Alert archive / Pennsylvania / Flash Flood Warnings in 1993

Flash Flood Warning 37, NWS State College, PA

June 20, 1993Dauphin County, Pennsylvania

NWS State College, PA issued this flash flood warning at Jun 20, 1993, 6:41 PM EDT for Dauphin County, Pennsylvania. It was in force for 2 hr.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Jun 20, 1993, 6:41 PM EDT (22:41 UTC)
Expired
Jun 20, 1993, 8:45 PM EDT
In force
2 hr
Issued by
NWS State College, PA
Area
Whole counties

County Dauphin County, PA

The nearest sounding before it

Washington/Dulle, VA (KIAD), launched 12:00Z, 10.7 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 12:00Z on 1993-06-20Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 541 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 1993-06-20The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 4 square meters per square second.1939Sfc1 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
541 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-115 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
993 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
7 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
4 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
49 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 202242
FFWHAR
PAC043-210045-
 
BULLETIN - EBS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
FLASH FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HARRISBURG PA
641 PM EDT SUN JUN 20 1993
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN HARRISBURG HAS ISSUED A
FLASH FLOOD WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL  845 PM EDT
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATION......
 
IN SOUTH CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA
 
   ...DAUPHIN COUNTY
 
THUNDERSTORMS HAVE DROPPED A MEASURED 3.5 INCHES OF RAIN IN A HALF HOUR
PERIOD OF TIME JUST EAST OF DUNCANNON IN SPEECEVILLE...ACCORDING TO A
SKYWARN OBSERVER.
 
 
DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE INTO AREAS WHERE THE WATER COVERS THE
ROADWAY.  THE 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.
 
 
 
&

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, Jun 20, 5:04 PM EDT, 1 hour 37 minutes before
PAZ006-013-009-008-202200-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HARRISBURG PA
503 PM EDT SUN JUN 20 1993

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH FOR THE SUSQUEHANNA REGION AND CENTRAL
MOUNTAINS TILL 9PM...

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR FRANKLIN COUNTY UNTIL 545 PM...

AT 500 PM NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR IN HARRISBURG SHOWED A LINE OF
SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS ALONG AND WEST OF A LINE FROM HAZELTON TO
MARTINSBURG WEST VIRGINIA. THE LINE WAS MOVING NORTHEAST AT 25 MILES AN
HOUR.

THE STRONGEST STORMS ON RADAR WERE IN PERRY COUNTY AND SOUTHERN FRANKLIN
COUNTY. THIS STORM HAS PRODUCED DAMAGING WINDS IN NORTHERN MARYLAND.

OTHER STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WERE IN NORTHERN MARYLAND AND WILL LIKELY MOVE
INTO ADAMS COUNTY BY 530 PM.

THE STORM IN PERRY COUNTY... ON ITS CURRENT COURSE AND SPEED... WILL MOVE
INTO NORTHERN DAUPHIN COUNTY BY 530.

GUSTS TO 45 MILES AN HOUR AND SMALL HAIL CAN BE EXPECTED WITH THESE STORMS.

HEAVY RAINFALL WAS ALSO ASSOCIATED WITH THESE STORMS. FLOODING OF POOR
DRAINAGE SYSTEMS IS POSSIBLE.

SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCE WIND IN EXCESS OF 58 MILES AN HOUR AND HAIL
GREATER THAN DIME SIZE. IF THREATENING WEATHER APPROACHES SEEK SHELTER
IMMEDVIATELY IN A REINFORCED BUILDING.

FENNER
Special weather statement, Jun 20, 6:00 PM EDT, 41 minutes before
PAZ007-008-014-202300-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILLIAMSPORT PA
500 PM EDT SUN JUN 20 1993

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH UNTIL 900 PM EDT FOR ALL OF NORTHCENTRAL
PENNSYLVANIA...
...THUNDERSTORMS MOVING OUT OF NORTHCENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA...

...WATCH INFORMATION...
A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 900 PM EDT FOR ALL OF
NORTHCENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA.  THE WATCH INCLUDES...BRADFORD...CLINTON
...LYCOMING AND SULLIVAN COUNTIES.  THE WATCH ALSO INCLUDES ALL
COUNTIES IN THE MIDDLE SUSQUEHANNA VALLEY.

...RADAR INFORMATION...
AT 600 PM EDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR INDICATED AN AREA OF
SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS MOVING INTO EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA. THE
TRAILING EDGE OF THIS AREA OF PRECIPITATION EXTENDED FROM WYLUSING IN
BRADFORD COUNTY TO FRACKVILLE IN SCHUYLKILL COUNTY. OTHER NEW
DEVELOPED THUNDERSTORMS NORTHWEST OF COUDERSPORT AND JUST NORTH OF
EMPORIUM IN POTTER COUNTY. THE THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING EAST
NORTHEAST AT 25 MPH.

THE THUNDERSTORMS TO OUR EAST WILL BE MOVING OUT OF NORTHCENTRAL
PENNSYLVANIA BY 630 PM EDT. THE THUNDERSTORMS OVER POTTER COUNTY WILL
BE MOVING INTO TIOGA COUNTY BY 7 PM EDT.

...SAFETY TIPS...
A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH MEANS SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE.
SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CAN DEVELOP SUDDENLY AND SOMETIMES NO ADVANCE
WARNING IS POSSIBLE.  IF THUNDERSTORMS APPROACH...SEEK SHELTER INSIDE
A STRONG BUILDING.  STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS.  LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER
RADIO FOR LATER STATEMENTS OR WARNINGS FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER
SERVICE.

JSN/FJG
Special weather statement, Jun 20, 6:00 PM EDT, 41 minutes before
PAZ007-008-014-202300-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT...CORRECTION TO TRANSMITION TIME
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILLIAMSPORT PA
600 PM EDT SUN JUN 20 1993

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH UNTIL 900 PM EDT FOR ALL OF NORTHCENTRAL
PENNSYLVANIA...
...THUNDERSTORMS MOVING OUT OF NORTHCENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA...

...WATCH INFORMATION...
A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 900 PM EDT FOR ALL OF
NORTHCENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA.  THE WATCH INCLUDES...BRADFORD...CLINTON
...LYCOMING AND SULLIVAN COUNTIES.  THE WATCH ALSO INCLUDES ALL
COUNTIES IN THE MIDDLE SUSQUEHANNA VALLEY.

...RADAR INFORMATION...
AT 600 PM EDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR INDICATED AN AREA OF
SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS MOVING INTO EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA. THE
TRAILING EDGE OF THIS AREA OF PRECIPITATION EXTENDED FROM WYLUSING IN
BRADFORD COUNTY TO FRACKVILLE IN SCHUYLKILL COUNTY. OTHER NEW
DEVELOPED THUNDERSTORMS NORTHWEST OF COUDERSPORT AND JUST NORTH OF
EMPORIUM IN POTTER COUNTY. THE THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING EAST
NORTHEAST AT 25 MPH.

THE THUNDERSTORMS TO OUR EAST WILL BE MOVING OUT OF NORTHCENTRAL
PENNSYLVANIA BY 630 PM EDT. THE THUNDERSTORMS OVER POTTER COUNTY WILL
BE MOVING INTO TIOGA COUNTY BY 7 PM EDT.

...SAFETY TIPS...
A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH MEANS SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE.
SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CAN DEVELOP SUDDENLY AND SOMETIMES NO ADVANCE
WARNING IS POSSIBLE.  IF THUNDERSTORMS APPROACH...SEEK SHELTER INSIDE
A STRONG BUILDING.  STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS.  LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER
RADIO FOR LATER STATEMENTS OR WARNINGS FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER
SERVICE.

JSN/FJG
Special weather statement, Jun 20, 6:19 PM EDT, 22 minutes before
PAZ006-013-009-008-202300-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HARRISBURG PA
620 PM EDT SUN JUN 20 1993

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH FOR THE SUSQUEHANNA REGION AND CENTRAL
MOUNTAINS TILL 9PM...

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR CUMBERLAND AND DAUPHIN COUNTY UNTIL
715PM...

SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNINGS FOR PERRY AND FRANKLIN COUNTY HAVE EXPIRED.

AMATEUR RADIO OPERATORS IN FRANKLIN COUNTY REPORTED HALF INCH HAIL IN
CHAMBERSBURG. SMALL TREE LIMBS WERE ALSO BROUGHT DOWN IN THE STORM.
SPOTTERS IN CENTRAL PERRY COUNTY REPORTED PEA SIZE HAIL WITH THE PASSAGE OF
A STRONG THUNDERSTORM. TREES WERE BROUGHT DOWN ON WIRES IN PERRY COUNTY AS
THE STORM BECAME SEVERE.

WINDS GUSTED TO 43 KNOTS OR 49 MILES AN HOUR AT THE NATIONAL WEATHER
SERVICE IN HARRISBURG AS THE PERRY COUNTY STORM PASSED THROUGH THE DOWNTOWN
HARRISBURG AREA.

AT 620 PM NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR IN HARRISBURG SHOWED STRONG
THUNDERSTORMS IN ADAMS AND CUMBERLAND COUNTY. ANOTHER STORM WAS IN SOUTHERN
AND CENTRAL DAUPHIN COUNTY.

STORMS THIS EVENING WILL LIKELY PRODUCE SMALL HAIL AND WINDS TO 50 MILES AN
HOUR. GIVEN THE SLOW NATURE OF THESE STORMS... FLOODING OF POOR DRAINAGE
AREAS IS POSSIBLE.

SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCE WIND IN EXCESS OF 58 MILES AN HOUR AND HAIL
GREATER THAN DIME SIZE. IF THREATENING WEATHER APPROACHES SEEK SHELTER
IMMEDIATELY IN A REINFORCED BUILDING.

FENNER
Special weather statement, Jun 20, 6:20 PM EDT, 21 minutes before
PAZ006-013-009-008-202300-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HARRISBURG PA
620 PM EDT SUN JUN 20 1993

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH FOR THE SUSQUEHANNA REGION AND CENTRAL
MOUNTAINS TILL 9PM...

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR CUMBERLAND AND DAUPHIN COUNTY UNTIL
715PM...

SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNINGS FOR PERRY AND FRANKLIN COUNTY HAVE EXPIRED.

AMATEUR RADIO OPERATORS IN FRANKLIN COUNTY REPORTED HALF INCH HAIL IN
CHAMBERSBURG. SMALL TREE LIMBS WERE ALSO BROUGHT DOWN IN THE STORM.
SPOTTERS IN CENTRAL PERRY COUNTY REPORTED PEA SIZE HAIL WITH THE PASSAGE OF
A STRONG THUNDERSTORM. TREES WERE BROUGHT DOWN ON WIRES IN PERRY COUNTY AS
THE STORM BECAME SEVERE.

WINDS GUSTED TO 43 KNOTS OR 49 MILES AN HOUR AT THE NATIONAL WEATHER
SERVICE IN HARRISBURG AS THE PERRY COUNTY STORM PASSED THROUGH THE DOWNTOWN
HARRISBURG AREA.

AT 620 PM NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR IN HARRISBURG SHOWED STRONG
THUNDERSTORMS IN ADAMS AND CUMBERLAND COUNTY. ANOTHER STORM WAS IN SOUTHERN
AND CENTRAL DAUPHIN COUNTY.

STORMS THIS EVENING WILL LIKELY PRODUCE SMALL HAIL AND WINDS TO 50 MILES AN
HOUR. GIVEN THE SLOW NATURE OF THESE STORMS... FLOODING OF POOR DRAINAGE
AREAS IS POSSIBLE.

SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCE WIND IN EXCESS OF 58 MILES AN HOUR AND HAIL
GREATER THAN DIME SIZE. IF THREATENING WEATHER APPROACHES SEEK SHELTER
IMMEDIATELY IN A REINFORCED BUILDING.

FENNER
Special weather statement, Jun 20, 6:24 PM EDT, 17 minutes before
PAZ007-008-014-202300-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT...CORRECTION TO TRANSMITION TIME
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILLIAMSPORT PA
600 PM EDT SUN JUN 20 1993

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH UNTIL 900 PM EDT FOR ALL OF NORTHCENTRAL
PENNSYLVANIA...
...THUNDERSTORMS MOVING OUT OF NORTHCENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA...

...WATCH INFORMATION...
A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 900 PM EDT FOR ALL OF
NORTHCENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA.  THE WATCH INCLUDES...BRADFORD...CLINTON
...LYCOMING AND SULLIVAN COUNTIES.  THE WATCH ALSO INCLUDES ALL
COUNTIES IN THE MIDDLE SUSQUEHANNA VALLEY.

...RADAR INFORMATION...
AT 600 PM EDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR INDICATED AN AREA OF
SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS MOVING INTO EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA. THE
TRAILING EDGE OF THIS AREA OF PRECIPITATION EXTENDED FROM WYLUSING IN
BRADFORD COUNTY TO FRACKVILLE IN SCHUYLKILL COUNTY. OTHER NEW
DEVELOPED THUNDERSTORMS NORTHWEST OF COUDERSPORT AND JUST NORTH OF
EMPORIUM IN POTTER COUNTY. THE THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING EAST
NORTHEAST AT 25 MPH.

THE THUNDERSTORMS TO OUR EAST WILL BE MOVING OUT OF NORTHCENTRAL
PENNSYLVANIA BY 630 PM EDT. THE THUNDERSTORMS OVER POTTER COUNTY WILL
BE MOVING INTO TIOGA COUNTY BY 7 PM EDT.

...SAFETY TIPS...
A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH MEANS SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE.
SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CAN DEVELOP SUDDENLY AND SOMETIMES NO ADVANCE
WARNING IS POSSIBLE.  IF THUNDERSTORMS APPROACH...SEEK SHELTER INSIDE
A STRONG BUILDING.  STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS.  LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER
RADIO FOR LATER STATEMENTS OR WARNINGS FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER
SERVICE.

JSN/FJG

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jun 19, 9:31 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPSullivan29 min
Jun 20, 1:56 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPCentre64 min
Jun 20, 2:36 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPLycoming54 min
Jun 20, 4:45 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPFranklin60 min
Jun 20, 5:15 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPPerry60 min
Jun 20, 6:10 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPCumberland, Dauphin65 min
Jun 20, 6:36 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPYork69 min
Jun 20, 7:05 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPLancaster55 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.