Alert archive / Pennsylvania / Tornado Warnings in 1994
Tornado Warning 1, NWS State College, PA
NWS State College, PA issued this tornado warning at May 26, 1994, 3:14 PM EDT for Adams County, York County, Pennsylvania. It was in force for 46 min.
The area
The counties it named.
The facts
- Issued
- May 26, 1994, 3:14 PM EDT (19:14 UTC)
- Expired
- May 26, 1994, 4:00 PM EDT
- In force
- 46 min
- Issued by
- NWS State College, PA
- Area
- Whole counties
Counties Adams County, PA, York County, PA
The radar
The Sterling radar (KLWX), 111 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 19:16 UTC, the scan nearest the moment this went out.
Open the radar archive at this moment
The archived warnings, watches and discussions in force at that minute are drawn over the scan, this one among them.
The nearest sounding before it
Atlantic City In, NJ (KACY), launched 12:00Z, 7.2 hours before the alert went out and 217 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.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 3 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -165 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 832 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 35 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 46 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 94 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 0.0
The text
As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.
000 TTAA00 KHAR 261914 TORHAR PAC001-133-262000- BULLETIN - EBS ACTIVATION REQUESTED TORNADO WARNING NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HARRISBURG PA 314 PM EDT THU MAY 26 1994 THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN HARRISBURG HAS ISSUED A TORNADO WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL 400 PM EDT FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATION...S... IN SOUTH CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA ...NORTHERN ADAMS COUNTY...YORK COUNTY AT 315 PM DOPPLER WEATHER RADAR IN STATE COLLEGE INDICATED A POSSIBLE TORNADO OVER NORTHERN ADAMS COUNTY. THE POSSIBLE TORNADO WAS MOVING TOWARD THE EAST AT 40 MILES AN HOUR. 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 OR 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, May 26, 10:00 AM EDT, 5 hours 14 minutes before
PAZ012-037-038-041-042-045-046-049>052-261520- SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILLIAMSPORT PA 1000 AM EDT THU MAY 26 1994 ...THUNDERSTORMS WITH HEAVY DOWNPOURS AND DANGEROUS LIGHTNING MOVING THROUGH NORTHCENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA... AT 1000 AM EST NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR SHOWED A LINE OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDING FROM WESTFIELD TO WELLSBORO... WILLIAMSPORT...MILTON AND DANVILLE. THE LINE WAS MOVING EAST NORTHEAST AT 45 MPH AND HAD WEAKENED SOMEWHAT OVER THE PAST HOUR. THE LINE OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS SHOULD BE MOVING THROUGH THE WILLIAMSPORT AND WELLSBORO AREAS SHORTLY AND THEN REACH TOWANDA AND LAPORTE AROUND 1100 AM EDT. RADAR REPORTS INDICATE THAT THE THUNDERSTORMS CONTAINED MAINLY BRIEF GUSTY WINDS...DANGEROUS LIGHTNING AND HEAVY DOWNPOURS. HAIL AND/OR DAMAGING WINDS ARE ALSO POSSIBLE TODAY IN ANY THUNDERSTORM. PERSON LIVING IN NORTHCENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA SHOULD REMAIN ALERT THIS MORNING AND TAKE SHELTER IF THREATENING WEATHER APPROACHES. EVERYONE IS REMINDED TO STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS DURING A THUNDERSTORM AND DO NOT USE ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES OR TELEPHONES UNTIL THE STORM HAS PASSED. FARINA
Special weather statement, May 26, 10:30 AM EDT, 4 hours 44 minutes before
PAZ012-037-038-041-042-045-046-049>052-261530- SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILLIAMSPORT PA 1030 AM EDT THU MAY 26 1994 ...SHOWERS AND ISOLATED THUDNERSTORMS MOVING OUT OF NORTHCENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA... AT 1030 AM EST NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR SHOWED A LINE OF SHOWERS AND A FEW THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDING FROM MANSFIELD TO CANTON...THROUGH LAPORTE BLOOMSBURG AND LANCASTER. THE LINE WAS MOVING EAST NORTHEAST AT 45 MPH AND CONTINUED TO WEAKEN OVER THE PAST HOUR. THE LINE OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS SHOULD BE MOVING OUT OF THE REGION BY 1130 AM EDT. ANY THUNDERSTORMS IN THIS LINE CONTAINED MAINLY SOME BRIEF HEAVY DOWNPOURS AND SOME LIGHTNING. MOST AREAS JUST SAW SOME LIGHT TO MODERATE SHOWERS LASTING FOR ABOUT AN HOUR. LATER THIS AFTERNOON...MORE SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS COULD DEVELOP WITH THE POTENTIAL FOR SEVERE WEATHER. STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO FOR LATER STATEMENTS IN THE EVENT THAT MORE THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOP THIS AFTERNOON. FARINA
Special weather statement, May 26, 1:30 PM EDT, 1 hour 44 minutes before
PAZ012-037-038-041-042-045-046-049>052-261830- SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILLIAMSPORT PA 130 PM EDT THU MAY 26 1994 ...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IN EFFECT FOR NORTHCENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA UNTIL 800 PM EDT THIS EVENING... THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH FOR ALL OF NORTHCENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA UNTIL 800 PM EDT THIS EVENING. THE WATCH INCLUDES THE COUNTIES OF TIOGA...BRADFORD...CLINTON... SULLIVAN AND LYCOMING. A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH MEANS THAT CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF SEVERE WEATHER IN AND CLOSE TO THE WATCH AREA. SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CAN CONTAIN DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS OF 55 MPH... LARGE HAIL...AND DANGEROUS LIGHTNING. AT 130 PM EDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR WAS SHOWING SCATTERED SHOWERS OVER NORTHCENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA WITH AN ISOLATED THUNDERSTORM NEAR WATERVILLE. STRONGER STORMS WERE OCCURRING OVER THE NORTHWESTERN SECTIONS OF THE STATE. THE SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING EAST NORTHEAST AT 45 MPH AND STRENGTHENING. STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO FOR THE LATEST INFORMATION ON ANY SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS THAT DEVELOP. REMEMBER THE SAFEST PLACE TO BE DURING A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM IS INSIDE A STRONG BUILDING AND AWAY FROM WINDOWS. FARINA
Special weather statement, May 26, 1:55 PM EDT, 1 hour 19 minutes before
PAZ018-019-026>028-035-036-049>052-056-057-059-063>066-262000- SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY...CORRECTED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HARRISBURG PA 155 PM EDT THU MAY 26 1994 ...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH FOR THE MIDDLE SUSQUEHANNA VALLEY AND PORTIONS OF THE SOUTH CENTRAL MOUNTAINS OF PA UNTIL 8 PM... THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH INCLUDES ALL OF THE MIDDLE SUSQUEHANNA VALLEY INCLUDING MONTOUR...SNYDER...UNION...AND NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTIES. THE WATCH ALSO INCLUDES PORTIONS OF THE SOUTH CENTRAL MOUNTAINS INCLUDING CENTRE... MIFFLIN...AND HUNTINGDON COUNTIES. A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH MEANS THAT CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS IN AND CLOSE TO THE WATCH AREA. YOU SHOULD GO ABOUT YOUR DAILY BUSINESS...BUT BE ON THE LOOKOUT AND KEEP UP TO DATE ON WEATHER CONDITIONS. AT 130 PM HARRISBURG RADAR SHOWED AN AREA OF SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOPING ACROSS WESTERN AND CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA. THE STRONGEST STORMS...WHICH WERE PRODUCING VERY HEAVY RAIN...WERE OVER CENTRE COUNTY JUST SOUTHEAST OF STATE COLLEGE AND OVER BEDFORD COUNTY BETWEEN HYNDMAN AND EVERETT. THE SHOWERS AND STORMS WERE MOVING TOWARD THE EAST-NORTHEAST AT 40 MILES AN HOUR. MATUSIEWICZ ...ADDED WATCH EXPIRATION TIME...
Special weather statement, May 26, 2:25 PM EDT, 49 minutes before
PAZ012-037-038-041-042-045-046-049>052-261930- SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILLIAMSPORT PA 225 PM EDT THU MAY 26 1994 ...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IN EFFECT FOR NORTHCENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA UNTIL 800 PM EDT THIS EVENING... A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR ALL OF NORTHCENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA UNTIL 800 PM EDT THIS EVENING. THE WATCH INCLUDES ALL THE COUNTIES OF NORTHCENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA. A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH MEANS THAT CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF SEVERE WEATHER IN AND CLOSE TO THE WATCH AREA. SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CAN CONTAIN DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS OF 55 MPH... LARGE HAIL...AND DANGEROUS LIGHTNING. AT 220 PM EDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR WAS SHOWING SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOPING OVER NORTHCENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA. A THUNDERSTORM WITH HEAVY RAIN WAS 10 MILES SOUTHEAST OF WATERVILLE. A DEVELOPING LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS ALSO EXTENDED FROM DUBOIS TO JOHNSTOWN. THE SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING EAST NORTHEAST AT 45 MPH. DURING THE NEXT COUPLE OF HOURS SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE TO DEVELOP AND MOVE INTO NORTHCENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA. ANY OF THE THUNDERSTORMS THAT DO DEVELOP COULD CONTAIN STRONG DAMAGING WINDS...LARGE HAIL AND HEAVY DOWNPOURS. REMEMBER THE SAFEST PLACE TO BE DURING A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM IS INSIDE A STRONG BUILDING AND AWAY FROM WINDOWS. RESIDENTS OF NORTHCENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA SHOULD REMAIN ALERT THIS AFTERNOON AND TAKE SHELTER IF THREATENING WEATHER APPROACHES. FARINA/GOUGH
Special weather statement, May 26, 2:30 PM EDT, 44 minutes before
PAZ012-037-038-041-042-045-046-049>052-261930- SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILLIAMSPORT PA 225 PM EDT THU MAY 26 1994 ...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IN EFFECT FOR NORTHCENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA UNTIL 800 PM EDT THIS EVENING... A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR ALL OF NORTHCENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA UNTIL 800 PM EDT THIS EVENING. THE WATCH INCLUDES ALL THE COUNTIES OF NORTHCENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA. A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH MEANS THAT CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF SEVERE WEATHER IN AND CLOSE TO THE WATCH AREA. SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CAN CONTAIN DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS OF 55 MPH... LARGE HAIL...AND DANGEROUS LIGHTNING. AT 220 PM EDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR WAS SHOWING SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOPING OVER NORTHCENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA. A THUNDERSTORM WITH HEAVY RAIN WAS 10 MILES SOUTHEAST OF WATERVILLE. A DEVELOPING LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS ALSO EXTENDED FROM DUBOIS TO JOHNSTOWN. THE SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING EAST NORTHEAST AT 45 MPH. DURING THE NEXT COUPLE OF HOURS SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE TO DEVELOP AND MOVE INTO NORTHCENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA. ANY OF THE THUNDERSTORMS THAT DO DEVELOP COULD CONTAIN STRONG DAMAGING WINDS...LARGE HAIL AND HEAVY DOWNPOURS. REMEMBER THE SAFEST PLACE TO BE DURING A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM IS INSIDE A STRONG BUILDING AND AWAY FROM WINDOWS. RESIDENTS OF NORTHCENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA SHOULD REMAIN ALERT THIS AFTERNOON AND TAKE SHELTER IF THREATENING WEATHER APPROACHES. FARINA/GOUGH
The office that day
Everything else NWS State College, PA issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 26, 2:14 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | CTP | Franklin | 61 min |
| May 26, 2:51 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | CTP | Adams, Cumberland | 69 min |
| May 26, 3:57 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | CTP | Lancaster, York | 63 min |
| May 26, 5:00 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | CTP | Lancaster | 30 min |
Nearby
Tornado Warnings in Pennsylvania, 1994Every tornado warning in 1994Tornadoes 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; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.