry, Schuylkill, Snyder, Sullivan, Susquehanna, Tioga, Union, Wayne, Wyoming and York.
A second watch, Severe Thunderstorm Watch 317, remains in effect until midnight for 11 counties in eastern Pennsylvania. Those counties are Berks, Bucks, Carbon, Chester, Delaware, Lehigh, Monroe, Montgomery, Northampton, Philadelphia and Pike.
Forecasters say thunderstorms moving through the state could become severe, bringing the threat of damaging wind gusts capable of downing trees and power lines, along with large hail and torrential rainfall that could lead to localized flooding.
Residents across the watch areas are urged to monitor weather conditions closely and have multiple ways to receive warnings throughout the evening. A severe thunderstorm watch means conditions are favorable for the development of severe thunderstorms in and near the watch area, though severe weather may not be occurring everywhere within the watch at a given time.
The watches remain in effect until their scheduled expiration times unless canceled earlier by the National Weather Service.
