Paradise Township EMA

Low-flying helicopter to spray for black flies in York County on Wednesday, according to PA Department of Environmental Protection

An aerial black fly (gnat) suppression operation has been scheduled for Wednesday, June 24th, 2026, on the Main Stem of the Susquehanna River. This operation will include flights in Cumberland, Dauphin, Juniata, Lancaster, Mifflin, Northumberland, Perry, Snyder, and York Counties.

This operation will start in Snyder County at approximately 0700am and work South towards Dauphin County. The helicopter will be a Bell UH1H with the tail number N638HA and is painted blue with white stripes.

Helicopter Applicators Inc. will be dispersing Vectobac SC, which is a Bti product manufactured by Valent Biosciences. Bti is short for Bacillus thuringiensis var. israelensis, which is a bacterial larvicide, not a chemical, and is the only product used in Pennsylvania's waterways for black fly suppression.

Vectobac SC is a thick liquid that is brown in color when dispensed from the helicopter. The helicopter will fly low near tree top level and release the Vectobac SC at various predetermined positions on the river.

The National Weather Service has issued a Severe Thunderstorm Watch today (Mon., 6/22/26) for York County until 9 pm.

A thunderstorm watch means -- Be Prepared! Severe thunderstorms are possible in and near the watch area.

Stay informed and be ready to act if a severe thunderstorm warning is issued.

The watch area is typically large, covering numerous counties or even states, according to the NWS.

More info: https://www.weather.gov/ctp

Make sure to be prepared for severe weather!

Follow the tips on this image, courtesy of Mississippi Emergency management Agency.

Here are a few more:
Secure the Exterior: Bring in loose outdoor furniture, grills, or potted plants to prevent them from becoming airborne missiles

Power Outage Prep: Charge all power banks, phones, and laptops so you can stream local weather updates if the grid goes down.

If you are in a vehicle: If it's safe to exit, seek shelter inside a sturdy building. Never seek shelter under a highway overpass. If trapped in a car during flooding, stay inside and get on the roof if the water rises.

York County Weather: Possible thunderstorms this afternoon and night

Today -- A chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after 2pm. Some of the storms could be severe and produce heavy rainfall. High near 81.

Southeast wind 6 to 9 mph becoming south in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Tonight -- Showers and possibly a thunderstorm before midnight, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms between midnight and 2am, then a chance of showers after 2am. Some of the storms could be severe and produce heavy rainfall.

Patchy fog between midnight and 2am. Low around 64. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Tuesday -- A slight chance of showers before noon. Cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly sunny, with a high near 79. North wind 9 to 11 mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Tuesday Night -- Mostly clear, with a low around 58. North wind around 6 mph becoming calm after midnight.

More info: https://www.weather.gov/ctp

Severe Storms and Heavy Rain Possible Monday

● Scattered strong to severe thunderstorms capable of damaging winds Monday afternoon & evening for parts of south/east Pennsylvania.

● Locally heavy rainfall may cause isolated flash flooding, primarily within urban and poor drainage areas.

▪ Scattered showers and thunderstorms overspread Pennsylvania Sunday night through Monday morning, with the primary window for severe weather and localized flooding Monday afternoon/evening.

Source: National Weather Service in State College