Alert archive / Pennsylvania / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1990

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 105, NWS Cleveland, OH

September 6, 1990Erie County, Pennsylvania

NWS Cleveland, OH issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Sep 6, 1990, 7:46 PM EDT for Erie County, Pennsylvania. It was in force for 59 min. 3 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
Sep 6, 1990, 7:46 PM EDT (23:46 UTC)
Expired
Sep 6, 1990, 8:45 PM EDT
In force
59 min
Issued by
NWS Cleveland, OH
Area
Whole counties

County Erie 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
Sep 6, 8:35 PM EDTHail 0.75Erie, PA
Sep 6, 8:50 PM EDTHail 0.75Erie, PA
Sep 6, 8:50 PM EDTHail 0.75Erie, 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, 11.8 hours before the alert went out and 146 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 1990-09-06Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 2 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 1990-09-06The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 86 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
2 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-13 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
594 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
40 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
86 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
131 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 KERI 062346
SVRERI
PAC049-070045-

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING 
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ERIE PA
746 PM EDT THU SEP 6 1990

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM 
WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL 845 PM EDT FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING 
COUNTIES

   IN THE NORTHWEST PART OF PENNSYLVANIA
      ERIE...ADJACENT LAKE ERIE WATERS

AT 743 PM EDT RADAR INDICATED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM OVER LAKE ERIE
ABOUT 10 MILES NORTHWEST OF THE CITY OF ERIE PENNSYLVANIA. THIS
STORM WAS MOVING TOWARD THE SOUTHEAST AT 25 MILES AN HOUR AND SHOUL
D REACH THE LAKESHORE AREA AROUND 8PM EDT.

IF THREATENING WEATHER APPROACHES YOU SHOULD GO TO A SAFE PLACE
IMMEDIATELY AND ASK THE NEAREST LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENY TO RELAY YOUR
SEVERE WEATHER REPORTS TO THE LOCAL NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE.

A TORNADO WATCH IS ALSO IN EFFECT FOR THE WARNED AREA.  REMEMBER...
SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CAN AND OCCASIONALLY DO PRODUCE TORNADOES
WITH LITTLE OR NO ADVANCE WARNING.  REMAIN CALM BUT BE ALERT TO
RAPIDLY CHANGING WEATHER CONDITIONS.

SMALL BOATERS ON LAKE ERIE AND PREQUE ISLE BAY SHOULD SEEK SAFE
HARBOR IF THREATENING WEATHER APPROACHES.

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, Sep 6, 2:50 PM EDT, 4 hours 56 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ERIE, PA
250 PM EDT THU SEP 06 1990
PAZ001-02-062100

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ERIE, PA
245 PM EDT THU SEP 06 1990

...THUNDERSTORMS JUST NORTH OF THE PENNSYLVANIA LAKESHORE...

AT 240 PM EDT A LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS STRETCHED FROM LONG POINT ONTARIO
TO THE SOUTH SHORE OF LAKE ERIE OF NORTHEAST OHIO.

THE LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS WAS MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 30 MILES AN HOUR
AND SHOULD REACH THE PENNSYLVANIA LAKESHORE BY 3PM EDT AND NORTHERN CRAWFORD
COUNTY SHORTLY AFTER 330 PM.

THE THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTAIN HEAVY DOWNPOURS AND POSSIBLE WIND GUSTS
TO 60 MILES AN HOUR AS THEY MOVE THROUGH NORTHWEST PENNSYLVANIA.
PEOPLE LIVING IN ERIE AND CRAWFORD COUNTIES SHOULD REMAIN INDOORS AS
THESE STORMS MOVE INTO YOUR AREA.

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR ERIE...CRAWFORD AND VENANGO
COUNTIES UNTIL 8 PM THIS EVENING.

TJP/RR
Special weather statement, Sep 6, 5:44 PM EDT, 2 hours 2 minutes before
OHZALL-062300-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CLEVELAND OH
543 PM EDT THU SEP 6 1990

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH CONTINUES IN EFFECT FOR MOST OF THE EASTERN
THIRD OF OHIO UNTIL 8 PM.

AT 530 PM WEATHER SERVICE RADAR SHOWED SCATTERED SHOWERS AND
THUNDERSTORMS OVER EAST CENTRAL OHIO. THE HEAVIEST STORMS WERE LOCATED
OVER HARRISON AND SOUTHERN JEFFERSON COUNTIES. THE STORMS WERE MOVING
SOUTHEAST AT 25 MILES AN HOUR AND WILL MOVE ACROSS EASTERN BELMONT
COUNTY BY 640 PM.

AN ISOLATED THUNDERSTORM WAS OVER SOUTHERN LORAIN COUNTY... WHILE MORE
SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WERE DEVELOPING OVER SOUTHEASTERN MICHIGAN.
THESE STORMS WERE MOVING EAST AT AROUND 30 MILES AN HOUR.

THE THUNDERSTORMS THAT AFFECT OHIO THIS EVENING WILL BE CAPABLE OF
CAUSING DAMAGING WINDS... LARGE HAIL... AND HEAVY DOWNPOURS. PEOPLE
SHOULD REMAIN ALERT FOR SUCH CONDITIONS AND BE READY TO GO TO A PLACE
OF SAFETY IF THREATING WEATHER APPROACHES.

HILTBRAND
Local storm report, Sep 6, 6:16 PM EDT, 1 hour 30 minutes before
STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ERIE, PA
615 PM EDT THU SEP 06 1990

STORM REPORT FOR THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 6, 1990

TIME EDT        EVENT
=====================================================================
330 PM EDT      POWER LINES DOWN NEAR CRANESVILLE IN ERIE CO PA.

345 PM EDT      POWER LINES DOWN NEAR LINESVILLE IN CRAWFORD CO PA.

354 PM EDT      SKYWARN OBSERVER REPORTED 1.25 INCHES OF RAIN IN
                15 MIN AT LINESVILLE IN CRAWFORD CO PA.

405 PM EDT      POWER LINES AND LARGE TREES DOWN ON PARK AVE IN
                MEADVILLE IN CRAWFORD CO PA.  BY EMA AND SKYWARN.
                ALSO SOME STREET FLOODING.

415 PM EDT      1.75 INCHES OF RAIN IN 30 MIN AT LINESVILLE PA.

425 PM EDT      ESTIMATED WINDS IN EXCESS OF 50 MPH WITH POWER LINES
                DOWN AT FRENCH TOWN IN CRAWFORD CO PA.  ALSO LARGE
                TREES.

425 PM EDT      LARGE TREES DOWN...POWER LINES DOWN AND STREET
                 FLOODING IN DOWNTOWN MEADVILLE IN CRAWFORD CO PA.

530 PM EDT      POWER LINES DOWN...ALSO SOME TREES...NEAR FRANKLIN IN
                VENANGO CO PA.

RR
Special weather statement, Sep 6, 6:47 PM EDT, 59 minutes before
OHZALL-070000-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CLEVELAND OH
645 PM EDT THU SEP 6 1990

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH CONTINUES IN EFFECT FOR MUCH OF THE EASTERN
THIRD OF OHIO UNTIL 8 PM.

AT 640 PM WEATHER SERVICE RADAR SHOWED SCATTERED SHOWERS AND
THUNDERSTORMS... WITH VERY HEAVY RAINS... OVER EAST CENTRAL OHIO. THE
STORMS WERE LOCATED OVER BELMONT... SOUTHERN GUERNSEY... NORTHERN NOBLE
AND SOUTHERN MUSKINGUM COUNTIES. THE STORMS WERE MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 20
MILES AN HOUR AND WILL MOVE INTO MORGAN AND SOUTHERN NOBLE COUNTIES
BETWEEN 640 AND 740 PM.

NUMEROUS SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WERE LOCATED OVER WESTERN LAKE
ERIE... TO THE NORTHWEST OF CLEVELAND. THESE SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS
WERE MOVING EAST AT 30 MILES AN HOUR.

THE THUNDERSTORMS AFFECTING OHIO THIS EVENING WILL BE CAPABLE OF
CAUSING DAMAGING WINDS... LARGE HAIL... AND HEAVY DOWNPOURS. PEOPLE
SHOULD REMAIN ALERT FOR SUCH CONDITIONS AND BE READY TO GO TO A PLACE
OF SAFETY IF THREATENING WEATHER APPROACHES OR A WARNING IS ISSUED.

HILTBRAND
Special weather statement, Sep 6, 7:22 PM EDT, 24 minutes before
PAZ001-070100

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ERIE, PA
716 PM EDT THU SEP 06 1990

...MORE THUNDERSTORMS HEADING TOWARD THE PENNSYLVANIA LAKESHORE...

AT 715 PM EDT WEATHER RADAR SHOWED A LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS ABOUT 15 MILES
NORTH OF THE PENNSYLVANIA LAKESHORE.

THE LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS WAS MOVING TO THE SOUTHEAST AT 35 MILES AN HOUR
AND SHOULD REACH THE LAKESHORE AREA BY 745 PM EDT.  AS THESE STORMS MOVE
INTO ERIE COUNTY THEtY WILL PRODUCE HEAVY RAIN...DANGEROUS LIGHTNING AND
POSSIBLE WIND GUSTS TO 50 MILES AN HOUR.

BOATERS ON LAKE ERIE SHOULD SEEK SAFE HARBOR IMMEDIATELY.

TJP/RR
Special weather statement, Sep 6, 7:41 PM EDT, 5 minutes before
OHZALL-070100-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CLEVELAND OH
740 PM EDT THU SEP 6 1990

A TORNADO WATCH HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR MUCH NORTH CENTRAL AND NORTHEASTERN
OHIO UNTIL 1 AM FRIDAY. THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH FOR THE EASTERN
THIRD OF OHIO WILL EXPIRE AT 8 PM.

SOME OF THE CITIES IN THE TORNADO WATCH ARE AKRON... CANTON...
CLEVELAND... MANSFIELD... SANDUSKY... AND YOUNGSTOWN.

AT 735 PM CLEVELAND WEATHER RADAR INDICATED NUMEROUS SHOWERS AND
THUNDERSTORMS OVER THE WESTERN HALF OF LAKE ERIE. THE STORMS ARE MOVING
SOUTHEAST AT 30 MILES AN HOUR AND WILL MOVE INTO THE LAKESHORE COUNTIES
FROM SANDUSKY EASTWARD BETWEEN 8 AND 830 PM.

THE THUNDERSTORMS AFFECTING OHIO THIS EVENING WILL BE CAPABLE OF
CAUSING TORNADOES... DAMAGING WINDS... LARGE HAIL... AND HEAVY
DOWNPOURS. PEOPLE SHOULD REMAIN ALERT FOR SUCH CONDITIONS AND BE READY
TO GO TO A PLACE OF SAFETY IF THREATENING WEATHER APPROACHES OR A
WARNING IS ISSUED.

;HILTBRAND

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Sep 6, 3:19 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCLECrawford, Erie56 min
Sep 6, 4:10 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCLEMercer65 min
Sep 6, 4:18 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCLECrawford57 min
Sep 6, 4:35 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCLELawrence55 min
Sep 6, 4:52 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCLEVenango68 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Pennsylvania, 1990Every severe thunderstorm warning in 1990

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.