The National Weather Service issued a severe thunderstorm warning for Bradford County and for Clarion and Jefferson counties, reporting wind gusts up to 60 mph and hail across the warned areas.
In Bradford County the agency updated a warning at 5:45 p.m. that remained in effect until 6:15 p.m., saying at 5:44 p.m. storms sat along a line from West Elmira to near Springfield to near Ogdensburg and were moving east at 35 mph.
The weather service reported the Bradford storms produced penny sized hail measured at 0.75 inches and warned residents to expect damage to roofs, siding and trees, advising people to move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a building for protection.
Separately the National Weather Service updated a warning for Clarion and Jefferson counties at 2:34 p.m., in effect until 3 p.m., locating a severe thunderstorm six miles southwest of Clarion moving east at 35 mph.
That warning noted quarter sized hail measured at 1 inch and said hail damage to vehicles was expected, while also warning of potential wind damage to roofs, siding and trees and urging shelter inside well built structures away from windows.
Safety Guidance And Road Weather Risks
The weather service reiterated lightning safety steps and urged people with outdoor plans to seek shelter promptly if thunder is audible, noting lightning risk peaks as storms pass overhead and then gradually wanes.
Indoors the guidance said to avoid corded phones, electrical appliances and plumbing fixtures and to stay away from windows and doors, and to wait at least 30 minutes after the last lightning or thunderclap before resuming outdoor activities.
When indoor shelter is unavailable the agency advised avoiding open fields, hilltops and isolated trees, spacing people apart in groups to reduce current transfer, and to avoid tents and other unprotected camping sites.
The National Weather Service also offered driving tips for heavy rain and downpours, warning of rapid water flow near culverts and ditches and advising drivers to reduce speed, increase following distance and stick to middle lanes to reduce hydroplaning risk.
Motorists were told to use headlights in heavy rain, watch for spray from large vehicles, pull over if visibility is severely limited and, when parked roadside is the only option, to stop as far off the road as possible and use emergency flashers.
