Alert archive / Pennsylvania / Tornado Warnings in 1993

Tornado Warning 2, NWS State College, PA

June 15, 1993Bradford County, Pennsylvania

NWS State College, PA issued this tornado warning at Jun 15, 1993, 5:11 PM EDT for Bradford County, Pennsylvania. It was in force for 49 min.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Jun 15, 1993, 5:11 PM EDT (21:11 UTC)
Expired
Jun 15, 1993, 6:00 PM EDT
In force
49 min
Issued by
NWS State College, PA
Area
Whole counties

County Bradford County, PA

The nearest sounding before it

Buffalo Intl Airport, NY (KBUF), launched 12:00Z, 9.2 hours before the alert went out and 220 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, Buffalo Intl Airport, NY at 12:00Z on 1993-06-15Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 98 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Buffalo Intl Airport, NY at 12:00Z on 1993-06-15The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity -54 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
98 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-69 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
815 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
30 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
-54 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
90 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 KIPT 152111
TORIPT
PAC015-152200-
 
BULLETIN - EBS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILLIAMSPORT PA
511 PM EDT TUE JUN 15 1993
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN WILLIAMSPORT HAS EXTENDED THE
TORNADO WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL  600 PM EDT
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATION...
 
IN NORTH CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA
 
   ...NORTHERN BRADFORD COUNTY
 
AT 510 PM EDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR CONTINUED TO INDICATE A
POSSIBLE TORNADO APPROACHING SAYRE AND ATHENS. ALSO A SEVERE WEATHER
SPOTTER REPORTED GOLFBALL SIZE HAIL NEAR EAST SMITHFIELD.
 
TOWNS IN THE PATH OF THE STORM INCLUDE SAYRE...ATHENS...WINDHAM CENTER
...ROME...AND WARREN CENTER.
 
DO NOT USE YOUR CAR TO TRY TO OUTRUN A TORNADO.  CARS ARE EASILY
TOSSED AROUND BY TORNADO WINDS.  IF YOU ARE CAUGHT IN THE PATH OF
A TORNADO...LEAVE THE CAR AND GO TO A STRONG BUILDING.  IF NO
STRUCTURE IS NEARBY...SEEK SHELTER IN A DITCH OR LOW SPOT.
 
THIS IS A DANGEROUS STORM SITUATION.  ACT QUICKLY.  IF YOU ARE
IN THE PATH OF THIS TORNADO MOVE TO A SHELTER BELOW GROUND IF
AVAILABLE.  OTHERWISE...GO TO A SMALL INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST
FLOOR POSSIBLE.  AVOID WINDOWS.  ABANDON CARS AND MOBILE HOMES
FOR A REINFORCED BUILDING ORh GET INTO A DITCH OR CULVERT.
 
 
 
&
NNNN

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this tornado 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 15, 3:14 PM EDT, 1 hour 57 minutes before
PAC008-009-152200-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT...THUNDERSTORMS
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HARRISBURG PA
315 PM  EDT TUE JUN 15 1993

...A FEW THUNDERSTORMS HAVE FORMED SOUTH OF THE MASON AND DIXON LINE...

AT 300 PM HARRISBURG RADAR SHOWED A LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS FROM JUST SOUTH
OF HAGERSTOWN MARYLAND SOUTHWESTWARD ALONG THE MOUNTAIN RIDGE.

THE THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING EAST NORTHEAST AROUND 20 MPH AND INTENSIFYING.
BY AROUND 4PM THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE IN THE SOUTHERN LOWER SUSQUEHANNA VALLEY
SOUTHWEST OF GETTYSBURG.

THESE THUNDERSTORMS MAY CONTAIN GUSTY WIND...HAIL AND BRIEF HEAVY RAINS AS WELL
AS DEADLY LIGHTNING.  LIGHTNING CAN AND SOMETIMES DOES KILL.  A CAR PROVIDES
GOOD PROTECTION FROM LIGHTNING...TREES DO NOT.

KOWALZYK
Special weather statement, Jun 15, 3:14 PM EDT, 1 hour 57 minutes before
PAC008-009-152200-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT...THUNDERSTORMS
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HARRISBURG PA
315 PM  EDT TUE JUN 15 1993

...A FEW THUNDERSTORMS HAVE FORMED SOUTH OF THE MASON AND DIXON LINE...

AT 300 PM HARRISBURG RADAR SHOWED A LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS FROM JUST SOUTH
OF HAGERSTOWN MARYLAND SOUTHWESTWARD ALONG THE MOUNTAIN RIDGE.

THE THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING EAST NORTHEAST AROUND 20 MPH AND INTENSIFYING.
BY AROUND 4PM THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE IN THE SOUTHERN LOWER SUSQUEHANNA VALLEY
SOUTHWEST OF GETTYSBURG.

THESE THUNDERSTORMS MAY CONTAIN GUSTY WIND...HAIL AND BRIEF HEAVY RAINS AS WELL
AS DEADLY LIGHTNING.  LIGHTNING CAN AND SOMETIMES DOES KILL.  A CAR PROVIDES
GOOD PROTECTION FROM LIGHTNING...TREES DO NOT.

KOWALZYK
Special weather statement, Jun 15, 3:15 PM EDT, 1 hour 56 minutes before
PAZ007-008-014-152000-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILLIAMSPORT PA
315 PM EDT TUE JUN 15 1993

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS MOVING ACROSS NORTHERN TIOGA COUNTY...

AT 315 PM EDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR SHOWED A LINE OF SHOWERS
AND STRONG THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDING FROM NEAR ITHACA NEW YORK INTO
NORTHWEST TIOGA COUNTY AROUND KNOXVILLE AND WESTFIELD.   THE SHOWERS
AND THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING EAST AT 35 MILES AN HOUR.

THE THUNDERSTORMS WILL MOVE ACROSS NORTHERN TIOGA COUNTY AND SHOULD
STAY NORTH OF WELLSBORO.  THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT ELKLAND...
FARMINGTON AND TROWBRIDGE.  THE THUNDERSTORMS SHOULD REACH MOSHERVILLE
AND GILLET IN NORTHWEST BRADFORD COUNTY BY 345 OR 400 PM.

THE THUNDERSTORMS WILL PRODUCE GUSTY WINDS AND BRIEFLY HEAVY RAIN.
LIGHTING IS ONE OF THE GREATEST POTENTIAL KILLERS IN ANY THUNDERSTORM.
IF THUNDERSTORMS APPROACH YOUR LOCATION...SEEK SHELTER INSIDE A STRONG
BUILDING AND STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS.  A CAR CAN ALSO PROVIDE EXCELLENT
PROTECTION FROM LIGHTNING.

DO NOT USE ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES OR THE TELEPHONE UNTIL THE
THUNDERSTORM HAS PASSED.  STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO FOR LATER
STATEMENTS FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.

JSN
Special weather statement, Jun 15, 3:18 PM EDT, 1 hour 53 minutes before
PAZ007-008-014-152000-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILLIAMSPORT PA
315 PM EDT TUE JUN 15 1993

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS MOVING ACROSS NORTHERN TIOGA COUNTY...

AT 315 PM EDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR SHOWED A LINE OF SHOWERS
AND STRONG THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDING FROM NEAR ITHACA NEW YORK INTO
NORTHWEST TIOGA COUNTY AROUND KNOXVILLE AND WESTFIELD.   THE SHOWERS
AND THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING EAST AT 35 MILES AN HOUR.

THE THUNDERSTORMS WILL MOVE ACROSS NORTHERN TIOGA COUNTY AND SHOULD
STAY NORTH OF WELLSBORO.  THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT ELKLAND...
FARMINGTON AND TROWBRIDGE.  THE THUNDERSTORMS SHOULD REACH MOSHERVILLE
AND GILLET IN NORTHWEST BRADFORD COUNTY BY 345 OR 400 PM.

THE THUNDERSTORMS WILL PRODUCE GUSTY WINDS AND BRIEFLY HEAVY RAIN.
LIGHTING IS ONE OF THE GREATEST POTENTIAL KILLERS IN ANY THUNDERSTORM.
IF THUNDERSTORMS APPROACH YOUR LOCATION...SEEK SHELTER INSIDE A STRONG
BUILDING AND STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS.  A CAR CAN ALSO PROVIDE EXCELLENT
PROTECTION FROM LIGHTNING.

DO NOT USE ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES OR THE TELEPHONE UNTIL THE
THUNDERSTORM HAS PASSED.  STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO FOR LATER
STATEMENTS FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.

JSN
Special weather statement, Jun 15, 3:58 PM EDT, 1 hour 13 minutes before
PAZ007-008-014-152100-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILLIAMSPORT PA
400 PM EDT TUE JUN 15 1993

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS MOVING FROM NORTHERN TIOGA INTO NORTHERN
BRADFORD COUNTY...

AT 400 PM EDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR SHOWED A LINE OF
THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDING FROM NEAR SYRACUSE AND ITHACA NEW YORK INTO
NORTHEAST TIOGA COUNTY AROUND LAWRENCEVILLE AND THE HAMMOND RESERVOIR.
THE SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING EAST AT 35 MILES AN HOUR.

THE THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT MILLERTON...JACKSON SUMMIT AND DAGGET BY
415 PM AND THEN MOVE INTO NORTHWEST BRADFORD COUNTY NEAR MOSHERVILLE
AND GILLET.

THUNDERSTORMS WILL MOVE ACROSS NORTHERN BRADFORD COUNTY THROUGH 500 PM
AFFECTING SAYRE...ATHENS AND WARREN CENTER...BUT PASSING NORTH OF
TOWANDA.

THE THUNDERSTORMS WILL PRODUCE GUSTY WINDS AND BRIEFLY HEAVY RAIN.
LIGHTING IS ONE OF THE GREATEST POTENTIAL KILLERS IN ANY THUNDERSTORM.
IF THUNDERSTORMS APPROACH YOUR LOCATION...SEEK SHELTER INSIDE A STRONG
BUILDING AND STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS.  A CAR CAN ALSO PROVIDE EXCELLENT
PROTECTION FROM LIGHTNING.

DO NOT USE ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES OR THE TELEPHONE UNTIL THE
THUNDERSTORM HAS PASSED.  STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO FOR LATER
STATEMENTS FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.

JSN/TG/KF
Special weather statement, Jun 15, 4:00 PM EDT, 1 hour 11 minutes before
PAZ007-008-014-152100-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILLIAMSPORT PA
400 PM EDT TUE JUN 15 1993

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS MOVING FROM NORTHERN TIOGA INTO NORTHERN
BRADFORD COUNTY...

AT 400 PM EDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR SHOWED A LINE OF
THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDING FROM NEAR SYRACUSE AND ITHACA NEW YORK INTO
NORTHEAST TIOGA COUNTY AROUND LAWRENCEVILLE AND THE HAMMOND RESERVOIR.
THE SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING EAST AT 35 MILES AN HOUR.

THE THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT MILLERTON...JACKSON SUMMIT AND DAGGET BY
415 PM AND THEN MOVE INTO NORTHWEST BRADFORD COUNTY NEAR MOSHERVILLE
AND GILLET.

THUNDERSTORMS WILL MOVE ACROSS NORTHERN BRADFORD COUNTY THROUGH 500 PM
AFFECTING SAYRE...ATHENS AND WARREN CENTER...BUT PASSING NORTH OF
TOWANDA.

THE THUNDERSTORMS WILL PRODUCE GUSTY WINDS AND BRIEFLY HEAVY RAIN.
LIGHTING IS ONE OF THE GREATEST POTENTIAL KILLERS IN ANY THUNDERSTORM.
IF THUNDERSTORMS APPROACH YOUR LOCATION...SEEK SHELTER INSIDE A STRONG
BUILDING AND STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS.  A CAR CAN ALSO PROVIDE EXCELLENT
PROTECTION FROM LIGHTNING.

DO NOT USE ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES OR THE TELEPHONE UNTIL THE
THUNDERSTORM HAS PASSED.  STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO FOR LATER
STATEMENTS FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.

JSN/TG/KF

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jun 15, 4:14 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPBradford61 min
Jun 15, 4:28 PM EDTTornado WarningCTPBradford62 min
Jun 15, 5:55 PM EDTTornado WarningCTPBradford35 min
Jun 15, 6:24 PM EDTTornado WarningCTPBradford36 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Pennsylvania, 1993Every tornado warning in 1993Tornadoes 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.