Alert archive / Pennsylvania / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1988
Severe Thunderstorm Warning 42, NWS Philadelphia/Mount Holly
NWS Philadelphia/Mount Holly issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Aug 24, 1988, 8:45 PM EDT for Bucks County, Pennsylvania. It was in force for 60 min. 2 reports 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 24, 1988, 8:45 PM EDT (00:45 UTC)
- Expired
- Aug 24, 1988, 9:45 PM EDT
- In force
- 60 min
- Issued by
- NWS Philadelphia/Mount Holly
- Area
- Whole counties
County Bucks 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 24, 8:50 PM EDT | Thunderstorm Wind 0 | Bucks, PA | |
| Aug 24, 9:22 PM EDT | Thunderstorm Wind 52 | Bucks, 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 00:00Z, 0.8 hours before the alert went out and 111 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
- 296 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -30 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 1215 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 31 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 12 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 26 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 0.0
The text
As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.
000
TTAA00 KPHL 250046 COR
SVRPHL
PAC017-250145-
BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING...CORRECTION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PHILADELPHIA PA
845 PM EDT WED AUG 24 1988
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM
WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL 945 PM EDT FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING
COUNTY
IN THE SOUTHEAST PART OF PENNSYLVANIA
EASTERN BUCKS
AT 840 PM EDT A WEATHER SPOTTER REPORTED WINDS GUSTING TO NEAR
100 MILES AN HOUR AND HAIL IN WARMINISTER.
THIS IS A DANGEROUS STORM AND PEOPLE IN THE WARNED AREA SHOULD BE
PREPARED FOR STRONG DAMAGING WINDS...LARGE HAIL...VERY HEAVY RAIN
AND LIGHTNING. SHOULD THE STORM APPROACH YOU...SEEK IMMEDIATE
SHELTER. MOBILE HOMES AR3E MOST VULNERABLE TO HIGH WINDS AND
SHOULD BE AVOIDED.
HEAVY RAINS WITH THIS THUNDERSTORM MAY CAUSE FLOODING
OF SMALL STREAMS AND UNDERPASSES.
ACSWhat 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 24, 6:50 PM EDT, 1 hour 55 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT FOR SOUTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PHILADELPHIA, PA 647 PM EDT WED AUG 24 1988 ...THUNDERSTORMS MOVING INTO WESTERN MONTGOMERY COUNTY AND ALSO THROUGH LANCASTER COUNTY TO THE WEST OF CHESTER COUNTY... AT 640 PM EDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR SHOWED A HEAVY THUNDERSTORM IN EASTERN BERKS COUNTY NEAR THE BORDER OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY AND MOVING EAST AROUND 30 MILES AN HOUR. THERE HAS BEEN SOME INCREASE IN INTENSITY IN THIS STORM AND RESIDENTS SHOULD BE PREPARED FOR LOCALLY HEAVY RAIN AND DANGEROUS LIGHTNING AND ALSO THE POSSIBILITY OF STRONG GUSTY SURFACE WINDS AND HAIL. RADAR ALSO INDICATED A HEAVY THUNDERSTORM IN CENTRAL LANCASTER COUNTY AND A DEVELOPING THUNDERSTORM IN THE NORTHEASTERN PORTION OF THE COUNTY. THIS ACTIVITY WAS ALSO MOVING EAST AROUND 30 MILES AN HOUR AND RESIDENTS OF WESTERN CHESTER COUNTY CAN EXPECT A THUNDERSTORM OR RAIN SHOWER BETWEEN 730 AND 8 PM EDT. IF THREATENING WEATHER IS SIGHTED SEEK SHELTER IMMEDIATELY. ACS
Special weather statement, Aug 24, 7:44 PM EDT, 1 hour 1 minute before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON DE
735 PM EDT WED AUG 24 1988
... THUNDERSTORMS ENTERING NORTHERN DELAWARE...
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR WAS CURRENTLY SHOWING A FEW AREAS OF
THUNDERSTORMS OVER NORTH CENTRAL AND NORTHEASTERN MARYLAND...EXTENDING
INTO SOUTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA. THESE STORMS WERE MOVING TOWARD THE
EAST AT 25 MILES AN HOUR.
THE THUNDERSTORMS WILL ENTER THE NORTHWEST BORDER AREAS OF NEW CASTLE
COUNTY ...FROM NEWARK NORTHWARD...BETWEEN 745 AND 8PM. THE STORMS WILL
CONTINUE THEIR EASTWARD MOVEMENT AND AFFECT MOST OF NEW CASTLE COUNTY
DURING THE NEXT 2 TO 3 HOURS.
WITH EACH THUNDERSTORM WILL COME THE THREAT OF LOCALLY HEAVY RAIN
AND DANGEROUS LIGHTNING...ALONG WITH THE POSSIBILITY STRONG WIND GUSTS
AND SMALL HAIL.
A COOPERATIVE OBSERVER IN BALTIMORE COUNTY MARYLAND REPORTED THE
OCCURRENCE OF A 50 MILE AN HOUR WIND GUST AND PEA SIZE HAIL AS ONE
OF THESE STORMS MOVED THROUGH NORTHEASTERN MARYLAND.
IF A THREATENING STORM APPROACHES YOUR AREA...SEKK SAFE SHELTER
IMMEDIATELY.
LC
[Special weather statement, Aug 24, 7:49 PM EDT, 56 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT SOUTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA AND NORTHERN DEL. NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PHILADELPHIA, PA 746 PM EDT WED AUG 24 1988 ...HEAVY THUNDERSTORM CONTINUES OVER WESTERN MONTGOMERY COUNTY... AT 730 PM EDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR CONTINUES TO SHOW A HEAVY THUNDERSTORM OVER WESTERN MONTGOMERY COUNTY MOVING EAST AROUND 30 MILES AN HOUR. A SECOND THUNDERSTORM IN SOUTHERN BERKS COUNTY APPEARS TO BE MOVING EAST ALSO...ALONG THE SAME PATH. ADDITIONAL HEAVY RAINS FROM THIS SECOND STORM MAY PRODUCE STREET AND HIGHWAY FLOODING AND ALSO FLOODING IN AREAS OF POOR DRAINAGE. SMALL CREEKS AND DRAINAGE DITCHES MAY FILL VERY RAPIDLY WITH WATER MOVING SWIFTLY. PERSONS AND MOTORISTS SHOULD AVOID SUCH AREAS IF POSSIBLE. RADAR ALSO SHOWER A HEAVY THUNDERSTORM JUST SOUTH OF CHESTER COUNTY AND MOVING EAST AT 25 TO 30 MILES AN HOUR. THIS THUNDERSTORM WILL ENTER THE NORTHERN PORTION OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE BETWEEN 8 AND 9 PM EDT. : IF THREATENING WEATHER IS SIGHTED SEEK SHELTER IMMEDIATELY. ACS
Special weather statement, Aug 24, 7:54 PM EDT, 51 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT SOUTHERN EASTERN PA. AND NORTHERN DEL. CORRECTED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PHILADELPHIA, PA 753 PM EDT WED AUG 24 1988 ...HEAVY THUNDERSTORM CONTINUES OVER WESTERN MONTGOMERY COUNTY... AT 730 PM EDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR CONTINUES TO SHOW A HEAVY THUNDERSTORM OVER WESTERN MONTGOMERY COUNTY MOVING EAST AROUND 30 MILES AN HOUR. A SECOND THUNDERSTORM IN SOUTHERN BERKS COUNTY APPEARS TO BE MOVING EAST ALSO...ALONG THE SAME PATH. ADDITIONAL HEAVY RAINS FROM THIS SECOND STORM MAY PRODUCE STREET AND HIGHWAY FLOODING AND ALSO FLOODING IN AREAS OF POOR DRAINAGE. SMALL CREEKS AND DRAINAGE DITCHES MAY FILL VERY RAPIDLY WITH WATER MOVING SWIFTLY. PERSONS AND MOTORISTS SHOULD AVOID SUCH AREAS IF POSSIBLE. RADAR ALSO SHOWED A HEAVY THUNDERSTORM JUST SOUTH OF CHESTER COUNTY AND MOVING EAST AT 25 TO 30 MILES AN HOUR. THIS THUNDERSTORM WILL ENTER THE NORTHERN PORTION OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE BETWEEN 8 AND 9 ?PM EDT. IF THREATENING WEATHER IS SIGHTED SEEK SHELTER IMMEDIATELY. ACS
Special weather statement, Aug 24, 8:25 PM EDT, 20 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT FOR SOUTHEASTERN PA AND NORTHERN DE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PHILADELPHIA, PA 824 PM EDT WED AUG 24 1988 ...HEAVY THUNDERSTORMS CENTRAL MONTGOMERY COUNTY MOVING INTO CENTRAL AND EASTERN BUCKS COUNTY... AT 830 PM EDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR SHOWED TWO THUNDERSTORMS IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY. ONE IN THE CENTER OF THE COUNTY NEAR SKIPPACK AND THE OTHER IN THE NORTH CENTRAL PART NEAR MONTGOMERYVILLE. THESE STORMS WERE MOVING EAST AROUND 30 MILES AN HOUR AND WILL ENTER CENTRAL AND EASTERN BUCKS COUNTY BETWEEN 830 AND 9 PM EDT. THESE STORMS HAVE BEEN FOLLOWING EACH OTHER AND FLOODING OF HIGHWAYS AND DRAINAGE DITCHES IS POSSIBLE DUE TO THE HEAVY RAINS ASSOCIATED WI TH THESE STORMS. RADAR ALSO SHOWER A HEAVY THUNDERSTORM JUST WEST OF WILMINGTON DELAWARE AND MOVING EAST AT 25 TO 30 MILES AN HOUR. IF THREATENING WEATHER IS SIGHTED SEEK SHELTER IMMEDIATELY. ACS
Special weather statement, Aug 24, 8:30 PM EDT, 15 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT FOR SOUTHEASTERN PA AND NORTHERN DE CORRECTED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PHILADELPHIA, PA 830 PM EDT WED AUG 24 1988 ...HEAVY THUNDERSTORMS CENTRAL MONTGOMERY COUNTY MOVING INTO CENTRAL AND EASTERN BUCKS COUNTY... AT 830 PM EDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR SHOWED TWO THUNDERSTORMS IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY. ONE IN THE CENTER OF THE COUNTY NEAR SKIPPACK AND THE OTHER IN THE NORTH CENTRAL PART NEAR MONTGOMERYVILLE. THESE STORMS WERE MOVING EAST AROUND 30 MILES AN HOUR AND WILL ENTER CENTRAL AND EASTERN BUCKS COUNTY BETWEEN 830 AND 9 PM EDT. THESE STORMS HAVE BEEN FOLLOWING EACH OTHER AND FLOODING OF HIGHWAYS AND DRAINAGE DITCHES IS POSSIBLE DUE TO THE HEAVY RAINS ASSOCIATED WITH THESE STORMS. RADAR ALSO SHOWED A HEAVY THUNDERSTORM JUST WEST OF WILMINGTON DELAWARE AND MOVING EAST AT 25 TO 30 MILES AN HOUR. IF THREATENING WEATHER IS SIGHTED SEEK SHELTER IMMEDIATELY. ACS
The office that day
Everything else NWS Philadelphia/Mount Holly issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 24, 9:06 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | PHI | Philadelphia | 54 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.