Alert archive / Pennsylvania / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1990

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 30, NWS State College, PA

June 30, 19905 counties in Pennsylvania

NWS State College, PA issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Jun 30, 1990, 8:51 PM EDT for 5 counties in Pennsylvania. It was in force for 69 min.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Jun 30, 1990, 8:51 PM EDT (00:51 UTC)
Expired
Jun 30, 1990, 10:00 PM EDT
In force
69 min
Issued by
NWS State College, PA
Area
Whole counties

Counties Centre County, PA, Juniata County, PA, Mifflin County, PA, Snyder County, PA, Union 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 00:00Z, 0.9 hours before the alert went out and 201 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 00:00Z on 1990-07-01Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 1495 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 00:00Z on 1990-07-01The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 66 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
1495 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-27 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1431 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
31 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
66 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
174 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.4
Supercell composite
5.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.

000 
TTAA00 KHAR 010053 RRA
SVRHAR
PAC027-067-087-109-119-099-010200-
 
BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HARRISBURG PA
851 PM EDT  JUN 30 1990
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN HARRISBURG HAS ISSUED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL 1000 PM EDT
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES...
 
IN CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA
          ...CENTRE...JUNIATA...MIFFLIN...SNYDER
          ...SOUTH CENTRAL UNION
IN SOUTH CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA
          ...PERRY
 
AT 745 PM WEATHER SERVICE RADAR IN HARRISBURG INDICATED HEAVY
RAINSHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS OVER WESTERN PORTIONS OF PENNSYLVANIA...
THE SOUTHCENTRAL MOUNTAINS...AND THE SOUTHWESTERN PORTIONS OF THE
LOWER SUSQUEHANNA VALLEY. HAIL...WINDS IN EXCESS OF 40 MILES AN HOUR
AND DOWN POWER LINES HAVE ALREADY BEEN REPORTED WITH THESE STORMS.
 
THE RAINSHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING EAST SOUTHEAST AT 35 TO
40 MILES AN HOUR.
 
THIS IS A DANGEROUS STORM.  aIF YOU ARE IN ITS PATH YOU SHOULD
PREPARE FOR DAMAGING WIND IN EXCESS OF 55 MPH...LARGE HAIL...AND
DEADLY LIGHTNING.  PEOPLE OUTSIDE SHOULD MOVE TO A SHELTER...
PREFERABLY INSIDE A STRONG BUILDING BUT STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS.

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, Jun 30, 4:21 PM EDT, 4 hours 30 minutes before
PA009-013-302300-
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HARRISBURG PA.
425 PM EDT SAT JUN 30 1990

...SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORM WERE WIDELY SCATTERED JUST WEST OF THE LOWER
SUSQUEHANNA VALLEY AT 400 PM...

AT 400 PM EDT THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR IN HARRISBURG WAS SHOWING
WIDELY SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS OVER PORTIONS OF WESTERN
PENNSYLVANIA AND THE NORTH AND SOUTHCENTRAL MOUNTAINS. THESE SHOWERS AND
THUNDERSTORMS SHOULD BE ENTERING INTO THE LOWER SUSQUEHANNA VALLEY WITHIN THE
NEXT TWO HOURS.

SOME OF THE STRONGER STORMS PRODUCING HEAVY DOWNPOURS WERE LOCATED OVER CAMBRIA
...BLAIR...AND HUNTINGDON COUNTIES. PERSONS LIVING IN PERRY...CUMBERLAND...AND
ADAMS COUNTIES SHOULD BE ALERT TO LOCAL WEATHER DEVELOPMENTS AND TAKE SHELTER
IF THREATENING WEATHER IS SIGHTED.

WSO HAR CRUZ
Special weather statement, Jun 30, 4:25 PM EDT, 4 hours 26 minutes before
PA009-013-302300-
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HARRISBURG PA.
425 PM EDT SAT JUN 30 1990

...SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORM WERE WIDELY SCATTERED JUST WEST OF THE LOWER
SUSQUEHANNA VALLEY AT 400 PM...

AT 400 PM EDT THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR IN HARRISBURG WAS SHOWING
WIDELY SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS OVER PORTIONS OF WESTERN
PENNSYLVANIA AND THE NORTH AND SOUTHCENTRAL MOUNTAINS. THESE SHOWERS AND
THUNDERSTORMS SHOULD BE ENTERING INTO THE LOWER SUSQUEHANNA VALLEY WITHIN THE
NEXT TWO HOURS.

SOME OF THE STRONGER STORMS PRODUCING HEAVY DOWNPOURS WERE LOCATED OVER CAMBRIA
...BLAIR...AND HUNTINGDON COUNTIES. PERSONS LIVING IN PERRY...CUMBERLAND...ADAMSAND HUNTINGDON COUNTIES SHOULD BE ALERT TO LOCAL WEATHER DEVELOPMENTS AND TAKE
SHELTER IF THREATENING WEATHER IS SIGHTED.

THE STORMS WERE MOVING TOWARDS THE SOUTHEAST AT 40 MILES AN HOUR
WSO HAR CRU
Special weather statement, Jun 30, 5:00 PM EDT, 3 hours 51 minutes before
PAZ007-008-014-302200

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILLIAMSPORT PA
500 PM EDT SAT JUN 30 1990

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH CONTINUES UNTIL 1000 PM EDT FOR CLINTON
COUNTY IN NORTHCENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA...

AT 455 PM EDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR INDICATED THUNDERSTORMS
WITH HEAVY DOWNPOURS OVER SOUTHWESTERN BRADFORD AND WESTERN SULLIVAN
COUNTIES. THESE THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING EAST AT 40 MPH AND THEY WILL
BE MOVING INTO SUSQUEHANNA...WYOMING AND LUZERNE COUNTIES BY 600 PM
EDT.

ELSEWHERE...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WERE DEVELOPING OVER SOUTHWEST AND
SOUTHCENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA. THESE THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING SOUTHEAST
AT 40 MPH AND THEY COULD BEGIN TO EFFECT PARTS OF CENTRAL AND
NORTHCENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA DURING THE NEXT COUPLE OF HOURS.

PERSONS IN AND CLOSE TO THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH AREA ARE ADVISED
TO BE ALERT TO LOCAL WEATHER DEVELOPMENTS AND TAKE SHELTER IF
THREATENING WEATHER IS SIGHTED.

FJG
Special weather statement, Jun 30, 6:10 PM EDT, 2 hours 41 minutes before
PAZ007-008-014-302300

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILLIAMSPORT PA
610 PM EDT SAT JUN 30 1990

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR ALL OF NORTHCENTRAL
PENNSYLVANIA WITH THE EXCEPTION OF BRADFORD COUNTY UNTIL 1100 PM
EDT...

AT 610 PM EDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR INDICATED WIDELY
SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS OVER PARTS OF NORTHCENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA.
THUNDERSTORMS WITH HEAVY DOWNPOURS EXTENDED  FROM CAMMAL TO JERSEY
SHORE IN WESTERN LYCOMING COUNTY.

ELSEWHERE...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WERE DEVELOPING OVER SOUTHWEST AND
SOUTHCENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA. THESE THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING SOUTHEAST
AT 40 MPH AND THEY COULD BEGIN TO EFFECT PARTS OF CENTRAL AND
NORTHCENT^RAL PENNSYLVANIA DURING THE NEXT COUPLE OF HOURS.

PERSONS IN AND CLOSE TO THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH AREA ARE ADVISED
TO BE ALERT TO LOCAL WEATHER DEVELOPMENTS AND TAKE SHELTER IF
THREATENING WEATHER IS SIGHTED.

FJG
Special weather statement, Jun 30, 6:45 PM EDT, 2 hours 6 minutes before
PAZ007-008-014-010000

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT...CORRECTION...
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILLIAMSPORT PA
645 PM EDT SAT JUN 30 1990

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH CONTINUES FOR ALL OF NORTHCENTRAL
PENNSYLVANIA WITH THE EXCEPTION OF BRADFORD COUNTY UNTIL 1100 PM
EDT...

AT 645 PM EDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR INDICATED A STRONG
THUNDERSTORM OVER TOWANDA IN BRADFORD COUNTY. THIS THUNDERSTORM MAY
CONTAIN STRONG WINDS...HAIL...DANGEROUS LIGHTNING AND HEAVY DOWNPOURS.
THIS THUNDERSTORMS WAS MOVING EAST AT 40 MPH AND IT SHOULD BE MOVING
INTO SUSQUEHANNA COUNTY BY 715 PM EDT.  ELSEWHERE WIDELY SCATTERED
THUNDERSTORMS WERE OCCURING OVER PARTS OF NORTHCENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA.

PERSONS IN AND CLOS|E TO THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH AREA ARE ADVISED
TO BE ALERT TO LOCAL WEATHER DEVELOPMENTS AND TAKE SHELTER IF
THREATENING WEATHER IS SIGHTED.

COR TO ADD COUNTY AFTER SUSQUEHANNA

FJG
Special weather statement, Jun 30, 6:53 PM EDT, 1 hour 58 minutes before
PA008-009-013-014-010300-
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HARRISBURG PA.
650 PM EDT SAT JUN 30 1990

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH UNTIL 1100 PM TONIGHT FOR THE LOWER
SUSQUEHANNA VALLEY...

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING UNTIL 730 PM FOR FRANKLIN...ADAMS...CUMBERLAND
...AND YORK COUNTIES...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH EFFECTIVE
UNTIL 1100 PM TONIGHT FOR THE LOWER SUSQUEHANNA VALLEY...INCLUDING CENTRE...
FULTON...HUNTINGDON...JUNIATA...MIFFLIN...NORTHUMBERLAND...MONTOUR...SYNDER...
UNION...ADAMS...CUMBERLAND...DAUPHIN...FRANKLIN...LANCASTER...LEBANNON...PERRY
...AND YORK COUNTIES.

AT 630 PM WEATHER SERVICE RADAR IN HARRISBURG INDICATED WIDELY SCATTERED
RAINSHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS OVER PORTIONS OF WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA...THE
NORTHERN AND SOUTHCENTRAL MOUTAINS...THE SOUTHWESTERN PORTIONS OF THE LOWER
SUSQUEHANNA VALLEY...THE NORTHEASTERN PORTIONS OF THE MIDDLE SUSQUEHANNA
VALLEY.  ALL OF THE ACTIVITY WAS MOVING TOWARDS THE EAST SOUTHEAST AT
35 TO 40 MILES AN HOUR.

REMEMBER THAT A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH MEANS THAT CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE
FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORM DEVELOPMENT IN AND NEAR THE WATCH AREA. KEEP ALERT TOx
LOCAL WEATHER CHANGES AND TAKE SHELTER IF THREATENING WEATHER IS SIGHTED. STAY
TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR YOUR LOCAL RADIO OR TELEVISION STATIONS FOR
FURTHER WATCHES...WARNINGS...OR STATEMENTS.

CRUZ

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jun 30, 8:18 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPBradford62 min
Jun 30, 8:51 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPPerry69 min
Jun 30, 10:19 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPMonroe41 min
Jun 30, 10:44 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPCumberland, Perry61 min
Jun 30, 10:44 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPHuntingdon61 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; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive.