Alert archive / New Jersey / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1988

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 37, NWS Philadelphia/Mount Holly

August 17, 1988Cumberland County, New Jersey

NWS Philadelphia/Mount Holly issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Aug 17, 1988, 3:07 PM EDT for Cumberland County, New Jersey. It was in force for 38 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 17, 1988, 3:07 PM EDT (19:07 UTC)
Expired
Aug 17, 1988, 3:45 PM EDT
In force
38 min
Issued by
NWS Philadelphia/Mount Holly
Area
Whole counties

County Cumberland County, NJ

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 17, 3:40 PM EDTHail 0.75Cumberland, NJ

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, 7.1 hours before the alert went out and 56 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 1988-08-17Temperature 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 km15 km-30°-20°-10°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 1988-08-17The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 33 square meters per square second.193958Sfc1 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
1851 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
35 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
33 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
223 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 KACY 171906
SVRACY
NJC011-171945-
 
BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM AND SPECIAL MARINE WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ATLANTIC CITY NJ
307 PM EDT WED AUG 17 1988
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN ATLANTIC CITY HAS ISSUED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING AND
SPECIAL MARINE WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL  345 PM EDT
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING COUNTY...
 
IN SOUTH NEW JERSEY
          ...CUMBERLAND
 
AND ADJACENT COASTAL WATERS.
 
 
RADAR INDICATED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM ABOUT 15 MILES NORTHWEST OF
VINELAND NEW JERSEY. THE THUNDERSTORM WAS RACING SOUTH TO SOUTHEAST
AT 40 TO 45 MPH.
 
 
SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCE DAMAGING WIND IN EXCESS OF 55
MPH...DESTRUCTIVE HAIL...DEADLY LIGHTNING...AND VERY HEAVY RAIN.
FOR YOUR PROTECTION MOVE TO AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR
OF YOUR HOME OR BUSINESS.  HEAVY RAINS FLOOD ROADS QUICKLY SO
DON'T DRIVE INTO AREAS WHERE WATER COVERS THE ROAD.
 
SCURA

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 17, 11:29 AM EDT, 3 hours 38 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PHILADELPHIA, PA
1128 AM EDT WED AUG 17 1988

...THUNDERSTORM POTENTIAL STATEMENT FOR EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA AND
   SOUTHERN NEW JERSEY...

DUE TO DRYNESS OF THE ATMOSPHERE AND LACK OF ANY SIGNIFICANT
FRONTAL SYSTEMS MOVING INTO THE AREA UNTIL TONIGHT...SCATTERED
THUNDERSTORMS ARE NO LONGER EXPECTED FOR MOST OF EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA
AND SOUTHERN NEW JERSEY THIS AFTERNOON.

AN EAST TO WEST COLD FRONT THROUGH THE NORTHERN GREAT LAKES THIS
MORNING WILL MOVE SOUTH AND REACH THE NORTHERN PENNSYLVANIA BORDER
EARLY TONIGHT AND SOUTHERN NEW JERSEY THURSDAY MORNING.

A WARM FRONT EXTENDING SOUTHEAST THROUGH THE EASTERN GREAT LAKES
FROM THE COLD FRONT WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE NORTHEAST AND POSSIBLY
PRODUCE AN ISOLATED SHOWER OR THUNDERSTORM OVER THE NORTHERN MOST
PART OF EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA THIS AFTERNOON.

AT THIS TIME IT APPEARS THAT THE POTENTIAL FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS
IS ALSO DIMINISHIN+G...HOWEVER ANY THUNDERSTORM MAY PRODUCE DAMAGING
SURFACE WINDS AND HAIL ALONG WITH DANGEROUS LIGHTNING AND HEAVY
RAINS.

ACS
Special weather statement, Aug 17, 1:20 PM EDT, 1 hour 47 minutes before
ABPA-
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALLENTOWN PA
115 PM EDT WED AUG 17 1988

...VERY HEAVY THUNDERSTORMS ENTERING CARBON AND SCHUYLKILL COUNTIES...

AT 115 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR AND SEVERE WEATHER
SPOTTERS INDICATED VERY HEAVY THUNDERSTORMS OVER CARBON AND EASTERN
SCHUYLKILL COUNTIES. THE STORMS ARE MOVING SOUTHEASTWARD AT 50 MPH
AND WILL MOVE ACROSS THE REST OF CARBON AND SCHUYLKILL COUNTIES BY
145 PM AND INTO LEHIGH AND NORTHAMPTON COUNTIES BY 200 PM. THESE STORMS
CONTAIN STRONG...GUSTY WINDS...HEAVY RAIN AND COULD CONTAIN HAIL.

PEOPLE LIVING IN CARBON AND SCHUYLKILL COUNTIES SHOULD SEEK SHELTER
WHEN THESE STORMS ARRIVE.

$$DOVICO
Special weather statement, Aug 17, 2:13 PM EDT, 54 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PHILADELPHIA PA
213 PM EDT WED AUG 17 1988

...HEAVY THUNDERSTORM MOVING INTO NORTHERN CHESTER COUNTY...

AT 200 PM EDT RADAR SHOWED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM DROPPING SOUTH
THROUGH BERKS COUNTY IN EAST CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA INTO NORTHERN
CHESTER AND SOUTHERN MONTGOMERY COUNTY OF SOUTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA.
THIS THUNDERSTORM AREA WAS MOVING TOWARDS THE SOUTH AND SOUTHEAST AT
BETWEEN 40 AND 45 MILES AN HOUR.

PEOPLE LIVING ALONG THE NORTHERN CHESTER COUNTY/SOUTHERN MONTGOMERY
COUNTY BORDER SHOULD BE ALERT FOR RAPIDLY CHANGING CONDITIONS.
THIS THUNDERSTORM AREA MAY BRING STRONG WIND GUSTS TO 50 MILES AN
HOUR...VERY HEAVY RAINS...SOME HAIL...AND THE EVER DANGEROUS
LIGHTNING.

THIS THUNDERSTORM AREA SHOULD MOVE INTO PORTIONS OF DELAWARE AND
PHILADELPHIA COUNTY BETWEEN 245 PM AND 300 PM AND IF IT HOLDS
TOGETHER...WILL AFFECT THE SOUTHERN NEW JERSEY COUNTIES OF
CAMDEN...GLOUCESTER...AND SALEM AFTER 300 PM.

HASKO
Special weather statement, Aug 17, 2:53 PM EDT, 14 minutes before
ABPA-
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALLENTOWN PA
245 PM EDT WED AUG 17 1988

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH FOR EAST CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH
FOR BERKS...LEHIGH...SCHUYLKILL AND CARBON COUNTIES.

THE THREAT OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WITH DAMAGING WINDS...DANGEROUS
LIGHTNING...HAIL AND HEAVY RAIN EXISTS UNTIL 8 PM THIS EVENING.

AT 245 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR INDICATED HEAVY
THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOPING OVER WESTERN AND CENTRAL NEW YORK STATE.
THE THUNDERSTORMS ARE MOVING SOUTHEASTWARD AT 45 MPH.

PEOPLE LIVING IN BERKS...LEHIGH...SCHUYLKILL AND CARBON COUNTIES
SHOULD BE ALERT FOR SEVERE WEATHER AND BE PREPARED TO SEEK SHELTER.
$$DOVICO
Special weather statement, Aug 17, 2:55 PM EDT, 12 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PHILADELPHIA, PA
248 PM EDT WED AUG 17 1988

...HEAVY THUNDERSTORM MOVING INTO SALEM AND GLOUCESTER COUNTIES...

AT 250 PM EDT RADAR INDICATED A HEAVY THUNDERSTORM MOVING SOUTH
THROUGH WESTERN GLOUCESTER AND SALEM COUNTIES. THE THUNDERSTORM
HAS FREQUENT VIVID LIGHTNING....GUSTY WINDS TO 40 MPH...AND BRIEF
HEAVY RAINS. THE STORM IS MOVING SOUTH AT 40 MPH AND SHOULD MOVE
INTO CUMBERLAND COUNTY BY 330 THIS AFTERNOON.

PEOPLE LIVING IN GLOUCESTER...SALEM...AND CUMBERLAND COUNTIES SHOULD
BE ALERT FOR RAPIDLY CHANGING CONDITIONS. THIS THUNDERSTORM COULD
BRING STRONG WIND GUSTS TO 50 MILES AN HOUR...BRIEF HEAVY RAINS...
SMALL HAIL...AND FREQUENT DANGEROUS LIGTNING. THE STORM WILL BE
SOUTH AND EAST OF THESE COUNTIES BY 415 THIS AFTERNOON.

GCH
CAMDEN...GLOUCESTER...AND SALEM AFTER 300 PM.

HASKO
Special weather statement, Aug 17, 2:56 PM EDT, 11 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PHILADELPHIA, PA
256 PM EDT WED AUG 17 1988

...HEAVY THUNDERSTORM MOVING INTO SALEM AND GLOUCESTER COUNTIES...

AT 250 PM EDT RADAR INDICATED A HEAVY THUNDERSTORM MOVING SOUTH
THROUGH WESTERN GLOUCESTER AND SALEM COUNTIES. THE THUNDERSTORM
HAS FREQUENT VIVID LIGHTNING....GUSTY WINDS TO 40 MPH...AND BRIEF
HEAVY RAINS. THE STORM IS MOVING SOUTH AT 40 MPH AND SHOULD MOVE
INTO CUMBERLAND COUNTY BY 330 THIS AFTERNOON.

PEOPLE LIVING IN GLOUCESTER...SALEM...AND CUMBERLAND COUNTIES SHOULD
BE ALERT FOR RAPIDLY CHANGING CONDITIONS. THIS THUNDERSTORM COULD
BRING STRONG WIND GUSTS TO 50 MILES AN HOUR...BRIEF HEAVY RAINS...
SMALL HAIL...AND FREQUENT DANGEROUS LIGTNING. THE STORM WILL BE
SOUTH AND EAST OF THESE COUNTIES BY 415 THIS AFTERNOON.

GCH
HASKO

The office that day

Everything else NWS Philadelphia/Mount Holly issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Aug 17, 6:40 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPHIBurlington, Camden50 min
Aug 17, 7:09 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPHIAtlantic, Ocean66 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in New Jersey, 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.