The National Weather Service in State College has issued a flood watch for Lancaster and six other south-central Pennsylvania counties on Thursday, July 9, 2026.
The watch is in effect from noon until midnight as slow-moving thunderstorms threaten torrential downpours and damaging wind gusts.
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The watch covers Adams, Cumberland, Dauphin, Lancaster, Lebanon, Perry, and York counties.
Meteorologists from the weather service and the WGAL News 8 storm team warn that scattered storms could produce rainfall rates exceeding 2 inches per hour.
This creates a high risk of flash flooding from excessive runoff in low-lying areas, rivers, creeks, and streams.
The threat follows recent severe weather from July 4-5 that left tens of thousands of PPL customers without power and caused significant property damage.
In Manheim Township, local officials reported that approximately 50 homes sustained major damage, while another 100 received minor impacts.
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As of Thursday morning, 96 customers were still without electricity.
A few light showers began earlier in the morning, but the peak window for severe development is expected between noon and 8 p.
m. Humid conditions with high temperatures reaching between 83 and 86 degrees are forecast.
Weather tracking from WGAL indicates that a cold front will bring another round of scattered showers on Friday.
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However, the severe weather threat is expected to be lower heading into the weekend.
