Alert archive / Pennsylvania / Flash Flood Warnings in 1994

Flash Flood Warning 49, NWS Pittsburgh, PA

August 27, 1994Fayette County, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania

NWS Pittsburgh, PA issued this flash flood warning at Aug 27, 1994, 7:20 AM EDT for Fayette County, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. It was in force for 3 hr.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Aug 27, 1994, 7:20 AM EDT (11:20 UTC)
Expired
Aug 27, 1994, 10:30 AM EDT
In force
3 hr
Issued by
NWS Pittsburgh, PA
Area
Whole counties

Counties Fayette County, PA, Westmoreland County, PA

The nearest sounding before it

Pittsburgh, PA (KPIT), launched 00:00Z, 11.3 hours before the alert went out and 57 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 1994-08-27Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 637 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 1994-08-27The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 8 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
637 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-38 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1324 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
16 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
8 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
15 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 KPIT 271124
FFWPIT
PAC051-129-271430-
 
BULLETIN - EBS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
FLASH FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA
720 AM EDT SAT AUG 27 1994
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN PITTSBURGH HAS EXTENDED AND ISSUED A
FLASH FLOOD WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL 1030 AM EDT
FOR THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS...
 
IN WEST PENNSYLVANIA
 
   ...FAYETTE COUNTY...WESTMORELAND COUNTY
 
AT 710 AM DOPPLER WEATHER SERVICE RADAR INDICATED AROUND
3 TO 3.5 INCHES OF RAIN HAS FALLEN IN AROUND AN HOUR OR SO
FROM SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS...AROUND EVERSON AND PENNSVILLE IN
NORTHERN FAYETTE COUNTY AND NEAR 2.5 TO 3.0 INCHES NEAR
SCOTTDALE IN EXTREME SOUTHERN WESTMORELAND COUNTY.
THE FOLLOWING TOWNSHIPS IN FAYETTE COUNTY WILL BE AFFECTED
NAMELY UPPER TYRONE...LOWER TYRONE AND BULLSKIN
AND IN EXTREME SOUTHERN WESTMORELAND COUNTY NAMELY THE
TOWNSHIPS OF EAST HUNTINGDON...SOUTH HUNTINGDON AND
MT PLEASANT.
A SKYWARN OBSERVER REPORTED NEAR 3 INCHES OF RAINFALL
AT EVERSON IN NORTHERN FAYETTE COUNTY AT 705AM EDT.
FLOODING ALONG JACOBS CREEK CAN BE EXPECTED BESIDES
TRIBUTARIES AND STREAMS IN THE ABOVE NAMED TOWNSHIPS
IN SOUTHERN WESTMORELAND COUNTY AND NORTHERN FAYETTE
COUNTY IN PARYTICULAR. OTHER TOWNSHIPS
ADJACENT MAY BE AFFECTED BY FLOODING THIS MORNING ALSO
IN EXTREME SOUTHERN WESTMORELAND AND NORTHERN FAYETTE
COUNTY.
 
IN ADDITION A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING IS IN EFFECT TIL
815 AM EDT FOR WESTMORELAND AND FAYETTE COUNTIES.
 
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 IMMINENT.  IT'S
IMPORTANT TO KNOW WHERE YOU ARE RELATIVE TO STREAMS...RIVERS...OR
CREEKS WHICH CAN BECOME KILLERS IN HEAVY RAINS.  CAMPERS SHOULD
AVOID CAMPING ALONG STREAMS OR CREEKS DURING THREATENING RAINS.
 
MOST DEATHS IN FLASH FLOODING OCCUR IN AUTOMOBILES.  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.
 
 
 
&

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 27, 3:23 AM EDT, 3 hours 57 minutes before
PAZ024-030-033-270900-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT...THUNDERSTORMS MOVING THROUGH WESTMORELAND
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA               COUNTY...CORRECTED
322 AM EDT SAT AUG 27 1994

...THUNDERSTORMS MOVING ACROSS SOUTHERN WESTMORELAND COUNTY...

AT 315 AM DOPPLER WEATHER RADAR INDICATED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS MOVING
ACROSS THE SOUTHERN HALF OF WESTMORELAND COUNTY AT AROUND 20 MPH.

THESE STORMS MAY CONTAIN HEAVY DOWNPOURS...SOME HAIL...DANGEROUS
LIGHTNING AND GUSTY WINDS AS HIGH AS 40 MPH OR SO.

THESE STORM WILL BE MOVING INTO THE LAUREL MOUNTAINS AFTER 3AM THIS
MORNING.
Special weather statement, Aug 27, 3:27 AM EDT, 3 hours 53 minutes before
PAZ024-030-033-270900-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT...THUNDERSTORMS MOVING THROUGH WESTMORELAND
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA               COUNTY...CORRECTED
322 AM EDT SAT AUG 27 1994

...THUNDERSTORMS MOVING ACROSS SOUTHERN WESTMORELAND COUNTY...

AT 315 AM DOPPLER WEATHER RADAR INDICATED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS MOVING
ACROSS THE SOUTHERN HALF OF WESTMORELAND COUNTY AT AROUND 20 MPH.

THESE STORMS MAY CONTAIN HEAVY DOWNPOURS...SOME HAIL...DANGEROUS
LIGHTNING AND GUSTY WINDS AS HIGH AS 40 MPH OR SO.

THESE STORM WILL BE MOVING INTO THE LAUREL MOUNTAINS AFTER 4AM THIS
MORNING.
Special weather statement, Aug 27, 5:17 AM EDT, 2 hours 3 minutes before
PAZ021-029-030-WVZ001-002271100-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT- THUNDERSTORMS
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA
517 AM EDT SAT AUG 27 1994

...THUNDERSTORMS MOVING ACROSS SOUTHWESTERN PENNSYLVANIA AND THE
   NORTHERNWEST VIRGINIA PANHANDLE...

AT 515 AM DOPPLER WEATHER RADAR INDICATED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS MOVING
ACROSS SOUTHERN HANCOCK AND BROOKE COUNTIES IN THE NORTHERN WEST
VIRGINIA PANHANDLE. ALSO ACROSS NORTHERN WASHINGTON COUNTY...
EXTERME SOUTHERN ALLEGHENY COUNTY AND THE NORTHERN HALF OF WESTMORELAND
COUNTY IN SOUTHWESTERN PENNSYLVANIA.

THESE STORMS MAY CONTAIN HEAVY DOWNPOURS...DANGEROUS LIGHTNING...SOME
HAIL...AND GUSTY WINDS TO 40 MPH OR SO.

THESE STORMS WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE SOUTHEAST AT 15 TO 20 MPH ACROSS
SOUTHWESTERN PENNSYLVANIA DURING THE NEXT HOUR OR SO.
Special weather statement, Aug 27, 5:18 AM EDT, 2 hours 2 minutes before
PAZ021-029-030-WVZ001-002271100-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT- THUNDERSTORMS
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA
517 AM EDT SAT AUG 27 1994

...THUNDERSTORMS MOVING ACROSS SOUTHWESTERN PENNSYLVANIA AND THE
   NORTHERNWEST VIRGINIA PANHANDLE...

AT 515 AM DOPPLER WEATHER RADAR INDICATED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS MOVING
ACROSS SOUTHERN HANCOCK AND BROOKE COUNTIES IN THE NORTHERN WEST
VIRGINIA PANHANDLE. ALSO ACROSS NORTHERN WASHINGTON COUNTY...
EXTERME SOUTHERN ALLEGHENY COUNTY AND THE NORTHERN HALF OF WESTMORELAND
COUNTY IN SOUTHWESTERN PENNSYLVANIA.

THESE STORMS MAY CONTAIN HEAVY DOWNPOURS...DANGEROUS LIGHTNING...SOME
HAIL...AND GUSTY WINDS TO 40 MPH OR SO.

THESE STORMS WILL CONTINUE TO MOV&E SOUTHEAST AT 15 TO 20 MPH ACROSS
SOUTHWESTERN PENNSYLVANIA DURING THE NEXT HOUR OR SO.
Special weather statement, Aug 27, 5:18 AM EDT, 2 hours 2 minutes before
PAZ021-029-030-WVZ001-002-271100-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT- THUNDERSTORMS  COR TO HEADER
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA
518 AM EDT SAT AUG 27 1994

...THUNDERSTORMS MOVING ACROSS SOUTHWESTERN PENNSYLVANIA AND THE
   NORTHERNWEST VIRGINIA PANHANDLE...

AT 515 AM DOPPLER WEATHER RADAR INDICATED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS MOVING
ACROSS SOUTHERN HANCOCK AND BROOKE COUNTIES IN THE NORTHERN WEST
VIRGINIA PANHANDLE. ALSO ACROSS NORTHERN WASHINGTON COUNTY...
EXTERME SOUTHERN ALLEGHENY COUNTY AND THE NORTHERN HALF OF WESTMORELAND
COUNTY IN SOUTHWESTERN PENNSYLVANIA.

THESE STORMS MAY CONTAIN HEAVY DOWNPOURS...DANGEROUS LIGHTNING...SOME
HAIL...AND GUSTY WINDS TO 40 MPH OR SO.

THESE STORMS WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE SOUTHEAST AT 15 TO 20 MPH ACROSS
SOUTHWESTERN PENNSYLVANIA DURING THE NEXT HOUR OR SO.
Special weather statement, Aug 27, 5:20 AM EDT, 2 hours before
PAZ021-029-030-WVZ001-002-271100-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT- THUNDERSTORMS  COR TO HEADER
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA
518 AM EDT SAT AUG 27 1994

...THUNDERSTORMS MOVING ACROSS SOUTHWESTERN PENNSYLVANIA AND THE
   NORTHERNWEST VIRGINIA PANHANDLE...

AT 515 AM DOPPLER WEATHER RADAR INDICATED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS MOVING
ACROSS SOUTHERN HANCOCK AND BROOKE COUNTIES IN THE NORTHERN WEST
VIRGINIA PANHANDLE. ALSO ACROSS NORTHERN WASHINGTON COUNTY...
EXTERME SOUTHERN ALLEGHENY COUNTY AND THE NORTHERN HALF OF WESTMORELAND
COUNTY IN SOUTHWESTERN PENNSYLVANIA.

THESE STORMS MAY CONTAIN HEAVY DOWNPOURS...DANGEROUS LIGHTNING...SOME
HAIL...AND GUSTY WINDS TO 40 MPH OR SO.

THESE STORMS ,WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE SOUTHEAST AT 15 TO 20 MPH ACROSS
SOUTHWESTERN PENNSYLVANIA DURING THE NEXT HOUR OR SO.

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Aug 27, 3:40 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPBZWestmoreland50 min
Aug 27, 6:33 AM EDTFlash Flood WarningPBZFayette57 min
Aug 27, 6:33 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPBZFayette72 min
Aug 27, 7:10 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPBZFayette, Westmoreland65 min
Aug 27, 4:14 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPBZIndiana, Jefferson61 min
Aug 27, 5:37 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningPBZLawrence68 min
Aug 27, 7:45 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningPBZAllegheny, Butler, Westmoreland60 min
Aug 27, 7:45 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPBZAllegheny, Butler, Westmoreland60 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.