Alert archive / Pennsylvania / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1996

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 4, NWS State College, PA

March 25, 1996Clinton County, Lycoming County, Union County, Pennsylvania

NWS State College, PA issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Mar 25, 1996, 7:33 PM EST for Clinton County, Lycoming County, Union County, Pennsylvania. It was in force for 57 min. 2 reports came from inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The counties it named, with what was reported inside it.

The facts

Issued
Mar 25, 1996, 7:33 PM EST (00:33 UTC)
Expired
Mar 25, 1996, 8:30 PM EST
In force
57 min
Issued by
NWS State College, PA
Area
Whole counties

Counties Clinton County, PA, Lycoming County, PA, Union County, PA

The radar

The State College radar (KCCX), 69 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 00:34 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.

What was reported inside it

TimeReportWhereRemark
Mar 25, 7:35 PM ESTThunderstorm WindMill Hall, PA
Mar 25, 8:15 PM ESTThunderstorm WindLoyalsockville, PA

NCEI Storm Data entries that began inside the alert's area while it was in force. Before 2003 the local storm report archive is thin, so this is the record of what happened rather than what was phoned in.

The nearest sounding before it

Buffalo Intl Airport, NY (KBUF), launched 00:00Z, 0.6 hours before the alert went out and 228 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, Buffalo Intl Airport, NY at 00:00Z on 1996-03-26Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 0 joules per kilogram.LCL10008507005003002001001 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, Buffalo Intl Airport, NY at 00:00Z on 1996-03-26The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity -211 square meters per square second.1939587897Sfc1 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
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
No buoyant parcel
Mixed-layer LCL
613 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
62 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
-211 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
-168 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 260033 RRA
SVRCTP
PAC035-081-109-119-260130-
 
BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA
733 PM EST MON MAR 25 1996
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN STATE COLLEGE HAS ISSUED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL  830 PM EST
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS...
 
IN  PENNSYLVANIA
 
   ...CLINTON COUNTY...LYCOMING COUNTY...SNYDER COUNTY
   ...UNION COUNTY
 
A BAND OF FAST MOVING STORMS WAS JUST EAST OF STATE COLLEGE AND WAS
RACING NORTHEAST AT 55 MPH. THESE STORMS PRODUCED WIND GUSTS TO 74 MPH
IN THE STATE COLLEGE AREA.
 
THE STORMS WILL RACE ACROSS THE WARNED AREA WITHIN THE HOUR.  PERSONS
SHOULD SEEK SHELTER NOW.  STORMS WILL BE NEAR WILLIAMSPORT AND
MIFFLINBURG AROUND 8 PM.
 
WHEN THUNDERSTORMS ARE OCCURRING...PEOPLE SHOULD MOVE INSIDE A
STRONG BUILDING.  DO NOT STAND BY WINDOWS.  DON'T USE TELEPHONES
OR ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES UNLESS IN AN EMERGENCY UNTIL THE STORM
HAS PASSED.  MOTORISTS SHOULD NOT DRIVE INTO LOW WATER CROSSINGS.
 
MARTIN
 
&

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this severe thunderstorm warning went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS State College, PA wrote its last area forecast discussion before this severe thunderstorm warning went out at Mar 25, 2:53 PM EST, 4 hours 40 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Mar 25, 2:53 PM EST, 4 hours 40 minutes before
CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA
240 PM EST MON MAR 25 1996

DEEP SFC LOW NEAR CIU WILL CONTINUE MOVING NE. COLD FRONT JUST
WEST OF A ZZV-CLE LINE WILL MOVE RAPIDLY EAST THIS EVE REACHING
UNV AREA ARND 00Z.

KCCX RADAR SHOWS NARROW BAND OF PRECIP ACROSS CENTRAL PA (CTP HAS
10RW-). PRECIP DIMINISHING AS IT MOVES INTO DRY AIR. BAND ASSOC
WITH WEDGE OF HIGHER DEWPTS.

WINDS WILL NOT BE A PROBLEM THIS EVE. COOL AND DENSE AIR IN
VALLEYS WITH KEEP STRONG WINDS FROM MIXING DOWN.

HIGH PRESSURE BUILDS INTO REGION ON TUESDAY. FLURRIES ACROSS NW
MTNS (WARREN CNTY) FETCH 270-280 WILL CLIP EXTREME N TIER WITH
LES. OTHERWISE PARTLY CLDY SKIES...BRISK AND COLD.

TUESDAY NIGHT...CLEAR SKIES WITH SFC HIGH OVER AREA.

WEDNESDAY...DECENT FGEN FORCING ACROSS AREA (COMBINATION OF
FAVORABLE UPPER LVL JET REGION AND LOW-LEVL JET WORKING INTO
FCST/A) WILL BRING SNOW INTO THE REGION BY WED NIGHT/THU AM.

...LAKE SNOW OUTLOOK...

MON  7 PM TO TUE 7 AM...N
TUE  7 AM TO TUE 7 PM...N/SW- EXTREME N WARREN CNTY
TUE  7 PM TO WED 7 AM...N
WINTHER

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Mar 25, 5:49 PM EST, 1 hour 44 minutes before
PAZ004-005-010>012-017>019-024>028-033>035-045-260355-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT - HIGH WIND WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA
551 PM EST MON MAR 25 1996

...A HIGH WIND WARNING HAS BEEN POSTED AGAIN FOR PORTIONS OF WESTERN
PENNSYLVANIA...INCLUDING THE NORTHERN...CENTRAL...AND SOUTH CENTRAL
MOUNTAINS...AS WELL AS THE LAUREL HIGHLANDS...

A FAST MOVING COLD FRONT WILL MOVE ACROSS THE REGION THIS EVENING WITH
SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS.  DAMAGING WINDS ARE POSSIBLE AHEAD
AND BEHIND THE FRONT...ESPECIALLY NEAR SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS.  WIND
GUSTS NEAR 60 MPH HAVE BEEN REPORTED LATE THIS AFTERNOON OVER EXTREME
WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA.

THE WARNING INCLUDES MCKEAN...POTTER...ELK...CAMERON...CENTRE
...CLEARFIELD...CAMBRIA...SOMERSET...NORTHERN CLINTON...BLAIR...BEDFORD
HUNTINGDON...MIFFLIN...JUNIATA...FULTON...AND FRANKLIN COUNTIES.

THE WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR EARLY TONIGHT.  WIND GUSTS TO 60 MPH ARE
POSSIBLE.  $PERSONS IN THE WARNING AREA SHOULD BE ALERT FOR DAMAGING
WINDS AND SEEK SHELTER.

MARTIN
Special weather statement, Mar 25, 5:51 PM EST, 1 hour 42 minutes before
PAZ004-005-010>012-017>019-024>028-033>035-045-260355-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT - HIGH WIND WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA
551 PM EST MON MAR 25 1996

...A HIGH WIND WARNING HAS BEEN POSTED AGAIN FOR PORTIONS OF WESTERN
PENNSYLVANIA...INCLUDING THE NORTHERN...CENTRAL...AND SOUTH CENTRAL
MOUNTAINS...AS WELL AS THE LAUREL HIGHLANDS...

A FAST MOVING COLD FRONT WILL MOVE ACROSS THE REGION THIS EVENING WITH
SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS.  DAMAGING WINDS ARE POSSIBLE AHEAD
AND BEHIND THE FRONT...ESPECIALLY NEAR SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS.  WIND
GUSTS NEAR 60 MPH HAVE BEEN REPORTED LATE THIS AFTERNOON OVER EXTREME
WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA.

THE WARNING INCLUDES MCKEAN...POTTER...ELK...CAMERON...CENTRE
...CLEARFIELD...CAMBRIA...SOMERSET...NORTHERN CLINTON...BLAIR...BEDFORD
HUNTINGDON...MIFFLIN...JUNIATA...FULTON...WARREN AND FRANKLIN COUNTIES.

THE WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR EARLY TONIGHT.  WIND GUSTS TO 60 MPH ARE
POSSIBLE.  PERSONS IN THE WARNING AREA SHOULD BE ALERT FOR DAMAGING
WINDS AND SEEK SHELTER.

MARTIN
Local storm report, Mar 25, 6:35 PM EST, 58 minutes before
LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA
635 PM EST MON MAR 25 1996

TIME EST   ...CITY LOCATION..........ST   ...EVENT/REMARKS
           ...COUNTY LOCATION........

0610 PM    JOHNSTOWN                 PA   HIGH WIND
03/25/96   CAMBRIA                   PA   ESTIMATED GUSTS 60 TO
                                          65 MPH.

0630 PM    CHERRY TREE               PA   WINDS
03/25/96   CAMBRIA                   PA   ESTIMATED 35 TO 45 MPH

DUNHAM
Local storm report, Mar 25, 6:37 PM EST, 56 minutes before
LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA
635 PM EST MON MAR 25 1996

TIME EST   ...CITY LOCATION..........ST   ...EVENT/REMARKS
           ...COUNTY LOCATION........

0610 PM    JOHNSTOWN                 PA   HIGH WIND
03/25/96   CAMBRIA                   PA   ESTIMATED GUSTS 60 TO
                                          65 MPH.

0630 PM    CHERRY TREE               PA   WINDS
03/25/96   CAMBRIA                   PA   ESTIMATED 35 TO 45 MPH

DUNHAM
Special weather statement, Mar 25, 6:46 PM EST, 47 minutes before
PAZ004-005-010>012-017>019-024>028-033>035-045-260355-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT - HIGH WIND WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA
551 PM EST MON MAR 25 1996

...A HIGH WIND WARNING HAS BEEN POSTED AGAIN FOR PORTIONS OF WESTERN
PENNSYLVANIA...INCLUDING THE NORTHERN...CENTRAL...AND SOUTH CENTRAL
MOUNTAINS...AS WELL AS THE LAUREL HIGHLANDS...

A FAST MOVING COLD FRONT WILL MOVE ACROSS THE REGION THIS EVENING WITH
SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS.  DAMAGING WINDS ARE POSSIBLE AHEAD
AND BEHIND THE FRONT...ESPECIALLY NEAR SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS.  WIND
GUSTS NEAR 60 MPH HAVE BEEN REPORTED LATE THIS AFTERNOON OVER EXTREME
WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA.

THE WARNING INCLUDES MCKEAN...POTTER...ELK...CAMERON...CENTRE
...CLEARFIELD...CAMBRIA...SOMERSET...NORTHERN CLINTON...BLAIR...BEDFORD
HUNTINGDON...MIFFLIN...JUNIATA...FULTON...WARREN AND FRANKLIN COUNTIES.

THE WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR EARLY TONIGHT.  WIND GUSTS TO 60 MPH ARE
POSSIBLE.  PERSONS IN THE WARNING AREA SHOULD BE ALERT FOR DAMAGING
WINDS AND SEEK SHELTER.

MARTIN
Local storm report, Mar 25, 7:19 PM EST, 14 minutes before
LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA
718 PM EST TUE MAR 26 1996

TIME EST   ...CITY LOCATION..........ST   ...EVENT/REMARKS
           ...COUNTY LOCATION........

0714 PM    STATE COLLEGE             PA   HIGH WIND
03/25/96   CENTRE                    PA   GUSTS TO 74 MPH AT
                                          PENN STATE UNIVERSITY

DUNHAM

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Mar 25, 7:33 PM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPSnyder57 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Pennsylvania, 1996Every severe thunderstorm warning in 1996

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; verification from NCEI's Storm Data; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.