Alert archive / Pennsylvania / Tornado Warnings in 1998

Tornado Warning 22, NWS Binghamton, NY

May 31, 1998Wayne County, Pennsylvania

NWS Binghamton, NY issued this tornado warning at May 31, 1998, 9:56 PM EDT for Wayne County, Pennsylvania. It was in force for 64 min. 2 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, 9:56 PM EDT (01:56 UTC)
Expired
May 31, 1998, 11:00 PM EDT
In force
64 min
Issued by
NWS Binghamton, NY
Area
Whole counties

County Wayne County, PA

What was reported inside it

TimeReportWhereRemark
May 31, 10:25 PM EDTThunderstorm WindWaymart, PAA severe thunderstorm moving across the county blew down trees in Waymart at 10:25 pm EDT.
May 31, 10:47 PM EDTThunderstorm WindSouth Canaan, PAThe same severe cell that produced wind damage in the Scranton area earlier in the evening also caused damage in extreme southern Wayne county. Trees and wires were downed in South Canaan township just after 10:45 pm EDT.

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, 8:00 PM EDTTornado WatchSPC6 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Brookhaven, NY (KOKX), launched 00:00Z, 1.9 hours before the alert went out and 222 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.

263 
WFUS1 KBGM 010158 RRA
TORBGM
PAC127-010300-

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

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BINGHAMTON HAS ISSUED A

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

* UNTIL 1100 PM EDT

* AT 950 PM EDT... NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED
  AND A SKYWARN SPOTTER REPORTED A TORNADO ON THE GROUND IN HAMLIN...
  MOVING EAST AT   30 MPH.

* THE TORNADO IS EXPECTED TO BE NEAR...
  NARROWSBURG... HAWLEY AND POCONO SPRINGS AT 1010 PM EDT

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

CHAMPNEY

DO NOT USE YOUR CAR TO OUTRUN A TORNADO. CARS ARE EASILY TOSSED
AROUND BY TORNADIC WINDS. IF YOU ARE CAUGHT IN THE PATH OF A
TORNADO... LEAVE THE CAR AND GO TO A STRONG BUILDING. IF NO
STRUCTURE IS NEARBY...SEEK SAFETY IN A DITCH OR LOW SPOT. BE
MINDFUL OF RISING WATERS.

&

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, 8:17 PM EDT, 1 hour 39 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 31, 8:17 PM EDT, 1 hour 39 minutes before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BINGHAMTON NY
816 PM SUN MAY 31 1998

SEVERE WEATHER HITTING THE BGM COUNTY WARNING AREA HARD. SO WILL SEND A
QUICK UPDATE WITH WATCH EXTENSION AND MINOR WORDING CHANGES.

.BGM...TORNADO WATCH UNTIL 2 AM FOR ALL OF BGM COUNTY WARNING AREA.

LOMBARDY

In the hours before

Local storm report, May 31, 6:33 PM EDT, 3 hours 23 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, 8:13 PM EDT, 1 hour 43 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BINGHAMTON NEW YORK
813 PM EDT SUN MAY 31 1998

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

0451 PM    ADDISON                   NY   1.25 INCH HAIL
05/31/98   STEUBEN

0455 PM    ELMIRA HGTS               NY   .88 INCH HAIL
05/31/98   CHEMUNG

0509 PM    ANGELICA                  NY   TORNADO
05/31/98   STEUBEN                        TORNADO ON GROUND FROM
                                          ANGELICA TO ALFRED

0515 PM    SCHENEVUS                 NY   WIND DAMAGE
05/31/98   OTSEGO                         TREES AND WIRES DOWN

0530 PM    BATH                      NY   WIND DAMAGE
05/31/98   STEUBEN                        TREES AND WIRES DOWN

0532 PM    APALACHIN                 NY   .88 INCH HAIL
05/31/98   TIOGA

0552 PM    UNADILLA                  NY   TORNADO
05/31/98   OTSEGO                         TORNADO REPORTED ON GROUND

0552 PM    CINCINNATUS               NY   WIND DAMAGE
05/31/98   CORTLAND                       TREES DOWN

0612 PM    APALACHIN                 NY   WIND DAMAGE
05/31/98   TIOGA                          TREES ON TRAILERS ON GLANN
                                          ROAD

0615 PM    WINDSOR                   NY   1.75 INCH HAIL
05/31/98   BROOME

0618 PM    PITTSTON                  PA   1.25 INCH HAIL
05/31/98   LUZERNE

0622 PM    HARTWICK                  NY   WIND DAMAGE
05/31/98   OTSEGO                         NUMEROUS TREES AND WIRES
                                          DOWN

0622 PM    MILFORD                   NY   WIND DAMAGE
05/31/98   OTSEGO                         ROOFS TORN OFF HOUSES
                                          TRAILERS OVERTURNED

0625 PM    BINGHAMTON                NY   TORNADO
05/31/98   BROOME                         SEVERAL HOUSES WITH ROOFS
                                          TORN OFF

0630 PM    TIOGA TERRACE             NY   WIND DAMAGE
05/31/98   TIOGA                          WIRES AND TREES DOWN

0630 PM    VESTAL                    NY   WIND DAMAGE
05/31/98   BROOME                         TREES AND WIRES DOWN

0804 PM    ENDWELL                   NY   1.25 INCH HAIL
05/31/98   BROOME
Local storm report, May 31, 8:13 PM EDT, 1 hour 43 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BINGHAMTON NEW YORK
813 PM EDT SUN MAY 31 1998

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

0451 PM    ADDISON                   NY   1.25 INCH HAIL
05/31/98   STEUBEN

0455 PM    ELMIRA HGTS               NY   .88 INCH HAIL
05/31/98   CHEMUNG

0509 PM    ANGELICA                  NY   TORNADO
05/31/98   STEUBEN                        TORNADO ON GROUND FROM
                                          ANGELICA TO ALFRED

0515 PM    SCHENEVUS                 NY   WIND DAMAGE
05/31/98   OTSEGO                         TREES AND WIRES DOWN

0530 PM    BATH                      NY   WIND DAMAGE
05/31/98   STEUBEN                        TREES AND WIRES DOWN

0532 PM    APALACHIN                 NY   .88 INCH HAIL
05/31/98   TIOGA

0552 PM    UNADILLA                  NY   TORNADO
05/31/98   OTSEGO                         TORNADO REPORTED ON GROUND

0552 PM    CINCINNATUS               NY   WIND DAMAGE
05/31/98   CORTLAND                       TREES DOWN

0612 PM    APALACHIN                 NY   WIND DAMAGE
05/31/98   TIOGA                          TREES ON TRAILERS ON GLANN
                                          ROAD

0615 PM    WINDSOR                   NY   1.75 INCH HAIL
05/31/98   BROOME

0618 PM    PITTSTON                  PA   1.25 INCH HAIL
05/31/98   LUZERNE

0622 PM    HARTWICK                  NY   WIND DAMAGE
05/31/98   OTSEGO                         NUMEROUS TREES AND WIRES
                                          DOWN

0622 PM    MILFORD                   NY   WIND DAMAGE
05/31/98   OTSEGO                         ROOFS TORN OFF HOUSES
                                          TRAILERS OVERTURNED

0625 PM    BINGHAMTON                NY   TORNADO
05/31/98   BROOME                         SEVERAL HOUSES WITH ROOFS
                                          TORN OFF

0630 PM    TIOGA TERRACE             NY   WIND DAMAGE
05/31/98   TIOGA                          WIRES AND TREES DOWN

0630 PM    VESTAL                    NY   WIND DAMAGE
05/31/98   BROOME                         TREES AND WIRES DOWN

0804 PM    ENDWELL                   NY   1.25 INCH HAIL
05/31/98   BROOME
Special weather statement, May 31, 8:14 PM EDT, 1 hour 42 minutes before
NYZ056-024-045-044-057-046-023-022-055-025-017-036-009-037-018-016-
015-062-PAZ038-044-047-048-039-040-043-010600-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BINGHAMTON NY
814 PM EDT SUN MAY 31 1998

...TORNADO WATCH IN EFFECT UNTIL 200 AM EDT...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS EXTENDED A TORNADO WATCH
UNTIL 200 AM EDT MONDAY FOR THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES:

BROOME NY...
CHEMUNG NY...
CHENANGO NY...
CORTLAND NY...
DELAWARE NY...
OTSEGO NY...
SCHUYLER NY...
STEUBEN NY...
TIOGA NY...
TOMPKINS NY...
S. CAYUGA NY...
MADISON NY...
N. ONEIDA NY...
S. ONEIDA NY...
ONONDAGA NY...
SENECA NY...
YATES NY...
SULLIVAN NY...
BRADFORD PA...
LACKAWANNA PA...
LUZERNE PA...
PIKE PA...
SUSQUEHANNA PA...
WAYNE PA...
WYOMING PA...

TORNADOS...LARGE DAMAGING HAIL 3/4 OF AN INCH IN DIAMETER OR
LARGER...DAMAGING THUNDERSTORM WINDS 58 MPH OR GREATER AND
DANGEROUS CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING ARE POSSIBLE IN THE WATCH
AREA.

REMEMBER...A TORNADO WATCH MEANS CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR
TORNADOS AND SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS IN AND CLOSE TO THE WATCH AREA.
IF YOU LIVE IN THESE AREAS...BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR THREATENING
WEATHER CONDITIONS AND LISTEN FOR LATER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE
WARNINGS.

GET TO A SAFE PLACE OF SHELTER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU ARE CAUGHT IN THE
OPEN.  STAY OFF THE PHONE AND KEEP AWAY FROM WINDOWS.  LIGHTNING
IS A KILLER IN THESE STORMS.  DO NOT SEEK SHELTER UNDER TREES AND
GET OUT OF OPEN AREAS.

ONCE AGAIN...A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL
200 AM EDT.

LOMBARDY
Local storm report, May 31, 8:23 PM EDT, 1 hour 33 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BINGHAMTON NEW YORK
823 PM EDT SUN MAY 31 1998

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

0545 PM    SHERBURNE                 NY   WIND DAMAGE
05/31/98   CHENANGO                       TREES AND POWERLINES DOWN

0603 PM    VESTAL                    NY   1 INCH HAIL
05/31/98   BROOME

0615 PM    BINGHAMTON                NY   TORNADO
05/31/98   BROOME                         TORNADO TOUCHDOWN CONKLIN
                                          AVE.  ROOF BLOWN OFF
                                          MAINES PAPER AND FOOD

0615 PM    AUBURN                    NY   WIND DAMAGE
05/31/98   CAYUGA                         TREES DOWN NEAR RTE 5 AND
                                          RTE 20

0636 PM    COOPERSTOWN               NY   WIND DAMAGE
05/31/98   OTSEGO                         TREES DOWN 10 MI NORTHEAST
                                          OF COOPERSTOWN IN CHERRY
                                          VALLEY

0642 PM    DEPOSIT                   NY   TORNADO
05/31/98   DELAWARE                       TORNADO TOUCHDOWN 1 MI
                                          NORTH OF DEPOSIT

0649 PM    STERLING                  NY   .88 INCH HAIL
05/31/98   WAYNE

0650 PM    WORCESTER                 NY   WIND DAMAGE
05/31/98   OTSEGO                         TREES DOWN AND ANTENNAS
                                          TWISTED

0722 PM    HORSEHEADS                NY   WIND DAMAGE
05/31/98   CHEMUNG                        NUMEROUS WIRES AND TREES
                                          DOWN
Local storm report, May 31, 8:23 PM EDT, 1 hour 33 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BINGHAMTON NEW YORK
823 PM EDT SUN MAY 31 1998

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

0545 PM    SHERBURNE                 NY   WIND DAMAGE
05/31/98   CHENANGO                       TREES AND POWERLINES DOWN

0603 PM    VESTAL                    NY   1 INCH HAIL
05/31/98   BROOME

0615 PM    BINGHAMTON                NY   TORNADO
05/31/98   BROOME                         TORNADO TOUCHDOWN CONKLIN
                                          AVE.  ROOF BLOWN OFF
                                          MAINES PAPER AND FOOD

0615 PM    AUBURN                    NY   WIND DAMAGE
05/31/98   CAYUGA                         TREES DOWN NEAR RTE 5 AND
                                          RTE 20

0636 PM    COOPERSTOWN               NY   WIND DAMAGE
05/31/98   OTSEGO                         TREES DOWN 10 MI NORTHEAST
                                          OF COOPERSTOWN IN CHERRY
                                          VALLEY

0642 PM    DEPOSIT                   NY   TORNADO
05/31/98   DELAWARE                       TORNADO TOUCHDOWN 1 MI
                                          NORTH OF DEPOSIT

0649 PM    STERLING                  NY   .88 INCH HAIL
05/31/98   WAYNE

0650 PM    WORCESTER                 NY   WIND DAMAGE
05/31/98   OTSEGO                         TREES DOWN AND ANTENNAS
                                          TWISTED

0722 PM    HORSEHEADS                NY   WIND DAMAGE
05/31/98   CHEMUNG                        NUMEROUS WIRES AND TREES
                                          DOWN

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 31, 8:04 PM EDTTornado WarningBGMPike, Wayne66 min
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

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.