Alert archive / Pennsylvania / Flash Flood Warnings in 1994

Flash Flood Warning 3, NWS State College, PA

May 1, 1994Franklin County, Fulton County, Pennsylvania

NWS State College, PA issued this flash flood warning at May 1, 1994, 5:37 AM EDT for Franklin County, Fulton County, Pennsylvania. It was in force for 3 hr.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
May 1, 1994, 5:37 AM EDT (09:37 UTC)
Expired
May 1, 1994, 8:45 AM EDT
In force
3 hr
Issued by
NWS State College, PA
Area
Whole counties

Counties Franklin County, PA, Fulton County, PA

The nearest sounding before it

Washington/Dulle, VA (KIAD), launched 00:00Z, 9.6 hours before the alert went out and 117 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 1994-05-01Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 1201 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 1994-05-01The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 180 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
1201 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-8 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
809 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
30 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
180 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
258 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.9
Supercell composite
4.3

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
TTAA00 KPHL 010941
FFWHAR
PAC055-057-011245-
 
BULLETIN - EBS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HARRISBURG PA
ISSUED BY PHILADELPHIA/MOUNT HOLLY NJ
537 AM EDT SUN MAY 1 1994
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED A
FLOOD WARNING FOR SMALL STREAMS AND CREEKS EFFECTIVE UNTIL
845 AM EDT FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS...
 
IN SOUTH CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA
 
   ...FRANKLIN COUNTY...FULTON COUNTY
 
HEAVY RAINS OVERNIGHT HAVE CAUSED SOME FLOODING OF SECONDARY ROADS
ACCORDING TO COUNTY OFFICIALS. ADDITIONALLY...SMALL STREAMS AND CREEKS
ARE NEAR BANKFULL EARLY THIS MORNING.
 
AT 530 AM EDT WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED THAT ANOTHER AREA
OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WITH HEAVY RAIN WAS MOVING NORTHEAST INTO
FULTON AND FRANKLIN COUNTIES.  WITH THE GROUND NEARLY SATURATED...RUNOFF
FROM THIS RAINFALL MAY CAUSE SMALL STREAMS AND CREEKS TO OVERFLOW THEIR
BANKS.
 
IF YOU ARE IN THE WARNED COUNTY IN AN AREA SUBJECT TO FLOODING0
MOVE TO HIGHER GROUND.  DO NOT DRIVE THROUGH FLOOD WATERS.
CLIMBING ATOP YOUR STALLED VEHICLE WILL NOT PREVENT YOU FROM
BEING SWEPT INTO DANGEROUS STREAM CONDITIONS AS WATER LEVELS RISE.
 
DCY
 
&

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, May 1, 3:00 AM EDT, 2 hours 37 minutes before
PAZ012-037-038-041-042-045-046-049>052-010805-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILLIAMSPORT PA
300 AM EDT SUN MAY 1 1994

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS MOVING INTO NORTHCENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA...

AT 300 AM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADARS INDICATED A LINE OF
STRONG THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDING FROM NEAR THE POTTER-TIOGA COUNTY LINE
SOUTH TO NEAR RENOVO AND PHILIPSBURG.  ANOTHER CLUSTER OF STRONG
THUNDERSTORMS WAS NEAR LEWISTOWN AND MIFFLINTOWN IN THE SOUTHCENTRAL
MOUNTAINS.

THE STRONGEST THUNDERSTORMS WERE INDICATED OVER POTTER AND MIFFLIN
COUNTIES.  THE PUBLIC IN THE BROOKLYN (POTTER COUNTY / ULYSSES
TOWNSHIP) REPORTED VERY HEAVY RAIN AND STRONG WINDS AS THE STORM MOVED
THROUGH THAT AREA.  NO WIND DAMAGE WAS REPORTED IN POTTER COUNTY BUT
DAMAGING WINDS HAVE BEEN REPORTED WITH THE LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS AS
THEY MOVED THROUGH WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA.

ALL OF THE THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING NORTHEAST AT 40 MPH.

THE THUNDERSTORMS WILL REACH WELLSBORO AND LOCK HAVEN AROUND 330 AM.
OTHER THUNDERSTORMS COULD REACH WILLIAMSPORT BY 400 AM.

IF THUNDERSTORMS APPROACH YOUR LOCATION...MOVE INSIDE A STRONG
BUILDING AND STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS.  LIGHTNING IS THE GREATEST
POTENTIAL KILLER IN ANY THUNDERSTORM.  AVOID USING THE TELEPHONE OR
ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES WHEN A THUNDERSTORM IS NEAR.

LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR COMMERCIAL TV AND RADIO FOR ADDITIONAL
STATEMENTS OR WARNINGS FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.

NEMETH
Special weather statement, May 1, 3:06 AM EDT, 2 hours 31 minutes before
PAZ012-037-038-041-042-045-046-049>052-010805-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILLIAMSPORT PA
300 AM EDT SUN MAY 1 1994

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS MOVING INTO NORTHCENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA...

AT 300 AM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADARS INDICATED A LINE OF
STRONG THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDING FROM NEAR THE POTTER-TIOGA COUNTY LINE
SOUTH TO NEAR RENOVO AND PHILIPSBURG.  ANOTHER CLUSTER OF STRONG
THUNDERSTORMS WAS NEAR LEWISTOWN AND MIFFLINTOWN IN THE SOUTHCENTRAL
MOUNTAINS.

THE STRONGEST THUNDERSTORMS WERE INDICATED OVER POTTER AND MIFFLIN
COUNTIES.  THE PUBLIC IN THE BROOKLYN (POTTER COUNTY / ULYSSES
TOWNSHIP) REPORTED VERY HEAVY RAIN AND STRONG WINDS AS THE STORM MOVED
THROUGH THAT AREA.  NO WIND DAMAGE WAS REPORTED IN POTTER COUNTY BUT
DAMAGING WINDS HAVE BEEN REPORTED WITH THE LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS AS
THEY MOVED THROUGH WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA.

ALL OF THE THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING NORTHEAST AT 40 MPH.

THE THUNDERSTORMS WILL REACH WELLSBORO AND LOCK HAVEN AROUND 330 AM.
OTHER THUNDERSTORMS COULD REACH WILLIAMSPORT BY 400 AM.

IF THUNDERSTORMS APPROACH YOUR LOCATION...MOVE INSIDE A STRONG
BUILDING AND STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS.  LIGHTNING IS THE GREATEST
POTENTIAL KILLER IN ANY THUNDERSTORM.  AVOID USING THE TELEPHONE OR
ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES WHEN A THUNDERSTORM IS NEAR.

LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR COMMERCIAL TV AND RADIO FOR ADDITIONAL
STATEMENTS OR WARNINGS FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.

NEMETH
Special weather statement, May 1, 4:00 AM EDT, 1 hour 37 minutes before
PAZ012-037-038-041-042-045-046-049>052-010905-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILLIAMSPORT PA
400 AM EDT SUN MAY 1 1994

...THUNDERSTORMS WITH STRONG WINDS MOVING THROUGH NORTHCENTRAL
PENNSYLVANIA...

AT 400 AM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADARS INDICATED A LINE OF
STRONG THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDING FROM NEAR THE TIOGA-BRADFORD COUNTY
LINE...INTO WESTERN LYCOMING COUNTY NEAR JERSEY SHORE THEN TO CENTER
HALL IN CENTRE COUNTY.  ANOTHER CLUSTER OF THUNDERSTORMS WAS NEAR
LEWISBURG...MIFFLINBURG AND MIDDLEBURG.

THE STRONGEST THUNDERSTORMS WERE INDICATED OVER TIOGA...AND WESTERN
LYCOMING COUNTIES.  THE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT OFFICE IN TIOGA COUNTY
REPORTED VERY HEAVY RAIN AND GUSTY WINDS AS THE STORMS MOVED THROUGH
THE COUNTY.  AS OF 400 AM...NO DAMAGE HAS BEEN REPORTED.  AN
ESTIMATED WIND GUST OF 45 MPH WAS REPORTED AS THE STORMS MOVED THROUGH
STATE COLLEGE.

ALL OF THE THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING NORTHEAST AT 40 MPH.

THE THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT WILLIAMSPORT...LEWISBURG AND SUNBURY
THROUGH 430 AM.  THE THUNDERSTORMS WILL THEN PASS THROUGH TOWANDA...
LAPORTE AND MUNCY BY 500 AM.  THE THUNDERSTORMS WILL PRODUCE WIND
GUSTS OF 40 TO 50 MPH...DANGEROUS LIGHTNING AND VERY HEAVY RAIN.

IF THUNDERSTORMS APPROACH YOUR LOCATION...MOVE INSIDE A STRONG
BUILDING AND STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS.  LIGHTNING IS THE GREATEST
POTENTIAL KILLER IN ANY THUNDERSTORM.  AVOID USING THE TELEPHONE OR
ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES WHEN A THUNDERSTORM IS NEAR.

LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR COMMERCIAL TV AND RADIO FOR ADDITIONAL
STATEMENTS OR WARNINGS FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.

NEMETH
Special weather statement, May 1, 4:02 AM EDT, 1 hour 35 minutes before
PAZ012-037-038-041-042-045-046-049>052-010905-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILLIAMSPORT PA
400 AM EDT SUN MAY 1 1994

...THUNDERSTORMS WITH STRONG WINDS MOVING THROUGH NORTHCENTRAL
PENNSYLVANIA...

AT 400 AM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADARS INDICATED A LINE OF
STRONG THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDING FROM NEAR THE TIOGA-BRADFORD COUNTY
LINE...INTO WESTERN LYCOMING COUNTY NEAR JERSEY SHORE THEN TO CENTER
HALL IN CENTRE COUNTY.  ANOTHER CLUSTER OF THUNDERSTORMS WAS NEAR
LEWISBURG...MIFFLINBURG AND MIDDLEBURG.

THE STRONGEST THUNDERSTORMS WERE INDICATED OVER TIOGA...AND WESTERN
LYCOMING COUNTIES.  THE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT OFFICE IN TIOGA COUNTY
REPORTED VERY HEAVY RAIN AND GUSTY WINDS AS THE STORMS MOVED THROUGH
THE COUNTY.  AS OF 400 AM...NO DAMAGE HAS BEEN REPORTED.  AN
ESTIMATED WIND GUST OF 45 MPH WAS REPORTED AS THE STORMS MOVED THROUGH
STATE COLLEGE.

ALL OF THE THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING NORTHEAST AT 40 MPH.

THE THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT WILLIAMSPORT...LEWISBURG AND SUNBURY
THROUGH 430 AM.  THE THUNDERSTORMS WILL THEN PASS THROUGH TOWANDA...
LAPORTE AND MUNCY BY 500 AM.  THE THUNDERSTORMS WILL PRODUCE WIND
GUSTS OF 40 TO 50 MPH...DANGEROUS LIGHTNING AND VERY HEAVY RAIN.

IF THUNDERSTORMS APPROACH YOUR LOCATION...MOVE INSIDE A STRONG
BUILDING AND STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS.  LIGHTNING IS THE GREATEST
POTENTIAL KILLER IN ANY THUNDERSTORM.  AVOID USING THE TELEPHONE OR
ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES WHEN A THUNDERSTORM IS NEAR.

LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR COMMERCIAL TV AND RADIO FOR ADDITIONAL
STATEMENTS OR WARNINGS FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.

NEMETH
Special weather statement, May 1, 5:15 AM EDT, 22 minutes before
PAZ012-037-038-041-042-045-046-049>052-011000-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILLIAMSPORT PA
515 AM EDT SUN MAY 1 1994

...THUNDERSTORMS MOVING OUT OF NORTHCENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA...

AT 505 AM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADARS INDICATED A LINE OF
THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDING FROM SUSQUEHANNA COUNTY OF NORTHEAST
PENNSYLVANIA SOUTH TO NEAR SHAMOKIN AND BLOOMSBURG.

OTHER SCATTERED SHOWERS WERE IN WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA FROM NEAR WARREN
TO CLARION AND GREENSBURG.  ALL OF THE SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WERE
MOVING NORTHEAST AT 40 MPH.

THE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT OFFICE IN BRADFORD COUNTY REPORTED VERY HEAVY
RAIN AND GUSTY WINDS AS THE STORMS MOVED THROUGH...BUT NO DAMAGE
OCCURRED.  WINDS GUSTED TO 36 MPH AS THE STORMS MOVED THROUGH
WILLIAMSPORT.

THE THUNDERSTORMS WILL MOVE OUT OF NORTHCENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA BY 530
AM.  SCATTERED SHOWERS ARE STILL POSSIBLE THROUGH THE REST OF THE
EARLY MORNING HOURS.

NEMETH
Special weather statement, May 1, 5:15 AM EDT, 22 minutes before
PAZ012-037-038-041-042-045-046-049>052-011000-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILLIAMSPORT PA
515 AM EDT SUN MAY 1 1994

...THUNDERSTORMS MOVING OUT OF NORTHCENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA...

AT 505 AM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADARS INDICATED A LINE OF
THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDING FROM SUSQUEHANNA COUNTY OF NORTHEAST
PENNSYLVANIA SOUTH TO NEAR SHAMOKIN AND BLOOMSBURG.

OTHER SCATTERED SHOWERS WERE IN WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA FROM NEAR WARREN
TO CLARION AND GREENSBURG.  ALL OF THE SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WERE
MOVING NORTHEAST AT 40 MPH.

THE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT OFFICE IN BRADFORD COUNTY REPORTED VERY HEAVY
RAIN AND GUSTY WINDS AS THE STORMS MOVED THROUGH...BUT NO DAMAGE
OCCURRED.  WINDS GUSTED TO 36 MPH AS THE STORMS MOVED THROUGH
WILLIAMSPORT.

THE THUNDERSTORMS WILL MOVE OUT OF NORTHCENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA BY 530
AM.  SCATTERED SHOWERS ARE STILL POSSIBLE THROUGH THE REST OF THE
EARLY MORNING HOURS.

NEMETH

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Apr 30, 8:59 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPFranklin61 min
Apr 30, 10:09 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPCumberland66 min
Apr 30, 10:43 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPDauphin, Lancaster, York62 min
Apr 30, 10:43 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPAdams62 min

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.