Alert archive / Pennsylvania / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1997
Severe Thunderstorm Warning 159, NWS State College, PA
NWS State College, PA issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Aug 16, 1997, 9:43 PM EDT for Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania. It was in force for 22 min. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.
The area
The counties it named.
The facts
- Issued
- Aug 16, 1997, 9:43 PM EDT (01:43 UTC)
- Expired
- Aug 16, 1997, 10:05 PM EDT
- In force
- 22 min
- Issued by
- NWS State College, PA
- Area
- Whole counties
County Schuylkill County, PA
The nearest sounding before it
Washington/Dulle, VA (KIAD), launched 00:00Z, 1.7 hours before the alert went out and 220 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
- 2006 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -4 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 1904 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 18 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 7 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 61 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 1.5
The text
The text of this product is not in the archive. The NWS text archive before 2002 is incomplete.
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, 8:48 PM EDT, 55 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Aug 16, 8:48 PM EDT, 55 minutes before
CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA 845 PM EDT SAT AUG 16 1997 ...ZONE SUGGESTIONS... NONE...ZONES LOOK GOOD. ...DISCUSSION... MCS DEVELOPING THIS EVENING BETWEEN THE THETA-E RIDGE AS DEPICTED BY WV LOOP AND THE 300MB JET SCREAMING ENE FROM LAKE HURON TO THE ST LAWRENCE VALLEY. DUE TO THE STATIC NATURE OF THESE 2 FEATURES IT APPEARS THAT MOST OF CENTRAL AND WESTERN PA IS IN FOR A VERY WET...NOISY NIGHT. REPEATING TSTMS OVR MERCER COUNTY HAVE PRODUCED 2 TO 4 INCHES OF RAIN ALREADY. IT APPEARS THAT ECHO TRAINING IS GOING TO BE THE MAJOR PROBLEM TONIGHT. WE HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH THE EXTENSION OF THE FFA EAST PER PHONE COORD EARLIER. WE HAVE SEEN SOME REMARKABLE THINGS ON KCCX THIS EVE. EARLIER A VIL OF 80 OVR E OH JUST W OF MERCER COUNTY. ALSO EARLIER A 100 PERCENT CHC OF 1 INCH HAIL OVR MERCER COUNTY. THIS HAS SINCE EASED OFF A BIT BUT THESE 2 PARAMETERS ARE CLEAR INDICATERS OF JUST HOW SATURATED THE AIR MASS IS AND THE RAIN PRODUCING CAPABILITIES OF THESE STORMS. FORTUNATELY...DURING THE LAST HOUR THERE HAS BEEN A SOUTHWARD SHIFT OF THIS E/W LINE AND THIS HAS TAKEN SOME PRESSURE OFF THE RAIN SOAKED AREAS TO THE NORTH. THERE APPEARS TO BE A SERIES OF SHORT WAVES MOVING ENE UP THE OH VAL TOWARD PA. THESE WILL LIKELY INSTIGATE PERIODIC RAIN FOR THE NEXT 36 TO 48 HOURS. THE MOST PRONOUNCED OF THESE SHORTS IS OVER INDIANA THIS EVE. 2 FINGERING THIS...PUTS IT OVER CPA AROUND 16Z SUN. IF MOST OF THE RAIN FALLS AHEAD OF THE SYSTEM THIS MAY GIVE WESTERN AND CENTRAL PA A BREAK FROM THE RAIN SUN PM...B4 THE SYSTEM NEAR MKC MOVES IN LATER SUN NITE INTO MON. BELIEVE THE TIMING OF THE HEAVIER RAIN IS DIRECTLY LINKED TO THE MOVEMENT OF THESE 2 SYSTEMS. CONCERN FOR SUNDAY IS HOW MUCH HEAVY RAINFALL/FLOODING IN PA. EAST- WEST BOUNDARY SETS UP ACROSS STATE PARALLEL TO FLOW ADDING TO THE ABOVE MENTIONED MIX. LL JET APPEARS TO SHOOT E ACROSS VA BUT BOUNDARY AND THETA-E AXIS REMAIN ACROSS PA AND WITH RR ENTRANCE REGION TO UL JET IN PLACE IT APPEARS RAIN WOULD CONTINUE THRU 16Z OVR W AND MOST OF DAY OVR E. AS U MIGHT IMAGINE I HAVE NOT HAD MUCH TIME TO LOOK TOO FAR AHEAD SO WILL END THIS HERE.: HEAD
In the hours before
Special weather statement, Aug 16, 4:12 PM EDT, 5 hours 31 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, 5 hours 30 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, 3 hours 32 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, 3 hours 31 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, 1 hour 55 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, 1 hour 54 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.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 16, 8:01 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | CTP | Clearfield | 64 min |
| Aug 16, 8:50 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | CTP | Centre | 60 min |
| Aug 16, 8:57 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | CTP | Centre | 53 min |
| Aug 16, 9:04 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | CTP | Schuylkill | 61 min |
| Aug 16, 10:05 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | CTP | Mifflin | 50 min |
| Aug 16, 10:09 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | CTP | Lancaster | 61 min |
| Aug 16, 11:01 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | CTP | Columbia, Montour | 64 min |
| Aug 17, 4:45 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | CTP | Bedford, Somerset | 60 min |
| Aug 17, 5:12 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | CTP | Fulton | 58 min |
| Aug 17, 5:25 PM EDT | Tornado Warning | CTP | Bedford, Fulton | 35 min |
| Aug 17, 5:40 PM EDT | Tornado Warning | CTP | Franklin | 50 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; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive.