Alert archive / Pennsylvania / Flash Flood Warnings in 1993

Flash Flood Warning 2, NWS State College, PA

March 4, 1993Cumberland County, Pennsylvania

NWS State College, PA issued this flash flood warning at Mar 4, 1993, 7:14 PM EST for Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. It was in force for 6 hr.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Mar 4, 1993, 7:14 PM EST (00:14 UTC)
Expired
Mar 5, 1993, 1:15 AM EST
In force
6 hr
Issued by
NWS State College, PA
Area
Whole counties

County Cumberland County, PA

The nearest sounding before it

Washington/Dulle, VA (KIAD), launched 00:00Z, 0.2 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 00:00Z on 1993-03-05Temperature 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 00:00Z on 1993-03-05The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 96 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
561 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
21 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
96 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
327 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 050017
FFWHAR
PAC041-050615-
 
BULLETIN - EBS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HARRISBURG PA
714 PM EST THU MAR 4 1993
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN HARRISBURG HAS ISSUED A
URBAN AND SMALL STREAM FLOOD WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL  115 AM EST
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATION......
 
IN SOUTH CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA
 
   ...CUMBERLAND COUNTY
 
LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS REPORT A NUMBER OF STREAMS IN CUMBERLAND
COUNTY NEARING THEIR BANKS...INCLUDING MOUNTAIN CREEK IN MOUNT HOLLY.
WATER IN THIS STREAM IS EXPECTED TO RISE OVER THE BANKS THIS EVENING.
 
A PART OF THE MOUNTAIN CREEK IN THE PINE GROVE STATE PARK HAS
GONE OVER ITS BANK. WATER IS 4 TO 5 INCHES DEEP ALONG PARTS OF A SMALL
ROAD.
 
EVENTHOUGH RAINFALL HAS LIGHTENED ACROSS THE REGION SMALL STREAMS AND
CREEKS ARE HIGH ACROSS THE COUNTY...AND SOME OF THEM WILL OVERFLOW THEIR
BANKS.
 
BE ESPECIALLY CAUTIOUS AT NIGHT WHEN IT IS HARDER TO RECOGNIZE
THE DANGERS OF FLOODS AND FLASH FLOODS. IF FLASH FLOODING IS
OBSERVED...ACT QUICKLY. MOVE UP TO ESCAPE FLOOD WATERS. DO NOT
STAY IN AREAS SUBJECT TO FLOODING WHEN WATER BEGINS TO RISE.
 
DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE INTO AREAS WHERE THE WATER COVERS THE
ROADWAY.  TH*E WATER DEPTH MAY BE TOO GREAT TO ALLOW YOUR CAR TO
CROSS SAFELY.  VEHICLES CAUGHT IN RISING WATER SHOULD BE
ABANDONED QUICKLY.  MOVE TO HIGHER GROUND.
 
FENNER

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this flash flood 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, Mar 4, 1:29 PM EST, 5 hours 45 minutes before
PAZ009-013-008-006-042100-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HARRISBURG PA.
120 PM EST THU MAR 04 1993

...HIGH WINDS...FALLEN TREES...AND FLOODED ROADS...

DURING THE PAST HOUR THE FOLLOWING REPORTS HAVE BEEN RECEIVED:

ADAMS COUNTY...GETTYSBURG...WIND GUST TO 58 MPH. POWER LINES DOWNED
   AND SOME ROADS CLOSED DUE TO FALLEN TREES.

YORK COUNTY...DILLSBURG AREA...TREES AND WIRES DOWN AND STREET FLOODING.

CUMBERLAND COUNTY...DOWN TREES AND POWER LINES DUE TO ICE AND WINDS.
   ROOFS BLOWN OFF HOUSES.

STRONG WINDS ARE LIKELY FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE AFTERNOON.  DRIVING
CONDITIONS WILL BE ESPECIALLY HAZARDOUS DUE TO THE WINDS AND FROZEN
ROADWAYS...ESPECIALLY AT HIGHER ELEVATIONS.

IF YOU MUST VENTURE OUT THIS AFTERNOON...SLOW DOWN AND STAY
ALERT FOR STRONG WINDS.

PRA
Special weather statement, Mar 4, 1:29 PM EST, 5 hours 45 minutes before
PAZ007-008-014-042100-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILLIAMSPORT PA
130 PM EST THU FEB 4 1993

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY CONTINUES IN EFFECT THIS AFTERNOON AND
TONIGHT OVER PORTIONS OF NORTHCENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA...
...SLEET CAUSING SOME SLIPPERY ROAD CONDITIONS ACROSS THE REGION...

...ADVISORY INFORMATION...
A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT
FOR 2 TO 4 INCHES OF SNOW ACROSS THE NORTHERN TIER COUNTIES OF
NORTHCENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA.  THIS ADVISORY INCLUDES BRADFORD...NORTHERN
LYCOMING...TIOGA AND SULLIVAN COUNTIES.  THIS ADVISORY DOES NOT
INCLUDE LOCK HAVEN...WILLIAMSPORT OR CITIES IN THE MIDDLE SUSQUEHANNA
VALLEY.

...THIS AFTERNOON...
A MIXTURE OF RAIN...SLEET AND SNOW CONTINUED TO FALL ACROSS ALL OF
NORTHCENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA EARLY THIS AFTERNOON.  NATIONAL WEATHER
SERVICE SPOTTERS HAVE ALSO REPORTED ISOLATED POCKETS OF FREEZING RAIN.
ANY SNOW ACCUMULATIONS HAVE BEEN MINIMAL.

HOWEVER...SLEET HAS BEEN ACCUMULATING IN MANY LOCATIONS CAUSING SOME
SLIPPERY ROAD CONDITIONS.  AS OF 1 PM...ONE HALF OF AN INCH /.5/ OF
SLEET HAD ACCUMULATED HERE AT THE WILLIAMSPORT-LYCOMING COUNTY
AIRPORT.  REPORTS FROM LOCAL POLICE AND HAM RADIO OPERATORS INDICATE
THAT ROADS ARE SLIPPERY...ESPECIALLY IN THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS.

LITTLE CHANGE IS EXPECTED FOR THE REST OF THE AFTERNOON WITH A MIXED
BAG OF WINTER WEATHER CONTINUING TO FALL ACROSS THE REGION.  ONLY
LIGHT ACCUMULATIONS OF SNOW ARE EXPECTED IN THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS BY
EVENING WITH ACCUMULATING SNOW STILL A REAL POSSIBILITY TONIGHT.

...PRECAUTIONS...
ANYONE TRAVELING THIS AFTERNOON...ESPECIALLY IN THE MOUNTAINS ACROSS
THE NORTHERN TIER...CAN EXPECT SLIPPERY ROAD CONDITIONS DUE TO SNOW
AND SLEET.  ANOTHER WEATHER CONCERN FOR THIS AFTERNOON WILL BE THE
WIND WHICH MAY GUST BETWEEN 30 AND 40 MPH AT TIMES.  THE GUSTY WINDS
MAY CREATE PROBLEMS FOR HIGH PROFILE VEHICLES.  THIS WILL BE A
CHANGING WEATHER SITUATION. LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR LOCAL NEWS
MEDIA FOR THE LATEST NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORECASTS AND
STATEMENTS.

...WEATHER FACTORS...
A LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM OVER KENTUCKY AND ANOTHER LOW OVER SOUTHERN
VIRGINIA WILL MOVE SLOWLY NORTH AND EAST TODAY AND FRIDAY.  THIS WILL
PULL ATLANTIC MOISTURE INTO THE STATE RESULTING IN A MIXED BAG OF
PRECIPITATION ACROSS NORTHCENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA THROUGH FRIDAY.

JSN
Special weather statement, Mar 4, 4:29 PM EST, 2 hours 45 minutes before
PAZ007-008-014-050000-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILLIAMSPORT PA
430 PM EST THU FEB 4 1993

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT TONIGHT AND FRIDAY FOR ALL OF
NORTHCENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA...
...WINTER STORM WARNING FOR NORTHERN CLINTON COUNTY...
...LOCALLY STRONG WINDS EXPECTED ACROSS THE REGION THIS EVENING...

...ADVISORY INFORMATION...
A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT TONIGHT AND FRIDAY ACROSS THE
NORTHERN TIER COUNTIES OF NORTHCENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA.  SNOW AMOUNTS
RANGING FROM 3 TO 6 INCHES WILL FALL IN THE ADVISORY AREA.  THIS
INCLUDES...BRADFORD...NORTHERN LYCOMING...TIOGA AND SULLIVAN COUNTIES.

AN ADVISORY FOR 2 TO 4 INCHES OF SNOW IS ALSO IN EFFECT FOR THE WEST
BRANCH AND MIDDLE SUSQUEHANNA VALLEYS.  THIS INCLUDES LOCK HAVEN...
WILLIAMSPORT...LEWISBURG AND SUNBURY.

LOCALLY...AMOUNTS OF UP TO 10 INCHES OF SNOW ARE ALSO POSSIBLE ACROSS
NORTHERN CLINTON COUNTY.

...LATE THIS AFTERNOON...
A MIXTURE OF RAIN...SLEET AND SNOW CONTINUED TO FALL ACROSS ALL OF THE
REGION LATE THIS AFTERNOON.  NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SPOTTERS HAVE
ALSO REPORTED ISOLATED POCKETS OF FREEZING RAIN.  ICE WAS ACCUMULATING
ON TREES AND POWER LINES ACROSS SULLIVAN COUNTY.  SNOW AMOUNTS HAVE
REMAINED LIGHT BUT SIGNIFICANT ACCUMULATIONS OF SLEET HAVE BEEN
REPORTED.

AS OF 4 PM...NEARLY ONE INCH /.8/ OF SLEET HAD ACCUMULATED HERE AT THE
WILLIAMSPORT-LYCOMING COUNTY AIRPORT.  NEARLY TWO INCHES OF SLEET WAS
REPORTED NEAR HEPBURNVILLE JUST NORTH OF WILLIAMSPORT.  REPORTS FROM
LOCAL POLICE AND HAM RADIO OPERATORS INDICATE THAT ROADS ARE
SLIPPERY...ESPECIALLY IN THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS.  STRONG AND GUSTY
WINDS HAVE BEEN REPORTED IN THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS WITH SPEEDS
ESTIMATED BETWEEN 40 AND 50 MPH BY NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SPOTTERS.

..TONIGHT...
THE MIXED PRECIPITATION WILL CHANGE OVER TO SNOW ACROSS THE NORTHERN
TIER COUNTIES THIS EVENING.  A CHANGE OVER TO SNOW SHOULD TAKE PLACE
IN THE WEST BRANCH AND MIDDLE SUSQUEHANNA VALLEYS NEAR MIDNIGHT.

...PRECAUTIONS...
DRIVING CONDITIONS WILL BECOME HAZARDOUS TONIGHT THROUGHOUT THE
REGION.  WHERE RAIN AND SLEET FELL DURING THE AFTERNOON...ROADS WILL
BECOME VERY SLIPPERY AS TEMPERATURES FALL BELOW FREEZING.
ANOTHER WEATHER CONCERN FOR THIS EVENING WILL BE THE WIND WHICH MAY
GUST BETWEEN 40 AND 50 MPH AT TIMES.  THE GUSTY WINDS COULD DOWN POWER
LINES AND SMALL TREE LIMBS AND WILL BE ESPECIALLY HAZARDOUS FOR HIGH
PROFILE VEHICLES.

THIS IS A RAPIDLY CHANGING WEATHER SITUATION.  LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER
RADIO OR LOCAL NEWS MEDIA FOR THE LATEST NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
FORECASTS AND STATEMENTS.

...WEATHER FACTORS...
A LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM OVER SOUTHERN OHIO AND A SECOND LOW OVER EASTERN
VIRGINIA WILL MOVE SLOWLY NORTH AND EAST TONIGHT AND FRIDAY.  THIS
INTENSE STORM SYSTEM WILL PROVIDE THE WINTER WEATHER TO THE REGION.

JSN
Special weather statement, Mar 4, 5:00 PM EST, 2 hours 14 minutes before
PAZ007-008-014-050100-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT...CORRECTION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILLIAMSPORT PA
600 PM EST THU FEB 4 1993

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT TONIGHT AND FRIDAY FOR ALL OF
NORTHCENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA...
...WINTER STORM WARNING FOR NORTHERN CLINTON COUNTY...

...ADVISORY INFORMATION...
A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT TONIGHT AND FRIDAY ACROSS THE
NORTHERN TIER COUNTIES OF NORTHCENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA.  SNOW AMOUNTS
RANGING FROM 3 TO 6 INCHES WILL FALL IN THE ADVISORY AREA.  THIS
INCLUDES...BRADFORD...NORTHERN LYCOMING...TIOGA AND SULLIVAN COUNTIES.

AN ADVISORY FOR 2 TO 4 INCHES OF SNOW IS ALSO IN EFFECT FOR THE WEST
BRANCH AND MIDDLE SUSQUEHANNA VALLEYS.  THIS INCLUDES LOCK HAVEN...
WILLIAMSPORT...LEWISBURG AND SUNBURY.

LOCALLY...AMOUNTS OF UP TO 10 INCHES OF SNOW ARE ALSO POSSIBLE ACROSS
NORTHERN CLINTON COUNTY.

...LATE THIS AFTERNOON...
A MIXTURE OF RAIN...SLEET AND SNOW CONTINUED TO FALL ACROSS ALL OF THE
REGION LATE THIS AFTERNOON.  NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SPOTTERS HAVE
ALSO REPORTED ISOLATED POCKETS OF FREEZING RAIN.  ICE WAS ACCUMULATING
ON TREES AND POWER LINES ACROSS SULLIVAN COUNTY.  SNOW AMOUNTS HAVE
REMAINED LIGHT BUT SIGNIFICANT ACCUMULATIONS OF SLEET HAVE BEEN
REPORTED.

AS OF 6 PM...THE PRECIPITATION WAS ALL SNOW ACROSS THE NORTHERN TIER
COUNTIES WHERE 2 TO 3 INCHES OF NEW SNOW HAD FALLEN.  FARTHER
SOUTH...THE PRECIPITATION WAS MAINLY A MIX OF RAIN...SLEET AND SNOW.
NEARLY ONE INCH OF SLEET HAD ACCUMULATED HERE AT THE
WILLIAMSPORT-LYCOMING COUNTY AIRPORT.  NEARLY TWO INCHES OF SLEET WAS
REPORTED NEAR HEPBURNVILLE JUST NORTH OF WILLIAMSPORT.  REPORTS FROM
LOCAL POLICE AND HAM RADIO OPERATORS INDICATE THAT ROADS ARE
SLIPPERY...ESPECIALLY IN THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS.

..TONIGHT...
THE MIXED PRECIPITATION WILL CHANGE OVER TO SNOW ACROSS THE REGION
TONIGHT.  MOST AREAS IN THE NORTHERN TIER COUNTIES HAVE ALREADY
CHANGED OVER TO SNOW...WITH HEAVY SNOW FALLING IN SOME PLACES.

...PRECAUTIONS...
DRIVING CONDITIONS WILL BECOME HAZARDOUS TONIGHT THROUGHOUT THE
REGION.  WHERE RAIN AND SLEET FELL DURING THE AFTERNOON...ROADS WILL
BECOME VERY SLIPPERY AS TEMPERATURES FALL BELOW FREEZING.

THIS IS A RAPIDLY CHANGING WEATHER SITUATION.  LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER
RADIO OR LOCAL NEWS MEDIA FOR THE LATEST NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
FORECASTS AND STATEMENTS.

...WEATHER FACTORS...
A LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM OVER SOUTHERN OHIO AND A SECOND LOW OVER EASTERN
VIRGINIA WILL MOVE SLOWLY NORTH AND EAST TONIGHT AND FRIDAY.  THIS
INTENSE STORM SYSTEM WILL PROVIDE THE WINTER WEATHER TO THE REGION.

KJF
Special weather statement, Mar 4, 5:55 PM EST, 1 hour 19 minutes before
PAZ007-008-014-050100-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT...CORRECTION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILLIAMSPORT PA
545 PM EST THU FEB 4 1993

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT TONIGHT AND FRIDAY FOR ALL OF
NORTHCENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA...
...WINTER STORM WARNING FOR NORTHERN CLINTON COUNTY...
...LOCALLY STRONG WINDS EXPECTED ACROSS THE REGION THIS EVENING...

...ADVISORY INFORMATION...
A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT TONIGHT AND FRIDAY ACROSS THE
NORTHERN TIER COUNTIES OF NORTHCENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA.  SNOW AMOUNTS
RANGING FROM 3 TO 6 INCHES WILL FALL IN THE ADVISORY AREA.  THIS
INCLUDES...BRADFORD...NORTHERN LYCOMING...TIOGA AND SULLIVAN COUNTIES.

AN ADVISORY FOR 2 TO 4 INCHES OF SNOW IS ALSO IN EFFECT FOR THE WEST
BRANCH AND MIDDLE SUSQUEHANNA VALLEYS.  THIS INCLUDES LOCK HAVEN...
WILLIAMSPORT...LEWISBURG AND SUNBURY.

LOCALLY...AMOUNTS OF UP TO 10 INCHES OF SNOW ARE ALSO POSSIBLE ACROSS
NORTHERN CLINTON COUNTY.

...LATE THIS AFTERNOON...
A MIXTURE OF RAIN...SLEET AND SNOW CONTINUED TO FALL ACROSS ALL OF THE
REGION LATE THIS AFTERNOON.  NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SPOTTERS HAVE
ALSO REPORTED ISOLATED POCKETS OF FREEZING RAIN.  ICE WAS ACCUMULATING
ON TREES AND POWER LINES ACROSS SULLIVAN COUNTY.  SNOW AMOUNTS HAVE
REMAINED LIGHT BUT SIGNIFICANT ACCUMULATIONS OF SLEET HAVE BEEN
REPORTED.

AS OF 4 PM...NEARLY ONE INCH /.8/ OF SLEET HAD ACCUMULATED HERE AT THE
WILLIAMSPORT-LYCOMING COUNTY AIRPORT.  NEARLY TWO INCHES OF SLEET WAS
REPORTED NEAR HEPBURNVILLE JUST NORTH OF WILLIAMSPORT.  REPORTS FROM
LOCAL POLICE AND HAM RADIO OPERATORS INDICATE THAT ROADS ARE
SLIPPERY...ESPECIALLY IN THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS.  STRONG AND GUSTY
WINDS HAVE BEEN REPORTED IN THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS WITH SPEEDS
ESTIMATED BETWEEN 40 AND 50 MPH BY NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SPOTTERS.

..TONIGHT...
THE MIXED PRECIPITATION WILL CHANGE OVER TO SNOW ACROSS THE REGION
TONIGHT.  MOST AREAS IN THE NORTHERN TIER COUNTIES HAVE ALREADY
CHANGED OVER TO SNOW...WITH HEAVY SNOW FALLING IN SOME PLACES.

...PRECAUTIONS...
DRIVING CONDITIONS WILL BECOME HAZARDOUS TONIGHT THROUGHOUT THE
REGION.  WHERE RAIN AND SLEET FELL DURING THE AFTERNOON...ROADS WILL
BECOME VERY SLIPPERY AS TEMPERATURES FALL BELOW FREEZING.

THIS IS A RAPIDLY CHANGING WEATHER SITUATION.  LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER
RADIO OR LOCAL NEWS MEDIA FOR THE LATEST NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
FORECASTS AND STATEMENTS.

...WEATHER FACTORS...
A LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM OVER SOUTHERN OHIO AND A SECOND LOW OVER EASTERN
VIRGINIA WILL MOVE SLOWLY NORTH AND EAST TONIGHT AND FRIDAY.  THIS
INTENSE STORM SYSTEM WILL PROVIDE THE WINTER WEATHER TO THE REGION.

KJF

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Mar 4, 9:11 PM ESTFlash Flood WarningCTPLancaster8 hr
Mar 4, 9:11 PM ESTFlash Flood WarningCTPCumberland8 hr

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in Pennsylvania, 1993Every flash flood warning in 1993

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.