Alert archive / Pennsylvania / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1990

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 36, NWS State College, PA

July 5, 1990Cumberland County, Pennsylvania

NWS State College, PA issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Jul 5, 1990, 2:26 PM EDT for Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. It was in force for 34 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
Jul 5, 1990, 2:26 PM EDT (18:26 UTC)
Expired
Jul 5, 1990, 3:00 PM EDT
In force
34 min
Issued by
NWS State College, PA
Area
Whole counties

County Cumberland 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
Jul 5, 2:45 PM EDTThunderstorm Wind 0Cumberland, 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

Washington/Dulle, VA (KIAD), launched 12:00Z, 6.4 hours before the alert went out and 135 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 1990-07-05Temperature 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°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 1990-07-05The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity -103 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
0 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
23 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
-103 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
65 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 051829
SVRHAR
PAC041-051900-
 
BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HARRISBURG PA
226 PM EDT THU JUL 5 1990
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN HARRISBURG HAS ISSUED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL  300 PM EDT
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING COUNTY...
 
IN SOUTH CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA
          ...CUMBERLAND
 
AT 220 PM THE HARRISBURG RADAR WAS INDICATING A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM IN
EXTREME NORTH CENTRAL CUMBERLAND COUNTY.
 
THE STORM WAS MOVING TO THE SOUTHEAST AT ABOUT 35 MILES AN HOUR.
 
 
IF YOU ARE CAUGHT OUTSIDE...SEEK SHELTER FROM THE WEATHER IN A
STRONG BUILDING.  DAMAGING WIND...LARGE HAIL...VERY HEAVY RAIN...
AND DEADLY LIGHTNING ARE ALL POSSIBLE IN SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS.
STAY INSIDE AWAY FROM WINDOWS UNTIL THE STORM HAS PASSED.
 
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.

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, Jul 5, 11:51 AM EDT, 2 hours 35 minutes before
PA006-008--013-051630-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HARRISBURG PA.
1150 AM EDT THU JUL 5 1990

...THUNDERSTORMS ARE MOVING THROUGH PORTIONS OF CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA...

AT 1145 AM EDT THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR IN HARRISBURG WAS SHOWING
A 14 MILE WIDE LINE OF SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WHICH EXTENDED
5 MILES EAST OF WILLIAMSPORT TO 15 MILES NORTH OF PITTSBURGH.

SOME OF THE STORMS COULD BE PRODUCING BRIEF HEAVY DOWNPOURS..GUSTY WINDS...
SMALL HAIL...AND DEADLY LIGHTNING. THE STONGEST STORM WAS LOCATED IN WESTERN
PENNSYLVANIA IN SOUTHERN JEFFERSON COUNTY. THERE WERE ALSO TWO STRONG STORMS
IN CENTRAL CLEARFIELD COUNTY AND ONE IN NORTH CENTRE COUNTY...ABOUT 12 MILES
NORTH OF STATE COLLEGE.

MOVEMENT OF THE STORMS WAS TO THE EAST AT 35 MILES AN HOUR.

IF THREATENING WEATHER APPROACHES...SEEK SHELTER IMMEDIATELY.
.
WSO HAR RBH
Special weather statement, Jul 5, 12:37 PM EDT, 1 hour 49 minutes before
PA006-008-009-013-0517630-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HARRISBURG PA.
1150 AM EDT THU JUL 5 1990

...THUNDERSTORMS ARE MOVING THROUGH PORTIONS OF CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA...

AT 1235 AM EDT THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR IN HARRISBURG WAS SHOWING
A 22 MILE WIDE AREA OF SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WHICH EXTENDED
10 MILES WEST OF ALLENTOWN TO JUST EAST OF PITTSBURGH.

SOME OF THE STORMS COULD BE PRODUCING BRIEF HEAVY DOWNPOURS..GUSTY WINDS...
SMALL HAIL...AND DEADLY LIGHTNING. THE STONGEST STORMS WERE IN A LINE WHICH
EXTENDED FROM 5 MILES EAST OF STATE COLLEGE TO NORTHWEST INDIANA COUNTY...
ABOUT 30 MILE NORTHEAST OF PITTSBURGH.
NORTH OF STATE COLLEGE.

MOVEMENT OF THE STORMS WAS TO THE EAST AT 35 MILES AN HOUR.

IF THREATENING WEATHER APPROACHES...SEEK SHELTER IMMEDIATELY.
.
WSO HAR RBH
Special weather statement, Jul 5, 12:43 PM EDT, 1 hour 43 minutes before
PA006-008-009-013-0517630-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HARRISBURG PA.
1245 PM EDT THU JUL 5 1990

...THUNDERSTORMS ARE MOVING THROUGH PORTIONS OF CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA...

AT 1235 PM EDT THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR IN HARRISBURG WAS SHOWING
A 22 MILE WIDE AREA OF SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WHICH EXTENDED
10 MILES WEST OF ALLENTOWN TO JUST EAST OF PITTSBURGH.

SOME OF THE STORMS COULD BE PRODUCING BRIEF HEAVY DOWNPOURS..GUSTY WINDS...
SMALL HAIL...AND DEADLY LIGHTNING. THE STONGEST STORMS WERE IN A LINE WHICH
EXTENDED FROM 5 MILES EAST OF STATE COLLEGE TO NORTHWEST INDIANA COUNTY...
ABOUT 30 MILE NORTHEAST OF PITTSBURGH.

MOVEMENT OF THE STORMS WAS TO THE EAST AT 35 MILES AN HOUR.

IF THREATENING WEATHER APPROACHES...SEEK SHELTER IMMEDIATELY.
.
WSO HAR RBH

COR FOR TIMES AND TO FIX A LINE
Special weather statement, Jul 5, 1:17 PM EDT, 1 hour 9 minutes before
PA006-008-009-013-051820-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HARRISBURG PA.
120 PM EDT THU JUL 5 1990

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM FOR THE SOUTH CENTRAL
MOUNTAINS...SOUTH CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA...AND WESTERN PORTIONS OF THE LOWER
AND MIDDLE SUSQUEHANNA VALLEY...

AT 110 PM EDT THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR IN HARRISBURG WAS SHOWING
AN AREA OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WHICH STREATCHED ACROSS MUCH OF CENTAL
PENNSYLVANIA.

THE STRONGEST STORMS WERE LOCATED IN NORTHWEST MIFFLIN COUNTY...ABOUT 15
MILES SOUTHWEST OF STATE COLLEGE AND ANOTHER STRONG STORM WAS LOCATED IN
NORTHWEST HUNTINGDON COUNTY...ABOUT 15 MILES NORTHEAST OF ALTOONA.

BRIEF HEAVY DOWN.POURS...GUSTY WINDS...SMALL HAIL AND DEADLY LIGHTNING
COULD ACCOMPANY THE STORMS AS THEY PASS.
.
THE STORMS WERE MOVING TO THE SOUTHEAST AT ABOUT 30 MILES AN HOUR.

IF THREATENING WEATHER APPROACHES...SEEK SHELTER IMMEDIATELY.

WSO HAR RBH
Special weather statement, Jul 5, 2:01 PM EDT, 25 minutes before
PA006-008-009-013-051900-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HARRISBURG PA.
200 PM EDT THU JUL 5 1990

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM FOR THE SOUTH CENTRAL
   MOUNTAINS...SOUTH CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA...AND WESTERN PORTIONS OF THE LOWER
   AND MIDDLE SUSQUEHANNA VALLEY...
...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM FOR THE EAST PORTIONS OF
   LOWER AND MIDDLE SUSQUEHANNA VALLEY...

...THUNDERSTORMS WILL BEGIN MOVING INTO THE LOWER SUSQUEHANNA VALLEY
   SHORTLY...

AT 140 PM EDT THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR IN HARRISBURG WAS SHOWING
STRONG THUNDER STORMS JUST TO THE NORTHWEST OF THE LOWER SUSQUEHANNA VALLEY.
ONE OF THE STRONGEST STORMS WAS IN SOUTH MIFFLIN COUNTY...ABOUT 10 MILES TO
THE SOUTHWEST OF LEWISTOWN. ANOTHER STRONG STORM WAS IN NORTHEAST JUNIATA
COUNTY ABOUT 45 MILES TO THE NORTHWEST OF HARRISBURG.
.
HEAVY DOWNPOURS...HAIL...GUSTY WINDS AND DEADLY LIGHTNING COULD ACCOMPANY
THESE STORMS.

THE STORMS WERE MOVING TO THE SOUTHEAST AT ABOUT 30 MILES AN HOUR. AT THIS
RATE THE STORM IN JUNIATA COUNTY SHOULD MOVE INTO NORTHWEST DAUPHIN COUNTY BY
ABOUT 215 PM AND THEN INTO SOUTHEAST LEABNON BY ABOUT 315 PM.

THE STORM IN SOUTH MIFFLIN COUNTY SHOULD MOVE INTO SOUTH PERRY BY ABOUT
215 PM AND NORTHEAST ADAMS BY AROUND 315 PM.

IF THREATENING WEATHER APPROACHES...SEEK SHELTER IMMEDIATELY.

AT THIS TIME IT APPEARS MOST OF THE STORMS WILL BE EXITING THE LOWER
SUSQUEHANNA VALLdEY BY 400 PM EDT.

WSO HAR RBH
Special weather statement, Jul 5, 2:17 PM EDT, 9 minutes before
PAZ007-008-014-051900

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILLIAMSPORT PA
217 PM EDT THU JUL 5 1990

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH CANCELLED FOR LYCOMING AND CLINTON
COUNTIES OF NORTHCENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA...

AT THIS TIME...RADAR DID NOT INDICATE ANY THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY OVER
NORTHCENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA.  A LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS WITH HEAVY RAIN
AND GUSTY WINDS EXTENDED FROM SOUTH OF ALTOONA INTO THE POCONO
MOUNTAINS. THE THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE SOUTHEAST AND AWAY
FROM NORTHCENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA.

JSN

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jul 5, 2:05 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPSchuylkill25 min
Jul 5, 2:28 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPLehigh62 min
Jul 5, 3:16 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPYork29 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.