Alert archive / Pennsylvania / Tornado Warnings in 1992

Tornado Warning 5, NWS State College, PA

July 17, 1992Lebanon County, Pennsylvania

NWS State College, PA issued this tornado warning at Jul 17, 1992, 7:16 PM EDT for Lebanon County, Pennsylvania. It was in force for 29 min.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Jul 17, 1992, 7:16 PM EDT (23:16 UTC)
Expired
Jul 17, 1992, 7:45 PM EDT
In force
29 min
Issued by
NWS State College, PA
Area
Whole counties

County Lebanon County, PA

The nearest sounding before it

Washington/Dulle, VA (KIAD), launched 12:00Z, 11.3 hours before the alert went out and 177 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 1992-07-17Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 30 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Washington/Dulle, VA at 12:00Z on 1992-07-17The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 56 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
30 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-120 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
953 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
35 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
56 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
102 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.3

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
TTAA00 KHAR 172318
TORHAR
PAC075-172345-
 
BULLETIN - EBS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HARRISBURG PA
716 PM EDT FRI JUL 17 1992
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN HARRISBURG HAS ISSUED A
TORNADO WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL  745 PM EDT
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS......
 
IN SOUTH CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA
 
   ...LEBANON COUNTY
 
 
 
 
IF YOU LIVE IN A HOME OR APARTMENT...SEEK SHELTER IN THE
INNERMOST PORTION OF THE BUILDING ON THE LOdWEST FLOOR.  GET TO
A BASEMENT IF ONE IS AVAILABLE.  AVOID WINDOWS AND PROTECT YOUR
BODY FROM FLYING DEBRIS WITH CUSHIONS...BLANKETS...OR PILLOWS.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this tornado 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 17, 3:39 PM EDT, 3 hours 37 minutes before
PAZ013-009-172200-
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE HARRISBURG, PA
330 PM EDT FRI JUL 17 1992

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ARE MOVING INTO THE LOWER SUSQUEHANNA VALLEY...

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR ALL OF SOUTH CENTRAL PA
EXCEPT FOR LANCASTER AND LEBANON COUNTIES...

AT 330 PM HARRISBURG RADAR SHOWED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOPING ACROSS
FRANKLIN COUNTY PA.  THE STRONGEST STORM WAS LOCATED 10 MILES SOUTHWEST
OF MERCERSBURG.

THESE STORMS ARE MOVING TO THE NORTHEAST AT 30 MILES PER HOUR.  THEY ARE
EXPECTED TO REACH THE SHIPPENSBURG AREA AROUND 400 PM...THE CARLISLE AREA
BETWEEN 430 AND 500 PM...AND THE HARRISBURG AREA BETWEEN 500 AND 530 PM.

THESE THUNDERSTORMS MAY CONTAIN STRONG GUSTY WINDS...HAIL...AND VERY HEAVY
DOWNPOURS.  PONDING OF WATER IN LOW LYING AREAS AND URBAN AND SMALL STREAM
FLOODING ARE ALSO POSSIBLE.

REMEMBER...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH MEANS CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FORR
THE FURTHER INTENSIFICATION OF THESE STORMS.  WHEN THREATENING WEATHER
APPROACHES TAKE SHELTER INSIDE BUT STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS.

STAY TUNED TO THIS STATION FOR FURTHER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS.

AHNERT
Special weather statement, Jul 17, 4:05 PM EDT, 3 hours 11 minutes before
PAZ007-008-014-172115-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILLIAMSPORT PA
405 PM EDT FRI JUL 17 1992

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH CONTINUES FOR NORTHCENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA
UNTIL 800 PM EDT THIS EVENING...

AT 400 PM EDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR SHOWED SHOWERS AND
EMBEDDED THUNDERSTORMS MOVING INTO CENTRAL SECTIONS OF PENNSYLVANIA.
THE LEADING EDGE OF THE SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WAS EXTENDING FROM
SABINSVILLE IN TIOGA COUNTY TO RENOVO IN CLINTON COUNTY DOWN TO NEAR
STATE COLLEGE.  THE STRONGEST THUNDERSTORMS AT 400 PM EDT WERE IN
SOUTHERN POTTER COUNTY NEAR THE TOWN OF CONRAD AND ALSO IN SOUTHERN
CAMERON COUNTY NEAR SINNEMAHONING.

ALL OF THE SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING NORTHEAST AT 20 MPH.

THE STRONGEST STORM WILL BE MOVING INTO TIOGA COUNTY BY 500 PM EDT
NEAR THE TOWNS OF GAINES AND WATROUS. THE OTHER STRONG STORM WILL BE
MOVING INTO WESTERN CLINTON COUNTY BY 430 PM EDT NEAR THE TOWN OF
HAMMERSLEY FORK.

REMEMBER ANY THUNDERSTORMS CAN CONTAIN STRONG GUSTY WINDS...HEAVY
DOWNPOURS...LARGE HAIL AND DANGEROUS LIGHTNING. IF THREATENING WEATHER
APPROACHES...MOVE TO A SAFE PLACE IMMEDIATELY. SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS
CAN DEVELOP RAPIDLY...SO REMAIN ALERT FOR CHANGING WEATHER CONDITIONS.

REMEMBER A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH MEANS THAT CONDITIONS ARE
FAVORABLE FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS IN AND CLOSE TO THE WATCH AREA.
STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR YOUR LOCAL RADIO OR TELEVISION
STATION FOR LATER UPDATES OR POSSIBLE WARNINGS.

KJF/TG/HM
Special weather statement, Jul 17, 4:20 PM EDT, 2 hours 56 minutes before
PAZ007-008-014-172130-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILLIAMSPORT PA
420 PM EDT FRI JUL 17 1992

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH CONTINUES FOR NORTHCENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA
UNTIL 800 PM EDT THIS EVENING...

AT 415 PM EDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR SHOWED SHOWERS AND
EMBEDDED THUNDERSTORMS MOVING INTO CENTRAL SECTIONS OF PENNSYLVANIA.
THE STRONGEST THUNDERSTORMS AT 415 PM EDT WERE DEVELOPING OVER CLINTON
COUNTY BETWEEN KEATING TOWNSHIP...RENOVO AND STATE CAMP.  OTHER STRONG
STORMS WERE MOVING TOWARDS GALETON.

ALL OF THE SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING NORTHEAST AT 20 MPH.

THE STRONGEST STORMS WILL BE MOVING INTO TIOGA COUNTY BY 500 PM EDT
NEAR THE TOWNS OF SABINSVILLE...GAINES AND WATROUS. THE OTHER STRONG
STORM WILL BE MOVING THROUGH CLINTON COUNTY BETWEEN 415 AND 445 PM
EDT.

THUNDERSTORMS WERE NOW STARTING TO DEVELOP RAPIDLY ACROSS NORTHCENTRAL
PENNSYLVANIA.  SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CAN DEVELOP WITH NO WARNING
ANYWHERE IN THE REGION. REMEMBER ANY THUNDERSTORMS CAN CONTAIN STRONG
GUSTY WINDS...HEAVY DOWNPOURS...LARGE HAIL AND DANGEROUS LIGHTNING. IF
THREATENING WEATHER APPROACHES...MOVE TO A SAFE PLACE IMMEDIATELY.

REMEMBER A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH MEANS THAT CONDITIONS ARE
FAVORABLE FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS IN AND CLOSE TO THE WATCH AREA.
STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR YOUR LOCAL RADIO OR TELEVISION
STATION FOR LATER UPDATES OR POSSIBLE WARNINGS.

KJF/TG/HM
Special weather statement, Jul 17, 5:00 PM EDT, 2 hours 16 minutes before
PAZ007-008-014-172215-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILLIAMSPORT PA
500 PM EDT FRI JUL 17 1992

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH CONTINUES FOR NORTHCENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA
UNTIL 800 PM EDT THIS EVENING...

AT 500 PM EDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR SHOWED SHOWERS AND
EMBEDDED THUNDERSTORMS MOVING INTO CENTRAL SECTIONS OF PENNSYLVANIA.
THE STRONGEST THUNDERSTORMS WERE IN A LINE FROM SABINSVILLE IN TIOGA
COUNTY TO RENOVO IN CLINTON COUNTY DOWN TO NEAR STATE COLLEGE.
ANOTHER STORM WAS NEAR CAMMAL IN LYCOMING COUNTY.  THESE STORMS HAVE A
HISTORY OF FREQUENT LIGHTNING...GUSTY WINDS AND HEAVY DOWNPOURS.

ALL OF THE SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING NORTHEAST AT 20 MPH.

THIS LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE MOVING INTO WELLSBORO...JERSEY
SHORE AND LOCK HAVEN BY 530 PM EDT.

THUNDERSTORMS WERE NOW STARTING TO DEVELOP RAPIDLY ACROSS NORTHCENTRAL
PENNSYLVANIA.  SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CAN DEVELOP WITH NO WARNING
ANYWHERE IN THE REGION. REMEMBER ANY THUNDERSTORMS CAN CONTAIN STRONG
GUSTY WINDS...HEAVY DOWNPOURS...LARGE HAIL AND DANGEROUS LIGHTNING. IF
THREATENING WEATHER APPROACHES...MOVE TO A SAFE PLACE IMMEDIATELY.

REMEMBER A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH MEANS THAT CONDITIONS ARE
FAVORABLE FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS IN AND CLOSE TO THE WATCH AREA.
STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR YOUR LOCAL RADIO OR TELEVISION
STATION FOR LATER UPDATES OR POSSIBLE WARNINGS.

KJF/TG/HM
Special weather statement, Jul 17, 6:00 PM EDT, 1 hour 16 minutes before
PAZ007-008-014-172315-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILLIAMSPORT PA
600 PM EDT FRI JUL 17 1992

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH CONTINUES FOR NORTHCENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA
UNTIL 800 PM EDT THIS EVENING...

AT 600 PM EDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR SHOWED SHOWERS AND
EMBEDDED THUNDERSTORMS IN CENTRAL SECTIONS OF THE COMMONWEALTH.  THE
STRONGEST THUNDERSTORMS WERE BETWEEN WILLIAMSPORT AND JERSEY SHORE IN
WESTERN LYCOMING COUNTY AND NEAR ELKLAND IN NORTHCENTRAL TIOGA COUNTY.
OTHER STRONG STORMS WERE MOVING BACK INTO CLINTON COUNTY FROM THE
WEST. THESE STORMS HAVE A HISTORY OF DANGEROUS LIGHTNING...GUSTY WINDS
AND HEAVY DOWNPOURS.  SPOTTERS HAVE REPORTED AROUND 1 INCH OF RAIN IN
ONE HOUR IN SOME OF THE HEAVIER SHOWERS.

ALL OF THE SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING NORTHEAST AT 20 MPH.

THE STRONGEST STORMS WILL BE MOVING INTO NORTHCENTRAL LYCOMING COUNTY
BY 630 POSSIBLY MOVING NEAR WILLIAMSPORT AROUND 615 PM EDT. THE OTHER
STRONG STORMS WILL BE MOVING THROUGH CLINTON COUNTY OVER THE NEXT
HOUR.

SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CAN DEVELOP WITH NO WARNING. REMAIN ALERT TO
CHANGING WEATHER CONDITIONS. REMEMBER ANY THUNDERSTORMS CAN CONTAIN
STRONG GUSTY WINDS...HEAVY DOWNPOURS...LARGE HAIL AND DANGEROUS
LIGHTNING. IF THREATENING WEATHER APPROACHES...SEEK SHELTER
IMMEDIATELY.

REMEMBER A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH MEANS THAT CONDITIONS ARE
FAVORABLE FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS IN AND CLOSE TO THE WATCH AREA.
STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR YOUR LOCAL RADIO OR TELEVISION
STATION FOR LATER UPDATES OR POSSIBLE WARNINGS.

KJF/TG/HM
Special weather statement, Jul 17, 7:03 PM EDT, 13 minutes before
PAZ007-008-014-180015-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILLIAMSPORT PA
700 PM EDT FRI JUL 17 1992

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH CONTINUES FOR NORTHCENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA
UNTIL 800 PM EDT THIS EVENING...

AT 700 PM EDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR SHOWED SHOWERS AND
EMBEDDED THUNDERSTORMS IN CENTRAL SECTIONS OF THE COMMONWEALTH.  THE
STRONGEST THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDED FROM TREVERTON IN UNION COUNTY
THROUGH WILLIAMSPORT TO CANTON AND TROY IN BRADFORD COUNTY.  THESE
STORMS HAVE A HISTORY OF DANGEROUS LIGHTNING...GUSTY WINDS AND HEAVY
DOWNPOURS.  SPOTTERS HAVE REPORTED AROUND 1 INCH OF RAIN IN LESS THAN
ONE HOUR IN SOME OF THE HEAVIER SHOWERS.

ALL OF THE SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING EAST AT 20 MPH.

THIS LINE OF STRONG STORMS WILL BE MOVING OUT OF LYCOMING COUNTY AND
THROUGH SULLIVAN AND BRADFORD COUNTY BY 745 PM EDT

SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CAN DEVELOP WITH NO WARNING. REMAIN ALERT TO
CHANGING WEATHER CONDITIONS. REMEMBER ANY THUNDERSTORMS CAN CONTAIN
STRONG GUSTY WINDS...HEAVY DOWNPOURS...LARGE HAIL AND DANGEROUS
LIGHTNING. IF THREATENING WEATHER APPROACHES...SEEK SHELTER
IMMEDIATELY.

REMEMBER A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH MEANS THAT CONDITIONS ARE
FFAVORABLE FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS IN AND CLOSE TO THE WATCH AREA.
STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR YOUR LOCAL RADIO OR TELEVISION
STATION FOR LATER UPDATES OR POSSIBLE WARNINGS.

KJF/TG/HM

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jul 17, 4:10 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPFranklin65 min
Jul 17, 4:13 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPCumberland62 min
Jul 17, 5:17 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPCumberland, Dauphin58 min
Jul 17, 5:38 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPYork67 min
Jul 17, 5:43 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPNorthumberland, Snyder47 min
Jul 17, 6:14 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPLancaster61 min
Jul 17, 6:18 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPDauphin, Lebanon27 min
Jul 17, 6:45 PM EDTTornado WarningCTPLebanon30 min
Jul 17, 6:46 PM EDTTornado WarningCTPBerks14 min
Jul 17, 6:56 PM EDTTornado WarningCTPBerks19 min
Jul 17, 7:02 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPLancaster, York58 min
Jul 17, 7:13 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPBerks32 min
Jul 17, 7:39 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPBerks36 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Pennsylvania, 1992Every tornado warning in 1992Tornadoes in 1992

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.