Alert archive / Pennsylvania / Tornado Warnings in 1998

Tornado Warning 18, NWS Binghamton, NY

May 31, 1998Pike County, Wayne County, Pennsylvania

NWS Binghamton, NY issued this tornado warning at May 31, 1998, 8:04 PM EDT for Pike County, Wayne County, Pennsylvania. It was in force for 66 min. 6 reports 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
May 31, 1998, 8:04 PM EDT (00:04 UTC)
Expired
May 31, 1998, 9:10 PM EDT
In force
66 min
Issued by
NWS Binghamton, NY
Area
Whole counties

Counties Pike County, PA, Wayne County, PA

What was reported inside it

TimeReportWhereRemark
May 31, 8:08 PM EDTTornado F2Blooming Grove, PAThe tornadic supercell that affected southern Wayne county a bit earlier in the evening continued eastward into Pike county. A tornado touched down briefly in Promised Land and then plowed through portions of Promised Land State Park before temporarily liftin
May 31, 8:20 PM EDTTornado F3Pecks Pond, PAThe cell that produced tornadic damage earlier both in southern Wayne county and just upstream in Promised Land State Park dropped a tornado once again across the southern and southeastern portions of Pike county. A nearly continuous 20 mile path was uncovere
May 31, 8:20 PM EDTTornado F2Blooming Grove, PAA severe thunderstorm became tornadic just south of Interstate 84 and east of Tarey Hill in Blooming Grove township around 8:20 pm EDT. The tornado cut approximately a 3 mile by 200 yard path paralleling Interstate 84. The twister moved through heavily
May 31, 8:50 PM EDTTornado F0Sterling, PAA severe thunderstorm became tornadic across extreme southern portions of the county. Eyewitness reports and post storm surveys indicate that a tornado briefly touched down in Dreher township around 7:50 pm EDT. The tornado appeared to skip over hilltop
May 31, 9:00 PM EDTThunderstorm WindGouldboro, PAA thunderstorm reached severe levels over extreme southern sections of the county late in the evening. Several trees and wires were toppled in Gouldsboro as the storm passed through around 9:00 pm EDT.
May 31, 9:20 PM EDTHail 1South Canaan, PAA severe thunderstorm moving across the county produced 1 inch hail in South Canaan at 9:20 pm EDT. Several trailers at a mobile home park had smashed windows and dented siding as a result.

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
May 31, 5:00 PM EDTTornado WatchSPC5 hr
May 31, 8:00 PM EDTTornado WatchSPC6 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Brookhaven, NY (KOKX), launched 00:00Z, 0.1 hours before the alert went out and 205 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, Brookhaven, NY at 00:00Z on 1998-06-01Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 151 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, Brookhaven, NY at 00:00Z on 1998-06-01The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 233 square meters per square second.19395878Sfc1 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
151 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-348 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1224 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
30 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
233 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
319 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.

580 
WFUS1 KBGM 010005 RRA
TORBGM
PAC103-127-010110-

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BINGHAMTON NY
804 PM EDT SUN MAY 31 1998

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BINGHAMTON HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  PIKE COUNTY IN NORTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA
  SOUTHERN WAYNE COUNTY IN NORTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA

* UNTIL 910 PM EDT

* AT 805 PM EDT... NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  TORNADO IN EASTERN LACKAWANNA COUNTY... MOVING EAST AT 40 MPH.

* THE TORNADO IS EXPECTED TO BE NEAR...
  GREENTOWN AND NEW FOUNDLAND BY 820 PM EDT
  CENTRAL PIKE COUNTY BY 835 PM EDT

GO TO THE BASEMENT OR A SMALL INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR

TOWNSEND

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this tornado warning went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Binghamton, NY wrote its last area forecast discussion before this tornado warning went out at May 31, 2:11 PM EDT, 5 hours 53 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 31, 2:11 PM EDT, 5 hours 53 minutes before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BINGHAMTON NY
211 PM SUN MAY 31 1998

ACTIVE CONVECTION HAS MOVED ACROSS N NY THIS AFTERNOON AND IS BEGINNING
TO DIE OUT SOMEWHAT AS IT EXITS STAGE RIGHT.  NEXT ROUND OF ACTIVITY IS
MOVING ACROSS WESTERN NY.  ACTIVITY IS EXPECTED TO INTENSIFY AS IT
MOVES INTO THE MORE UNSTABLE AIR MASS OVR THE FA. THIS AREA WILL HAVE
TO BE WATCHED THIS AFTERNOON AND WOULD NOT BE SURPRISED IF ANOTHER WATCH
IS ISSUED FURTHER SOUTH ALONG THE SOUTHERN TIER OF NY AND NE PA.
SATELLITE IMAGERY SHOWS MASSIVE STORMS OVR W NY AND NW PA MOVING DUE E
TOWARD THE FA.

MODELS SHOW A VORT LOBE ROT THROUGH THE FA THIS AFTERNOON AND EARLY
EVENING AND WILL CONTINUE TO AID IN SUPPORTING SEVERE CONVECTION.
LATER IN THE PERIOD TONIGHT...NVA SPREADS ACROSS THE RGN HELPING TO
STABILIZE THE ATMOSPHERE. THEN ANOTHER SHOT OF VORTICITY ROT TOWARD THE
FA FOR TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY. SFC LOW TRACKING ACROSS THE N TIER OF THE
NATION AND PRECEEDING THIS SYSTEM WILL BE WAA AND COULD BRING ANOTHER
ROUND OF SVR WEATHER ON WEDNESDAY AS WAA RETURNS.  CDFNT LOOKS LIKE IT
WILL ARRIVE WEDNESDAY FOCUSING SEVERE WEATHER.

.BGM...TORNADO WATCH UNTIL 3 PM FOR NYZ009-015>018-022>025-044.

LOMBARDY

In the hours before

Local storm report, May 31, 5:16 PM EDT, 2 hours 48 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BINGHAMTON NEW YORK
516 PM EDT SUN MAY 31 1998

TIME(EDT)  .....CITY LOCATION..... STATE  ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

0450 PM    ELMIRA HGTS               NY   1.5 INCH HAIL
05/31/98   CHEMUNG

0450 PM    ONEONTA                   NY   WIND DAMAGE
05/31/98   OTSEGO                         MANY TREES UP TO 36 INCHES
                                          IN DIAMETER INTO HOUSES

0509 PM    ANGELICA                  NY   TORNADO
05/31/98   STEUBEN                        TORNADO REPORTED ON THE
                                          GROUND IN ANGELICA AND
                                          MOVING TOWARD ALFRED
Local storm report, May 31, 5:16 PM EDT, 2 hours 48 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BINGHAMTON NEW YORK
516 PM EDT SUN MAY 31 1998

TIME(EDT)  .....CITY LOCATION..... STATE  ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

0450 PM    ELMIRA HGTS               NY   1.5 INCH HAIL
05/31/98   CHEMUNG

0450 PM    ONEONTA                   NY   WIND DAMAGE
05/31/98   OTSEGO                         MANY TREES UP TO 36 INCHES
                                          IN DIAMETER INTO HOUSES

0509 PM    ANGELICA                  NY   TORNADO
05/31/98   STEUBEN                        TORNADO REPORTED ON THE
                                          GROUND IN ANGELICA AND
                                          MOVING TOWARD ALFRED
Local storm report, May 31, 5:56 PM EDT, 2 hours 8 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BINGHAMTON NEW YORK
556 PM EDT SUN MAY 31 1998

TIME(EDT)  .....CITY LOCATION..... STATE  ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

0300 PM    HECTOR                    NY   WIND DAMAGE
05/31/98   SCHUYLER                       NUMEROUS REPORTS OF DAMAGE
                                          TO
                                          TREES...BUILDINGS...POWER
                                          POLES...AND HOMES.

0321 PM    SHERBURNE                 NY   WIND DAMAGE
05/31/98   CHENANGO                       HIGH WINDS AND TREE LIMBS
                                          DOWN

0339 PM    COOPERSTOWN               NY   WIND DAMAGE
05/31/98   OTSEGO                         TREES DOWN

0430 PM    CORNING                   NY   .5 INCH HAIL
05/31/98   STEUBEN

0446 PM    DAVENPORT                 NY   WIND DAMAGE
05/31/98   DELAWARE                       NUMEROUS TREES DOWN

0446 PM    FRANKLIN                  NY   WIND DAMAGE
05/31/98   DELAWARE                       TREES DOWN BLOCKING ROUTE
                                          28

0455 PM    ELMIRA                    NY   1.5 INCH HAIL
05/31/98   CHEMUNG

0520 PM    OWEGO                     NY   WIND DAMAGE
05/31/98   TIOGA                          LARGE TREES AND POWER
                                          POLES DOWN

0528 PM    OWEGO                     NY   .5 INCH HAIL
05/31/98   TIOGA

0528 PM    OWEGO                     NY   WIND DAMAGE
05/31/98   TIOGA                          LARGE TREES AND POWER
                                          POLES DOWN

0530 PM    BARTON                    NY   1 INCH HAIL
05/31/98   TIOGA

0540 PM    ENDICOTT                  NY   .5 INCH HAIL
05/31/98   BROOME

0550 PM    PLYMOUTH                  NY   TORNADO
05/31/98   CHENANGO                       TORNADO ON THE GROUND AT
                                          PLYMOUTH RESEVOIR

0550 PM    NORWICH                   NY   TORNADO
05/31/98   CHENANGO                       TORNADO ON THE GROUND ONE
                                          MILE N OF NORWICH
Local storm report, May 31, 5:56 PM EDT, 2 hours 8 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BINGHAMTON NEW YORK
556 PM EDT SUN MAY 31 1998

TIME(EDT)  .....CITY LOCATION..... STATE  ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

0300 PM    HECTOR                    NY   WIND DAMAGE
05/31/98   SCHUYLER                       NUMEROUS REPORTS OF DAMAGE
                                          TO
                                          TREES...BUILDINGS...POWER
                                          POLES...AND HOMES.

0321 PM    SHERBURNE                 NY   WIND DAMAGE
05/31/98   CHENANGO                       HIGH WINDS AND TREE LIMBS
                                          DOWN

0339 PM    COOPERSTOWN               NY   WIND DAMAGE
05/31/98   OTSEGO                         TREES DOWN

0430 PM    CORNING                   NY   .5 INCH HAIL
05/31/98   STEUBEN

0446 PM    DAVENPORT                 NY   WIND DAMAGE
05/31/98   DELAWARE                       NUMEROUS TREES DOWN

0446 PM    FRANKLIN                  NY   WIND DAMAGE
05/31/98   DELAWARE                       TREES DOWN BLOCKING ROUTE
                                          28

0455 PM    ELMIRA                    NY   1.5 INCH HAIL
05/31/98   CHEMUNG

0520 PM    OWEGO                     NY   WIND DAMAGE
05/31/98   TIOGA                          LARGE TREES AND POWER
                                          POLES DOWN

0528 PM    OWEGO                     NY   .5 INCH HAIL
05/31/98   TIOGA

0528 PM    OWEGO                     NY   WIND DAMAGE
05/31/98   TIOGA                          LARGE TREES AND POWER
                                          POLES DOWN

0530 PM    BARTON                    NY   1 INCH HAIL
05/31/98   TIOGA

0540 PM    ENDICOTT                  NY   .5 INCH HAIL
05/31/98   BROOME

0550 PM    PLYMOUTH                  NY   TORNADO
05/31/98   CHENANGO                       TORNADO ON THE GROUND AT
                                          PLYMOUTH RESEVOIR

0550 PM    NORWICH                   NY   TORNADO
05/31/98   CHENANGO                       TORNADO ON THE GROUND ONE
                                          MILE N OF NORWICH
Local storm report, May 31, 6:33 PM EDT, 1 hour 31 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BINGHAMTON NEW YORK
633 PM EDT SUN MAY 31 1998

TIME(EDT)  .....CITY LOCATION..... STATE  ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

0538 PM    CANDOR                    NY   .75 INCH HAIL
05/31/98   TIOGA

0615 PM    BINGHAMTON                NY   TORNADO
05/31/98   BROOME                         LARGE TORNADO ON THE
                                          GROUND IN DOWNTOWN
                                          BINGHAMTON. HOUSES TOTALLY
                                          DESTROYD VEHICLES
                                          OVERTURNED.

0630 PM    CONKLIN                   NY   TORNADO
05/31/98   BROOME                         NUMEROUS REPORTS OF HOUSES
                                          BLOWN APART WITH PEOPLE
                                          TRAPPED. THREE TORNADOS
                                          SPOTTED.
Local storm report, May 31, 6:33 PM EDT, 1 hour 31 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BINGHAMTON NEW YORK
633 PM EDT SUN MAY 31 1998

TIME(EDT)  .....CITY LOCATION..... STATE  ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

0538 PM    CANDOR                    NY   .75 INCH HAIL
05/31/98   TIOGA

0615 PM    BINGHAMTON                NY   TORNADO
05/31/98   BROOME                         LARGE TORNADO ON THE
                                          GROUND IN DOWNTOWN
                                          BINGHAMTON. HOUSES TOTALLY
                                          DESTROYD VEHICLES
                                          OVERTURNED.

0630 PM    CONKLIN                   NY   TORNADO
05/31/98   BROOME                         NUMEROUS REPORTS OF HOUSES
                                          BLOWN APART WITH PEOPLE
                                          TRAPPED. THREE TORNADOS
                                          SPOTTED.

The office that day

Everything else NWS Binghamton, NY issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 31, 8:07 PM EDTTornado WarningBGMBradford63 min
May 31, 8:15 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBGMSusquehanna65 min
May 31, 8:29 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBGMWayne66 min
May 31, 9:06 PM EDTTornado WarningBGMWyoming64 min
May 31, 9:19 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBGMSusquehanna61 min
May 31, 9:31 PM EDTTornado WarningBGMPike89 min
May 31, 9:37 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBGMLackawanna63 min
May 31, 9:43 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBGMWayne62 min
May 31, 9:56 PM EDTTornado WarningBGMWayne64 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Pennsylvania, 1998Every tornado warning in 1998Tornadoes in 1998

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.