Alert archive / Pennsylvania / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1997

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 122, NWS State College, PA

July 28, 1997Franklin County, Pennsylvania

NWS State College, PA issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Jul 28, 1997, 4:20 PM EDT for Franklin County, Pennsylvania. It was in force for 65 min. 1 report 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
Jul 28, 1997, 4:20 PM EDT (20:20 UTC)
Expired
Jul 28, 1997, 5:25 PM EDT
In force
65 min
Issued by
NWS State College, PA
Area
Whole counties

County Franklin County, PA

The radar

The Sterling radar (KLWX), 108 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 20:19 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
Jul 28, 4:30 PM EDTThunderstorm Wind 51Waynesboro, PAThunderstorms moved southeast across Waynesboro taking down powerlines.

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

Washington/Dulle, VA (KIAD), launched 12:00Z, 8.3 hours before the alert went out and 112 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, Washington/Dulle, VA at 12:00Z on 1997-07-28Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 405 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, Washington/Dulle, VA at 12:00Z on 1997-07-28The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity -22 square meters per square second.1939Sfc1 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
405 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-131 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
988 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
21 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
-22 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
-1 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 282017 RRA
SVRCTP
PAC055-282125-

BULLETIN- IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA
420 PM EDT MON JUL 28 1997

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN STATE COLLEGE PA HAS ISSUED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL 525 PM EDT
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATION...

IN SOUTH CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA

   ...FRANKLIN COUNTY
 
AT 419 PM EDT...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WAS INDICATED BY STATE
COLLEGE DOPPLER RADAR 10 MILES SOUTH OF CHAMBERSBURG OR 3 MILES
NORTHWEST OF WAYNESBORO MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 15 MPH.

THE STORM WILL PASS NEAR THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS...
WAYNESBORO                       BY 430 PM EDT
SOUTH MOUNTAIN                   BY 435 PM EDT
BLUE RIDGE SUMMIT                BY 455 PM EDT
 
SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCE DAMAGING WIND IN EXCESS OF 55 MPH...
DESTRUCTIVE HAIL...DEADLY LIGHTNING...AND VERY HEAVY RAIN.  FOR YOUR
PROTECTION MOVE INDOORS AND STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS.  HEAVY RAINS
FLOOD ROADS QUICKLY.  DON'T DRIVE INTO AREAS WHERE WATER COVERS THE
ROAD.

DUNHAM WINTHER

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 Jul 28, 1:20 PM EDT, 3 hours earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jul 28, 1:20 PM EDT, 3 hours before
CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA
120 PM EDT MON JUL 28 1997

...SUGGESTIONS...
TONIGHT...CHC OF AN EVENING TSTM S 1/4 OF PA OTHERWISE PTLY
CLOUDY AND COOLER.
TUESDAY...EARLY MORNING CLOUDS WILL GIVE WAY TO LOWER HUMIDITY
AND MOSTLY SUNNY SKIES (PREFER THE SLIGHTLY COOLER FAN GUID).
TUESDAY NIGHT...CLEAR AND QUITE COOL WITH LOWS IN THE 40S N TO
50S S.
WEDNESDAY...SUNNY AND PLEASANT.

...DISCUSSION...
PREFRONTAL TROF MOVED THRU THE N TIER COUNTIES THIS MORNING. THIS
ACTIVITY WAS ENHANCED BY DEPARTING RR QUAD OF 2H JET.

ACTUAL COLD FRONT MOVING INTO NW PA ATTM WITH CELLS FIRING ACROSS
S OH AND FAR W PA. THIS ACTIVITY WILL CLIP OUR S CWA LATER THIS
AFTN.  TONIGHT...5H VORT AXIS SLIDES S THU FCST/A AND THIS WILL
KEEP SCT-BKN MID HI CLDS ACROSS AREA. X-SECTS FCST DRY AIR AT
ALL LEVELS TO SLIDE INTO CWA BY TUE AFTN. HENCE...CLDS WILL
QUICKLY GIVE WAY TO MOSTLY SUNNY SKIES TUE MORNING.

LARGE CANADIAN HIGH PRESSURE SYSTEM WILL TAKE HOLD ACROSS THE
AREA FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE FCST PERIOD.

SVR TSTM WATCH FOR SW PA GOT TO RUN......

WINTHER

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Jul 28, 11:09 AM EDT, 5 hours 11 minutes before
PAZ004>006-010>012-017>019-024>028-033>037-041-042-045-046-
049>053-056>059-063>066-282200-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT - SEVERE WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA
1110 AM EDT MON JUL 28 1997

THE STORM PREDICTION CENTER IN NORMAN OKLAHOMA HAS UPDATED THE
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM RISK TO INCLUDE JUST THE SOUTHWEST PORTION OF
PENNSYLVANIA THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING.

SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP THIS AFTERNOON IN
ADVANCE OF A COLD FRONT APPROACHING FROM THE NORTHWEST.  MUCH OF
SOUTHERN PENNSYLVANIA COULD SEE THUNDERSTORMS BUT...ONLY
SOUTHWEST PENNSYLVANIA WHICH INCLUDES THE LAUREL HIGHLANDS AND
PORTIONS OF THE SOUTH-CENTRAL MOUNTAINS COULD REACH SEVERE
L>IMITS.

THUNDERSTORMS WILL END FROM NORTH TO SOUTH LATE THIS AFTERNOON
AND EVENING AS THE FRONT PUSHES SOUTH OF THE REGION.

SKYWARN ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED LATER TODAY.

WINTHER
Special weather statement, Jul 28, 11:10 AM EDT, 5 hours 10 minutes before
PAZ004>006-010>012-017>019-024>028-033>037-041-042-045-046-
049>053-056>059-063>066-282200-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT - SEVERE WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA
1110 AM EDT MON JUL 28 1997

THE STORM PREDICTION CENTER IN NORMAN OKLAHOMA HAS UPDATED THE
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM RISK TO INCLUDE JUST THE SOUTHWEST PORTION OF
PENNSYLVANIA THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING.

SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP THIS AFTERNOON IN
ADVANCE OF A COLD FRONT APPROACHING FROM THE NORTHWEST.  MUCH OF
SOUTHERN PENNSYLVANIA COULD SEE THUNDERSTORMS BUT...ONLY
SOUTHWEST PENNSYLVANIA WHICH INCLUDES THE LAUREL HIGHLANDS AND
PORTIONS OF THE SOUTH-CENTRAL MOUNTAINS COULD REACH SEVERE
LIMITS.

THUNDERSTORMS WILL END FROM NORTH TO SOUTH LATE THIS AFTERNOON
AND EVENING AS THE FRONT PUSHES SOUTH OF THE REGION.

SKYWARN ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED LATER TODAY.

WINTHER
Special weather statement, Jul 28, 1:42 PM EDT, 2 hours 38 minutes before
PAZ024>026-033>036-282300-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA
130 PM EDT MON JULY 28 1997

...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM
WATCH FOR SOUTHWEST PENNSYLVANIA UNTIL 7 PM...

THE COUNTIES INCLUDED ARE:

FOR THE LAUREL HIGHLANDS AND SOUTH CENTRAL MOUNTAINS...

SOMERSET... BEDFORD... FULTON.

A COLD FRONT WILL SLIDE SOUTHEAST ACROSS THE REGION THIS
AFTERNOON. SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS...SOME THAT MAY BE SEVERE...
WILL DEVELOP ALONG AND AHEAD OF THE COLD FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE
AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING HOURS. AS A RESULT...A SEVERE
THUNDERSTORM WATCH HAS BEEN ISSUED UNTIL 700 PM FOR THE LAUREL
HIGHLANDS AND PORTIONS OF THE SOUTH-CENTRAL MOUNTAINS.

REMEMBER...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH MEANS THAT CONDITIONS ARE
FAVORABLE FOR DAMAGING THUNDERSTORMS TO DEVELOP IN AND CLOSE TO
THE WATCH AREA.

HAVE A SAFE SHELTER NEARBY.  LISTEN FOR POSSIBLE WARNINGS AND BE
READY TO MOVE TO SAFE SHELTER IF THREATENING WEATHER APPROACHES.

STAY UPDATED WITH THE LATEST FORECASTS FROM NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR
YOUR FAVORITE RADIO...TV OR CABLE TV STATION.

WINTHER

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jul 28, 2:19 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPSomerset61 min
Jul 28, 3:08 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPBedford62 min
Jul 28, 4:59 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPAdams61 min
Jul 28, 5:06 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPYork64 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Pennsylvania, 1997Every severe thunderstorm 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; verification from NCEI's Storm Data; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.