Pennsylvania Weather Review: August 2026
While summer typically features storms and heavy downpours, it certainly seems as if this summer has been exceptionally stormy and wet. That trend from June & July continued into August with plenty of thunderstorms, flash flooding, and more tornadoes. In between, though, there were breaks from the humid conditions and not much big time heat. I've got the full details below!
August Highlights
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| 24 hour observed precipitation ending at 9:00pm on August 2, 2026. Source. |
Following an active first two months of summer, August didn't wait long to join the club. A swath of heavy rain centered right over Williamsport brought totals of over 5 inches. 5.28" at Williamsport ranks as the 5th wettest day in the 131 year period of record. Also on the 2nd, a waterspout was reported off the Lake Erie shoreline.
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List of the wettest days on record for Williamsport highlighting August 2, 2026, as the 5th wettest day on record. The top 4 days were the result of tropical systems.
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More heavy rain brought flash flooding to Philadelphia on the 3rd and again on the 5th. Over an inch of rain was recorded at the Philadelphia Airport both days. Some of the hottest and most humid conditions of the month were recorded from the 6th to 10th. Along with this soupy air was more flash flooding. Flooding was observed in western Pennsylvania and in the Lancaster area on the 7th.
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24 hour high temperatures ending at 8AM on August 10, 2026. Source.
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Morning thunderstorms crossed the state on the 10th with a second round of storms impacting western Pennsylvania in the evening. On the 11th, localized flash flooding heavily impacted southern Somerset County where over 3 inches of rain fell in a short period of time. Laurel Hill Creek in Ursina rose to 8.02 feet, the 3rd highest crest on record.
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24 hour observed precipitation ending at 8:00am on August 11, 2026. Source.
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The pattern would turn calmer especially on the 14th and 15th with mainly dry and cooler temperatures. It wouldn't take long for the storminess to return as storms rolled through southwestern Pennsylvania on the 16th. Two EF0 tornadoes touched down in western Pennsylvania. While there was some flash flooding, thunderstorm wind damage was more widespread. |
24 hour observed precipitation ending at 8:00am on August 21, 2026. Source.
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Following another relatively calm period, the next system on the 20th brought the severe weather back. Flash flooding was widespread stretching from southwestern Pennsylvania into the central portions of the state. State College recorded 2.53". To the southeast, severe storms brought some flooding as well as wind damage and 4 tornadoes including an EF2 in York County.
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Map of 3 of the 4 tornadoes that touched down on August 20, 2026. Source.
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The 21st was cool with low humidity giving a short break before more storms returned on the 22nd. Wind damage and flash flooding impacted the western half of Pennsylvania. One tornado touched down in Clearfield County. Late evening showers on the 23rd dumped locally heavy rain near the Lake Erie shoreline. |
Dewpoints were in the 50s for much of Pennsylvania during the afternoon of August 21, 2026. Source.
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A much needed dry period would arrive with low dewpoints and cooler temperatures making it feel like fall on the 24th and 25th just in time for many schools to return to session. Temperatures and dewpoints would slowly rise a bit into the 27th as the next system arrived as more heavy rain and thunderstorms impacted eastern Pennsylvania. The month ended with little fanfare (relatively) but there were some showers on the last couple days of the month.
August Statistics
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| Temperature and Precipitation summary compared to average for August 2026. |
Temperatures for August 2026 were generally near average. Scranton was a relative cool spot & Philadelphia was relatively warm. Precipitation was near to well above average. It was the 4th wettest August on record in Pittsburgh and 4th wettest for Williamsport. Even though it was close, this was the 5th month in a row with below average precipitation in Harrisburg.
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| Map of the warmest temperature recorded in August 2026. |
August was cool with some locations in central PA barely getting above 80°! The maximum temperature of 84° in Altoona is tied for the 2nd coolest maximum temperature for the month of August. Not one location in Pennsylvania recorded the warmest temperature of the year during the month of August.
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| Map of all Flash Flood Warnings issued in Pennsylvania during August 2026. Source. |
It was another busy month for the National Weather Service Offices that cover Pennsylvania.
- 114 Flash Flood Warnings = the most ever for August!
This is also tied with July 2026 for the 2nd most for a single month!
- 157 Severe Thunderstorm Warnings = 4th most for August.
- 12 Tornado Warnings = tied for 4th most for August.
- Flash Flood Warnings were issued on 15 days in August.
-14 Flash Flood Warnings were issued for portions of Philadelphia County in August. This is the record most for a month beating out July 2026 (9).
August 2026 Tornadoes
The busy severe weather from June & July continued in August. A total of 8 tornadoes have been confirmed, the 2nd most ever for August behind only 2023 when 10 tornadoes touched down. This brings the total for 2026 to 45 which is the 2nd most ever for a single year!
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| Damage caused by an EF2 tornado to a school in York County on August 20, 2026. Source. |
Two weak tornadoes impacted western Pennsylvania on the 16th. August 20th was the most impactful day with 5 tornadoes including an EF2 that heavily damaged a school in York County. Another tornado that day carved a path through Columbia in Lancaster County. One additional tornado touched down in Clearfield County on the 22nd. With the tornado on July 18th in Clearfield County, this the the first time that Clearfield County has recorded more than 1 tornado in a single year!
Eye on Drought
There was great drought improvement across southeast Pennsylvania during August. Below are the 4 week changes:
Severe Drought down 5.88%
Moderate Drought down 10.35%
Abnormally Dry down 14.79%
We will continue to monitor the drought conditions that are left but it is trending in the right direction!
Webcam Image of the Month
An incredible shelf cloud moved across portions of southern Pennsylvania on the morning of August 10th. This view was captured by a webcam in Kinzers, Lancaster County.
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| Webcam view of an impressive shelf cloud on August 10, 2026, in Kinzers. Source. |
Wrapping Up & Looking Ahead
Wow, this post marks one year since I started this blog with the August 2025 monthly review! Whether you have been here for the past year or this is your first time visiting, thanks for stopping by!
As always, remember to look up! 🌤️
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