Alert archive / Pennsylvania / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1997
Severe Thunderstorm Warning 55, NWS State College, PA
NWS State College, PA issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Jun 18, 1997, 3:27 PM EDT for Clearfield County, Pennsylvania. It was in force for 48 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
- Jun 18, 1997, 3:27 PM EDT (19:27 UTC)
- Expired
- Jun 18, 1997, 4:15 PM EDT
- In force
- 48 min
- Issued by
- NWS State College, PA
- Area
- Whole counties
County Clearfield County, PA
The watch it was issued in
The SPC watch in force over the same counties when this warning went out.
| Issued | Product | Office | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 18, 2:30 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Watch | SPC | 6 hr |
The nearest sounding before it
Pittsburgh, PA (KPIT), launched 12:00Z, 7.5 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.
- 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
The text
As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.
000 TTAA00 KCTP 181926 RRA SVRCTP PAC033-182015- BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA 327 PM EDT WED JUN 18 1997 THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN STATE COLLEGE HAS ISSUED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL 415 PM EDT FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS...... IN PENNSYLVANIA ...NORTHEASTERN CLEARFIELD COUNTY AT 325 PM WEATHER SERVICE RADAR SHOWED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM NEAR FRENCHVILLE. THE STORM IS MOVING NORTHEAST AT 20 MPH AND WILL CROSS INTO CLARENCE AND KEATING BY 345 PM WHEN THUNDERSTORMS ARE OCCURRING...PEOPLE SHOULD MOVE INSIDE A STRONG BUILDING. DO NOT STAND BY WINDOWS. DON'T USE TELEPHONES OR ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES UNLESS IN AN EMERGENCY UNTIL THE STORM HAS PASSED. MOTORISTS SHOULD NOT DRIVE INTO LOW WATER CROSSINGS. LA CORTE
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 Jun 18, 1:28 PM EDT, 1 hour 59 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Jun 18, 1:28 PM EDT, 1 hour 59 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, 11:06 AM EDT, 4 hours 21 minutes before
PAZ004>006-010>012-017>019-024>028-033>037-041-042-045-046- 049>053-056>059-063>066-182300- SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT - SEVERE WEATHER OUTLOOK FOR CENTRAL PA NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA 11 AM EDT WED JUN 18 1997 ...A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS... THE STORM PREDICTION CENTER SAYS THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA TODAY. SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE MOST LIKELY LATER THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING AS A COLD FRONT APPROACHES THE REGION. THE BEST CHANCE OF SEVERE WEATHER WILL EAST OF A LINE FROM WELLSBORO TO STATE COLLEGE TO BEDFORD. IN ADDITION...VERY HEAVY RAIN WILL BE POSSIBLE FROM SOME STORMS. SKYWARN ACTIVATION MAY BE N8EEDED LATER TODAY. LA CORTE
Special weather statement, Jun 18, 2:33 PM EDT, 54 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, 54 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, 54 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, 46 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, 20 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.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 18, 2:07 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | CTP | Clearfield, Elk | 68 min |
| Jun 18, 2:40 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | CTP | Cameron | 65 min |
| Jun 18, 3:07 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | CTP | Centre, Clinton | 68 min |
| Jun 18, 3:58 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | CTP | Bedford | 62 min |
| Jun 18, 4:21 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | CTP | Centre | 69 min |
| Jun 18, 5:01 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | CTP | Bedford, Fulton | 59 min |
| Jun 18, 5:09 PM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | CTP | Centre, Clearfield | 3 hr |
| Jun 18, 5:14 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | CTP | McKean, Potter | 61 min |
| Jun 18, 5:38 PM EDT | Tornado Warning | CTP | Franklin | 67 min |
| Jun 18, 5:48 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | CTP | Blair, Huntingdon | 57 min |
| Jun 18, 6:18 PM EDT | Tornado Warning | CTP | Juniata | 42 min |
| Jun 18, 7:24 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | CTP | Adams | 51 min |
| Jun 18, 7:41 PM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | CTP | Franklin | 3 hr |
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.