Alert archive / Pennsylvania / Flash Flood Warnings in 1994

Flash Flood Warning 9, NWS State College, PA

August 2, 1994Somerset County, Pennsylvania

NWS State College, PA issued this flash flood warning at Aug 2, 1994, 6:49 PM EDT for Somerset County, Pennsylvania. It was in force for 116 min.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Aug 2, 1994, 6:49 PM EDT (22:49 UTC)
Expired
Aug 2, 1994, 8:45 PM EDT
In force
116 min
Issued by
NWS State College, PA
Area
Whole counties

County Somerset County, PA

The nearest sounding before it

Pittsburgh, PA (KPIT), launched 12:00Z, 10.8 hours before the alert went out and 103 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 022252
FFWCTP
PAC013-111-030045-
 
BULLETIN - EBS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
FLASH FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA
649 PM EDT TUE AUG 2 1994
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN STATE COLLEGE HAS ISSUED A
FLASH FLOOD WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL  845 PM EDT
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS......
 
IN  PENNSYLVANIA
 
   ...BLAIR...SOMERSET COUNTIES
 
AT 645 PM STATE COLLEGE DOPPLER RADAR SHOWED 1 HOUR PRECIPITATION TOTALS
OF 2.1 INCHES JUST SOUTH OF ALTOONA. RAINFALL REPORTS FROM NORTHERN
SOMERSET COUNTY TOTALED 2.5 INCHES IN ONE HOUR. SKYWARN REPORTS PEA
SIZED HAIL IN THE ALTOONA AREA.
 
DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE INTO 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.
 
A FLASH FLOOD WARNING MEANS THAT FLOODING IS OCCURRING OR IS
IMMINENT.  MOST FLASH FLOOD DEATHS OCCUR IN AUTOMOBILE:S.  DO NOT
ATTEMPT TO CROSS BRIDGES...DIPS...OR LOW SPOTS IF WATER COVERS
THE ROADWAY.  NEVER TRY TO CROSS A FLOWING STREAM...EVEN A SMALL
ONE...ON FOOT.  TO ESCAPE RISING WATER MOVE UP TO HIGHER GROUND.
 
LA CORTE

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, 5:35 PM EDT, 1 hour 14 minutes before
PAZ004>006-010>012-017>019-024>028-033>037-041-042-045-046-049>053-
056-057-059-063>066-030435-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT - SEVERE THUNDERSTORM AND FLASH FLOOD
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA
535 PM EDT TUE AUG 2 1994

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IN EFFECT FOR MOST OF EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA
UNTIL MIDNIGHT...
...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IN EFFECT FOR MOST OF WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA
UNTIL 7 PM...
...FLASH FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT FOR MUCH OF CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA...

THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES
IN CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA UNTIL MIDNIGHT...
POTTER...CAMERON...TIOGA...CENTRE...NORTHUMBERALAND...SULLIVAN...CLINTON
...CLEARFIELD...UNION...SNYDER...LYCOMING...MONTOUR...ADAMS...JUNIATA.
..DAUPHIN...FULTON...LEBANON...YORK...PERRY..MIFFLIN...FRANKLIN...
HUNTINDON...SCHUYKILL..AND COLUMBIA.

A FLASH FLOOD WATCH HAS BEEN ISSUED UNTIL MIDNIGHT FOR
POTTER...CLEARFIELD...JUNIATA...CAMERON...HUNTINGDON...
MIFFLIN...CLINTON....FULTON...CENTRE AND FRANKLIN.

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM AND FLASH FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM
FOR THE REST OF WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA.

SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS OVER WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA AT 530 PM
WILL CONTINUE MOVING EAST INTO VERY WARM...HUMID AND UNSTABLE AIR OVER
EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA. THUNDERSTORMS ARE SLOW MOVING AND WILL BE
ACCOMPANIED BY BRIEFLY GUSTY WINDS...HAIL AND TORRENTIAL DOWNPOURS.

WHEN SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE OCCURRING...YOU SHOULD MOVE INSIDE
A STRONG BUILDING.  DO NOT STAND BY WINDOWS.  DO NOT USE TELEPHONES
OR ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES UNLESS IN AN EMERGENCY UNTIL THE STORMS
HAVE PASSED.  MOTORISTS SHOULD NOT DRIVE INTO LOW WATER CROSSINGS.

LA CORTE
Special weather statement, Aug 2, 5:37 PM EDT, 1 hour 12 minutes before
PAZ004>006-010>012-017>019-024>028-033>037-041-042-045-046-049>053-
056-057-059-063>066-030435-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT - SEVERE THUNDERSTORM AND FLASH FLOOD
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA
535 PM EDT TUE AUG 2 1994

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IN EFFECT FOR MOST OF EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA
UNTIL MIDNIGHT...
...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IN EFFECT FOR MOST OF WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA
UNTIL 7 PM...
...FLASH FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT FOR MUCH OF CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA...

THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES
IN CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA UNTIL MIDNIGHT...
POTTER...CAMERON...TIOGA...CENTRE...NORTHUMBERALAND...SULLIVAN...CLINTON
...CLEARFIELD...UNION...SNYDER...LYCOMING...MONTOUR...ADAMS...JUNIATA.
..DAUPHIN...FULTON...LEBANON...YORK...PERRY..MIFFLIN...FRANKLIN...
HUNTINDON...SCHUYKILL..AND COLUMBIA.

A FLASH FLOOD WATCH HAS BEEN ISSUED UNTIL MIDNIGHT FOR
POTTER...CLEARFIELD...JUNIATA...CAMERON...HUNTINGDON...
MIFFLIN...CLINTON....FULTON...CENTRE AND FRANKLIN.

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM AND FLASH FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM
FOR THE REST OF WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA.

SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS OVER WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA AT 530 PM
WILL CONTINUE MOVING EAST INTO VERY WARM...HUMID AND UNSTABLE AIR OVER
EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA. THUNDERSTORMS ARE SLOW MOVING AND WILL BE
ACCOMPANIED BY BRIEFLY GUSTY WINDS...HAIL AND TORRENTIAL DOWNPOURS.

WHEN SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE OCCURRING...YOU SHOULD MOVE INSIDE
A STRONG BUILDING.  DO NOT STAND BY WINDOWS.  DO NOT USE TELEPHONES
OR ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES UNLESS IN AN EMERGENCY UNTIL THE STORMS
HAVE PASSED.  MOTORISTS SHOULD NOT DRIVE INTO LOW WATER CROSSINGS.

LA CORTE
Special weather statement, Aug 2, 6:20 PM EDT, 29 minutes before
PAZ004>006-010>012-017>019-024>028-033>037-041-042-045-046-049>053-
056-057-059-063>066-030020-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT - THUNDERSTORMS
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA
620 PM EDT TUE AUG 2 1994

...SEVERE THUNDERDSTORM WATCH IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT FOR MOST OF
EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA.
...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IN EFFECT UNTIL 7PM FOR MOST OF WESTERN
PENNSYLVANIA.
...FLASH FLOOD WATCH FOR MUCH OF CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA.

AT 615 PM...STATE COLLEGE DOPPLER RADAR SHOWED AN AREA OF SHOWERS AND
THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDING FROM WILLIAMSPORT AND LOCK HAVEN SOUTHWEST TO
STATE COLLEGE...ALTOONA AND JOHNSTOWN. THE SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS
WERE MOVING EAST AT 25 MPH AND WILL EXTEND FROM BERWICK TO BEDFORD BY
8 PM.

IF YOU PLAN TO BE OUTDOORS...CHECK THE LATEST WEATHER INFORMATION
AND KEEP A WEATHER EYE ON THE SKY.

LA CORTE
Special weather statement, Aug 2, 6:21 PM EDT, 28 minutes before
PAZ004>006-010>012-017>019-024>028-033>037-041-042-045-046-049>053-
056-057-059-063>066-030020-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT - THUNDERSTORMS
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA
620 PM EDT TUE AUG 2 1994

...SEVERE THUNDERDSTORM WATCH IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT FOR MOST OF
EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA.
...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IN EFFECT UNTIL 7PM FOR MOST OF WESTERN
PENNSYLVANIA.
...FLASH FLOOD WATCH FOR MUCH OF CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA.

AT 615 PM...STATE COLLEGE DOPPLER RADAR SHOWED AN AREA OF SHOWERS AND
THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDING FROM WILLIAMSPORT AND LOCK HAVEN SOUTHWEST TO
STATE COLLEGE...ALTOONA AND JOHNSTOWN. THE SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS
WERE MOVING EAST AT 25 MPH AND WILL EXTEND FROM BERWICK TO BEDFORD BY
8 PM.

IF YOU PLAN TO BE OUTDOORS...CHECK THE LATEST WEATHER INFORMATION
AND KEEP A WEATHER EYE ON THE SKY.

LA CORTE
Special weather statement, Aug 2, 6:40 PM EDT, 9 minutes before
PAZ065-030040-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT - THUNDERSTORMS
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA
640 PM EDT TUE AUG 2 1994

...THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOPING RAPIDLY JUST OVER YORK COUNTY...JUST SOUTH
OF YORK.

AT 640 PM STATE COLLEGE DOPPLER WEATER RADAR SHOWED A RAPIDLY
DEVELOPING THUNDERSTORM JUST SOUTH OF YORK. IT IS MOVING SLOWLY NORTH
AND WILL MOVE INTO THE CITY OF YORK BEFORE 7 PM.

IF YOU ARE OUTDOORS...MOVE TO A PLACE OF SHELTER IMMEDIATELY IF A
STORM APPROACHES.  MOTORISTS SHOULD REMAIN ALERT FOR REDUCED
VISIBILITIES DURING DOWNPOURS OF RAIN.  STREETS MAY FLOOD QUICKLY.

LA CORTE
Special weather statement, Aug 2, 6:41 PM EDT, 8 minutes before
PAZ065-030040-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT - THUNDERSTORMS
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA
640 PM EDT TUE AUG 2 1994

...THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOPING RAPIDLY JUST OVER YORK COUNTY...JUST SOUTH
OF YORK.

AT 640 PM STATE COLLEGE DOPPLER WEATER RADAR SHOWED A RAPIDLY
DEVELOPING THUNDERSTORM JUST SOUTH OF YORK. IT IS MOVING SLOWLY NORTH
AND WILL MOVE INTO THE CITY OF YORK BEFORE 7 PM.

IF YOU ARE OUTDOORS...MOVE TO A PLACE OF SHELTER IMMEDIATELY, IF A
STORM APPROACHES.  MOTORISTS SHOULD REMAIN ALERT FOR REDUCED
VISIBILITIES DURING DOWNPOURS OF RAIN.  STREETS MAY FLOOD QUICKLY.

LA CORTE

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, 4:44 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningCTPCentre, Clearfield2 hr
Aug 2, 4:54 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPPotter, Tioga66 min
Aug 2, 6:49 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningCTPBlair116 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.