Alert archive / Pennsylvania / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1988

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 70, NWS Cleveland, OH

August 5, 1988McKean County, Pennsylvania

NWS Cleveland, OH issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Aug 5, 1988, 5:38 PM EDT for McKean County, Pennsylvania. It was in force for 34 min. 1 report came from inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The counties it named, with what was reported inside it.

The facts

Issued
Aug 5, 1988, 5:38 PM EDT (21:38 UTC)
Expired
Aug 5, 1988, 6:12 PM EDT
In force
34 min
Issued by
NWS Cleveland, OH
Area
Whole counties

County McKean County, PA

The radar

The WSR-88D network and its archive begin in 1991, so there is no radar volume for this alert.

What was reported inside it

TimeReportWhereRemark
Aug 5, 5:40 PM EDTThunderstorm Wind 0Mckean, PA

NCEI Storm Data entries that began inside the alert's area while it was in force. Before 2003 the local storm report archive is thin, so this is the record of what happened rather than what was phoned in. Storm Data before 1996 records only tornadoes, thunderstorm wind and hail.

The nearest sounding before it

Buffalo Intl Airport, NY (KBUF), launched 12:00Z, 9.6 hours before the alert went out and 125 km from the middle of its area. This is the routine balloon launch nearest before it, the air the forecaster had in hand, not a measurement taken for the alert.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Buffalo Intl Airport, NY at 12:00Z on 1988-08-05Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 1419 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°0°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Buffalo Intl Airport, NY at 12:00Z on 1988-08-05The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 44 square meters per square second.1939Sfc1 km3 km6 km9 kmRMLM
The wind turning with height, colored by layer: ground to 1 km, 1 to 3 km, 3 to 6 km, 6 to 10 km.
Mixed-layer CAPE
1419 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-47 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1043 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
12 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
44 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
43 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

The text of this product is not in the archive. The NWS text archive before 2002 is incomplete.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this severe thunderstorm warning went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Aug 5, 1:47 PM EDT, 3 hours 51 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CLEVELAND OH
145 PM EDT FRI AUG 5 1988

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR A SMALL PORTION OF
NORTHWEST OHIO UNTIL 10 PM TODAY.

THE WATCH INCLUDES THE CITIES OF TOLEDO... FINDLAY AND LIMA.

AT 135 PM... WEATHER RADAR INDICATED BANDS OF THUNDERSTORMS FROM
NEAR LANSING MICHIGAN TO JUST WEST OF HILLSDALE INTO NORTHWEST INDIANA.

OTHER THUNDERSTORMS DOTTED THE LAKESHORE COUNTIES OF OHIO FROM ASHTABULA
TO NORTH OF LORAIN THEN BECAME ORGANIZED AS A NORTH... SOUTH LINE FROM
LORAIN SOUTH THROUGH OBERLIN AND MANSFIELD.

AT 105 PM.. A THUNDERSTORM DUMPED PEA SIZED HAIL IN NEW LONDON OF HURON
COUNTY ALONG WITH A QUARTER INCH OF RAIN IN 5 MINUTES. LIGHTNING CAUSED
NUMEROUS POWER OUTAGES IN THAT COMMUNITY.
^
THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE AFFECTING MUCH OF NORTHERN OHIO AND THE
THE WATERS OF LAKE ERIE THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. SOME MAY PRODUCE
DAMAGING WIND AND LARGE HAIL ESPRECIALLY OVER THE NORTHWEST CORNER
OF THE STATE.

DRAG
Special weather statement, Aug 5, 4:21 PM EDT, 1 hour 17 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE YOUNGSTOWN OH
420 PM EDT FRI AUG 5 1988

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR THE MAHONING AND
SHENANGO VALLEYS UNTIL 10 PM.

AT 415 PM THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING INTO NORTHWEST TRUMBULL
COUNTY NEAR WEST FARMINGTON.  THERE WERE NO REPORTS OF DAMAGING
WEATHER WITH THESE STORMS BUT HEAVY RAIN AND DANGEROUS LIGHTNING
IS LIKELY.

THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE TO POP UP QUICKLY THIS EVENING AND ANY
THUNDERSTORM MAY BECOME SEVERE.  IF THREATENING WEATHER APPROACHES
MOVE QUICKLY INDOORS AND AVOID WINDOWS AND ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES.
STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR A LOCAL TELEVISION OR RADIO
STATION FOR THE LATEST WEATHER INFORMATION^.

KOSARIK

                                                                             [
Special weather statement, Aug 5, 4:42 PM EDT, 56 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND AFTERNOON OHIO WEATHER STORY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CLEVELAND OHIO
443 PM EDT FRI AUG 5 1988

SEVERE WEATHER WILL BE A PROBLEM FOR OHIO THIS EVENING... BUT WELCOME
COOLER CONDITIONS MAY COME THIS WEEKEND.

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH WILL BE IN EFFECT FOR MOST OF NORTHERN OHIO
UNTIL 10 PM. AT 430 PM THUNDERSTORMS WERE SCATTERED OVER MUCH OF THE
STATE... ESPECIALLY THE SOUTHEAST HALF. THESE STORMS WERE GENERALLY
MOVING NORTHEAST AT 20 MPH. IN ADDITION... A LINE OF STRONG STORMS WAS
JUST MOVING INTO THE NORTHWEST COUNTIES AT 430 THIS AFTERNOON. THESE
STORMS WERE HEADING EAST AT 25 MPH.

THE STORMS THAT HAVE BEEN AFFECTING OHIO THIS AFTERNOON HAVE PRODUCED
WINDS STRONG ENOUGH TO CAUSE SIGNIFICANT TREE DAMAGE IN SEVERAL CASES.
THE STATE SHOULD CONTINUE TO EXPERIENCE NUMEROUS STORMS INTO TONIGHT
AND THERE IS A GOOD CHANCE THEY WILL PRODUCE STRONG WINDS AGAIN.
OHIOANS SHOULD STAY ALERT FOR LATEST STATEMENTS AND WARNINGS FROM THE
WEATHER SERVICE.
<
BESIDES STRONG WINDS... THE STORMS THAT WILL BE AFFECTING OHIO THIS
EVENING COULD ALSO BRING HAIL AND VERY HEAVY DOWNPOURS. AS OF 430 PM
THE WEATHER SERVICE HAD RECEIVED SEVERAL REPORTS OF RAINFALL RATES OF
GREATER THAN AN INCH PER HOUR. HOWEVER... MOST DOWNPOURS THIS EVENING
SHOULD NOT LAST TOO LONG.

THE SEVERE WEATHER IN OHIO OUGHT TO END BY MIDNIGHT. NUMEROUS SHOWERS
AND THUNDERSTORMS COULD CONTINUE AFTER THAT... BUT THE PRECIPITATION
SHOULD TAPER OFF FROM THE WEST AS MORNING APPROACHES. EXCEPT FOR A
CHANCE OF MORNING SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS IN THE EASTERN COUNTIES
SATURDAY... THE WEEKEND OUGHT TO BE BASICALLY DRY IN OHIO. SKIES SHOULD
CLEAR FROM THE WEST SATURDAY AND STAY CLEAR THROUGH SUNDAY.

TEMPERATURES WILL STAY ON THE WARM SIDE TONIGHT IN OHIO WITH LOWS
MOSTLY IN THE LOWER 70S. SOMETHING OF A BREAK IN THE RECENT HOT SPELL
WILL COME AFTER THAT. HIGHS BOTH SATURDAY AND SUNDAY ARE GOING TO BE IN
THE MID OR UPPER 80S WITH LOWS SATURDAY NIGHT IN THE 60S. HUMIDITIES
SHOULD BEGIN A DOWNTURN SATURDAY THAT MOST OHIOANS WILL FIND VERY
WELCOME.

THE SEVERE WEATHER THAT IS EXPECTED IN OHIO TONIGHT WILL BE TRIGGERED
BY A COLD FRONT THAT WAS FROM MICHIGAN TO NORTHWEST INDIANA ON THE
LATEST WEATHER MAP. THE FRONT OUGHT TO CROSS OHIO TONIGHT AND SATURDAY
MORNING. BY SATURDAY EVENING THE WEATHER MAP WILL SHOW THE FRONT OVER
PENNSYLVANIA AND WEST VIRGINIA...  WITH A HIGH PRESSURE SYSTEM MOVING
OVER WESTERN OHIO.

KWIATKOWSKI
Special weather statement, Aug 5, 4:45 PM EDT, 53 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ERIE, PA
427 PM EDT FRI AUG 05 1988

...THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOPING OVER NORTHWEST PENNSYLVANIA...

AT 435 PM EDT WEATHER RADAR SHOWED THUNDERSTORMS MOVING INTO CENTRAL
FOREST COUNTY IN NORTHWEST PENNSYLVANIA. SKYWARN OBSERVERS NEAR TIONESTA
REPORTED ONE-HALF INCH HAIL AND 30 TO 35 MILE AN HOUR WINDS WITH THESE
THUNDERSTORMS. THESE THUNDERSTORMS ARE MOVING NORTHEAST AT 20 MILES AN
HOUR AND WILL BE ENTERING WARREN COUNTY WITHIN A HALF HOUR.

ADDITIONAL THUNDERSTORMS WERE OBSERVED ALONG THE BORDER OF CRAWFORD AND
VENANGO COUNTIES. THESE STORMS ARE MOVING NORTHEAST AT 20 MILES AN HOUR.

THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE TO DEVELOP THROUGHTOUT NORTHWEST PENNSYLVANIA
THIS EVENING AND TONIGHT. SOME OF THE THUNDERSTORMS MAY BECOME SEVERE.
IF YOU DO SEE THREATENING WEATHER DEVELOPING IN YOUR AREA...REMAIN INDOORS
AND STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO FOR FURTHER UPDATES AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS.

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR ALL OF NORTHWEST PENNSYLVANI
UNTIL 10 PM.

TJP/FW
Special weather statement, Aug 5, 5:22 PM EDT, 16 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ERIE, PA
515 PM EDT FRI AUG 05 1988

...THUNDERSTORMS MOVING INTO ERIE COUNTY...

THUNDERSTORMS CONTAINING 50 MILE AN HOUR WINDS WERE REPORTED
NEAR SPRINGFIELD IN WESTERN ERIE COUNTY OF PENNSYLVANIA. THESE
STORMS ARE MOVING EAST AT 30 MILES AN HOUR.

THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE TO DEVELOP OVER NORTHWEST PENNSYLVANIA
THIS EVENING AND TONIGHT.  SOME OF THE THUNDERSTORMS MAY BECOME SEVERE
AND WILL CONTAIN WIND GUSTS IN EXCESS OF 55 MILES AN HOUR...HEAVY DOWNPOURS
AND HAIL.

IF YOU SEE THUNDERSTORMS ENTERING YOUR AREA...REMAIN INDOORS AND STAY
TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO FOR UPDATES ON THE STORM SITUATION.

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR ALL OF NORTHWEST
PENNYSLVANIA UNTIL 10 PM EDT.
TJP/FW

The office that day

Everything else NWS Cleveland, OH issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Aug 5, 2:26 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCLECuyahoga64 min
Aug 5, 2:31 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCLEMedina59 min
Aug 5, 3:35 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCLESummit55 min
Aug 5, 6:32 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCLESeneca58 min
Aug 5, 6:40 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCLESandusky50 min
Aug 5, 6:51 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCLEErie, Huron2 hr

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Pennsylvania, 1988Every severe thunderstorm warning in 1988

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; verification from NCEI's Storm Data; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive.