Alert archive / Pennsylvania / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1997
Severe Thunderstorm Warning 145, NWS State College, PA
NWS State College, PA issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Aug 16, 1997, 2:17 PM EDT for Clinton County, Pennsylvania. It was in force for 63 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
- Aug 16, 1997, 2:17 PM EDT (18:17 UTC)
- Expired
- Aug 16, 1997, 3:20 PM EDT
- In force
- 63 min
- Issued by
- NWS State College, PA
- Area
- Whole counties
County Clinton County, PA
What was reported inside it
| Time | Report | Where | Remark |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 16, 2:30 PM EDT | Thunderstorm Wind 51 | Lock Haven, PA | Trees and wires down. |
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 watch it was issued in
The SPC watch in force over the same counties when this warning went out.
| Issued | Product | Office | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 16, 11:00 AM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Watch | SPC | 6 hr |
The nearest sounding before it
Buffalo Intl Airport, NY (KBUF), launched 12:00Z, 6.3 hours before the alert went out and 208 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
- 518 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -21 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 740 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 37 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 126 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 187 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.2
- Supercell composite
- 2.4
The text
As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.
997 WUUS01 KCTP 161819 RRA SVRCTP PAC035-161920- BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA 217 PM EDT SAT AUG 16 1997 THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN STATE COLLEGE PA HAS ISSUED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL 320 PM EDT FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS... IN CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA ...SOUTHERN CLINTON COUNTY AT 216 PM...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A LINE OF SEVERE THUNDERSTOMS BETWEEN RENOVO AND LOCK HAVEN. THE LINE WILL REACH LOCK HAVEN BY 235 PM AND LOGANTON BETWEEN 245 AND 3 PM. WHEN THUNDERSTORMS ARE OCCURRING...PEOPLE SHOULD MOVE INSIDE A STRONG BUILDING. STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS. DO NOT USE TELEPHONES OR ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES UNTIL THE STORM HAS PASSED. DO NOT DRIVE INTO LOW WATER CROSSINGS. JUNG/NICOSIA
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 Aug 16, 2:06 PM EDT, 11 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Aug 16, 2:06 PM EDT, 11 minutes before
CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA 205 PM EDT SAT AUG 16 1997 ...ZONE SUGGESTIONS... NONE...ZONES LOOK GOOD. ...DISCUSSION... IR AND WV IMAGERY SHOWS SMALL MCS WORKG ACROSS N PA ATTM WITH A STRONG LEWP TYPE SQUALL LINE...SIMILAR TO 5/19/97 EVENT. THIS MCS WILL CONTINUE PROPOAGATING THROUGH VERY FAVORABLE ENVIRONMENT THROUGH THE AFT INTO THE EVE SO LOOKS LIKE A LONG-LIVED EVENT... AGAIN SIMILAR TO 5/19. MOST OF THE ACTION WILL STAY NORTH OF I-80...BUT SOME SCATTERED STRONG TO SEVERE STORMS COULD OCCUR ACROSS SOUTHERN PA WITH LATE AFT HEATING. THINGS SHOULD QUIET DOWN CONSIDERABLY FOR TONIGHT. CONCERN FOR SUNDAY WILL BE PTNL FOR HEAVY RAINFALL/FLOODING IN PA. EAST-WEST BOUNDARY SETS UP ACROSS STATE PARALLEL TO FLOW AS WITH GOOD LL CONV AND STRONG LL JET ENTER THE FRAY. THIS SITUATION SHOULD BE LOOKED DURING LATER...LESS HECTIC...SHIFTS. OSTUNO
In the hours before
Special weather statement, Aug 16, 8:28 AM EDT, 5 hours 49 minutes before
PAZ004-161630- SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT- SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA 828 AM EDT SAT AUG 16 1997 ...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH FOR NORTHWEST PENNSYLVANIA UNTIL NOON EDT... WITHIN THE NORTHERN MOUNTAINS... THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH INCLUDES ONLY WARREN COUNTY. ...FORECAST DETAILS... A CLUSTER OF STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS OVER SOUTHEAST LOWER MICHIGAN AND NORTHWEST OHIO WAS RACING EAST NEAR 50 MPH. THE STORMS COULD REACH WARREN COUNTY IN NORTHWEST PENNSYLVANIA LATE IN THE MORNING. THUS... THE HIGHEST THREAT FOR SEVERE WEATHER IN WARREN COUNTY WILL BE LATE IN THE MORNING. IF THE STORMS HOLD TOGETHER AND MAINTAIN INTENSITY... THEY WILL BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING DAMAGING WIND GUSTS OVER 58 MPH AND LARGE HAIL OF AN INCH IN DIAMETER OR GREATER. A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH MEANS THAT CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS. SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE A POSSIBILITY... NOT A CERTAINTY. A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM PRODUCES WINDS OF 58 MPH OR GREATER AND/OR HAIL 3/4 INCH OR LARGER. SKYWARN ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED LATE THIS MORNING. OFFICIAL NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORECASTS...STATEMENTS... WATCHES...WARNINGS AND ADVISORIES FOR PENNSYLVANIA CAN BE FOUND ON THE WORLD WIDE WEB AT THE FOLLOWING ADDRESS: HTTP://IWIN.NWS.NOAA/GOV/IWIN/PA/PA.HTML OR 140.90.6.254/IWIN/PA/PA.HTML NICOSIA
Special weather statement, Aug 16, 8:29 AM EDT, 5 hours 48 minutes before
PAZ004-161630- SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT- SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA 828 AM EDT SAT AUG 16 1997 ...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH FOR NORTHWEST PENNSYLVANIA UNTIL NOON EDT... WITHIN THE NORTHERN MOUNTAINS... THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH INCLUDES ONLY WARREN COUNTY. ...FORECAST DETAILS... A CLUSTER OF STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS OVER SOUTHEAST LOWER MICHIGAN AND NORTHWEST OHIO WAS RACING EAST NEAR 50 MPH. THE STORMS COULD REACH WARREN COUNTY IN NORTHWEST PENNSYLVANIA LATE IN THE MORNING. THUS... THE HIGHEST THREAT FOR SEVERE WEATHER IN WARREN COUNTY WILL BE LATE IN THE MORNING. IF THE STORMS HOLD TOGETHER AND MAINTAIN INTENSITY... THEY WILL BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING DAMAGING WIND GUSTS OVER 58 MPH AND LARGE HAIL OF AN INCH IN DIAMETER OR GREATER. A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH MEANS THAT CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS. SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE A POSSIBILITY... NOT A CERTAINTY. A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM PRODUCES WINDS OF 58 MPH OR GREATER AND/OR HAIL 3/4 INCH OR LARGER. SKYWARN ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED LATE THIS MORNING. OFFICIAL NATIONAL WEATHER SERVIVCE FORECASTS...STATEMENTS... WATCHES...WARNINGS AND ADVISORIES FOR PENNSYLVANIA CAN BE FOUND ON THE WORLD WIDE WEB AT THE FOLLOWING ADDRESS: HTTP://IWIN.NWS.NOAA/GOV/IWIN/PA/PA.HTML OR 140.90.6.254/IWIN/PA/PA.HTML NICOSIA
Special weather statement, Aug 16, 10:27 AM EDT, 3 hours 50 minutes before
PAZ056-057-059-063>066-161700- SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT - HEAT ADVISORY NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA 535 AM EDT SAT AUG 16 1997 ...A HEAT ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT THIS AFTERNOON FOR THE LOWER SUSQUEHANNA VALLEY OF PENNSYLVANIA... THE HEAT ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT FOR PERRY...DAUPHIN...CUMBERLAND ...LEBANON...ADAMS...YORK...AND LANCASTER COUNTIES... ...FORECAST DETAILS... A VERY HUMID SOUTHWESTERLY FLOW OF AIR HAS ENGULFED THE LOWER SUSQUEHANNA VALLEY REGION THIS MORNING. WITH ABUNDANT SUNSHINE THIS AFTERNOON... TEMPERATURES WILL SOAR ACROSS THE LOWER SUSQUEHANNA VALLEY TO BETWEEN 95 AND 100 DEGREES. THESE HOT TEMPERATURES...COMBINED WITH HIGH HUMIDITIES WILL PRODUCE HEAT INDEX VALUES BETWEEN 105 AND 110 DEGREES THIS AFTERNOON. UNLIKE THE HOT WEATHER THAT OCCURRED IN JULY... HUMIDITY LEVELS WILL BE MUCH HIGHER TODAY. ...SYNOPSIS... A LARGE BERMUDA HIGH PRESSURE SYSTEM OFF THE SOUTHEASTERN UNITED STATES COAST WAS PUMPING THE HOT AND HUMID AIR INTO THE MIDDLE ATLANTIC STATES. A COLD FRONT WILL APPROACH THE REGION SUNDAY AND PASS SOUTH BY MONDAY BRINGING RELIEF TO THIS LATEST HOT SPELL. WITH THE FRONT CLOSER TO THE REGION... IT IS NOT EXPECTED TO BE AS HOT AS TODAY DUE TO INCREASED CLOUD COVER. HOWEVER... HUMIDITIES WILL REMAIN HIGH UNTIL MONDAY. ...PRECAUTIONS... DURING TIMES OF HOT WEATHER...WEAR LIGHTWEIGHT...LIGHT COLORED CLOTHING SINCE IT REFLECTS HEAT AND SUNLIGHT AND HELPS YOUR BODY STAY COOLER. YOU SHOULD EXERCISE CAUTION AND BE AWARE THAT THOSE MOST SUSCEPTIBLE TO THE HEAT INCLUDE THE ELDERLY...SMALL CHILDREN... THOSE IN POOR HEALTH...AND ANYONE WHO WORKS OR PLAYS OUTDOORS FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME. LIMIT OUTSIDE ACTIVITIES AND DRINK PLENTY OF FUILDS. ...ADDITIONAL INFORMATION... OFFICIAL NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORECASTS...STATEMENTS... WATCHES...WARNINGS AND ADVISORIES FOR PENNSYLVANIA CAN BE FOUND ON THE WORLD WIDE WEB AT THE FOLLOWING ADDRESS: HTTP://IWIN.NWS.NOAA/GOV/IWIN/PA/PA.HTML OR 140.90.6.254/IWIN/PA/PA.HTML NICOSIA
Special weather statement, Aug 16, 10:29 AM EDT, 3 hours 48 minutes before
PAZ056-057-059-063>066-170000- SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT - HEAT ADVISORY NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA... CORRECTED 1030 AM EDT SAT AUG 16 1997 ...A HEAT ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT THIS AFTERNOON FOR THE LOWER SUSQUEHANNA VALLEY OF PENNSYLVANIA... THE HEAT ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT FOR PERRY...DAUPHIN...CUMBERLAND ...LEBANON...ADAMS...YORK...AND LANCASTER COUNTIES... ...FORECAST DETAILS... A VERY HUMID SOUTHWESTERLY FLOW OF AIR HAS ENGULFED THE LOWER SUSQUEHANNA VALLEY REGION THIS MORNING. WITH ABUNDANT SUNSHINE THIS AFTERNOON... TEMPERATURES WILL SOAR ACROSS THE LOWER SUSQUEHANNA VALLEY TO BETWEEN 95 AND 100 DEGREES. THESE HOT TEMPERATURES...COMBINED WITH HIGH HUMIDITIES WILL PRODUCE HEAT INDEX VALUES BETWEEN 105 AND 110 DEGREES THIS AFTERNOON. UNLIKE THE HOT WEATHER THAT OCCURRED IN JULY... HUMIDITY LEVELS WILL BE MUCH HIGHER TODAY. ...SYNOPSIS... A LARGE BERMUDA HIGH PRESSURE SYSTEM OFF THE SOUTHEASTERN UNITED STATES COAST WAS PUMPING THE HOT AND HUMID AIR INTO THE MIDDLE ATLANTIC STATES. A COLD FRONT WILL APPROACH THE REGION SUNDAY AND PASS SOUTH BY MONDAY BRINGING RELIEF TO THIS LATEST HOT SPELL. WITH THE FRONT CLOSER TO THE REGION... IT IS NOT EXPECTED TO BE AS HOT AS TODAY DUE TO INCREASED CLOUD COVER. HOWEVER... HUMIDITIES WILL REMAIN HIGH UNTIL MONDAY. ...PRECAUTIONS... DURING TIMES OF HOT WEATHER...WEAR LIGHTWEIGHT...LIGHT COLORED CLOTHING SINCE IT REFLECTS HEAT AND SUNLIGHT AND HELPS YOUR BODY STAY COOLER. YOU SHOULD EXERCISE CAUTION AND BE AWARE THAT THOSE MOST SUSCEPTIBLE TO THE HEAT INCLUDE THE ELDERLY...SMALL CHILDREN... THOSE IN POOR HEALTH...AND ANYONE WHO WORKS OR PLAYS OUTDOORS FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME. LIMIT OUTSIDE ACTIVITIES AND DRINK PLENTY OF FUILDS. ...ADDITIONAL INFORMATION... OFFICIAL NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORECASTS...STATEMENTS... WATCHES...WARNINGS AND ADVISORIES FOR PENNSYLVANIA CAN BE FOUND ON THE WORLD WIDE WEB AT THE FOLLOWING ADD RESS: HTTP://IWIN.NWS.NOAA/GOV/IWIN/PA/PA.HTML OR 140.90.6.254/IWIN/PA/PA.HTML ...CORRECTED TIME AND EXPIRATION TIME... NICOSIA
Special weather statement, Aug 16, 10:30 AM EDT, 3 hours 47 minutes before
PAZ056-057-059-063>066-170000- SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT - HEAT ADVISORY NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA... CORRECTED 1030 AM EDT SAT AUG 16 1997 ...A HEAT ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT THIS AFTERNOON FOR THE LOWER SUSQUEHANNA VALLEY OF PENNSYLVANIA... THE HEAT ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT FOR PERRY...DAUPHIN...CUMBERLAND ...LEBANON...ADAMS...YORK...AND LANCASTER COUNTIES... ...FORECAST DETAILS... A VERY HUMID SOUTHWESTERLY FLOW OF AIR HAS ENGULFED THE LOWER SUSQUEHANNA VALLEY REGION THIS MORNING. WITH ABUNDANT SUNSHINE THIS AFTERNOON... TEMPERATURES WILL SOAR ACROSS THE LOWER SUSQUEHANNA VALLEY TO BETWEEN 95 AND 100 DEGREES. THESE HOT TEMPERATURES...COMBINED WITH HIGH HUMIDITIES WILL PRODUCE HEAT INDEX VALUES BETWEEN 105 AND 110 DEGREES THIS AFTERNOON. UNLIKE THE HOT WEATHER THAT OCCURRED IN JULY... HUMIDITY LEVELS WILL BE MUCH HIGHER TODAY. ...SYNOPSIS... A LARGE BERMUDA HIGH PRESSURE SYSTEM OFF THE SOUTHEASTERN UNITED STATES COAST WAS PUMPING THE HOT AND HUMID AIR INTO THE MIDDLE ATLANTIC STATES. A COLD FRONT WILL APPROACH THE REGION SUNDAY AND PASS SOUTH BY MONDAY BRINGING RELIEF TO THIS LATEST HOT SPELL. WITH THE FRONT CLOSER TO THE REGION... IT IS NOT EXPECTED TO BE AS HOT AS TODAY DUE TO INCREASED CLOUD COVER. HOWEVER... HUMIDITIES WILL REMAIN HIGH UNTIL MONDAY. ...PRECAUTIONS... DURING TIMES OF HOT WEATHER...WEAR LIGHTWEIGHT...LIGHT COLORED CLOTHING SINCE IT REFLECTS HEAT AND SUNLIGHT AND HELPS YOUR BODY STAY COOLER. YOU SHOULD EXERCISE CAUTION AND BE AWARE THAT THOSE MOST SUSCEPTIBLE TO THE HEAT INCLUDE THE ELDERLY...SMALL CHILDREN... THOSE IN POOR HEALTH...AND ANYONE WHO WORKS OR PLAYS OUTDOORS FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME. LIMIT OUTSIDE ACTIVITIES AND DRINK PLENTY OF FUILDS. ...ADDITIONAL INFORMATION... OFFICIAL NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORECASTS...STATEMENTS... WATCHES...WARNINGS AND ADVISORIES FOR PENNSYLVANIA CAN BE FOUND ON THE WORLD WIDE WEB AT THE FOLLOWING ADDRESS: HTTP://IWIN.NWS.NOAA/GOV/IWIN/PA/PA.HTML OR 140.90.6.254/IWIN/PA/PA.HTML ...CORRECTED TIME AND EXPIRATION TIME... NICOSIA
Special weather statement, Aug 16, 11:12 AM EDT, 3 hours 5 minutes before
PAZ004>006-010>012-017>019-037-041-042-045-046-049>053-162110- SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT- SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WATCH NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA 1112 AM EDT SAT AUG 16 1997 ...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 5 PM FOR THE NORTHERN HALF OF CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA...INCLUDING THE MIDDLE SUSQUEHANNA VALLEY. THE COUNTIES INCLUDED IN THE WATCH ARE: WARREN... MCKEAN... ELK... CLINTON... TIOGA... NORTHUMBERLAND... CAMERON... LYCOMING... UNION... CENTRE... POTTER... SNYDER... CLEARFIELD... SULLIVAN... MONTOUR AND COLUMBIA. WARM HUMID AIR ACROSS THE REGION HAS MADE CONDITIONS FAVORABLE FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS NORTHERN PENNSYLVANIA THIS AFTERNOON. STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS OVER OHIO LATE THIS MORNING WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE EASTWARD...AND MAY PRODUCE ADDITIONAL SEVERE WEATHER AS THEY MOVE ACROSS THE NORTEHRN HALF OF PENNSYLVANIA. A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH MEANS THAT CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS. SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE A POSSIBILITY... NOT A CERTAINTY. A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM PRODUCES WINDS OF 58 MPH OR GREATER AND/OR HAIL 3/4 INCH OR LARGER. JUNG
The office that day
Everything else NWS State College, PA issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 16, 11:32 AM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | CTP | Warren | 58 min |
| Aug 16, 12:26 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | CTP | McKean, Warren | 59 min |
| Aug 16, 12:43 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | CTP | Elk | 62 min |
| Aug 16, 1:12 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | CTP | Cameron, Potter | 58 min |
| Aug 16, 1:26 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | CTP | Clearfield | 59 min |
| Aug 16, 1:43 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | CTP | Clinton | 62 min |
| Aug 16, 1:43 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | CTP | Tioga | 62 min |
| Aug 16, 2:01 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | CTP | Lycoming | 64 min |
| Aug 16, 2:10 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | CTP | Centre | 60 min |
| Aug 16, 2:24 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | CTP | Clearfield | 31 min |
| Aug 16, 2:41 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | CTP | Sullivan | 64 min |
| Aug 16, 2:56 PM EDT | Tornado Warning | CTP | Sullivan | 49 min |
| Aug 16, 3:04 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | CTP | Columbia, Lycoming, Montour, Northumberland | 61 min |
| Aug 16, 3:04 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | CTP | Clinton, Union | 61 min |
| Aug 16, 3:22 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | CTP | Northumberland, Snyder | 63 min |
| Aug 16, 3:22 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | CTP | Columbia | 63 min |
| Aug 16, 3:58 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | CTP | Schuylkill | 62 min |
| Aug 16, 7:14 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | CTP | McKean | 61 min |
| Aug 16, 7:36 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | CTP | Potter | 64 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.