Alert archive / Pennsylvania / Flash Flood Warnings in 1993

Flash Flood Warning 22, NWS State College, PA

April 16, 1993Franklin County, Pennsylvania

NWS State College, PA issued this flash flood warning at Apr 16, 1993, 9:24 AM EDT for Franklin County, Pennsylvania. It was in force for 7 hr.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Apr 16, 1993, 9:24 AM EDT (13:24 UTC)
Expired
Apr 16, 1993, 4:00 PM EDT
In force
7 hr
Issued by
NWS State College, PA
Area
Whole counties

County Franklin County, PA

The radar

The Sterling radar (KLWX), 108 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 13:25 UTC, the scan nearest the moment this went out.

Open the radar archive at this moment

The archived warnings, watches and discussions in force at that minute are drawn over the scan, this one among them.

The nearest sounding before it

Washington/Dulle, VA (KIAD), launched 12:00Z, 1.4 hours before the alert went out and 112 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 1993-04-16Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 286 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, Washington/Dulle, VA at 12:00Z on 1993-04-16The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 253 square meters per square second.1939587897Sfc1 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
286 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-2 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
643 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
56 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
253 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
284 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.5
Supercell composite
2.4

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

The text of this product is not in the archive. The NWS text archive before 2002 is incomplete.

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, Apr 16, 3:45 AM EDT, 5 hours 39 minutes before
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Special weather statement, Apr 16, 5:15 AM EDT, 4 hours 9 minutes before
PAZ007-008-014-161030-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILLIAMSPORT PA
515 AM EDT FRI APR 16 1993

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IN EFFECT FOR NORTHCENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA
UNTIL 700 AM...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH
FOR ALL OF NORTHCENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA UNTIL 700 AM. THIS
INCLUDES...TIOGA...BRADFORD...CLINTON...LYCOMING AND SULLIVAN
COUNTIES.

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH MEANS CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR THE
DEVELOPMENT OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS IN AND CLOSE TO THE WATCH AREA.
SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CAN CONTAIN STRONG DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS OF 55
MPH...LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING LIGHTNING.

PERSONS IN THE PATH OF THESE STORMS SHOULD TAK8E COVER IF THREATENING
WEATHER APPROACHES. INTERIOR LOCATIONS OF A STURDY BUILDING PROVIDE
THE BEST PROTECTION AGAINST SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS.

PMG/HM
Special weather statement, Apr 16, 5:27 AM EDT, 3 hours 57 minutes before
PAZ006-008-009-013-014-161100-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HARRISBURG PA
515 AM EDT FRI APR 16 1993

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 AM FOR MUCH OF CENTRAL
   PENNSYLVANIA...INCLUDING PORTIONS OF THE SOUTH CENTRAL MOUNTAINS AND LOWER
   SUSQUEHANNA VALLEY....

...SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ARE MOVING THROUGH THE CENTRAL MOUNTAINS...

AT 515 AM HARRISBURG RADAR WAS SHOWING AN AREA OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS...
SOME WITH HEAVY RAIN ACROSS THE CENTRAL AND LAUREL MOUNTAINS. THE SHOWERS AND
THUNDERSTORMS WERE NOW BEGINNING TO MOVE INTO WESTERN PORTIONS OF THE
SUSQUEHANNA VALLEY. THE STRONGEST STORMS WERE OVER BLAIR AND BEDFORD COUNTIES
IN THE SOUTH CENTRAL MOUNTAINS. INDIVIDUAL CELLS WERE MOVING NORTHEAST AT 50
MPH WHILE THE ENTIRE AREA WAS SLIDING EAST AT ABOUT 30 MPH.

THESE THUNDERSTORMS MAY PRODUCE HEAVY DOWNPOURS...DAMAGING WINDS AND HAIL AS
THEY MOVE EAST INTO THE SUSQUEHANNA VALLEY.

IF THREATENING WEATHER APPROACHES...GO TO A SAFE PLACE IMMEDIATELY. IF YOU ARE
DRIVING...PULL OVER AND TAKE COVER IN A LOW SPOT. WATCH FOR PONDING WATER AS
WELL. ALSO...ALLOW FOR A LITTLE EXTRA TIME IN YOUR MORNING COMVMUTE TO WORK.

IF SEVERE WEATHER IS OBSERVED...CONTACT YOUR LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY AND
ASK THEM TO RELAY YOUR REPORT TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE. STAY TUNED TO
NOAA WEATHER RADIO FOR LATER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS.

RODGERS
Special weather statement, Apr 16, 5:30 AM EDT, 3 hours 54 minutes before
PAZ007-008-014-161030-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILLIAMSPORT PA
530 AM EDT FRI APR 16 1993

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IN EFFECT FOR NORTHCENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA
UNTIL 700 AM...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH
FOR ALL OF NORTHCENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA UNTIL 700 AM. THIS
INCLUDES...TIOGA...BRADFORD...CLINTON...LYCOMING AND SULLIVAN
COUNTIES.

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH MEANS CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR THE
DEVELOPMENT OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS IN AND CLOSE TO THE WATCH AREA.
SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CAN CONTAIN STRONG DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS OF 55
MPH...LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING LIGHTNING.

AT 515 AM EDT SHOWED AN AREA OF SHOWESR AND LOCALLY STRONG
THUNDERSTORMS OVER WESTERN AND CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA. THE LEADING EDGE
OF THIS AREA EXTENDED INTO WESTERN BRADFORD AND EASTERN LYCOMING
COUNTIES IN NORTHCENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA. THE STRONGEST THUNDERSTORMS
WERE IN CENTRE AND BLAIR COUNTIESf.

PERSONS IN THE PATH OF THESE STORMS SHOULD TAKE COVER IF THREATENING
WEATHER APPROACHES. INTERIOR LOCATIONS OF A STURDY BUILDING PROVIDE
THE BEST PROTECTION AGAINST SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS.

PMG/HM
Special weather statement, Apr 16, 6:20 AM EDT, 3 hours 4 minutes before
PAZ007-008-014-161100-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILLIAMSPORT PA
620 AM EDT FRI APR 16 1993

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IN EFFECT FOR NORTHCENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA
UNTIL 700 AM...

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR ALL OF NORTHCENTRAL
PENNSYLVANIA UNTIL 700 AM. THIS INCLUDES TIOGA... BRADFORD...
CLINTON...LYCOMING AND SULLIVAN COUNTIES.

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH MEANS CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR THE
DEVELOPMENT OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS IN AND CLOSE TO THE WATCH AREA.
SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CAN CONTAIN STRONG DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS OF 55
MPH...LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING LIGHTNING.

AT 610 AM EDT SHOWED AN AREA OF SHOWERS AND LOCALLY STRONG
THUNDERSTORMS OVER WESTERN AND CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA. THE LEADING EDGE
OF THIS AREA EXTENDED INTO CENTRAL BRADFORD AND WESTERN SULLIVAN
COUNTIES IN NORTHCENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA. THE STRONGEST THUNDERSTORMS
WERE IN A THIN LINE EXTENDING FROM RENOVA IN CLINTON COUNTY TO STATE
COLLEGE...HUNTINGDON AND EVERETT IN BEDFORD COUNTY. THE THUNDERSTORMS
WERE MOVING NORTHEAST ABOUT 40 MPH.

PERSONS IN THE PATH OF THESE STORMS SHOULD TAKE COVER IF THREATENING
WEATHER APPROACHES. INTERIOR LOCATIONS OF A STURDY BUILDING PROVIDE
THE BEST PROTECTION AGAINST SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS.

PMG/HM
Special weather statement, Apr 16, 8:02 AM EDT, 1 hour 22 minutes before
PAZ006-008-009-013-014-161400-

FLOOD WATCH STATEMENT                  ...ISSUED UNDER PHLSPSHAR FOR PEMA...
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HARRISBURG PA
800 AM EDT FRI APR 16 1993

...A FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR THE SOUTH CENTRAL MOUNTAINS THIS MORNING...
   AND FOR THE LOWER AND MIDDLE SUSQUEHANNA VALLEY TODAY...
...FLASH FLOOD WARNINGS ARE IN EFFECT FOR CENTRE AND HUNTINGDON COUNTIES
   UNTIL 10 AM THIS MORNING...

THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WHICH MOVED THROUGH WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA EARLY THIS
MORNING HAVE STALLED OUT IN THE CENTRAL MOUNTAINS. THE POTENTIAL FOR SEVERE
WEATHER HAS DECREASED FOR THE TIME BEING...BUT THE POTENTIAL FOR FLOODING HAS
INCREASED DUE TO HEAVY RAIN THIS MORNING. RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 1 TO 2 INCHES
HAVE FALLEN ACROSS THE SOUTH CENTRAL AND LAUREL MOUNTAINS THIS MORNING AND
FLOODING HAS BEEN OBSERVED IN CENTRE...HUNTINGDON...CLEARFIELD AND BLAIR
COUNTIES. A RAIN GAUGE AT UNIONVILLE IN CENTRE COUNTY HAS RECORDED 2.28 INCHES
OF RAIN SINCE IT BEGAN FALLING EARLY THIS MORNING.

AT 800 AM HARRISBURG RADAR WAS SHOWING AN AREA OF MODERATE TO HEAVY RAIN
ALONG WITH SOME EMBEDDED THUNDERSTORMS FROM CENTRE AND MIFFLIN COUNTIES DOWN TO
BEDFORD AND FULTON COUNTIES...THEN SOUTH INTO NORTHERN VIRGINIA. INDIVIDUAL
CELLS WERE MOVING NORTHEAST AT 40 TO 50 MPH...WHILE THE AREA WAS SLIDING EAST
AT ONLY 10 TO 20 MPH.

RAIN WILL CONTINUE HEAVY AT TIMES THROUGHOUT THE MORNING ACROSS THE SOUTH
CENTRAL MOUNTAINS...AND WILL GRADUALLY SPREAD ACROSS THE LOWER AND MIDDLE
SUSQUEHANNA VALLEY BETWEEN 8 AND 10 AM. ADDITIONAL FLOODING IS LIKELY IN THE
MOUNTAINS...AND IS A POSSIBILITY IN THE SUSQUEHANNA VALLEY.

DO NOT ATTEMPT TO DRIVE OVER A FLOODED ROAD...YOU COULD BE STRANDED OR TRAPPED.
THE DEPTH OF WATER IS NOT ALWAYS OBVIOUS.

THUNDERSTORMS ARE LIKELY THROUGHOUT THE REMAINDER OF THE DAY...AND THE
POTENTIAL FOR SEVERE WEATHER AND FLOODING EXISTS. STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER
RADIO OR YOUR LOCAL TV AND RADIO STATIONS FOR THE LATEST STATEMENTS AND
POSSIBLE WARNINGS.

RODGERS

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Apr 16, 6:33 AM EDTFlash Flood WarningCTPCentre3 hr
Apr 16, 6:54 AM EDTFlash Flood WarningCTPHuntingdon3 hr
Apr 16, 9:19 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPCumberland56 min
Apr 16, 9:30 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPLycoming60 min
Apr 16, 9:45 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPUnion60 min
Apr 16, 9:59 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPBradford31 min
Apr 16, 10:15 AM EDTFlash Flood WarningCTPClinton4 hr
Apr 16, 10:15 AM EDTFlash Flood WarningCTPBradford4 hr
Apr 16, 11:25 AM EDTFlash Flood WarningCTPCumberland, Dauphin, York6 hr
Apr 16, 12:25 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningCTPTioga110 min
Apr 16, 1:56 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningCTPBradford, Clinton, Lycoming, Sullivan, Tioga4 hr
Apr 16, 3:55 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningCTPLancaster5 hr
Apr 16, 4:14 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningCTPFranklin, Huntingdon5 hr
Apr 16, 5:15 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningCTPBradford, Clinton, Lycoming5 hr
Apr 16, 7:48 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPFulton57 min

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; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.