Alert archive / Pennsylvania / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1991

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 10, NWS Philadelphia/Mount Holly

May 30, 1991Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania

NWS Philadelphia/Mount Holly issued this severe thunderstorm warning at May 30, 1991, 5:55 PM EDT for Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania. It was in force for 35 min.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
May 30, 1991, 5:55 PM EDT (21:55 UTC)
Expired
May 30, 1991, 6:30 PM EDT
In force
35 min
Issued by
NWS Philadelphia/Mount Holly
Area
Whole counties

County Philadelphia County, PA

The nearest sounding before it

Atlantic City In, NJ (KACY), launched 12:00Z, 9.9 hours before the alert went out and 82 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 1991-05-30Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 197 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 1991-05-30The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 48 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
197 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-139 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1366 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
19 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
48 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
82 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 KPHL 302159 COR
SVRPHL
PAC101-302230-

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PHILADELPHIA PA
555 PM EDT THU MAY 30 1991

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN PHILADELPHIA HAS ISSUED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL  630 PM EDT
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATION...

IN SOUTHEAST PENNSYLVANIA

   ...SOUTHERN PHILADELPHIA COUNTY

AT 550 PM WEATHER SERVICE RADAR SHOWED A VERY INTENSE THUNDERSTORM
OVER DELAWARE COUNTY. THIS THUNDERSTORM PRODUCED HAIL 1/2 TO 1 INCH
IN DIAMETER AS IT MOVED THROUGH CHESTER COUNTY.  THE THUNDERSTORM
IS MOVING EAST AROUND 25 MPH AND WILL MOVE INTO PHILADELPHIA COUNTY
AROUND 6 PM.
THIS IS A DANGEROUS STORM.  IF YOU ARE IN THE WARNED AREA...PREPARE
FOR STRONG DAMAGING WINDS...LARGE HAIL...VERY HEAVY RAIN AND DEADLY
LIGHTNING.  SHOULD THE STORM APPROACH YOU...SEEK IMMEDIATE SHELTER
INDOORS...BUT DO NOT STAND NEAR WINDOWS.  MOBILE HOMES ARE MOST
VULNERABLE TO HIGH WINDS AND SHOULD BE AVOIDED.

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH CONTINUES FOR SOUTHEASTERN
PENNSYLVANIA AND SOUTHERN NEW JERSEY UNTIL 9 PM EDT.  REMEMBER
SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CAN AND OCCASIONALLY DO PRODUCE TORNADOES WITH
LITTLE OR NO ADVANCED WARNING.

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, May 30, 4:36 PM EDT, 1 hour 19 minutes before
NJZ002>004-006-302100-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ATLANTIC CITY NJ
435 PM EDT THU MAY 30 1991

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR THE SOUTHERN NEW JERSEY
COUNTIES OF ATLANTIC...BURLINGTON...CUMBERLAND...OCEAN AND THE ADJACENT
COASTAL WATERS UNTIL 900 PM EDT.

LARGE HAIL...DANGEROUS LIGHTNING AND DAMAGING THUNDERSTORM WINDS ARE
POSSIBLE IN THESE AREAS.

AT 430 PM NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR DETECTED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM
WITH VERY HEAVY RAIN ON THE BORDER OF LANCASTER AND BERKS COUNTIES OF
SOUTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA.

OTHER SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WITH VERY HEAVY RAIN WERE
LOCATED OVER EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA...EXTREME SOUTHERN NEW YORK STATE AND
PARTS OF NORTHERN NEW JERSEY.

THE THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 25 MILES AN HOUR.

REMEMBER...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH MEANS CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE
FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS IN AND CLOSE TO THE WATCH AREA. PERSONS IN
THESE AREAS SHOULD BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR THREATENING WEATHER CONDITIONS
AND LISTEN FOR LATER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS.

SCURA
Special weather statement, May 30, 4:48 PM EDT, 1 hour 7 minutes before
DEZ003-302145-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON DE
444 PM EDT THU MAY 30 1991

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH FOR NORTHERN DELAWARE UNTIL 9PM...
  AT 435PM EDT WEATHER RADAR SHOWED SOME STRONG THUNDERSTORMS OVER
SOUTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA MOVING TOWARD THE SOUTHEAST AT 30 MPH. THE
STRONGEST THUNDERSTORMS WERE LOCATED 15 MILES NORTH OF MIDDLETOWN AND
20 MILES EAST OF LANCASTER. THE THUNDERSTORM EAST OF LANCASTER WILL
LIKELY STAY NORTH OF WILMINGTON AND WAS HEADING TOWARD THE
PHILADELPHIA COMPLEX.

NO SEVERE WEATHER HAS BEEN REPORTED AS YET...BUT A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM
WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR NEW CASTLE COUNTY DELAWARE UNTIL 9PM
TONIGHT. MORE ACTIVITY COULD THREATEN THE AREA DURING THE EVENING.
Special weather statement, May 30, 5:01 PM EDT, 54 minutes before
PAZ012-NJZ002>004-006-302300-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT - THUNDERSTORM IN CHESTER COUNTY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PHILADELPHIA PA
500 PM EDT THU MAY 30 1991

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH TILL 9 PM EDT FOR SOUTHEASTERN
   PENNSYLVANIA AND SOUTHERN NEW JERSEY EXCEPT CAPE MAY COUNTY...
...INTENSE THUNDERSTORM OVER NORTHERN CHESTER COUNTY PENNSYLVANIA...

     AT 5 PM WEATHER SERVICE RADAR SHOWED AN INTENSE THUNDERSTORM
OVER NORTHERN CHESTER COUNTY PENNSYLVANIA.  THIS THUNDERSTORM WAS
MOVING EAST AROUND 25 MPH AND MAY CAUSE STRONG GUSTY WINDS AND LOCALLY
HEAVY RAIN AS IT MOVES ACROSS THE NORTHERN HALF OF CHESTER COUNTY.

     THERE WERE ALSO THUNDERSTORMS IN CENTRAL MONTGOMERY COUNTY
OF PENNSYLVANIA.  THESE THUNDERSTORMS WERE ALSO MOVING EAST AROUND
25 MPH AND MAY CAUSE SOME LOCAL DOWNPOURS AND GUSTY WINDS.

     REMEMBER A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH MEANS THAT CONDITIONS ARE
RIGHT FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS TO DEVELOP.
     STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR YOUR LOCAL RADIO OR TV
STATION FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND FOR POSSIBLE WARNINGS.

     REMEMBER...ALL THUNDERSTORMS ARE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING STRONG WIND
GUSTS...LIGHTNING...HEAVY DOWNPOURS...AND SMALL HAIL.

     IF YOU OBSERVE THREATENING WEATHER...SEEK SHELTER AT ONCE.

SP
Special weather statement, May 30, 5:26 PM EDT, 29 minutes before
PAZ011-016-310100 -

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALLENTOWN PA
525 PM EDT THU MAY 30 1991

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH FOR THE LEHIGH VALLEY AND POCONOS UNTIL
7 PM EDT TONIGHT...

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CONTINUES FOR THE LEHIGH VALLEY AND POCONOS UNTIL
7 PM EDT TONIGHT. NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR INDICATED SEVERAL HEAVY
THUNDERSTORMS OCCURRING OVER MUCH OF SCHUYLKILL AND NORTHERN BERKS COUNTIES.

THESE STORMS ARE MOVING TO THE SOUTHEAST AND WILL MOVE INTO BERKS...LEHIGH
AND NORTHAMTON COUNTIES BY 6PM. THESE THUNDERSTORMS MAY CONTAIN HIGH WIND...
HEAVY RAIN AND POSSIBLE HAIL AND DANGEROUS LIGHTNING. PERSONS IN THESE AREAS
SHOULD BE ON THE ALERT FOR POSSIBLE SERVERE WEATHER OVER THE NEXT HOUR OR
SO AND IF SIGHTED BE PREPARED TO MOVE TO A PLACE OF SAFETY IMMEDIATLY.

BLACKBURN
Special weather statement, May 30, 5:28 PM EDT, 27 minutes before
PAZ011-016-310100 -

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALLENTOWN PA...CORRECTION
525 PM EDT THU MAY 30 1991

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH FOR THE LEHIGH VALLEY AND POCONOS UNTIL
7 PM EDT TONIGHT...

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH CONTINUES FOR THE LEHIGH VALLEY AND POCONOS UNTIL
7 PM EDT TONIGHT. NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR INDICATED SEVERAL HEAVY
THUNDERSTORMS OCCURRING OVER MUCH OF SCHUYLKILL AND NORTHERN BERKS COUNTIES.

THESE STORMS ARE MOVING TO THE SOUTHEAST AND WILL MOVE INTO BERKS...LEHIGH
AND NORTHAMTON COUNTIES BY 6PM. THESE THUNDERSTORMS MAY CONTAIN HIGH WIND...
HEAVY RAIN AND POSSIBLE HAIL AND DANGEROUS LIGHTNING. PERSONS IN THESE AREAS
SHOULD BE ON THE ALERT FOR POSSIBLE SERVERE WEATHER OVER THE NEXT HOUR OR
SO AND IF SIGHTED BE PREPARED TO MOVE TO A PLACE OF SAFETY IMMEDIATLY.

BLACKBURN
Special weather statement, May 30, 5:44 PM EDT, 11 minutes before
NJZ002>004-006-302235-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ATLANTIC CITY NJ
535 PM EDT THU MAY 30 1991

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR THE SOUTHERN NEW JERSEY
COUNTIES OF ATLANTIC...BURLINGTON...CUMBERLAND...OCEAN AND THE ADJACENT
COASTAL WATERS UNTIL 900 PM EDT.

LARGE HAIL...DANGEROUS LIGHTNING AND DAMAGING THUNDERSTORM WINDS ARE
POSSIBLE IN THESE AREAS.

AT 530 PM NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR DETECTED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM
OVER SOUTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA IN CHESTER COUNTY. THIS STORM HAS A HISTORY
OFF PRODUCING QUARTER SIZE HAIL...TORRENTIAL DOWNPOURS AND GUSTY WINDS.
ANOTHER SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED OVER ROCKLAND COUNTY OF SOUTHEASTERN
NEW YORK STATE AND PRODUCED LARGE HAIL.

OTHER SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WITH VERY HEAVY RAIN WERE SCATTERED OVER
EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA...CENTRAL AND NORTHERN NEW JERSEY AND SOUTHERN NEW YORK.

THE THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 25 MILES AN HOUR.

REMEMBER...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH MEANS CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE
FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS IN AND CLOSE TO THE WATCH AREA. PERSONS IN
THESE AREAS SHOULD BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR THREATENING WEATHER CONDITIONS
AND LISTEN FOR LATER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS.

SCURA

The office that day

Everything else NWS Philadelphia/Mount Holly issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 30, 5:29 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPHIChester, Delaware46 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Pennsylvania, 1991Every severe thunderstorm warning in 1991

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.