Alert archive / Pennsylvania / Flash Flood Warnings in 1994

Flash Flood Warning 8, NWS State College, PA

August 2, 1994Centre County, Clearfield County, Pennsylvania

NWS State College, PA issued this flash flood warning at Aug 2, 1994, 4:44 PM EDT for Centre County, Clearfield County, Pennsylvania. It was in force for 2 hr.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Aug 2, 1994, 4:44 PM EDT (20:44 UTC)
Expired
Aug 2, 1994, 6:45 PM EDT
In force
2 hr
Issued by
NWS State College, PA
Area
Whole counties

Counties Centre County, PA, Clearfield County, PA

The nearest sounding before it

Pittsburgh, PA (KPIT), launched 12:00Z, 8.7 hours before the alert went out and 176 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 12:00Z on 1994-08-02Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 1337 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 12:00Z on 1994-08-02The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 30 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
1337 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-20 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
864 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
19 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
30 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
59 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 022050
FFWCTP
PAC027-033-022245-
 
BULLETIN - EBS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA
444 PM EDT TUE AUG 2 1994
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN STATE COLLEGE HAS ISSUED A
FLOOD WARNING FOR SMALL STREAMS AND POOR DRAINAGE AREAS
EFFECTIVE UNTIL  645 PM EDT
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS...
 
IN  PENNSYLVANIA
 
   ...WESTERN CENTRE COUNTY...EASTERN CLEARFIELD COUNTY
 
AT 445 PM...WEATHER RADAR IN STATE COLLEGE SHOWED THUNDERSTORMS WITH
VERY HEAVY RAINFALL IN THE PHILIPSBURG AREA. DRAINAGE FLOODING HAS
ALREADY BEEN REPORTED IN PHILIPSBURG AND ADDITIONAL STORMS WILL CONTINUE
TO MOVE OVER THE WARNING AREA FOR THE NEXT HOUR.
 
DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE INTOX 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.
 
JUNG/NICOSIA
 
 
 
&

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 2, 2:01 PM EDT, 2 hours 43 minutes before
PAZ004>006-010>012-017>019-024>026-033>035-045-022100-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT - CORRECTED FOR COUNTY REDEFINEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA
201 PM EDT TUE AUG 2 1994

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 700 PM THIS TUESDAY
AFTERNOON AND EVENING FOR MOST OF THE WESTERN HALF OF PENNSYLVANIA...

...A FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS ALSO IN EFFECT FOR MUCH OF WESTERN
PENNSYLVANIA THROUGH 700 PM...

WARM...UNSTABLE AIR OVER PENNSYLVANIA...COUPLED WITH AN APPROACHING
FRONT FROM THE NORTHWEST...ARE PROVIDING THE INGREDIENTS FOR POSSIBLE
SEVERE WEATHER THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING ACROSS WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA.

DOPPLER WEATHER SERVICE RADAR IN STATE COLLEGE IS SHOWING RAPIDLY
DEVELOPING THUNDERSTORMS OVER WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA.  SOME REPORTS OF
HAIL HAVE ALREADY BEEN RECEIVED FROM EXTREME WESTERN PORTIONS OF THE
STATE.

THIS AFTERNOONS STORMS WILL BE SLOW MOVING...SO LOCALLY HEAVY
DOWNPOURS ARE ALSO POSSIBLE WITH THESE STORMS AS WELL.

MOST FLASH FLOOD DEATHS OCCUR IN AUTOMOBILES.  DO NOT ATTEMPT TO CROSS
A WATER COVERED ROADWAY...THE WATER MAY HAVE ERODED THE ROADBED MAKING
IT UNSAFE FOR SAFE TRAVEL.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO FOR FURTHER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE
WARNINGS.

JUNG
Special weather statement, Aug 2, 2:02 PM EDT, 2 hours 42 minutes before
PAZ004>006-010>012-017>019-024>026-033>035-045-022100-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT - CORRECTED FOR COUNTY REDEFINEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA
201 PM EDT TUE AUG 2 1994

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 700 PM THIS TUESDAY
AFTERNOON AND EVENING FOR MOST OF THE WESTERN HALF OF PENNSYLVANIA...

...A FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS ALSO IN EFFECT FOR MUCH OF WESTERN
PENNSYLVANIA THROUGH 700 PM...

WARM...UNSTABLE AIR OVER PENNSYLVANIA...COUPLED WITH AN APPROACHING
FRONT FROM THE NORTHWEST...ARE PROVIDING THE INGREDIENTS FOR POSSIBLE
SEVERE WEATHER THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING ACROSS WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA.

DOPPLER WEATHER SERVICE RADAR IN STATE COLLEGE IS SHOWING RAPIDLY
DEVELOPING THUNDERSTORMS OVER WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA.  SOME REPORTS OF
HAIL HAVE ALREADY BEEN RECEIVED FROM EXTREME WESTERN PORTIONS OF THE
STATE.

THIS AFTERNOONS STORMS WILL BE SLOW MOVING...SO LOCALLY HEAVY
DOWNPOURS ARE ALSO POSSIBLE WITH THESE STORMS AS WELL.

MOST FLASH FLOOD DEATHS OCCUR IN AUTOMOBILES.  DO NOT ATTEMPT TO CROSS
A WATER COVERED ROADWAY...THE WATER MAY HAVE ERODED THE ROADBED MAKING
IT UNSAFE FOR SAFE TRAVEL.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO FOR FURTHER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE
WARNINGS.

JUNG
Special weather statement, Aug 2, 2:52 PM EDT, 1 hour 52 minutes before
PAZ004>006-010>012-017>019-024>026-033>035-045-022130-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT - SEVERE THUNDERSTORM/FLASH FLOOD WATCH
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA
252 PM EDT TUE AUG 2 1994

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 700 PM THIS TUESDAY
AFTERNOON AND EVENING FOR MOST OF THE WESTERN HALF OF PENNSYLVANIA...

...A FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS ALSO IN EFFECT FOR MUCH OF WESTERN
PENNSYLVANIA THROUGH 700 PM...

WARM...UNSTABLE AIR OVER PENNSYLVANIA...COUPLED WITH AN APPROACHING
FRONT FROM THE NORTHWEST...ARE PROVIDING THE INGREDIENTS FOR POSSIBLE
SEVERE WEATHER THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING ACROSS WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA.

AT 240 PM...DOPPLER WEATHER SERVICE RADAR IN STATE COLLEGE CONTINUED
TO SHOW AN EXPANDING AREA OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS IN WESTERN
PENNSYLVANIA.  THUNDERSTORMS WITH HEAVY RAIN WERE OVER CENTRAL TIOGA
AND NORTHERN CLINTON COUNTIES.  THE SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ARE
MOVING TO THE EAST AT 15 TO 20 MPH.  SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL
ALSO MOVE INTO ELK COUNTY BY 330 PM.

THIS AFTERNOONS STORMS WILL BE SLOW MOVING...SO LOCALLY HEAVY
DOWNPOURS ARE ALSO POSSIBLE WITH THESE STORMS AS WELL.

MOST FLASH FLOOD DEATHS OCCUR IN AUTOMOBILES.  DO NOT ATTEMPT TO CROSS
A WATER COVERED ROADWAY...THE WATER MAY HAVE ERODED THE ROADBED MAKING
IT UNSAFE FOR SAFE TRAVEL.

LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO FOR FURTHER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE
WARNINGS.

JUNG
Special weather statement, Aug 2, 2:54 PM EDT, 1 hour 50 minutes before
PAZ004>006-010>012-017>019-024>026-033>035-045-022130-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT - SEVERE THUNDERSTORM/FLASH FLOOD WATCH
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA
252 PM EDT TUE AUG 2 1994

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 700 PM THIS TUESDAY
AFTERNOON AND EVENING FOR MOST OF THE WESTERN HALF OF PENNSYLVANIA...

...A FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS ALSO IN EFFECT FOR MUCH OF WESTERN
PENNSYLVANIA THROUGH 700 PM...

WARM...UNSTABLE AIR OVER PENNSYLVANIA...COUPLED WITH AN APPROACHING
FRONT FROM THE NORTHWEST...ARE PROVIDING THE INGREDIENTS FOR POSSIBLE
SEVERE WEATHER THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING ACROSS WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA.

AT 240 PM...DOPPLER WEATHER SERVICE RADAR IN STATE COLLEGE CONTINUED
TO SHOW AN EXPANDING AREA OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS IN WESTERN
PENNSYLVANIA.  THUNDERSTORMS WITH HEAVY RAIN WERE OVER CENTRAL TIOGA
AND NORTHERN CLINTON COUNTIES.  THE SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ARE
MOVING TO THE EAST AT 15 TO 20 MPH.  SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL
ALSO MOVE INTO ELK COUNTY BY 330 PM.

THIS AFTERNOONS STORMS WILL BE SLOW MOVING...SO LOCALLY HEAVY
DOWNPOURS ARE ALSO POSSIBLE WITH THESE STORMS AS WELL.

MOST FLASH FLOOD DEATHS OCCUR IN AUTOMOBILES.  DO NOT ATTEMPT TOx CROSS
A WATER COVERED ROADWAY...THE WATER MAY HAVE ERODED THE ROADBED MAKING
IT UNSAFE FOR SAFE TRAVEL.

LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO FOR FURTHER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE
WARNINGS.

JUNG
Special weather statement, Aug 2, 3:35 PM EDT, 1 hour 9 minutes before
PAZ004>006-010>012-017>019-024>028-033>036-045-022230-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT - SEVERE THUNDERSTORM/FLASH FLOOD WATCH
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA
335 PM EDT TUE AUG 2 1994

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 700 PM THIS TUESDAY
AFTERNOON AND EVENING FOR MOST OF THE WESTERN HALF OF PENNSYLVANIA...

...A FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS ALSO IN EFFECT FOR MUCH OF WESTERN
PENNSYLVANIA THROUGH 700 PM...

WARM...UNSTABLE AIR OVER PENNSYLVANIA...COUPLED WITH AN APPROACHING
FRONT FROM THE NORTHWEST...ARE PROVIDING THE INGREDIENTS FOR POSSIBLE
SEVERE WEATHER THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING ACROSS WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA.

AT 330 PM...DOPPLER WEATHER SERVICE RADAR IN STATE COLLEGE SHOWED
SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS APPROACHING THE CENTRAL AND NORTHERN
MOUNTAINS REGIONS OF PENNSYLVANIA.  THUNDERSTORMS WITH HEAVY
RAIN WILL MOVE ACROSS SOUTHERN ELK COUNTY BETWEEN 330 AND 430 PM.
HEAVY RAINS WILL ALSO MOVE INTO WESTERN CLEARFIELD COUNTY BY AROUND 400
PM.  ELSEWHERE...SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE TO
DEVELOP OVER THE UPPER SUSQUEHANNA VALLEY DURING THE NEXT HOUR.

THIS AFTERNOONS THUNDERSTORMS ARE SLOW MOVING...AND MAY CAUSE
VERY HEAVY LOCALIZED RAINS.

REMEMBER...MOST FLASH FLOOD DEATHS OCCUR IN AUTOMOBILES.  DO NOT
ATTEMPT TO CROSS A WATER COVERED ROADWAY...THE WATER MAY HAVE ERODED
THE ROADBED MAKING IT UNSAFE FOR SAFE TRAVEL.

LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO FOR FURTHER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE
WARNINGS.

JUNG
Special weather statement, Aug 2, 3:37 PM EDT, 1 hour 7 minutes before
PAZ004>006-010>012-017>019-024>028-033>036-045-022230-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT - SEVERE THUNDERSTORM/FLASH FLOOD WATCH
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA
335 PM EDT TUE AUG 2 1994

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 700 PM THIS TUESDAY
AFTERNOON AND EVENING FOR MOST OF THE WESTERN HALF OF PENNSYLVANIA...

...A FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS ALSO IN EFFECT FOR MUCH OF WESTERN
PENNSYLVANIA THROUGH 700 PM...

WARM...UNSTABLE AIR OVER PENNSYLVANIA...COUPLED WITH AN APPROACHING
FRONT FROM THE NORTHWEST...ARE PROVIDING THE INGREDIENTS FOR POSSIBLE
SEVERE WEATHER THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING ACROSS WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA.

AT 330 PM...DOPPLER WEATHER SERVICE RADAR IN STATE COLLEGE SHOWED
SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS APPROACHING THE CENTRAL AND NORTHERN
MOUNTAINS REGIONS OF PENNSYLVANIA.  THUNDERSTORMS WITH HEAVY
RAIN WILL MOVE ACROSS SOUTHERN ELK COUNTY BETWEEN 330 AND 430 PM.
HEAVY RAINS WILL ALSO MOVE INTO WESTERN CLEARFIELD COUNTY BY AROUND 400
PM.  ELSEWHERE...SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE TO
DEVELOP OVER THE UPPER SUSQUEHANNA VALLEY DURING THE NEXT HOUR.

THIS AFTERNOONS THUNDERSTORMS ARE SLOW MOVING...AND MAY CAUSE
VERY HEAVY LOCALIZED RAINS.

REMEMBER...MOST FLASH FLOOD DEATHS OCCUR IN AUTOMOBILES.  DO NOT
ATTEMPT TO CROSS A WATER COVERED ROADWAY...THE WATER MAY HAVE ERODED
THE ROADBED MAKING IT UNSAFE FOR SAFE TRAVEL.

LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO FOR FURTHER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE
WARNINGS.

JUNG

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Aug 2, 3:39 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPElk66 min
Aug 2, 3:48 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPClinton57 min
Aug 2, 3:51 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPBradford69 min
Aug 2, 4:54 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPPotter, Tioga66 min
Aug 2, 6:49 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningCTPBlair116 min
Aug 2, 6:49 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningCTPSomerset116 min
Aug 2, 7:08 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPJuniata, Mifflin, Snyder52 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.