Alert archive / Pennsylvania / Flash Flood Warnings in 1990

Flash Flood Warning 16, NWS State College, PA

October 18, 1990York County, Pennsylvania

NWS State College, PA issued this flash flood warning at Oct 18, 1990, 4:38 PM EDT for York County, Pennsylvania. It was in force for 2 hr.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Oct 18, 1990, 4:38 PM EDT (20:38 UTC)
Expired
Oct 18, 1990, 6:45 PM EDT
In force
2 hr
Issued by
NWS State College, PA
Area
Whole counties

County York County, PA

The radar

The WSR-88D network and its archive begin in 1991, so there is no radar volume for this alert.

The nearest sounding before it

Washington/Dulle, VA (KIAD), launched 12:00Z, 8.6 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, Washington/Dulle, VA at 12:00Z on 1990-10-18Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 8 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, Washington/Dulle, VA at 12:00Z on 1990-10-18The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 231 square meters per square second.19395878Sfc1 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
8 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-299 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
702 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
46 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
231 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
203 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 KHAR 182039 RRA
FFWHAR
PAC133-182245-
 
BULLETIN - EBS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
FLASH FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HARRISBURG PA
438 PM EDT THU OCT 18 1990
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN HARRISBURG HAS ISSUED A
FLASH FLOOD WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL  645 PM EDT
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING COUNTY...
 
IN SOUTH CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA
          ...YORK
 
AT 435 PM PEMA OFFICIALS REPORTED VEERY HEAVY RAIN...FIRST FLOOR
FLOODING IN THE CITY OF YORK IN YORK COUNTY.
 
 
 
 
A FLASH FLOOD WARNING MEANS THAT FLOODING IS OCCURRING OR IS
IMMINENT.  MOST FLASH FLOOD DEATHS OCCUR IN AUTOMOBILES.  DO NOT
ATTEMPT TO CROSS BRIDGES...DIPS...OR LOW SPOTS IF WATER COVERS
THE ROADWAY.  NEVER TRY TO CROSS A FLOWING STREAM...EVEN A SMALL
ONE...ON FOOT.  TO ESCAPE RISING WATER MOVE UP TO HIGHER GROUND.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this flash flood 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, Oct 18, 11:59 AM EDT, 4 hours 39 minutes before
PAZ006-008-009-013-181800-
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HARRISBURG PA
1155 AM EDT THU 0CT 18 1990

...SHOWERS AND GUSTY WINDS ARE MOVING INTO CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA...

GUSTY WINDS WILL ACCOMPANY THE SHOWERS AS THEY MOVE ACROSS THE STATE TODAY.
STATE COLLEGE REPORTED A WIND GUST OF ABOUT 60 MILES AN HOUR AS SHOWERS WERE
MOVING THROUGH...SHORTLY AFTER 1140 AM...AND GUSTS OF 40 TO 50 MILES
AN HOUR WERE NOT UNCOMMON.

AT 1129 AM EDT THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR IN HARRISBURG WAS SHOWING
SHOWERS OVER CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA...THE WESTERN PANHANDLE OF MARYLAND...
NORTHERN VIRGINIA...AND THE EXTREME NORTHEAST SECTIONS OF WEST VIRGINIA.

MOST OF THE SHOWERS STRETCHED FROM THE NORTHERN MOUNTAINS...SOUTH ACROSS
THE LAUREL AND CENTRAL MOUNTAINS...THE WESTERN PORTIONS OF THE SUSQUEHANNA
VALLEY...THE WESTERN PANHANDLE OF MARYLAND AND DOWN INTO NORTHERN VIRGINIA.
.
THERE WERE ALSO A FEW AREAS OF HEAVY RAIN...MOST OF WHICH WERE IN A THIN LINE
BETWEEN STATE COLLEGE AND MERCERSBURG.

MOVEMENT OF THE SHOWERS WAS NORTHEAST AT ABOUT 55 MILES AN HOUR.

WSO HAR RBH
Special weather statement, Oct 18, 12:57 PM EDT, 3 hours 41 minutes before
PAZ006-008-009-013-1818300-
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HARRISBURG PA
1250 PM EDT THU 0CT 18 1990

...SHOWERS AND GUSTY WINDS ARE MOVING ACROSS CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA...

GUSTY WINDS WILL ACCOMPANY SHOWERS AS THEY MOVE ACROSS THE STATE THIS
AFTERNOON. SHORTLY AFTER 1230 PM...STATE COLLEGE REPORTED A WIND GUST
OF 74 MILES AN HOUR...AND NUMEROUS GUSTS OF 40 TO 50 MILES HAVE ALREADY
BEEN REPORTED AS SHOWERS MOVED THROUGH CENTRAL AND WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA.

AT 1230 PM EDT THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR IN HARRISBURG WAS SHOWING
SHOWERS OVER CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA...THE WESTERN PANHANDLE OF MARYLAND...
NORTHERN VIRGINIA...AND THE EXTREME NORTHEAST SECTIONS OF WEST VIRGINIA.

MOST OF THE SHOWERS WERE OVER THE CENTRAL MOUNTAINS...THE SUSQUEHANNA
VALLEY...THE WEST PANHANDLE OF MARYLAND AND PARTS OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA.

THERE WERE ALSO A FEW AREAS OF HEAVY RAIN IN WESTERN CENTRE COUNTY AND ALSO
IN A THINY LINE WHICH STRETCHED FROM LEWISTOWN SOUTH TO AROUND MERCERSBURG.
.
MOVEMENT OF THE SHOWERS WAS NORTHEAST AT ABOUT 55 MILES AN HOUR.

WSO HAR RBH
Special weather statement, Oct 18, 1:35 PM EDT, 3 hours 3 minutes before
PAZ007-008-014-182130

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILLIAMSPORT PA
135 PM EDT THU OCT 18 1990

...SOME HEAVY RAINS MOVING ACROSS PORTIONS OF NORTHCENTRAL PA...

MODERATE TO HEAVY SHOWERS IN ADVANCE OF A COLD FRONT WERE MOVING
ACROSS PORTIONS OF NORTHCENTRAL PA THIS AFTERNOON. THESE SHOWERS HAVE
PRODUCED AROUND 1/2 INCH OF RAINFALL IN SOME AREAS OF LYCOMING COUNTY
IN THE PAST 2 HOURS. SOME RAINFALL TOTALS IN LYCOMING COUNTY AS OF 130
PM EDT:

   BUTTONWOOD  -  .44
   CAMMAL      -  .64
   WHITE PINE  -  .56
   WILLIAMSPORT-LYCOMING COUNTY AIRPORT  -  .45
   TROUT RUN -  .44

MODERATE TO HEAVY SHOWERS WILL CONTINUE ACROSS PARTS OF NORTHCENTRAL
PA THROUGHOUT THE AFTERNOON..AS THE COLD FRONT APPROACHES AND MOVES
THROUGH THE REGION. THE HEAVIER SHOWERS COULD CAUSE SOME SIGNIFICANT
RISES ON RIVERS AND CREEKS IN THE AREA DURING THE AFTERNOON. WITH THE
FLOODING THAT OCCURRED IN PARTS OF NORTHCENTRAL PA JUST SEVERAL DAYS
AGO..WE WILL KEEP A CLOSE EYE ON THE SITUATION AND WILL KEEP YOU
INFORMED.

TG
Special weather statement, Oct 18, 1:48 PM EDT, 2 hours 50 minutes before
PAZ006-008-009-013-1819300-
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HARRISBURG PA
150 PM EDT THU 0CT 18 1990

...SHOWERS AND GUSTY WINDS ARE MOVING ACROSS CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA...

GUSTY WINDS WILL ACCOMPANY SHOWERS AS THEY MOVE ACROSS THE STATE THIS
AFTERNOON. SHORTLY AFTER 1230 PM...STATE COLLEGE REPORTED A WIND GUST
OF 74 MILES AN HOUR...AND NUMEROUS GUSTS OF 40 TO 50 MILES HAVE ALREADY
BEEN REPORTED AS SHOWERS MOVED THROUGH CENTRAL AND WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA.

AT 127 PM EDT THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR IN HARRISBURG WAS SHOWING
SHOWERS OVER CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA...CENTRAL MARYLAND AND NORTHERN VIRGINIA.

MOST OF THE SHOWERS WERE OVER THE CENTRAL AND LAUREL MOUNTAINS...THE
SUSQUEHANNA VALLEY...CENTRAL MARYLAND AND PARTS OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA.

THERE WERE ALSO AN AREA OF HEAVY RAIN JUST NORTH OF STATE COLLEGE...AND
A THIN LINE OF HEAVY RAIN WHICH STRETCHED FROM NEWPORT...IN EASTERN PERRY
COUNTY...TO JUST WEST OF GETTYSBURG...IN SOUTHWEST ADAMS COUNTY.
.
MOVEMENT OF THE SHOWERS WAS NORTHEAST AT ABOUT 55 MILES AN HOUR.

WSO HAR RBH
Special weather statement, Oct 18, 2:52 PM EDT, 1 hour 46 minutes before
PAZ006-008-009-013-181945-
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HARRISBURG PA
250 PM EDT THU 0CT 18 1990

...SHOWERS AND GUSTY WINDS ARE MOVING ACROSS CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA...

GUSTY WINDS WILL ACCOMPANY SHOWERS AS THEY MOVE ACROSS THE STATE THIS
AFTERNOON. SHORTLY AFTER 1230 PM...STATE COLLEGE REPORTED A WIND GUST
OF 74 MILES AN HOUR...AND NUMEROUS GUSTS OF 40 TO 50 MILES HAVE ALSO
BEEN REPORTED.

AT 230 PM EDT THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR IN HARRISBURG WAS SHOWING
RAIN AND SHOWERS OVER MOST OF CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA...NORTHERN MARYLAND AND
NORTHERN VIRGINIA.

THERE WERE ALSO A FEW AREAS OF VERY HEAVY RAIN IN CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA.
A THIN LINE OF HEAVY SHOWERS EXTENDED FROM NORTH CENTRAL CENTRE COUNTY
TO 20 MILES SOUTH OF RAYSTOWN LAKE IN SOUTHWEST HUNTINDON COUNTY. ANOTHER
LINE OF HEAVY SHOWERS STRETCHED MIDDLEBURG...IN SOUTHERN SNYDER COUNTY...
TO JUST NORTH OF GETTYSBURG...IN NORTHERN ADAMS COUNTY.
.
MOVEMENT OF THE SHOWERS WAS NORTHEAST AT ABOUT 50 MILES AN HOUR.

WSO HAR RBH
Special weather statement, Oct 18, 3:43 PM EDT, 55 minutes before
PAZ006-008-009-013-181945-
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HARRISBURG PA
250 PM EDT THU 0CT 18 1990

...SHOWERS AND GUSTY WINDS ARE MOVING ACROSS CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA...

GUSTY WINDS WILL ACCOMPANY SHOWERS AS THEY MOVE ACROSS THE STATE THIS
AFTERNOON. SHORTLY AFTER 1230 PM...STATE COLLEGE REPORTED A WIND GUST
OF 74 MILES AN HOUR...AND NUMEROUS GUSTS OF 40 TO 50 MILES HAVE ALSO
BEEN REPORTED.

AT 230 PM EDT THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR IN HARRISBURG WAS SHOWING
RAIN AND SHOWERS OVER MOST OF CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA...NORTHERN MARYLAND AND
NORTHERN VIRGINIA.

THERE WERE ALSO A FEW AREAS OF VERY HEAVY RAIN IN CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA.
A THIN LINE OF HEAVY SHOWERS EXTENDED FROM NORTHCENTRAL CENTRE COUNTY
TO 20 MILES SOUTH OF RAYSTOWN LAKE IN SOUTHWEST HUNTINDON COUNTY. ANOTHER
LINE OF HEAVY SHOWERS STRETCHED MIDDLEBURG...IN SOUTHERN SNYDER COUNTY...
TO JUST NORTH OF GETTYSBURG...IN NORTHERN ADAMS COUNTY@.
.
MOVEMENT OF THE SHOWERS WAS NORTHEAST AT ABOUT 55 MILES AN HOUR.

WSO HAR RBH

The office that day

Everything else NWS State College, PA issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Oct 18, 12:40 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPCentre65 min

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in Pennsylvania, 1990Every flash flood 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; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive.