The National Weather Service issued a Severe Thunderstorm Watch, which remains in effect until 11:00pm EDT Saturday, July 4, 2026.
According to forecasts, showers and thunderstorms are expected to impact Schuylkill County mainly between 9:00pm and midnight. Some storms could become strong to severe during that timeframe.
A Severe Thunderstorm Watch means conditions are favorable for the development of severe thunderstorms in and near the watch area. Residents should stay alert for changing weather conditions and be prepared to take action if warnings are issued.
Severe thunderstorms can produce damaging wind gusts, frequent lightning, heavy rainfall, and hail.
The timing of the storms could impact several Fourth of July fireworks displays scheduled for Saturday evening across Schuylkill County. Fireworks are scheduled tonight at Heisler's Dairy Bar, Orwigsburg, Port Carbon, Ringtown, and the VRAJ Temple in Wayne Township. Anyone planning to attend outdoor celebrations should keep an eye on the weather and have a plan in case storms approach.
The watch includes the following Pennsylvania counties:
Adams, Bedford, Berks, Blair, Bradford, Bucks, Cambria, Cameron, Carbon, Centre, Chester, Clearfield, Clinton, Columbia, Cumberland, Dauphin, Delaware, Elk, Franklin, Fulton, Huntingdon, Juniata, Lackawanna, Lancaster, Lebanon, Lehigh, Luzerne, Lycoming, McKean, Mifflin, Monroe, Montgomery, Montour, Northampton, Northumberland, Perry, Philadelphia, Pike, Potter, Schuylkill, Snyder, Somerset, Sullivan, Susquehanna, Tioga, Union, Warren, Wayne, Wyoming, and York.