Alert archive / Pennsylvania / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1988
Severe Thunderstorm Warning 30, NWS Philadelphia/Mount Holly
NWS Philadelphia/Mount Holly issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Jul 17, 1988, 6:18 PM EDT for Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania. It was in force for 27 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
- Jul 17, 1988, 6:18 PM EDT (22:18 UTC)
- Expired
- Jul 17, 1988, 6:45 PM EDT
- In force
- 27 min
- Issued by
- NWS Philadelphia/Mount Holly
- Area
- Whole counties
County Philadelphia 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
| Time | Report | Where | Remark |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 17, 6:20 PM EDT | Thunderstorm Wind 0 | Philadelphia, 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, 10.3 hours before the alert went out and 82 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.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 1047 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -143 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 900 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 28 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 62 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 86 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 1.9
The text
As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.
000
TTAA00 KPHL 172219
SVRPHL
PAC101-172245-
BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PHILADELPHIA PA
618 PM EDT SUN JUL 17 1988
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN PHILADELPHIA HAS ISSUED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL 645 PM EDT
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING COUNTY...
IN SOUTHEAST PENNSYLVANIA
...PHILADELPHIA
AT 612 PM EDT AN OFFICIAL WEATHER SERVICE SPOTTER REPORTED A WIND GUST
OF 65 MPH IN NORTHEAST PHILADELPHIA. AN AREA OF INTENSE THUNDERSTORMS
WILL CROSS THE PHILADELPHIA METROPOLITAN AREA BY 730 PM.
THIS IS A DANGEROUS STORM. IF YOU ARE IN THE WARNED AREA...BE
PREPARED FOR STRONG DAMAGING WINDS...LARGE HAIL...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.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, Jul 17, 3:54 PM EDT, 2 hours 24 minutes before
ABPA-
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALLENTOWN PA
355 PM EDT SUN JULY 17 1988
...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT FOR EASTERN
PENNSYLVANIA...
AT 355 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR INDICATED A LINE OF
HEAVY THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDING FROM SCRANTON SOUTHWESTWARD TO HAZLETON
AND CONTINUING SOUTHWESTWARD TO CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA. THE LINE IS
MOVING SOUTHEASTWARD AT 30 MPH AND WILL MOVE ACROSS PIKE...MONROE...
CARBON AND SCHUYLKILL COUNTIES IN THE NEXT HOUR. THE HEAVIEST STORMS
ARE APPROAHING NORTHERN CARBON AND SCHUYLKILL COUNTIES. THE STORMS COULD
CONTAIN STRONG...GUSTY WINDS...HAIL...HEAVY DOWNPOURS AND DANGEROUS
LIGHTNING. PEOPLE LIVING IN CA(RBON AND SCHUYLKILL COUNTIES SHOULD SEEK
SHELTER WHEN THESE STORMS ARRIVE.
A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH MEANS CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR SEVERE
THUNDERSTORMS TO DEVELOP IN AND CLOSE TO THE WATCH AREA.
$$DOVICOSpecial weather statement, Jul 17, 4:35 PM EDT, 1 hour 43 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PHILADELPHIA, PA 435 PM EDT SUN JUL 17 1988 ...THUNDERSTORMS MOVING THROUGH SOUTHEAST PENNSYLVANIA... AT 420 PM EDT AN AREA OF INTENSE THUNDERSTORMS WAS LOCATED FROM THE LOWER SUSQUEHANNA VALLEY NORTHEAST THROUGH THE POCONOS. THE STORMS ARE MOVING EAST SOUTHEAST AT 30 MILES AN HOUR AND WILL MOVE INTO THE LANCASTER-READING-ALLENTOWN AREA AROUND 5 PM EDT. IF THE STORMS MAINTAIN THEIR INTENSITY AND CURRENT MOVEMENT THEY WILL BEGIN AFFECTING WESTERN PORTIONS OF THE PHILADELPHIA METROPOLITAN AREA BY 7 PM EDT. THESE STORMS MAY BE ACCOMPANIED BY DANGEROUS LIGHTNING...DAMAGING WINDS...AND TORRENTIAL DOWNPOURS. A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT FOR MUCH OF EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA. IN SOUTEAST PENNSYLVANIA THIS INCLUDES THE COUNTIES OF CHESTER...MONTGOMERY...BUCKS...AND DELAWARE. ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS WILL BE ISSUED AS THE THUNDERSTORMS APPROACH THE PHILADELPHIA AREA. Z RPW
Special weather statement, Jul 17, 5:15 PM EDT, 1 hour 3 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ATLANTIC CITY, NEW JERSEY 515 PM EDT SUN JUL 17 1988 ...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR ALL OF NEW JERSEY UNTIL 11 PM EDT...THIS INCLUDES THE COASTAL WATERS AND DELAWARE BAY... PERSONS IN THE WATCH AREA SHOULD BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ACCOMPANIED BY DAMAGING WINDS...HAIL...HEAVY RAIN AND FREQUENT LIGHTNING STRIKES. SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNINGS HAVE BEEN ISSUED FOR SEVERAL COUNTIES IN PENNSYLVANIA ALREADY. WINDS HAVE GUSTED TO 63 MPH AT READING PENNSYLVANIA. AT 515 PM RADAR SHOWED A LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS FROM NORTHEAST PENNSYLVANIA EXTENDING SOUTHWEST TO NORTHERN MARYLAND. THIS LINE WILL APPROACH PARTS OF SOUTHWEST NEW JERSEY BETWEEN 7 AND 8 O'CLOCK BUT THE TIME TO PREPARE FOR THE APPROACHING STORMS IS NOW. IF YOU ARE A BOATER BEGIN THINKING OF RETURNING TO A SAFE PORT. SWIMERS ENJOYING THE SURF AND SAND SHOULD ALSO CONSIDER CUTTING YOUR RECREATION TIME. EBERWINE
Special weather statement, Jul 17, 5:23 PM EDT, 55 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ATLANTIC CITY, NEW JERSEY 515 PM EDT SUN JUL 17 1988 ...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR ALL OF NEW JERSEY UNTIL 11 PM EDT...THIS INCLUDES THE COASTAL WATERS AND DELAWARE BAY... PERSONS IN THE WATCH AREA SHOULD BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ACCOMPANIED BY DAMAGING WINDS...HAIL...HEAVY RAIN AND FREQUENT LIGHTNING STRIKES. SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNINGS HAVE BEEN ISSUED FOR SEVERAL COUNTIES IN PENNSYLVANIA ALREADY. WINDS HAVE GUSTED TO 63 MPH AT READING PENNSYLVANIA. AT 515 PM RADAR SHOWED A LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS FROM NORTHEAST PENNSYLVANIA EXTENDING SOUTHWEST TO NORTHERN MARYLAND. THIS LINE WILL APPROACH PARTS OF SOUTHWEST NEW JERSEY BETWEEN 615 AMD 715 PM. BUT THE TIME TO PREPARE FOR THE APPROACHING STORMS IS NOW. IF YOU ARE A BOATER BEGIN THINKING OF RETURNING TO A SAFE PORT. SWIMERS ENJOYING THE SURF AND SAND SHOULD ALSO CONSIDER CUTTING YOUR RECREATION TIME. EBERWINE
Special weather statement, Jul 17, 5:44 PM EDT, 34 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON DE 545 PM EDT SUN JUL 17 1988 ...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH POSTED STATEWIDE UNTIL 11PM... THE NATIONAL SEVERE STORMS FORECAST CENTER IN KANSAS CITY HAS ISSUED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH FOR THE STATE OF DELAWARE AND OTHER PARTS OF THE MID-ATLANTIC REGION EFFECTIVE UNTIL 11 PM THIS EVENING. A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH INDICATES THE POSSIBILITY THAT THUNDERSTORMS IN THE AREA MAY BE ACCOMPANIED BY STRONG DAMAGING WIND GUSTS...LARGE HAIL...HEAVY DOWNPOURS AND FREQUENT LIGHTNING. RADAR PRESENTLY INDICATED A LINE OF STRONG STORMS STRETCHING FROM SOUTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA ACROSS CENTRAL MARYLAND INTO NORTHERN VIRGINIA. THESE WERE MOVING EAST SOUTHEAST AT 25 MPH. STORMS HAVE ALREADY PRODUCED WINDS AS HIGH AS 63 MPH IN EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA. MOVE INDOORS TO A REINFORCED STRUCTURE IF A STORM APPROACHES. STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS. REPORT THE OCCURRENCE OF SEVERE WEATHER TO LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AND ASK THEM TO RELAY THE MESSAGE TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE. YOU MAY ALSO CALL US DIRECTLY AT 328-7596 FOR SEVERE REPORTS ONLY. HITCHENS
Special weather statement, Jul 17, 5:46 PM EDT, 32 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ATLANTIC CITY, NEW JERSEY 542 PM EDT SUN JUL 17 1988 ...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR ALL OF NEW JERSEY UNTIL 11 PM EDT...THIS INCLUDES THE COASTAL WATERS AND DELAWARE BAY... PERSONS IN THE WATCH AREA SHOULD BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ACCOMPANIED BY DAMAGING WINDS...HAIL...HEAVY RAIN AND FREQUENT LIGHTNING STRIKES. SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNINGS HAVE BEEN ISSUED FOR SEVERAL COUNTIES IN PENNSYLVANIA ALREADY. WINDS HAVE GUSTED TO 63 MPH AT READING PENNSYLVANIA. AT 535 PM RADAR SHOWED A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS FROM FROM CENTRAL WARREN COUNTY NORTHWEST NEW JERSEY TO BOYERTOWN AND THEN TO PARKESBURG SOUTHEAST PENNSYLVANIA. THIS LINE WAS MOVING EASTSOUTHEAST AT 20 MILES AN HOUR...WHILE THESTORMS WERE MOVING EASTSOUTHEAST AT 30 MILES AN HOUR. OTHER SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS...SOME WITH HEAVY TO VERY HEAVY RAIN...WERE SCATTERED FROM EXTREM NORTHERN VIRGINIA ACROSS NORTH CENTRAL MARYLAND INTO THE LOWER SUSQUEHANNA VALLEY OF PENNSYLVANIA...SOUTHEAST EASTERN AND NORTHEAST
The office that day
Everything else NWS Philadelphia/Mount Holly issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 17, 5:07 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | PHI | Bucks, Montgomery | 53 min |
| Jul 17, 5:11 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | PHI | Chester | 49 min |
| Jul 17, 5:57 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | PHI | Chester | 48 min |
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.