Alert archive / Pennsylvania / Flash Flood Warnings in 1994

Flash Flood Warning 19, NWS State College, PA

August 18, 1994Centre County, Pennsylvania

NWS State College, PA issued this flash flood warning at Aug 18, 1994, 3:52 AM EDT for Centre County, Pennsylvania. It was in force for 4 hr.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Aug 18, 1994, 3:52 AM EDT (07:52 UTC)
Expired
Aug 18, 1994, 8:00 AM EDT
In force
4 hr
Issued by
NWS State College, PA
Area
Whole counties

County Centre County, PA

The nearest sounding before it

Pittsburgh, PA (KPIT), launched 00:00Z, 7.9 hours before the alert went out and 200 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, Pittsburgh, PA at 00:00Z on 1994-08-18Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 1 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, Pittsburgh, PA at 00:00Z on 1994-08-18The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 9 square meters per square second.19395878Sfc1 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
1 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-5 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
577 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
35 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
9 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
34 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 KCTP 180753
FFWCTP
PAC027-181200-
 
BULLETIN - EBS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA
352 AM EDT THU AUG 18 1994
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN STATE COLLEGE HAS ISSUED A
FLOOD WARNING FOR SMALL STREAMS AND POOR DRAINAGE AREAS UNTIL
800 AM EDT...
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS......
 
IN  PENNSYLVANIA
 
   ...CENTRE COUNTY
 
AT 355 AM STATE COLLEGE RADAR INDICATED A BAND OF HEAVY SHOWERS MOVING
NORTHWARD ACROSS WESTERN CENTRE COUNTY. CENTRE COUNTY HAS ALREADY HAD
BETWEEN 2-4 INCHES OF RAIN AND ANY ADDITIONAL RAIN WILL CAUSE SMALL
STREAMS TO OVERFLOW THEIR BANKS.
 
MOST DEATHS IN FLASH FLOODING OCCUR IN AUTOMOBILES.  DO NOT
ATTEMPT TO CROSS BRIDGES...DI&PS...OR LOW SPOTS IF WATER COVERS
THE ROADWAY.  NEVER TRY TO CROSS A FLOWING STREAM...EVEN A
SMALL ONE...ON FOOT.
 
WINTHER

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, Aug 18, 12:16 AM EDT, 3 hours 36 minutes before
PAZ004>006-010>012-017>019-024>028-033>037-041-042-045-046-049>053-
056>059-063>066-180620-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND SHORT TERM FORECAST
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA
1218 AM EDT THU AUG 18 1994

...A SMALL STREAM AND URBAN FLOOD WATCH CONTINUES IN EFFECT
OVERNIGHT FOR PORTIONS OF THE MIDDLE SUSQUEHANNA VALLEY ...

A SMALL STREAM AND URBAN FLOOD WATCH CONTINUES IN EFFECT OVERNIGHT FOR
THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES...
LYCOMING... UNION... SNYDER... SULLIVAN... SOUTHERN
CLINTON... MONTOUR... NORTHUMBERLAND... COLUMBIA AND SCHUYLKILL.

AT 1205 AM EDT... DOPPLER RADAR SHOWED A LARGE AREA OF LIGHT TO
MODERATE RAIN ACROSS NORTHERN PENNSYLVANIA AND THE MIDDLE SUSQUEHANNA
VALLEY. THE AREA OF RAIN WAS MAINLY NORTH OF INTERSTATE 80... EXCEPT IN
THE SUSQUEHANNA VALLEY WHERE RAIN EXTENDED FROM WILLIAMSPORT AND BERWICK
TO JUST NORTH OF THE GREATER HARRISBURG AREA. SOUTH OF I-80
ACROSS THE CENTRAL AND SOUTH CENTRAL MOUNTAIN AREAS...RADAR SHOWED ONLY
PATCHY AREAS OF LIGHT RAIN.

THE LARGE AREA OF RAIN IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE MOVING SLOWLY NORTHEAST
LATE THIS EVENING WITH SIGNIFICANT RAINFALL CONTINUING MAINLY NORTH OF
I-80 AND ACROSS THE MIDDLE SUSQUEHANNA VALLEY THROUGH 2 AM. AS A
RESULT... A SMALL STREAM AND URBAN FLOOD WATCH CONTINUES OVERNIGHT FOR
MUCH OF THE MIDDLE SUSQUEHANNA VALLEY.

BE ESPECIALLY CAUTIOUS AT NIGHT WHEN IT IS HARDER TO RECOGNIZE THE
DANGERS OF FLOODING. WATER ON ROADWAYS MAY BE HARD TO SEE.

NICOSIA
Special weather statement, Aug 18, 12:18 AM EDT, 3 hours 34 minutes before
PAZ004>006-010>012-017>019-024>028-033>037-041-042-045-046-049>053-
056>059-063>066-180620-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND SHORT TERM FORECAST
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA
1218 AM EDT THU AUG 18 1994

...A SMALL STREAM AND URBAN FLOOD WATCH CONTINUES IN EFFECT
OVERNIGHT FOR PORTIONS OF THE MIDDLE SUSQUEHANNA VALLEY ...

A SMALL STREAM AND URBAN FLOOD WATCH CONTINUES IN EFFECT OVERNIGHT FOR
THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES...
LYCOMING... UNION... SNYDER... SULLIVAN... SOUTHERN
CLINTON... MONTOUR... NORTHUMBERLAND... COLUMBIA AND SCHUYLKILL.

AT 1205 AM EDT... DOPPLER RADAR SHOWED A LARGE AREA OF LIGHT TO
MODERATE RAIN ACROSS NORTHERN PENNSYLVANIA AND THE MIDDLE SUSQUEHANNA
VALLEY. THE AREA OF RAIN WAS MAINLY NORTH OF INTERSTATE 80... EXCEPT IN
THE SUSQUEHANNA VALLEY WHERE RAIN EXTENDED FROM WILLIAMSPORT AND BERWICK
TO JUST NORTH OF THE GREATER HARRISBURG AREA. SOUTH OF I-80
ACROSS THE CENTRAL AND SOUTH CENTRAL MOUNTAIN AREAS...RADAR SHOWED ONLY
PATCHY AREAS OF LIGHT RAIN.

THE LARGE AREA OF RAIN IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE MOVING SLOWLY NORTHEAST
LATE THIS EVENING WITH SIGNIFICANT RAINFALL CONTINUING MAINLY NORTH OF
I-80 AND ACROSS THE MIDDLE SUSQUEHANNA VALLEY THROUGH 2 AM. AS A
RESULT... A SMALL STREAM AND URBAN FLOOD WATCH CONTINUES OVERNIGHT FOR
MUCH OF THE MIDDLE SUSQUEHANNA VALLEY.

BE ESPECIALLY CAUTIOUS AT NIGHT WHEN IT IS HARDER TO RECOGNIZE THE
DANGERS OF FLOODING. WATER ON ROADWAYS MAY BE HARD TO SEE.

NICOSIA
Special weather statement, Aug 18, 12:50 AM EDT, 3 hours 2 minutes before
PAZ012-037-038-041-042-045-046-049>052-181750-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILLIAMSPORT PA
1250 AM EDT THU AUG 18 1994

RADIO STATION WX-55 WILLIAMSPORT PENNSYLVANIA IS BACK ON THE AIR.

FJG
Special weather statement, Aug 18, 2:10 AM EDT, 1 hour 42 minutes before
PAZ004>006-010>012-017>019-024>028-033>037-041-042-045-046-049>053-
056>059-063>066-180810-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT -
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA
211 AM EDT THU AUG 18 1994

A SMALL STREAM AND URBAN FLOOD WATCH CONTINUES IN EFFECT OVERNIGHT FOR
THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES...
LYCOMING... UNION... SNYDER... SULLIVAN... SOUTHERN
CLINTON... MONTOUR... NORTHUMBERLAND... COLUMBIA AND SCHUYLKILL.

AT 2 AM EDT...STATE COLLEGE DOPPLER RADAR SHOWED AN AREA OF LIGHT TO
MODERATE RAIN OVER TIOGA...POTTER AND MCKEAN COUNTIES. THIS AREA
CONTINUES TO MOVE NORTH AT 20 MPH. RAIN ACROSS THESE AREAS SHOULD
TAPER TO LIGHT SHOWERS DURING THE NEXT 1-2 HOURS.

ACROSS SOUTHERN PENNSYLVANIA...A LARGE AREA OF SCATTERED
SHOWERS CONTINUES TO PROGRESS NORTHWARD. THIS AREA WILL AFFECT
AREAS THAT HAVE ALREADY HAVE HAD BETWEEN 1-3 INCHES...HENCE...RESIDENTS
ARE ADVISED TO KEEP ABREST OF THE CURRENT WEATHER CONDITIONS AND TAKE
ACTION IF A FLOOD WARNING IS ISSUED FOR YOUR COUNTY. ADDITIONAL
RAINFALL ACROSS CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA WILL LEAD TO FLOODING OF SMALL
STREAMS AND LOW LYING AREAS.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO AND TV FOR FURTHER UPDATES AND
WARNINGS.

WINTHER
Special weather statement, Aug 18, 2:11 AM EDT, 1 hour 41 minutes before
PAZ004>006-010>012-017>019-024>028-033>037-041-042-045-046-049>053-
056>059-063>066-180810-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA
211 AM EDT THU AUG 18 1994

A SMALL STREAM AND URBAN FLOOD WATCH CONTINUES IN EFFECT OVERNIGHT FOR
THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES...
LYCOMING... UNION... SNYDER... SULLIVAN... SOUTHERN
CLINTON... MONTOUR... NORTHUMBERLAND... COLUMBIA AND SCHUYLKILL.

AT 2 AM EDT...STATE COLLEGE DOPPLER RADAR SHOWED AN AREA OF LIGHT TO
MODERATE RAIN OVER TIOGA...POTTER AND MCKEAN COUNTIES. THIS AREA
CONTINUES TO MOVE NORTH AT 20 MPH. RAIN ACROSS THESE AREAS SHOULD
TAPER TO LIGHT SHOWERS DURING THE NEXT 1-2 HOURS.

ACROSS SOUTHERN PENNSYLVANIA...A LARGE AREA OF SCATTERED
SHOWERS CONTINUES TO PROGRESS NORTHWARD. THIS AREA WILL AFFECT
AREAS THAT HAVE ALREADY HAVE HAD BETWEEN 1-3 INCHES...HENCE...RESIDENTS
ARE ADVISED TO KEEP ABREAST OF THE CURRENT WEATHER CONDITIONS AND TAKE
ACTION IF A FLOOD WARNING IS ISSUED FOR YOUR COUNTY. ADDITIONAL
RAINFALL ACROSS CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA MAY LEAD TO FLOODING OF SMALL
STREAMS AND LOW LYING AREAS.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO AND TV FOR FURTHER UPDATES AND
WARNINGS.

WINTHER

/
Special weather statement, Aug 18, 2:12 AM EDT, 1 hour 40 minutes before
PAZ004>006-010>012-017>019-024>028-033>037-041-042-045-046-049>053-
056>059-063>066-180810-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA
211 AM EDT THU AUG 18 1994

A SMALL STREAM AND URBAN FLOOD WATCH CONTINUES IN EFFECT OVERNIGHT FOR
THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES...
LYCOMING... UNION... SNYDER... SULLIVAN... SOUTHERN
CLINTON... MONTOUR... NORTHUMBERLAND... COLUMBIA AND SCHUYLKILL.

AT 2 AM EDT...STATE COLLEGE DOPPLER RADAR SHOWED AN AREA OF LIGHT TO
MODERATE RAIN OVER TIOGA...POTTER AND MCKEAN COUNTIES. THIS AREA
CONTINUES TO MOVE NORTH AT 20 MPH. RAIN ACROSS THESE AREAS SHOULD
TAPER TO LIGHT SHOWERS DURING THE NEXT 1-2 HOURS.

ACROSS SOUTHERN PENNSYLVANIA...A LARGE AREA OF SCATTERED
SHOWERS CONTINUES TO PROGRESS NORTHWARD. THIS AREA WILL AFFECT
AREAS THAT HAVE ALREADY HAVE HAD BETWEEN 1-3 INCHES...HENCE...RESIDENTS
ARE ADVISED TO KEEP ABREAST OF THE CURRENT WEATHER CONDITIONS AND TAKE
ACTION IF A FLOOD WARNING IS ISSUED FOR YOUR COUNTY. ADDITIONAL
RAINFALL ACROSS CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA MAY LEAD TO FLOODING OF SMALL
STREAMS AND LOW LYING AREAS.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO AND TV FOR FURTHER UPDATES AND
WARNINGS.

WINTHER

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Aug 17, 11:25 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningCTPCameron2 hr
Aug 18, 1:08 AM EDTFlash Flood WarningCTPLycoming2 hr
Aug 18, 1:23 AM EDTFlash Flood WarningCTPTioga2 hr
Aug 18, 1:31 AM EDTFlash Flood WarningCTPPotter119 min
Aug 18, 2:39 AM EDTFlash Flood WarningCTPUnion2 hr
Aug 18, 3:05 AM EDTFlash Flood WarningCTPTioga3 hr
Aug 18, 3:10 AM EDTFlash Flood WarningCTPLycoming3 hr
Aug 18, 3:40 AM EDTFlash Flood WarningCTPClearfield, Clinton4 hr
Aug 18, 4:25 AM EDTFlash Flood WarningCTPTioga6 hr
Aug 18, 4:34 AM EDTFlash Flood WarningCTPLycoming, Union5 hr
Aug 18, 9:00 AM EDTFlash Flood WarningCTPCameron3 hr
Aug 18, 9:57 AM EDTFlash Flood WarningCTPLycoming, Tioga3 hr
Aug 18, 1:00 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningCTPLycoming5 hr

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in Pennsylvania, 1994Every flash flood warning in 1994

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.