Alert archive / Pennsylvania / Flash Flood Warnings in 1993

Flash Flood Warning 33, NWS State College, PA

April 16, 1993Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania

NWS State College, PA issued this flash flood warning at Apr 16, 1993, 11:55 PM EDT for Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania. It was in force for 6 hr.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Apr 16, 1993, 11:55 PM EDT (03:55 UTC)
Expired
Apr 17, 1993, 5:45 AM EDT
In force
6 hr
Issued by
NWS State College, PA
Area
Whole counties

County Huntingdon County, PA

The nearest sounding before it

Washington/Dulle, VA (KIAD), launched 00:00Z, 3.9 hours before the alert went out and 171 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 1993-04-17Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 372 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 00:00Z on 1993-04-17The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 97 square meters per square second.1939587897117Sfc1 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
372 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-3 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
626 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
64 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
97 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
-6 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.2
Supercell composite
1.9

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
TTAA00 KHAR 170349
FFWHAR
PAC061-170945-
 
BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SMALL STREAM FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HARRISBURG PA
1155 PM EDT FRI APR 16 1993
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN HARRISBURG HAS ISSUED A
FLOOD WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL  600 AM EDT
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATION......
 
IN SOUTH CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA
 
   ...HUNTINGDON COUNTY
 
FLOODING OF SMALL STREAMS CONTINUES COUNTY WIDE AT MIDNIGHT. RAIN HAS
ENDED BUT RUNOFF FROM EARLIER HEAVY RAINS WILL CAUSE SMALL STREAMS TO
REMAIN OUT OF THEIR BANKS FOR ANOTHER SIX HOURS OR SO.
 
 
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.
 
 
 
KOWALZYK

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, 9:55 PM EDT, 2 hours before
PAZ007-008-014-170300-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILLIAMSPORT PA
955 PM EDT FRI APR 16 1993

...TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1100 PM EDT...

THE TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR ALL OF NORTHCENTRAL
PENNSYLVANIA UNTIL 11 PM EDT. THE WATCH INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING
COUNTIES...LYCOMING...CLINTON...SULLIVAN...TIOGA... AND BRADFORD.

AT 950 PM EDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR INDICATED A LINE OF
STRONG THUNDERSTORMS THAT EXTENDED FROM LOCK HAVEN TO JUST WEST OF
HARRISBURG THEN TO HAGERSTOWN MARYLAND. THE THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING
NORTHEAST AT 20 MPH. AS THESE THUNDERSTORMS MOVE THROUGH NORTHCENTRAL
PENNSYLVANIA THE NEXT HOUR OR SO THEY COULD PRODUCE DAMAGING
WINDS...LARGE HAIL AND POSSIBLE TORNADOES. VERY HEAVY DOWNPOURS ARE
ALSO POSSIBLE WITH THESE THUNDERSTORMS AND THIS COULD PRODUCE FLOODING
OF LOWLANDS AND POOR DRAINAGE AREAS.

PERSONS IN THE PATH OF THESE THUNDERSTORMS SHOULD REMAIN ALERT AND
TAKE COVER IF THREATENING WEATHER APPROACHES. REMEMBER...A TORNADO
WATCH MEANS CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR TORNADOES AND 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.

FJG/KJF
Special weather statement, Apr 16, 9:55 PM EDT, 2 hours before
PAZ007-008-014-170300-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILLIAMSPORT PA
955 PM EDT FRI APR 16 1993

...TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1100 PM EDT...

THE TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR ALL OF NORTHCENTRAL
PENNSYLVANIA UNTIL 11 PM EDT. THE WATCH INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING
COUNTIES...LYCOMING...CLINTON...SULLIVAN...TIOGA... AND BRADFORD.

AT 950 PM EDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR INDICATED A LINE OF
STRONG THUNDERSTORMS THAT EXTENDED FROM LOCK HAVEN TO JUST WEST OF
HARRISBURG THEN TO HAGERSTOWN MARYLAND. THE THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING
NORTHEAST AT 20 MPH. AS THESE THUNDERSTORMS MOVE THROUGH NORTHCENTRAL
PENNSYLVANIA THE NEXT HOUR OR SO THEY COULD PRODUCE DAMAGING
WINDS...LARGE HAIL AND POSSIBLE TORNADOES. VERY HEAVY DOWNPOURS ARE
ALSO POSSIBLE WITH THESE THUNDERSTORMS AND THIS COULD PRODUCE FLOODING
OF LOWLANDS AND POOR DRAINAGE AREAS.

PERSONS IN THE PATH OF THESE THUNDERSTORMS SHOULD REMAIN ALERT AND
TAKE COVER IF THREATENING WEATHER APPROACHES. REMEMBER...A TORNADO
WATCH MEANS CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR TORNADOES AND 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.

FJG/KJF
Special weather statement, Apr 16, 11:00 PM EDT, 55 minutes before
PAZ007-008-014-170500-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILLIAMSPORT PA
1100 PM EDT FRI APR 16 1993

...TORNADO WATCH HAS EXPIRED FOR NORTHCENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA...

AT 1100 PM EDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR SHOWED SHOWERS AND A FEW
THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDING FROM TIOGA COUNTY DOWN THROUGH WILLIAMSPORT
AND TO NEAR HARRISBURG.  THE LINE CONTINUED TO WEAKEN AS IT MOVED EAST
AT AROUND 20 MPH.

THE THREAT FOR TORNADOES AND SEVERE WEATHER HAS JUST ABOUT
ENDED...HOWEVER SHOWERS AND A FEW THUNDERSTORMS ARE STILL POSSIBLE
OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL HOURS.  ANY ADDITIONAL RAIN WILL ADD TO THE
ALREADY HIGH CREEKS AND STREAMS OVER THE REGION.

FJG/KJF
Special weather statement, Apr 16, 11:00 PM EDT, 55 minutes before
PAZ007-008-014-170500-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILLIAMSPORT PA
1100 PM EDT FRI APR 16 1993

...TORNADO WATCH HAS EXPIRED FOR NORTHCENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA...

AT 1100 PM EDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR SHOWED SHOWERS AND A FEW
THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDING FROM TIOGA COUNTY DOWN THROUGH WILLIAMSPORT
AND TO NEAR HARRISBURG.  THE LINE CONTINUED TO WEAKEN AS IT MOVED EAST
AT AROUND 20 MPH.

THE THREAT FOR TORNADOES AND SEVERE WEATHER HAS JUST ABOUT
ENDED...HOWEVER SHOWERS AND A FEW THUNDERSTORMS ARE STILL POSSIBLE
OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL HOURS.  ANY ADDITIONAL RAIN WILL ADD TO THE
ALREADY HIGH CREEKS AND STREAMS OVER THE REGION.

FJG/KJF
Special weather statement, Apr 16, 11:20 PM EDT, 35 minutes before
PAZ006-008-009-013-170400-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HARRISBURG PA
1120 PM EDT FRI APR 16 1993

...TORNADO WATCH HAS EXPIRED AS OF 1100 PM...
...FLOOD WARNINGS FOR HUNTINGDON COUNTY UNTIL 1215 AN EDT...
...A FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR THE SOUTH CENTRAL MOUNTAINS UNTIL
   4 AM AND THE LOWER AND MIDDLE SUSQUEHANNA VALLEY OVERNIGHT...

AT 1100 PM HARRISBURG RADAR SHOWED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS OVER THE
THE SUSQUEHANNA VALLEY FROM NORTH OF WILLIAMSPORT SOUTH INTO CENTAL
MARYLAND. THE SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING TO THE NORTHEAST
AT ABOUT 20 TO 25 MPH. SOME OF THE THUNDERSTORMS COULD STILL PRODUCE
SOME LOCALLY HEAVY RAIN AND GUSTY WINDS. PERSON LIVING ALONG STREAMS
AND CREEKS IN THE REGION SHOULD STILL KEEP AN EYE ON THEM AS THEY COULD
RISE RAPIDLY BUT, MOST ARE NOT EXPECTED TO CAUSE ANY SERIOUS FLOODING.
FURTHER FLOODING IN LOW LYING AREAS AND POOR DRAINAGE AREAS WILL STILL
BE A PROBLEM OVERNIGHT. DO NOT DRIVE OR WALK THROUGH ANY AREAS THAT
ARE COVERED BY WATER.

IF THREATING WEATHER APPROACHES YOUR AREA MOVE QUICKLY TO A SAFE
AREA.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR YOUR LOCAL TV AND RADIO STATIONS FOR THE
LATEST STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS.

HURLEY
Special weather statement, Apr 16, 11:24 PM EDT, 31 minutes before
PAZ006-008-009-013-170400-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HARRISBURG PA
1120 PM EDT FRI APR 16 1993

...TORNADO WATCH HAS EXPIRED AS OF 1100 PM...
...FLOOD WARNINGS FOR HUNTINGDON COUNTY UNTIL 1215 AN EDT...
...A FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR THE SOUTH CENTRAL MOUNTAINS UNTIL
   4 AM AND THE LOWER AND MIDDLE SUSQUEHANNA VALLEY OVERNIGHT...

AT 1100 PM HARRISBURG RADAR SHOWED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS OVER THE
THE SUSQUEHANNA VALLEY FROM NORTH OF WILLIAMSPORT SOUTH INTO CENTAL
MARYLAND. THE SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING TO THE NORTHEAST
AT ABOUT 20 TO 25 MPH. SOME OF THE THUNDERSTORMS COULD STILL PRODUCE
SOME LOCALLY HEAVY RAIN AND GUSTY WINDS. PERSON LIVING ALONG STREAMS
AND CREEKS IN THE REGION SHOULD STILL KEEP AN EYE ON THEM AS THEY COULD
RISE RAPIDLY BUT, MOST ARE NOT EXPECTED TO CAUSE ANY SERIOUS FLOODING.
FURTHER FLOODING IN LOW LYING AREAS AND POOR DRAINAGE AREAS WILL STILL
BE A PROBLEM OVERNIGHT. DO NOT DRIVE OR WALK THROUGH ANY AREAS THAT
ARE COVERED BY WATER.

IF THREATING WEATHER APPROACHES YOUR AREA MOVE QUICKLY TO A SAFE
AREA.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR YOUR LOCAL TV AND RADIO STATIONS FOR THE
LATEST STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS.

HURLEY

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Apr 16, 8:07 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningCTPHuntingdon4 hr
Apr 16, 9:52 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningCTPCentre12 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.