Alert archive / Pennsylvania / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1988

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 16, NWS Philadelphia/Mount Holly

June 1, 1988Chester County, Pennsylvania

NWS Philadelphia/Mount Holly issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Jun 1, 1988, 5:01 PM EDT for Chester County, Pennsylvania. It was in force for 59 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
Jun 1, 1988, 5:01 PM EDT (21:01 UTC)
Expired
Jun 1, 1988, 6:00 PM EDT
In force
59 min
Issued by
NWS Philadelphia/Mount Holly
Area
Whole counties

County Chester 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
Jun 1, 5:18 PM EDTThunderstorm Wind 0Chester, 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

Atlantic City In, NJ (KACY), launched 12:00Z, 9.0 hours before the alert went out and 122 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, Atlantic City In, NJ at 12:00Z on 1988-06-01Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 0 joules per kilogram.LCL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km-30°-20°-10°0°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Atlantic City In, NJ at 12:00Z on 1988-06-01The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 25 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
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
No buoyant parcel
Mixed-layer LCL
1839 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
15 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
25 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
56 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.

000 
TTAA00 KPHL 012101 RRA
SVRPHL
PAC029-012200-
 
BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PHILADELPHIA PA
501 PM EDT WED JUN 1 1988
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN PHILADELPHIA HAS ISSUED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL  600 PM EDT
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING COUNTY...
 
IN SOUTHEAST PENNSYLVANIA
          ...CHESTER
 
AT 455 PM A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WAS INDICATED ON RADAR IN NORTHWEST
CHESTER COUNTY. THIS STORM WAS MOVING TO THE SOUTHEAST AT 35 MILES
AN HOUR.  THIS STORM HAS HAD A HISTORY OF DAMAGE MOVING THROUGH
THE READING AREA.
 
THIS IS A DANGEROUS STORM.  IF YOU ARE IN THE WARNED AREA...BE
PREPARED FOR STRONG DAMAGING WINDS...LARGE HAmIL...VERY HEAVY RAIN
AND DANGEROUS LIGHTNING.  SHOULD THE STORM APPROACH YOU...SEEK
IMMEDIATE SHELTER.  MOBILE HOMES ARE MOST VULNERABLE TO HIGH WINDS
AND SHOULD BE AVOIDED.
 
HASKO

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, Jun 1, 4:00 PM EDT, 1 hour 1 minute before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT FOR SOUTHEASTERN PA AND SOUTHERN NJ
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PHILADELPHIA PA
400 PM EDT WED JUN 01 1988

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH UNTIL 9 PM..

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM FOR SOUTHEASTERN
PENNSYLVANIA AND ALL OF NEW JERSEY.  WEATHER SERVICE RADAR AT 400 PM
INDICATED A LINE OF VERY STRONG THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDING FROM NEAR
ALLENTOWN SOUTHWEST TO HARRISBURG.  THESE THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING
SOUTHEAST AT 40 MILES AN HOUR AND SHOULD MOVE INTO SOUTHEASTERN
PENNSYLVANIA AROUND 5 PM...AND MOVE INTO SOUTHERN NEW JERSEY AROUND
6 PM.

THESE THUNDERSTORMS MAY BE ACCOMPANIED BY STRONG DAMAGING WINDS...HEAVY
RAINFALL...DANGEROUS LIGHTNING...AND LARGE 5HAIL.  IF YOU SEE THREATENING
WEATHER APPROACHING...PLEASE SEEK SHELTER INDOORS IMMEDIATELY.

WERT
Special weather statement, Jun 1, 4:01 PM EDT, 1 hour before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT FOR SOUTHEASTERN PA AND SOUTHERN NJ
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PHILADELPHIA PA
400 PM EDT WED JUN 01 1988

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH UNTIL 9 PM..

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM FOR SOUTHEASTERN
PENNSYLVANIA AND ALL OF NEW JERSEY.  WEATHER SERVICE RADAR AT 400 PM
INDICATED A LINE OF VERY STRONG THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDING FROM NEAR
ALLENTOWN SOUTHWEST TO HARRISBURG.  THESE THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING
SOUTHEAST AT 40 MILES AN HOUR AND SHOULD MOVE INTO SOUTHEASTERN
PENNSYLVANIA AROUND 5 PM...AND MOVE INTO SOUTHERN NEW JERSEY AROUND
6 PM.

THESE THUNDERSTORMMS MAY BE ACCOMPANIED BY STRONG DAMAGING WINDS...
HEAVY RAINFALL...DANGEROUS LIGHTNING...AND LARG*E HAIL.  IF YOU SEE
THREATENING WEATHER APPROACHING...PLEASE SEEK SHELTER INDOORS
IMMEDIATELY.

WERT
Special weather statement, Jun 1, 4:33 PM EDT, 28 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON DE
433 PM EDT WED JUN 1 1988

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH FOR DELAWARE UNTIL 9PM TONIGHT...

AT 415 PM WEARHER RADAR SHOWED A LINE OF SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS OVER
PENNSYLVANIA BETWEEN ALLENTOWN AND HARRISBURG. THESE ARE MOVING TOWARD
THE SOUTHEAST AT 35 MPH AND COULD MOVE INTO PORTIONS OF NORTHERN DELAWARE
NEAR 6PM THIS EVENING AND SPREAD SOUTHWARD ACROSS THE STATE.
AS YET NO SEVERE WEATHER HAS BEEN REPORTED...BUT A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM
WATCH MEANS CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR STRONG DAMAGING WINDS AND LARGE
HAIL.
PERSONS IN THE WATCH AREA SHOULD BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR THREATENING
WEATHER AND BE PREPARED TO TAKE PROTECTIVE MEASURES IF HAZARDOUS WEATHER
APPROACHES.
CS
Special weather statement, Jun 1, 4:44 PM EDT, 17 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT FOR EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PHILADELPHIA PA
443 PM EDT WED JUN 01 1988

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH UNTIL 9 PM FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL AND
EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA AND MUCH OF NEW JERSEY...

AT 435 PM WEATHER SERVICE RADAR SHOWED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM JUST
WEST OF READING...MOVING TO THE SOUTHEAST AT 35 MPH.  PERSONS IN
WESTERN CHESTER COUNTY...ESPECIALLY WEST OF A ELVERSON TO COATESVILLE
TO WEST GROVE LINE SHOULD PREPARE FOR THIS THUNDERSTORM.

THESE THUNDERSTORMS MAY BE ACCOMPANIED BY STRONG DAMAGING WINDS...
HEAVY RAINS...DANGEROUS LIGHTNING...AND LARGE HAIL.  IF YOU SEE
THREATENING WEATHER APPROACHING...PLEASE MOVE INDOORS IMMEDIATELY.

HASVKO
Special weather statement, Jun 1, 4:45 PM EDT, 16 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ATLANTIC CITY NJ
435 PM EDT WED JUN 1 1988

...DO NOT USE AFTER 6 PM...

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM EDT FOR
MOST OF NEW JERSEY...

RADAR AT 430 PM SHOWED SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS OVER LONG
ISLAND NEW YORK...NORTHERN NEW JERSEY...NORTHEAST AND EAST CENTRAL
PENNSLYVANIA.

THUNDERSTORMS WITH VERY HEAVY SHOWERS WERE LOCATED OVER NASSAU COUNTY
WLONG ISLAND...ONE 10 MILES EAST OF ALLENTOWN PENNSLYVANIA AND THE HAEVIEST
WAS NEAR READING PENNSLYVANIA.

THE STORMS AND SHOWERS WERE MOVING EAST SOUTHEAST AT 40 MILES AN HOUR.
VAM
Special weather statement, Jun 1, 4:49 PM EDT, 12 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT FOR EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PHILADELPHIA, PA
448 PM EDT WED JUN 1 1988

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH UNTIL 9 PM FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL AND
EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA AND MUCH OF NEW JERSEY...

AT 435 PM WEATHER SERVICE RADAR SHOWED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM JUST
WEST OF READING...MOVING TO THE SOUTHEAST AT 35 MPH.  PERSONS IN
WESTERN CHESTER COUNTY...ESPECIALLY WEST OF AN ELVERSON TO COATESVILLE
TO WEST GROVE LINE SHOULD PREPARE FOR THIS THUNDERSTORM UNTIL 6 PM.

THESE THUNDERSTORMS MAY BE ACCOMPANIED BY STRONG DAMAGING WINDS...
HEAVY RAINS...DANGEROUS LIGHTNING...AND LARGE HAIL.  IF YOU SEE
THREATENING WEATHER APPROACHING...PLEASE MOVE I_NDOORS IMMEDIATELY.

HASKO

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.