Alert archive / Pennsylvania / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1990

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 44, NWS State College, PA

July 9, 1990Northampton County, Pennsylvania

NWS State College, PA issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Jul 9, 1990, 4:07 PM EDT for Northampton County, Pennsylvania. It was in force for 38 min.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Jul 9, 1990, 4:07 PM EDT (20:07 UTC)
Expired
Jul 9, 1990, 4:45 PM EDT
In force
38 min
Issued by
NWS State College, PA
Area
Whole counties

County Northampton 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

Atlantic City In, NJ (KACY), launched 12:00Z, 8.1 hours before the alert went out and 160 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, Atlantic City In, NJ at 12:00Z on 1990-07-09Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 684 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, Atlantic City In, NJ at 12:00Z on 1990-07-09The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 114 square meters per square second.1939Sfc1 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
684 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-35 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
614 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
22 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
114 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
138 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
1.6

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
TTAA00 KABE 092007
SVRABE
PAC095-092045-

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING 
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALLENTOWN PA
407 PM EDT MON JUL 9 1990

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM 
WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL 445 PM EDT FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING 
COUNTY

   IN THE EAST CENTRAL PART OF PENNSYLVANIA
      EASTERN NORTHAMPTON

AT 400PM EDT RADAR INDICATED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM BETWEEN NAZARETH
AND EASTON IN NORTHAMPTON COUNTY. THIS THUNDERSTORM IS MOVING EAST
SOUTHEAST AT 30 MPH.

 AT 355PM 3/4 INCH HAIL WAS REPORTED BY EMERGENCY MANAGMENT. A
 WEATHER SPOTTER IN NAZARETH REPORTED NUMEROUS TREES DOWN.

 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 ARE MOST VULNERABLE TO HIGH WINDS AND
SHOULD BE AVOIDED.

 A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH CONTINUES FOR ALL OF EASTERN
 PENNSYLVANIA UNTIL 9PM EDT THIS MONDAY EVENING.

 SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING ISSUED AT 326PM EDT REMAINS IN EFFECT
 FOR NORTHCENTRAL NORTHAMPTON COUNTY UNTIL 430 PM EDT.

 HEAVY RAINS WITH THIS THUNDERSTORM MAY CAUSE FLOODING OF SMALL
 STREAMS AND UNDERPASSES.

 LOEPER

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 9, 12:18 PM EDT, 3 hours 49 minutes before
PAZ008-009-013-014-091620-
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HARRISBURG PA.
1215 PM EDT MON JUL 9 1990

...POSSIBLE THUNDERSTORMS ENTERING THE LOWER SUSQUEHANNA VALLEY...

AT 1130 AM WEATHER SERVICE RADAR IN HARRISBURG INDICATED SCATTERED RAINSHOWERS
WITH EMBEDDED THUNDERSTORMS...SOME HEAVY... OVER NORTHWESTERN PENNSYLVANIA AND
THE NORTHERN  MOUNTAINS. THESE THUNDERSTORMS ARE SLOWLY MOVING EAST SOUTHEAST
AT 25 MILES AN HOUR AND WILL GRADUALLY CHANGE TO SOUTHEAST THIS AFTERNOON....
ALLOWING THEM TO ENTER INTO THE LOWER SUSQUEHANNA VALLEY JUST AFTER 200 PM EDT.

RAINFALL OF 1.50 INCHES HAS BEEN REPORTED OVER TIONESTA SINCE 1000 AM. IN
ADDITION...VERY HEAVY RAINS WERE REPORTED IN MEADVILLE. REMEMBER...IF
THREATENING WEATHER APPROACHES...SEEK SHELTER IMMEDIATELY.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR YOUR LOCAL TELEVISION OR RADIO STATION FOR
ANY FURTHER UPDATES ON THIS WEATHER SITUATION.

WSO HAR VGC
Special weather statement, Jul 9, 1:22 PM EDT, 2 hours 45 minutes before
PAZ008-009-013-014-091730-
 SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
 NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HARRISBURG PA.
 120 PM EDT MON JUL 9 1990

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IN EFFECT UNTIL 900 PM EDT FOR THE LOWER
SUSQUEHANNA VALLEY...

AT 100 PM THE NATIONAL SEVERE STORMS FORECAST CENTER ISSUED A SEVERE
THUNDERSTORM WATCH FOR MUCH OF PENNSYLVANIA TO INCLUDE THE LOWER SUSQUEHANNA
VALLEY.  PERSONS LIVING IN CENTRE...FULTON...HUNTINGDON...JUNIATA...MIFFLIN...
NORTHUMBERLAND...MONTOUR...SYNDER...UNION...ADAMS...CUMBERLAND...DAUPHIN...
FRANKLIN...LANCASTER...LEBANON...PERRY...AND YORK COUNTIES SHOULD KEEP AN EYE
ON THE SKY FOR THREATENING THUNDERSTORMS...AND LISTEN FOR FORECAST UPDATES AND
POSSIBLE WARNINGS ON THE CURRENT WEATHER SITUATION.

REMEMBER...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH MEANS THAT CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR
SEVERE THUNDESTORMS IN AND CLOSE TO THE WATCH AREA. IT'S BEST TO TAKE SHELTER
INSIDE A STRONG BUILDING AND AWAY FROM GLASS. IF YOU ARE CAUGHT OUTSIDE...BE
AWARE THAT LIGHTNING IS AS MUCH A HAZARD AS HIGH WIND. AVOID ISOLATED TREES AND
METAL OBJECTS.

WSO HAR VGC
Special weather statement, Jul 9, 1:45 PM EDT, 2 hours 22 minutes before
PAZ007-008-014-091845-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILLIAMSPORT PA
145 PM EDT MON JUL 9 1990

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IN EFFECT FOR PORTIONS OF NORTHCENTRAL
PENNSYLVANIA UNTIL 900 PM THIS EVENING...

THE THREAT OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WITH LARGE HAIL...DANGEROUS
LIGHTNING AND DAMAGING WINDS WILL EXIST UNTIL 900 PM THIS EVENING FOR
LYCOMING...SULLIVAN...AND CLINTON COUNTIES.

AT 130 PM NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR SHOWED SHOWERS AND
THUNDERSTORMS OVER POTTER..CAMERON..CENTER AND CLINTON COUNTIES. THIS
AREA OF THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDED WEST TO THE PENNSYLVANIA/OHIO BORDER.
NO SEVERE WEATHER HAS AS YET BEEN REPORTED IN NORTHCENTRAL
PENNSYLVANIA.

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

KF/TG/PG
Special weather statement, Jul 9, 2:45 PM EDT, 1 hour 22 minutes before
PAZ007-008-014-091945-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILLIAMSPORT PA
245 PM EDT MON JUL 9 1990

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IN EFFECT FOR PORTIONS OF NORTHCENTRAL
PENNSYLVANIA UNTIL 900 PM THIS EVENING...

THE THREAT OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WITH LARGE HAIL...DANGEROUS
LIGHTNING AND DAMAGING WINDS WILL EXIST UNTIL 900 PM THIS EVENING FOR
LYCOMING...SULLIVAN...AND CLINTON COUNTIES.

AT 235 PM NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR SHOWED SHOWERS AND
THUNDERSTORMS COVERING MOST OF CENTRAL AND NORTHCENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA.
THE HEAVIEST THUNDERSTORMS WERE LOCATED OVER PORTIONS OF
CLEARFIELD...CENTRE..AND UNION COUNTIES. THIS AREA OF THUNDERSTORMS
EXTENDED WEST TO THE PENNSYLVANIA/OHIO BORDER. THE THUNDERSTORMS WERE
MOVING TO THE EAST SOUTHEAST AT ABOUT 40 MILES PER HOUR.

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

KF/TG/PG
Special weather statement, Jul 9, 4:05 PM EDT, 2 minutes before
PAZ007-008-014-092105-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILLIAMSPORT PA
405 PM EDT MON JUL 9 1990

...THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR PORTIONS OF
NORTHCENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA UNTIL 900 PM...THIS INCLUDES SOUTHERN
LYCOMING AND SOUTHERN CLINTON COUNTIES...IT HAS BEEN CANCELLED FOR
NORTHERN LYCOMING...NORTHERN CLINTON...AND ALL OF SULLIVAN COUNTY...

AT 400 PM NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR SHOWED SHOWERS AND
THUNDERSTORMS SOUTH OF A LINE FROM WYALUSING TO DUBOIS. THE HEAVIEST
THUNDERSTORMS HAVE MOVED INTO EAST CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA.  THE
THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING TO THE EAST SOUTHEAST AT ABOUT 40 MILES PER
HOUR.

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

KF/TG/PG
Special weather statement, Jul 9, 4:06 PM EDT, 1 minute before
PAZ008-009-013-014-092100-
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HARRISBURG PA.
405 PM EDT MON JUL 9 1990

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IN EFFECT UNTIL 900 PM EDT FOR THE LOWER
SUSQUEHANNA VALLEY...

AT 400 PM THE HARRISBURG RADAR SHOWS THUNDERSTORMS OVER SOUTHERN CUMBERLAND
NORTHERN ADAMS AND YORK COUNTIES. THE THUNDERSTORMS HAVE BEEN PRODUCING
PEA SIZE HAIL AND GUSTY WINDS TO AOURND 50 MPH. HAM RADIO OPERATORS REPORT
THESE CONDITIONS IN SOUTH CUMBERLAND AND NORTHERN ADAMS COUTNIES.

PERSONS IN ADAMS AND YORK COUNTIES SHOULD BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR THESE STORMS
BETWEEN 4 AND 6PM.

REMEMBER...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH MEANS THAT CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR
SEVERE THUNDESTORMS IN AND CLOSE TO THE WATCH AREA. IT'S BEST TO TAKE SHELTER
INSIDE A STRONG BUILDING AND AWAY FROM GLASS. IF YOU ARE CAUGHT OUTSIDE...BE
AWARE THAT LIGHTNING IS AS MUCH A HAZARD AS HIGH WIND. AVOID ISOLATED TREES AND
METAL OBJECTS.

WSO HAR HURLEY

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jul 9, 1:34 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPCentre41 min
Jul 9, 2:04 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPCentre, Union56 min
Jul 9, 2:04 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPSnyder56 min
Jul 9, 2:42 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPCentre, Mifflin, Snyder, Union48 min
Jul 9, 3:09 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPCarbon, Monroe, Northampton66 min
Jul 9, 4:31 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPLancaster, York44 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.