Alert archive / Pennsylvania / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1997

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 155, NWS State College, PA

August 16, 1997Clearfield County, Pennsylvania

NWS State College, PA issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Aug 16, 1997, 8:01 PM EDT for Clearfield County, Pennsylvania. It was in force for 64 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, 8:01 PM EDT (00:01 UTC)
Expired
Aug 16, 1997, 9:05 PM EDT
In force
64 min
Issued by
NWS State College, PA
Area
Whole counties

County Clearfield County, PA

What was reported inside it

TimeReportWhereRemark
Aug 16, 8:30 PM EDTThunderstorm Wind 51Irvona, PATrees were down on a farmhouse near Irvona. Trees also down in Kylertown.

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.

IssuedProductOfficeLasted
Aug 16, 7:30 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WatchSPC5 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Pittsburgh, PA (KPIT), launched 00:00Z, 0.0 hours before the alert went out and 152 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 1997-08-17Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 3957 joules per kilogram.LCLEL10008507005003002001001 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 1997-08-17The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 180 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
3957 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-3 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
819 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
25 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
180 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
250 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
4.5
Supercell composite
26.6

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
TTAA00 KCTP 170003 RRA
SVRCTP
PAC033-170105-

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA
801 PM EDT SAT AUG 16 1997

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN STATE COLLEGE PA HAS ISSUED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL 905 PM EDT
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS...

IN WEST CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA

   ...CLEARFIELD COUNTY
 
AT 800 PM...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED
A CLUSTER OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ENTERING WESTERN CLEARFIELD
COUNTY.  AT 8 PM...THE STORMS EXTEND FROM DUBOIS TO NEWTONBURG AND
WILL REACH FROM LECONTES MILLS TO CURWINSVILLE BY 830 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/OSTUNO

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, 5 hours 55 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Aug 16, 2:06 PM EDT, 5 hours 55 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, 4:12 PM EDT, 3 hours 49 minutes before
PAZ004-170215-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT- SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA
412 PM EDT SAT AUG 16 1997

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IN EFFECT FOR WARREN COUNTY UNTIL 10
PM...

SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUE TO FORM IN THE WARM AND HUMID AIR
OVER NORTHWESTERN PENNSYLVANIA.  SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE
IN WARREN COUNTY THIS EVENING...AND A WATCH HAS BEEN ISSUED.

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/HEAD
Special weather statement, Aug 16, 4:13 PM EDT, 3 hours 48 minutes before
PAZ004-170215-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT- SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA
412 PM EDT SAT AUG 16 1997

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IN EFFECT FOR WARREN COUNTY UNTIL 10
PM...

SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUE TO FORM IN THE WARM AND HUMID AIR
OVER NORTHWESTERN PENNSYLVANIA.  SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE
IN WARREN COUNTY THIS EVENING...AND A WATCH HAS BEEN ISSUED.

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH MEANS THAT CONDzITIONS 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/HEAD
Special weather statement, Aug 16, 6:11 PM EDT, 1 hour 50 minutes before
PAZ041-042-046-049>053-058-162245-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT- SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH CANCELLATION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA
611 PM EDT SAT AUG 16 1997

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH CANCELLED...

THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH FOR LYCOMING...SULLIVAN...UNION...
SNYDER...NORTHUMBERLAND...MONTOUR...COLUMBIA... AND SCHUYLKILL
COUNTIES HAS BEEN CANCELLED AS OF 6 PM EDT. THE THUNDERSTORMS HAVE
MOVED EAST OF THE AREA ENDING THE THREAT OF SEVERE WEATHER FOR NOW.

HEAD
Special weather statement, Aug 16, 6:12 PM EDT, 1 hour 49 minutes before
PAZ041-042-046-049>053-058-162245-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT- SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH CANCELLATION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA
611 PM EDT SAT AUG 16 1997

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH CANCELLED...

THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH FOR LYCOMING...SULLIVAN...UNION...
SNYDER...NORTHUMBERLAND...MONTOUR...COLUMBIA... AND SCHUYLKILL
COUNTIES HAS BEEN CANCELLED AS OF 6 PM EDT. THE THUNDERSTORMS HAVE
MOVED EAST OF THE AREA ENDING THE THREAT OF SEVERE WEATHER FOR NOW.

HEAD
Special weather statement, Aug 16, 7:48 PM EDT, 13 minutes before
PAZ010>012-017>019-024>028-033>036-045-170450-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT- SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA
748 PM EDT SAT AUG 16 1997

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR A LARGE PORTION OF
CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA...

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR ELK...CAMERON...
CLINTON...CLEARFIELD...CENTRE...CAMBRIA...BLAIR...HUNTINGDON...
MIFFLIN...JUNIATA...SOMERSET...BEDFORD...FULTON... AND FRANKLIN
COUNTIES UNTIL MIDNIGHT EDT.

A LARGE CLUSTER OF STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL MOVE THROUGH
MOST OF WESTERN AND CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA THIS EVENING.

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.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO...RADIO...TELEVISION
OR CABLE TELEVISION FOR THE LATEST UPDATES CONCERNING
THIS DEVELOPING WEATHER SITUATION. LISTEN FOR LATER
STATEMENTS...WATCHES...WARNINGS OR ADVISORIES.

HEAD
Special weather statement, Aug 16, 7:49 PM EDT, 12 minutes before
PAZ010>012-017>019-024>028-033>036-045-170450-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT- SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA
748 PM EDT SAT AUG 16 1997

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR A LARGE PORTION OF
CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA...

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR ELK...CAMERON...
CLINTON...CLEARFIELD...CENTRE...CAMBRIA...BLAIR...HUNTINGDON...
MIFFLIN...JUNIATA...SOMERSET...BEDFORD...FULTON... AND FRANKLIN
COUNTIES UNTIL MIDNIGHT EDT.

A LARGE CLUSTER OF STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL MOVE THROUGH
MOST OF WESTERN AND CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA THIS EVENING.

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.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO...RADIO...TELEVISION
OR CABLE TELEVISION FxOR THE LATEST UPDATES CONCERNING
THIS DEVELOPING WEATHER SITUATION. LISTEN FOR LATER
STATEMENTS...WATCHES...WARNINGS OR ADVISORIES.

HEAD

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Aug 16, 8:50 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPCentre60 min
Aug 16, 8:57 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPCentre53 min
Aug 16, 9:04 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPSchuylkill61 min
Aug 16, 9:43 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPSchuylkill22 min
Aug 16, 10:05 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPMifflin50 min
Aug 16, 10:09 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPLancaster61 min
Aug 16, 11:01 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPColumbia, Montour64 min
Aug 17, 4:45 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPBedford, Somerset60 min
Aug 17, 5:12 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPFulton58 min
Aug 17, 5:25 PM EDTTornado WarningCTPBedford, Fulton35 min
Aug 17, 5:40 PM EDTTornado WarningCTPFranklin50 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.