Alert archive / Pennsylvania / Tornado Warnings in 1998
Tornado Warning 9, NWS Binghamton, NY
NWS Binghamton, NY issued this tornado warning at May 31, 1998, 6:07 PM EDT for Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. It was in force for 63 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
- May 31, 1998, 6:07 PM EDT (22:07 UTC)
- Expired
- May 31, 1998, 7:10 PM EDT
- In force
- 63 min
- Issued by
- NWS Binghamton, NY
- Area
- Whole counties
County Luzerne County, PA
The radar
The Binghamton radar (KBGM), 114 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 22:28 UTC, the scan nearest the moment this went out.
Open the radar archive at this moment
The archived warnings, watches and discussions in force at that minute are drawn over the scan, this one among them.
What was reported inside it
| Time | Report | Where | Remark |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 31, 7:00 PM EDT | Tornado F0 | Pittston, PA | A severe thunderstorm intensified and briefly became tornadic over Jackson township in eastern portions of the county around 7:00 pm EDT. Eyewitness reports and damage surveys indicate tree tops were twisted off and a few utility poles were sheared off. |
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.
| Issued | Product | Office | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 31, 5:00 PM EDT | Tornado Watch | SPC | 5 hr |
The nearest sounding before it
Albany, NY (KALY), launched 12:00Z, 10.1 hours before the alert went out and 245 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
- 0 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- No buoyant parcel
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 1673 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 35 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 188 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 264 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 0.4
The text
As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.
813 WFUS1 KBGM 312208 RRA TORBGM PAC079-312310- BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED TORNADO WARNING NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BINGHAMTON NY 607 PM EDT SUN MAY 31 1998 THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BINGHAMTON HAS ISSUED A * TORNADO WARNING FOR... LUZERNE COUNTY IN NORTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA * UNTIL 710 PM EDT * AT 608 PM EDT... NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A TORNADO IN WESTERN LUZERNE COUNTY... MOVING EAST AT 40 MPH. * THE TORNADO IS EXPECTED TO BE NEAR... WILKES BARRE BY 620 PM EDT FOREST PARK BY 630 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, 3 hours 56 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, May 31, 2:11 PM EDT, 3 hours 56 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, 5:07 PM EDT, 1 hour before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BINGHAMTON NEW YORK
507 PM EDT SUN MAY 31 1998
TIME(EDT) .....CITY LOCATION..... STATE ...EVENT/REMARKS...
....COUNTY LOCATION....
0303 PM AUGUSTA NY WIND DAMAGE
05/31/98 ONEIDA ROOF BLOWN OFF SILO
0310 PM CLINTON NY WIND DAMAGE
05/31/98 ONEIDA TREES DOWN IN THE STREETS
0310 PM SMITHFIELD NY WIND DAMAGE
05/31/98 MADISON LIMBS AND WIRES DOWN
0321 PM CORTLAND NY FLOODING
05/31/98 CORTLAND SE SIDE OF CORTLAND STREET
FLOODING 6 INCHES DEEP
0400 PM MARATHON NY
05/31/98 CORTLAND 0.6 INCH STORM TOTAL
RAINFALL
0420 PM COOPERSTOWN NY WIND DAMAGE
05/31/98 OTSEGO TREES DOWN ON NUMEROUS
ROADS
0420 PM COOPERSTOWN NY WIND DAMAGE
05/31/98 OTSEGO COUNTY ROUTE 31 BLOCKED BY
SEVERAL TREES
0420 PM COOPERSTOWN NY WIND DAMAGE
05/31/98 OTSEGO TREE DOWN ON FIRE TRUCK
0420 PM COOPERSTOWN NY WIND DAMAGE
05/31/98 OTSEGO LARGE TREE DOWN BLOCKING
ROUTE 8
0420 PM LAURENS NY WIND DAMAGE
05/31/98 OTSEGO NUMEROUS TREES DOWN
0421 PM HORNELL NY .75 INCH HAIL
05/31/98 STEUBEN
0427 PM ADDISON NY 1.75 INCH HAIL
05/31/98 STEUBENLocal storm report, May 31, 5:07 PM EDT, 1 hour before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BINGHAMTON NEW YORK
507 PM EDT SUN MAY 31 1998
TIME(EDT) .....CITY LOCATION..... STATE ...EVENT/REMARKS...
....COUNTY LOCATION....
0303 PM AUGUSTA NY WIND DAMAGE
05/31/98 ONEIDA ROOF BLOWN OFF SILO
0310 PM CLINTON NY WIND DAMAGE
05/31/98 ONEIDA TREES DOWN IN THE STREETS
0310 PM SMITHFIELD NY WIND DAMAGE
05/31/98 MADISON LIMBS AND WIRES DOWN
0321 PM CORTLAND NY FLOODING
05/31/98 CORTLAND SE SIDE OF CORTLAND STREET
FLOODING 6 INCHES DEEP
0400 PM MARATHON NY
05/31/98 CORTLAND 0.6 INCH STORM TOTAL
RAINFALL
0420 PM COOPERSTOWN NY WIND DAMAGE
05/31/98 OTSEGO TREES DOWN ON NUMEROUS
ROADS
0420 PM COOPERSTOWN NY WIND DAMAGE
05/31/98 OTSEGO COUNTY ROUTE 31 BLOCKED BY
SEVERAL TREES
0420 PM COOPERSTOWN NY WIND DAMAGE
05/31/98 OTSEGO TREE DOWN ON FIRE TRUCK
0420 PM COOPERSTOWN NY WIND DAMAGE
05/31/98 OTSEGO LARGE TREE DOWN BLOCKING
ROUTE 8
0420 PM LAURENS NY WIND DAMAGE
05/31/98 OTSEGO NUMEROUS TREES DOWN
0421 PM HORNELL NY .75 INCH HAIL
05/31/98 STEUBEN
0427 PM ADDISON NY 1.75 INCH HAIL
05/31/98 STEUBENLocal storm report, May 31, 5:16 PM EDT, 51 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 ALFREDLocal storm report, May 31, 5:16 PM EDT, 51 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 ALFREDLocal storm report, May 31, 5:56 PM EDT, 11 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 NORWICHLocal storm report, May 31, 5:56 PM EDT, 11 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 NORWICHThe office that day
Everything else NWS Binghamton, NY issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 31, 5:19 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BGM | Luzerne | 76 min |
| May 31, 5:45 PM EDT | Tornado Warning | BGM | Bradford | 65 min |
| May 31, 6:26 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BGM | Lackawanna | 64 min |
| May 31, 6:45 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BGM | Pike, Wayne | 65 min |
| May 31, 7:07 PM EDT | Tornado Warning | BGM | Pike, Wayne | 63 min |
| May 31, 7:12 PM EDT | Tornado Warning | BGM | Pike, Wayne | 63 min |
| May 31, 7:23 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BGM | Lackawanna, Luzerne | 62 min |
| May 31, 7:56 PM EDT | Tornado Warning | BGM | Lackawanna | 64 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; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.