Alert archive / Pennsylvania / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1993

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 49, NWS State College, PA

July 29, 1993Lancaster County, York County, Pennsylvania

NWS State College, PA issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Jul 29, 1993, 1:55 AM EDT for Lancaster County, York County, Pennsylvania. It was in force for 65 min.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Jul 29, 1993, 1:55 AM EDT (05:55 UTC)
Expired
Jul 29, 1993, 3:00 AM EDT
In force
65 min
Issued by
NWS State College, PA
Area
Whole counties

Counties Lancaster County, PA, York County, PA

The nearest sounding before it

Washington/Dulle, VA (KIAD), launched 00:00Z, 5.9 hours before the alert went out and 139 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 1993-07-29Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 1626 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 1993-07-29The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 67 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
1626 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-41 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1808 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
37 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
67 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
124 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.1
Supercell composite
3.5

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
WUUS1 KHAR 290559 RRA
SVRHAR
PAC071-133-290700-
 
BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HARRISBURG PA
155 AM EDT THU JUL 29 1993
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN HARRISBURG HAS ISSUED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL  300 AM EDT
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATION...S...
 
IN SOUTH CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA
 
   ...LANCASTER COUNTY...EASTERN YORK COUNTY
 
AT 145 AM THE HARRISBURG WETHER RARAR SHOWS THUNDERSTORMS IN YORK AND
THE WESTERN PORTIONS OF LANCASTER COUNTIES. YORK DIPATCHERS REPORTS MANY
TREES AND WIRE DOWN ACORSS MOST OF THE COUNTY. WINDS IN EXCESS OF 50 MPH
ARE POSSIBLE IN THSESE THUNDERSTORMS.
 
 
THIS IS A DANGEROUS STORM.  IF YOU ARE IN ITS PATH YOU SHOULD
PREPARE FOR DAMAGING WIND IN EXCESS OF 55 MPH...LARGE HAIL...AND
DEADLY LIGHTNING.  PEOPLE OUTSIDE SHOULD MOVE TO A SHELTER...
PREFERABLY INSIDE A STRONG BUILDING BUT STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS.
 
 
 
&

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this severe thunderstorm 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 28, 10:55 PM EDT, 3 hours before
PAZ006-013-014-290500-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HARRISBURG PA
1055 PM EDT WED JUL 28 1993

...A FLASH FLOOD WARNING CONTINUES UNTIL 2 AM FOR CLEARFIELD COUNTY...
...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL
   PENNSYLVANIA UNTIL 2 AM...
...A FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 2 AM FOR ALL OF CENTRAL
   PENNSYLVANIA...

...WATCH INFORMATION...
A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 2 AM FOR THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES
ACROSS CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA: BLAIR...CENTRE...MIFFLIN...FULTON...HUNTINGDON...
AND CLEARFIELD.  A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH MEANS THAT CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLEFOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORM DEVELOPMENT IN AND CLOSE TO THE WATCH AREA.  A FLASH
FLOOD WATCH MEANS THAT FLASH FLOODING OF WASHES...SMALL STREAMS...RIVERS AND
OTHER DRAINAGES IS POSSIBLE IN THE WATCH AREA.

...RADAR INFORMATION...
THUNDERSTORMS WITH VERY HEAVY RAIN WERE OVER CENTRE...CLEARFIELD...INDIANA...
AND WESTMORELAND COUNTIES.  A BAND OF THUNDERSTORMS WITH HEAVY RAIN
EXTENDED FROM CENTRE COUNTY SOUTHWESTWARD INTO WESTMORELAND COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST
PENNSYLVANIA.  OTHER LESS INTENSE RAIN SHOWERS WERE OVER PORTIONS OF WESTERN
PENNSYLVANIA...NORTH CENTRAL MOUNTAINS...MIDDLE AND UPPER SUSQUEHANNA VALLEYS
AND NORTHEAST PENNSYLVANIA.  MOVEMENT WAS TO THE EAST AT 30 MILES AN HOUR.

...SAFETY INFORMATION...
A FLASH FLOOD WARNING MEANS FLOODING IS LIKELY OR HAS BEEN REPORTED.  STAY
ALERT AND WATCH FOR RAPIDLY RISING WATER.  BE ESPECIALLY CAUTIOUS AT NIGHT...
WHEN IT IS HARDER TO RECOGNIZE THE DANGERS OF FLOOD WATERS.

SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCE WINDS IN EXCESS OF 58 MILES AN HOUR...HAIL AT LEASTTHREE QUARTERS OF AN INCH IN DIAMETER...VERY HEAVY RAIN...AND DANGEROUS
LIGHTNING.

MATUSIEWICZ
Special weather statement, Jul 28, 11:00 PM EDT, 2 hours 55 minutes before
PAZ006-013-014-290500-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HARRISBURG PA
1055 PM EDT WED JUL 28 1993

...A FLASH FLOOD WARNING CONTINUES UNTIL 2 AM FOR CLEARFIELD COUNTY...
...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL
   PENNSYLVANIA UNTIL 2 AM...
...A FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 2 AM FOR ALL OF CENTRAL
   PENNSYLVANIA...

...WATCH INFORMATION...
A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 2 AM FOR THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES
ACROSS CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA: BLAIR...CENTRE...MIFFLIN...FULTON...HUNTINGDON...
AND CLEARFIELD.  A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH MEANS THAT CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLEFOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORM DEVELOPMENT IN AND CLOSE TO THE WATCH AREA.  A FLASH
FLOOD WATCH MEANS THAT FLASH FLOODING OF WASHES...SMALL STREAMS...RIVERS AND
OTHER DRAINAGES IS POSSIBLE IN THE WATCH AREA.

...RADAR INFORMATION...
THUNDERSTORMS WITH VERY HEAVY RAIN WERE OVER CENTRE...CLEARFIELD...INDIANA...
AND WESTMORELAND COUNTIES.  A BAND OF THUNDERSTORMS WITH HEAVY RAIN
EXTENDED FROM CENTRE COUNTY SOUTHWESTWARD INTO WESTMORELAND COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST
PENNSYLVANIA.  OTHER LESS INTENSE RAIN SHOWERS WERE OVER PORTIONS OF WESTERN
PENNSYLVANIA...NORTH CENTRAL MOUNTAINS...MIDDLE AND UPPER SUSQUEHANNA VALLEYS
AND NORTHEAST PENNSYLVANIA.  MOVEMENT WAS TO THE EAST AT 30 MILES AN HOUR.

...SAFETY INFORMATION...
A FLASH FLOOD WARNING MEANS FLOODING IS LIKELY OR HAS BEEN REPORTED.  STAY
ALERT AND WATCH FOR RAPIDLY RISING WATER.  BE ESPECIALLY CAUTIOUS AT NIGHT...
WHEN IT IS HARDER TO RECOGNIZE THE DANGERS OF FLOOD WATERS.

SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCE WINDS IN EXCESS OF 58 MILES AN HOUR...HAIL AT LEASTTHREE QUARTERS OF AN INCH IN DIAMETE~R...VERY HEAVY RAIN...AND DANGEROUS
LIGHTNING.

MATUSIEWICZ
Special weather statement, Jul 29, 12:39 AM EDT, 1 hour 16 minutes before
PAZ006-008-009-013-014-290600-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HARRISBURG PA
1240 AM EDT THU JUL 29 1993

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL
   PENNSYLVANIA UNTIL 2 AM...
...A FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 2 AM FOR ALL OF CENTRAL
   PENNSYLVANIA...

...WATCH INFORMATION...

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 2 AM FOR THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES
ACROSS CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA: BLAIR...CENTRE...MIFFLIN...FULTON...HUNTINGDON...
AND CLEARFIELD.  A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH MEANS THAT CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLEFOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORM DEVELOPMENT IN AND CLOSE TO THE WATCH AREA.  A FLASH
FLOOD WATCH MEANS THAT FLASH FLOODING OF WASHES...SMALL STREAMS...RIVERS AND
OTHER DRAINAGES IS POSSIBLE IN THE WATCH AREA.

...RADAR INFORMATION...

AT 1230 AM EDT THE HARRISBURG RADAR WAS SHOWING AN AREA OF RAIN AND
THUNDERSTORMS OVER THE CENTRAL AND SOUTHCENTRAL MOUNTIANS OF PA EAST
ACROSS THE MIDDLE AND UPPER SUSQUEHANNA VALLEY. THIS AREA EXTENDED SOUTH
ACROSS THE PANHANDLE OF WESTERN MARYLAND. HEAVIEST ACTIVITY WAS IN NORTH-
THUNDBERLAND COUNTY, ALSO IN JUNIATA, NORTHERN FRANKLIN AND FULTON COUNTIES.
THE ACTIVITY WILL MOVE INTO THE WESTERN AND NORTHERN AREAS OF THE LOWER
SUSQUEHANNA VALLEY BY 1 AM.

...SAFETY INFORMATION...

A FLASH FLOOD WARNING MEANS FLOODING IS LIKELY OR HAS BEEN REPORTED.  ST
                                                                        AY
ALERT AND WATCH FOR RAPIDLY RISING WATER.  BE ESPECIALLY CAUTIOUS AT NIGHT...
WHEN IT IS HARDER TO RECOGNIZE THE DANGERS OF FLOOD WATERS.

SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCE WINDS IN EXCESS OF 58 MILES AN HOUR...HAIL AT LEASTTHREE QUARTERS. OF AN INCH IN DIAMETER...VERY HEAVY RAIN...AND DANGEROUS
LIGHTNING.

HURLEY
Special weather statement, Jul 29, 12:40 AM EDT, 1 hour 15 minutes before
PAZ006-008-009-013-014-290600-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HARRISBURG PA
1240 AM EDT THU JUL 29 1993

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL
   PENNSYLVANIA UNTIL 2 AM...
...A FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 2 AM FOR ALL OF CENTRAL
   PENNSYLVANIA...

...WATCH INFORMATION...

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 2 AM FOR THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES
ACROSS CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA: BLAIR...CENTRE...MIFFLIN...FULTON...HUNTINGDON...
AND CLEARFIELD.  A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH MEANS THAT CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLEFOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORM DEVELOPMENT IN AND CLOSE TO THE WATCH AREA.  A FLASH
FLOOD WATCH MEANS THAT FLASH FLOODING OF WASHES...SMALL STREAMS...RIVERS AND
OTHER DRAINAGES IS POSSIBLE IN THE WATCH AREA.

...RADAR INFORMATION...

AT 1230 AM EDT THE HARRISBURG RADAR WAS SHOWING AN AREA OF RAIN AND
THUNDERSTORMS OVER THE CENTRAL AND SOUTHCENTRAL MOUNTIANS OF PA EAST
ACROSS THE MIDDLE AND UPPER SUSQUEHANNA VALLEY. THIS AREA EXTENDED SOUTH
ACROSS THE PANHANDLE OF WESTERN MARYLAND. HEAVIEST ACTIVITY WAS IN NORTH-
THUNDBERLAND COUNTY, ALSO IN JUNIATA, NORTHERN FRANKLIN AND FULTON COUNTIES.
THE ACTIVITY WILL MOVE INTO THE WESTERN AND NORTHERN AREAS OF THE LOWER
SUSQUEHANNA VALLEY BY 1 AM.

...SAFETY INFORMATION...

A FLASH FLOOD WARNING MEANS FLOODING IS LIKELY OR HAS BEEN REPORTED.  ST
                                                                        AY
ALERT AND WATCH FOR RAPIDLY RISING WATER.  BE ESPECIALLY CAUTIOUS AT NIGHT...
WHEN IT IS HARDER TO RECOGNIZE THE DANGERS OF FLOOD WATERS.

SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCE WINDS IN EXCESS OF 58 MILES AN HOUR...HAIL AT LEASTTHREE QUARTERS OF AN INCH IN DIAMETER...VERY HEAVY RAIN...AND DANGEROUS
LIGHTNING.

HURLEY
Special weather statement, Jul 29, 1:40 AM EDT, 15 minutes before
PAZ006-008-009-013-014-290600-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HARRISBURG PA
140 AM EDT THU JUL 29 1993

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL
   PENNSYLVANIA UNTIL 2 AM...
...A FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 2 AM FOR ALL OF CENTRAL
   PENNSYLVANIA...

...WATCH INFORMATION...

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 2 AM FOR THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES
ACROSS CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA: BLAIR...CENTRE...MIFFLIN...FULTON...HUNTINGDON...
AND CLEARFIELD.  A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH MEANS THAT CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLEFOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORM DEVELOPMENT IN AND CLOSE TO THE WATCH AREA.  A FLASH
FLOOD WATCH MEANS THAT FLASH FLOODING OF WASHES...SMALL STREAMS...RIVERS AND
OTHER DRAINAGES IS POSSIBLE IN THE WATCH AREA.

...RADAR INFORMATION...

AT 130 AM EDT THE HARRISBURG RADAR WAS SHOWING AN AREA OF RAIN AND
THUNDERSTORMS OVER THE CENTRAL AND SOUTHCENTRAL MOUNTIANS OF PA EAST
ACROSS THE MOST OF THE SUSQUEHANNA VALLEY. THIS AREA EXTENDED SOUTH
ACROSS THE PANHANDLE OF WESTERN MARYLAND AND WEST VIRGINIA. HEAVIEST
ACTIVITY WAS IN YORK AND ADAMS COUNTY. FRANKLIN COUNTY REPORTED STRONG
WINDS OF AROUND 50 MPH POSSILBE HIGHER. A BARN WAS BLOWN DOWN IN PETERS
TOWNSHIP IN THE MERCERSBURG AREA IN SOUTHERN FRANKLIN COUNTY. 100 HEAD
OF CATTLE WERE IN THE BARN.  PERSON THROUGH OUT THE AREA CAN EXPECT TO
SEE STRONG GUSTY WINDS AHEAD OF THE THUNDERSTORMS AND VIVID LIGHTING
AND HEAVY RAIN AS THEY PASS.

HURLEY
Special weather statement, Jul 29, 1:43 AM EDT, 12 minutes before
PAZ006-008-009-013-014-290600-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HARRISBURG PA
140 AM EDT THU JUL 29 1993

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL
   PENNSYLVANIA UNTIL 2 AM...
...A FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 2 AM FOR ALL OF CENTRAL
   PENNSYLVANIA...

...WATCH INFORMATION...

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 2 AM FOR THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES
ACROSS CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA: BLAIR...CENTRE...MIFFLIN...FULTON...HUNTINGDON...
AND CLEARFIELD.  A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH MEANS THAT CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLEFOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORM DEVELOPMENT IN AND CLOSE TO THE WATCH AREA.  A FLASH
FLOOD WATCH MEANS THAT FLASH FLOODING OF WASHES...SMALL STREAMS...RIVERS AND
OTHER DRAINAGES IS POSSIBLE IN THE WATCH AREA.

...RADAR INFORMATION...

AT 130 AM EDT THE HARRISBURG RADAR WAS SHOWING AN AREA OF RAIN AND
THUNDERSTORMS OVER THE CENTRAL AND SOUTHCENTRAL MOUNTIANS OF PA EAST
ACROSS THE MOST OF THE SUSQUEHANNA VALLEY. THIS AREA EXTENDED SOUTH
ACROSS THE PANHANDLE OF WESTERN MARYLAND AND WEST VIRGINIA. HEAVIEST
ACTIVITY WAS IN YORK AND ADAMS COUNTY. FRANKLIN COUNTY REPORTED STRONG
WINDS OF AROUND 50 MPH POSSILBE HIGHER. A BARN WAS BLOWN DOWN IN PETERS
TOWNSHIP IN THE MERCERSBURG AREA IN SOUTHERN FRANKLIN COUNTY. 100 HEAD
OF CATTLE WERE IN THE BARN.  PERSON THROUGH OUT THE AREA CAN EXPECT TO
SEE STRONG GUSTY WINDS AHEAD OF THE THUNDERSTORMS AND VIVID LIGHTING
AND HEAVY RAIN AS THEY PASS.

HURLEY

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Pennsylvania, 1993Every severe thunderstorm 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.