Alert archive / Pennsylvania / Flash Flood Warnings in 1997

Flash Flood Warning 10, NWS State College, PA

June 18, 1997Centre County, Clearfield County, Pennsylvania

NWS State College, PA issued this flash flood warning at Jun 18, 1997, 5:09 PM EDT for Centre County, Clearfield County, Pennsylvania. It was in force for 3 hr. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Jun 18, 1997, 5:09 PM EDT (21:09 UTC)
Expired
Jun 18, 1997, 8:15 PM EDT
In force
3 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, 9.2 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 1997-06-18Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 386 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 1997-06-18The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 234 square meters per square second.19395878Sfc1 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
386 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-34 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
715 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
42 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
234 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
260 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
1.4

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.

000 
TTAA00 KCTP 182108
FFWCTP
PAC027-033-190015-
 
BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA
509 PM EDT WED JUN 18 1997
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN STATE COLLEGE HAS ISSUED A
FLOOD WARNING FOR STREAMS AND CREEKS EFFECTIVE UNTIL 815 PM EDT
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS...
 
IN  PENNSYLVANIA
 
   ...WESTERN CENTRE COUNTY...CLEARFIELD COUNTY
 
AT 505 PM EDT...DOPPLER RADAR FROM STATE COLLEGE SHOWED THUNDERSTORMS
WITH VERY HEAVY RAINFALL PERSISTING OVER MUCH OF CLEARFIELD AND WESTERN
CENTRE COUNTIES. RADAR ESTIMATES BETWEEN 1 AND 1.5 INCHES OF RAIN OVER
PORTIONS OF CLEARFIELD COUNTY SINCE 4 PM. RAINFALL OF AROUND 1.5 TO 2.0
INCHES IN ONE HOUR AND NEAR 3 INCHES IN 3 HOURS IS ENOUGH TO CAUSE
FLOODING OF STREAMS AND CREEKS. HEAVY RAINFALL WILL CONTINUE IN
CLEARFIELD AND WESTERN CENTRE COUNTIES UNTIL 6 PM CAUSING FLOODING OF
SMALL STREAMS AND POOR DRAINAGE AREAS.
 
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.
 
NICOSIA/GRUMM

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.

NWS State College, PA wrote its last area forecast discussion before this flash flood warning went out at Jun 18, 1:28 PM EDT, 3 hours 41 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jun 18, 1:28 PM EDT, 3 hours 41 minutes before
CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA
120 PM EDT WED JUN 18 1997

...DISCUSSION...

WON'T SPEND A LOT OF TIME HERE AS DEVELOPING CONVECTION NEEDS MOST
ATTENTION THIS AFTERNOON.

CLOUD COVER BREAKING UP RAPIDLY IN WARM SECTOR WITH MESO ANALYSIS
AND DIAGNOSTICS SHOWING RAPIDLY DESTABILIZING AIRMASS. MESO DATA
FROM PSU SHOWS STRONG MOISTURE CONVERGENCE OVER LAUREL HIGHLANDS
WHERE TEMPERATURES ARE CLIMBING QUICKLY. DEWPOINTS IN MID TO UPPER
60S SHOULD PROVIDE PLENTY OF FUEL AS INCREASING DYNAMICS SWING
ACROSS REGION LATER TODAY AND THIS EVENING.

BOUNDARY EXTENDS ACROSS CTRL PA ASSOC WITH WEAK BACK-DOOR COOL
FRONT WHICH SETTLED SOUTH ACROSS REGION LAST 24HRS. LOW LEVEL
HELICITY VALUES ABOUT THIS FEATURE ARE APPROACHING THE MILDLY
IMPRESSIVE RANGE WITH BRN'S OFF THE MASSAGED 12Z SOUNDING
SUPPORTIVE OF SUPERCEL DEVELOPMENT. LOW LEVEL JET IN THE RANGE OF
30KTS OR SO IS ALREADY EVIDENT ON PIT/CTP VWP'S. UPPER LEVEL JET
STREAK PROGGED TO APPROACH REGION DURING THE AFTERNOON AND EVENING.
LOWER BRANCH OF AGEOSTROPHIC TRANSVERSE CIRCULATION IN THE JET EXIT
WILL PROVIDE ADDITIONAL SLY COMPONENT TO LOW LEVEL FLOW WHICH WILL
ONLY HELP SUPPORT THIS FEATURE. BOTTOM LINE IS THAT IT LOOKS LIKE
A BUSY DAY SETTING UP FOR REGIONAL OFFICES.

AGREE IN WINDING DOWN ACTIVITY OVERNIGHT WITH FOG LIKELY IN SOME
LOCATIONS. AM STILL LEERY ABOUT THU. DEWPOINTS DON'T DROP ALL THAT
MUCH DURING THE DAY AND MODELS SHOW WEAK SECONDARY UPPER SHORTWAVE
SLIDING ACROSS DURG THE AFTERNOON. WE ARE APPROACHING THE TIME OF
YEAR WHERE THUNDER POTENTIAL NEEDS TO BE ASSESSED ALMOST DAILY. NEW
ETA TAKES AREA OF 30+ K INDICES JUST SOUTH OF THE BORDER DURG MAX
HEATING.

LA CORTE

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Jun 18, 2:33 PM EDT, 2 hours 36 minutes before
PAZ034-025-024-011-018-019-017-012-045-010-035-026-028-041-046-
005-027-006-033-037-004-190030-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA
233 PM EDT WED JUN 18 1997

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH FOR
MUCH OF WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA. THE WATCH IS VALID UNTIL 8PM THIS EVENING
AND INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES:

WARREN... MCKEAN... ELK... CAMERON.. POTTER... TIOGA... CLINTON...
CLEARFIELD ...CLEARFIELD... LYCOMING... CAMBRIA... BLAIR... SOMERSET
... HUNTINGDON... FULTON... JUNIATA... MIFFLIN AND BEDFORD.

A COLD FRONT WILL CONTINUE MOVING ACROSS CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA THIS
AFTERNOON AND THIS EVENING. WARM HUMID AIR IN PLACE OVER THE REGION
WILL CREATE CONDITIONS RIPE FOR LOCALLY SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS.

THUNDERSTORMS WILL INCREASE IN COVERAGE AND INTENSITY AS THE AFETRNOON
PROGRESSES. SOME OF THESE STORMS WILL CONTAIN LARGE HAIL AND
STRONG DAMAGING WINDS.

LA CORTE
Special weather statement, Jun 18, 2:33 PM EDT, 2 hours 36 minutes before
PAZ034-025-024-011-018-019-017-012-045-010-035-026-028-041-046-
005-027-006-033-037-004-190030-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA
233 PM EDT WED JUN 18 1997

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH FOR
MUCH OF WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA. THE WATCH IS VALID UNTIL 8PM THIS EVENING
AND INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES:

WARREN... MCKEAN... ELK... CAMERON.. POTTER... TIOGA... CLINTON...
CLEARFIELD ...CLEARFIELD... LYCOMING... CAMBRIA... BLAIR... SOMERSET
... HUNTINGDON... FULTON... JUNIATA... MIFFLIN AND BEDFORD.

A COLD FRONT WILL CONTINUE MOVING ACROSS CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA THIS
AFTERNOON AND THIS EVENING. WARM HUMID AIR IN PLACE OVER THE REGION
WILL CREATE CONDITIONS RIPE FOR LOCALLY SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS.

THUNDERSTORMS WILL INCREASE IN COVERAGE AND INTENSITY AS THE AFETRNOON
PROGRESSES. SOME OF THESE STORMS WILL CONTAIN LARGE HAIL AND
STRONG DAMAGING WINDS.

LA CORTE
Special weather statement, Jun 18, 2:33 PM EDT, 2 hours 36 minutes before
PAZ034-025-024-011-018-019-017-012-045-010-035-026-028-041-046-
005-027-006-033-037-004-190030-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT...CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA
233 PM EDT WED JUN 18 1997

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH FOR
MUCH OF WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA. THE WATCH IS VALID UNTIL 8PM THIS EVENING
AND INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES:

WARREN... MCKEAN... ELK... CAMERON.. POTTER... TIOGA... CLINTON...
CLEARFIELD... CENTRE... LYCOMING... CAMBRIA... BLAIR... SOMERSET
... HUNTINGDON... FULTON... JUNIATA... MIFFLIN AND BEDFORD.

A COLD FRONT WILL CONTINUE MOVING ACROSS CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA THIS
AFTERNOON AND THIS EVENING. WARM HUMID AIR IN PLACE OVER THE REGION
WILL CREATE CONDITIONS RIPE FOR LOCALLY SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS.
THUNDERSTORMS WILL INCREASE IN COVERAGE AND INTENSITY AS THE AFTERNOON
PROGRESSES. SOME OF THESE STORMS WILL CONTAIN LARGE HAIL AND
STRONG DAMAGING WINDS.

...CORRECTED TO ADD CENTRE COUNTY TO WATCH...

LA CORTE
Special weather statement, Jun 18, 2:41 PM EDT, 2 hours 28 minutes before
PAZ034-025-024-011-018-019-017-012-045-010-035-026-028-041-046-
005-027-006-033-037-004-190030-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA
233 PM EDT WED JUN 18 1997

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH FOR
MUCH OF WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA. THE WATCH IS VALID UNTIL 8PM THIS EVENING
AND INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES:

WARREN... MCKEAN... ELK... CAMERON.. POTTER... TIOGA... CLINTON...
CLEARFIELD ... LYCOMING... CAMBRIA... BLAIR... SOMERSET
... HUNTINGDON... FULTON... JUNIATA... MIFFLIN AND BEDFORD.

A COLD FRONT WILL CONTINUE MOVING ACROSS CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA THIS
AFTERNOON AND THIS EVENING. WARM HUMID AIR IN PLACE OVER THE REGION
WILL CREATE CONDITIONS RIPE FOR LOCALLY SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS.
THUNDERSTORMS WILL INCREASE IN COVERAGE AND INTENSITY AS THE AFTERNOON
PROGRESSES. SOME OF THESE STORMS WILL CONTAIN LARGE HAIL AND
STRONG DAMAGING WINDS.

LA CORTE
Special weather statement, Jun 18, 3:07 PM EDT, 2 hours 2 minutes before
PAZ034-025-024-011-018-019-017-012-045-010-035-026-028-041-046-
005-027-006-033-037-004-190030-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT...CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA
233 PM EDT WED JUN 18 1997

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH FOR
MUCH OF WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA. THE WATCH IS VALID UNTIL 8PM THIS EVENING
AND INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES:

WARREN... MCKEAN... ELK... CAMERON.. POTTER... TIOGA... CLINTON...
CLEARFIELD... CENTRE... LYCOMING... CAMBRIA... BLAIR... SOMERSET
... HUNTINGDON... FULTON... JUNIATA... MIFFLIN AND BEDFORD.

A COLD FRONT WILL CONTINUE MOVING ACROSS CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA THIS
AFTERNOON AND THIS EVENING. WARM HUMID AIR IN PLACE OVER THE REGION
WILL CREATE CONDITIONS RIPE FOR LOCALLY SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS.
THUNDERSTORMS WILL INCREASE IN COVERAGE AND INTENSITY AS THE AFTERNOON
PROGRESSES. SOME OF THESE STORMS WILL CONTAIN LARGE HAIL ANDL
STRONG DAMAGING WINDS.

...CORRECTED TO ADD CENTRE COUNTY TO WATCH...

LA CORTE

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jun 18, 2:07 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPClearfield, Elk68 min
Jun 18, 2:40 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPCameron65 min
Jun 18, 3:07 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPCentre, Clinton68 min
Jun 18, 3:27 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPClearfield48 min
Jun 18, 3:58 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPBedford62 min
Jun 18, 4:21 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPCentre69 min
Jun 18, 5:01 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPBedford, Fulton59 min
Jun 18, 5:14 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPMcKean, Potter61 min
Jun 18, 5:38 PM EDTTornado WarningCTPFranklin67 min
Jun 18, 5:48 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPBlair, Huntingdon57 min
Jun 18, 6:18 PM EDTTornado WarningCTPJuniata42 min
Jun 18, 7:24 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPAdams51 min
Jun 18, 7:41 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningCTPFranklin3 hr

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in Pennsylvania, 1997Every flash flood warning in 1997

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.