Alert archive / Pennsylvania / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1998

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 71, NWS State College, PA

May 31, 1998Potter County, Pennsylvania

NWS State College, PA issued this severe thunderstorm warning at May 31, 1998, 7:56 PM EDT for Potter County, Pennsylvania. It was in force for 64 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: May 31, 1998, 7:56 PM EDT (23:56 UTC)
Expired: May 31, 1998, 9:00 PM EDT
In force: 64 min
Issued by: NWS State College, PA
Area: Whole counties

County Potter 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
May 31, 3:30 PM EDT	Tornado Watch	SPC	7 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Pittsburgh, PA (KPIT), launched 12:00Z, 11.9 hours before the alert went out and 237 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-p

Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.

Hodograph

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: 1035 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -145 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 1038 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 30 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 198 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 281 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 0.3
Supercell composite: 4.7

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.

492 
WUUS01 KCTP 312354 RRA
SVRCTP
PAC105-010100-

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA
756 PM EDT SUN MAY 31 1998

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN STATE COLLEGE HAS ISSUED A

* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR...
  POTTER COUNTY IN NORTH CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA

* UNTIL 900 PM EDT

* AT 750...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  LINE OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS FROM NEAR SUNDERVILLE TO
  COUDERSPORT TO ROULLETTE ... MOVING EAST AT 40 MPH.

* THE LINE OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE NEAR...
  COSTELLO AND GAELTON BY 805 PM

GO INSIDE A STURDY BUILDING AND STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS A TORNADO
WATCH IS IN EFFECT. SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CAN AND OCCASIONALLY DO
PRODUCE TORNADOES WITH LITTLE OR NO ADVANCE WARNING.


SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCE DAMAGING WIND IN EXCESS OF 55 MPH...
DESTRUCTIVE HAIL...DEADLY LIGHTNING...AND VERY HEAVY RAIN.  FOR YOUR
PROTECTION MOVE INDOORS AND STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS.  HEAVY RAINS
FLOOD
ROADS QUICKLY.  DONT DRIVE INTO AREAS WHERE WATER COVERS THE ROAD.

LA CORTE/WINTHER

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 May 31, 3:00 PM EDT, 4 hours 56 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 31, 3:00 PM EDT, 4 hours 56 minutes before

CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA
3 PM EDT SUN MAY 31 1998

...MESOSCALE AND CONVECTIVE DISCUSSION...

STRONG CELLS HAVE AT LEAST TEMPORARILY EXITED NRN PART OF STATE
WITH SOME REPORTED HAIL AROUND 3/4 DIAMETER. MESO ANAL SHOWS OUTFLOW
BOUNDARY SLIDING SE THRU NRN PA...AS A QUIET FEATURE SO FAR. OF
CONCERN IS STRONG CONFLUENT ZONE AND AXIS OF HIGH MOISTURE SETTING
UP OVER SUSQ VALLEY. SFC WINDS ARE GUSTING OUT OF THE SOUTH HELPING
POOL DEWPOINTS NEAR 70 RESULTING IN SFC BASED CAPES NEARING 3000
J/KG. MODEL OUTPUT AND MESO ANAL FROM PSU SUGGEST CAP IS WEAKEST IN
THIS AREA. SATELLITE TIMING SUGGESTS WE ARE ABOUT AN HOUR AWAY FROM
NRN OUTFLOW BOUNDARY SWEEPING INTO THIS CONFLUENT ZONE. HARD TO SAY
IF THIS WILL TRIGGER ACTIVITY OR IF CELLS JUST DECIDE TO FORM IN
WHAT APPEARS TO BE A FAVORABLE ENVIRONMENT.

OTHERWISE IT APPEARS AS IF MAIN ACTION WILL BE LATER IN THE
AFTERNOON AND EVENING AS OHIO VALLEY CONVECTION SWINGS EAST INTO THE
REGION. 18Z SFC ANAL SHOWS STARK WIND SHIFT ASSOC WITH COLD
FRONT/SQUALL LINE. MODELS SHOW STRONG UPPER SUPPORT IN THE FORM OF
A POTENT LOBE OF HIGH PV AIR SLIDING EAST ACCOMPANYING A COUPLED
UPPER JET FEATURE. THE RETREATING RIGHT ENTRANCE REGION OF THE NRN
BRANCH IS MADE TO CREATE A BULLS EYE OF STRONG DIVERGENCE OVER MUCH
OF PA BY 00Z. MODEL SEEMS TO BE USING GENERATED CONVECTIVE PRECIP TO
TIGHTEN UPPER HGHT FIELD WHICH IN TURN RESULTS IN SIGNIFICANT
INTENSIFICATION OF THE JET STREAK AND ITS DIVERGENCE FIELD. BOTTOM
LINE IS STAGE IS BEING SET FOR LATE DAY ROUND OF SEVERE CONVECTION.
RIGHT NOW SHEAR IN LOW LEVELS SUPPORTS POSSIBLE ROTATING
THUNDERSTORMS...BUT MODEL OUTPUT FROM MESO ETA AND BUFKIT SOUNDINGS
SUGGEST WE LOSE HELICITY RAPIDLY LATER IN THE DAY AND EVENING. THIS
LEANS TWD THREAT CHANGING FROM SUPERCELLS TO BOW ECHOES AND MAINLY
STRAIGHT LINE WINDS.

LA CORTE

In the hours before

Local storm report, May 31, 5:28 PM EDT, 2 hours 28 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PENNSYLVANIA
528 PM EDT SUN MAY 31 1998

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

0520 PM    MARSH HILL                PA   TORNADO
05/31/98   LYCOMING                       SPOTTER REPORTED TORNADO
                                          ON GROUND.

Local storm report, May 31, 6:30 PM EDT, 1 hour 26 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PENNSYLVANIA
630 PM EDT SUN MAY 31 1998

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

0115 PM    LOTTSVILLE                PA   .88 INCH HAIL
05/31/98   WARREN

0510 PM    BUTTONWOOD                PA   .75 INCH HAIL
05/31/98   LYCOMING

0513 PM    CEDAR RUN                 PA   1 INCH HAIL
05/31/98   LYCOMING

0520 PM    MARSH HILL                PA   TORNADO
05/31/98   LYCOMING                       SPOTTER REPORTED TORNADO
                                          ON GROUND.
0530 PM    BUTTONWOOD                PA   1 INCH HAIL
05/31/98   LYCOMING                       REPORTS OF HAIL RANGED
                                          FROM DIME TO QUATER SIZE

0530 PM    BUTTONWOOD                PA   WIND DAMAGE
05/31/98   LYCOMING                       TREES DOWN. ROOF OF SHED
                                          BLOWN OFF.

 WINTHER/OSTUNO

Local storm report, May 31, 6:30 PM EDT, 1 hour 26 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PENNSYLVANIA
630 PM EDT SUN MAY 31 1998

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

0115 PM    LOTTSVILLE                PA   .88 INCH HAIL
05/31/98   WARREN

0510 PM    BUTTONWOOD                PA   .75 INCH HAIL
05/31/98   LYCOMING

0513 PM    CEDAR RUN                 PA   1 INCH HAIL
05/31/98   LYCOMING

0520 PM    MARSH HILL                PA   TORNADO
05/31/98   LYCOMING                       SPOTTER REPORTED TORNADO
                                          ON GROUND.
0530 PM    BUTTONWOOD                PA   1 INCH HAIL
05/31/98   LYCOMING                       REPORTS OF HAIL RANGED
                                          FROM DIME TO QUATER SIZE

0530 PM    BUTTONWOOD                PA   WIND DAMAGE
05/31/98   LYCOMING                       TREES DOWN. ROOF OF SHED
                                          BLOWN OFF.

 WINTHER/OSTUNO

Local storm report, May 31, 6:58 PM EDT, 58 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PENNSYLVANIA
658 PM EDT SUN MAY 31 1998

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

0115 PM    LOTTSVILLE                PA   .88 INCH HAIL
05/31/98   WARREN

0510 PM    BUTTONWOOD                PA   .75 INCH HAIL
05/31/98   LYCOMING

0513 PM    CEDAR RUN                 PA   1 INCH HAIL
05/31/98   LYCOMING

0520 PM    1W BUTTONWOOD             PA   TORNADO
05/31/98   LYCOMING                       SPOTTER REPORTED TORNADO
                                          ON SUGAR HILL.
0530 PM    BUTTONWOOD                PA   1 INCH HAIL
05/31/98   LYCOMING                       REPORTS OF HAIL RANGED
                                          FROM DIME TO QUARTER SIZE

0530 PM    BUTTONWOOD                PA   WIND DAMAGE
05/31/98   LYCOMING                       TREES DOWN. ROOF OF SHED
                                          BLOWN OFF.

CORRECTED FOR LOCATION OF TORNADO SIGHTING.

WINTHER/OSTUNO

Local storm report, May 31, 6:58 PM EDT, 58 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PENNSYLVANIA
658 PM EDT SUN MAY 31 1998

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

0115 PM    LOTTSVILLE                PA   .88 INCH HAIL
05/31/98   WARREN

0510 PM    BUTTONWOOD                PA   .75 INCH HAIL
05/31/98   LYCOMING

0513 PM    CEDAR RUN                 PA   1 INCH HAIL
05/31/98   LYCOMING

0520 PM    1W BUTTONWOOD             PA   TORNADO
05/31/98   LYCOMING                       SPOTTER REPORTED TORNADO
                                          ON SUGAR HILL.
0530 PM    BUTTONWOOD                PA   1 INCH HAIL
05/31/98   LYCOMING                       REPORTS OF HAIL RANGED
                                          FROM DIME TO QUARTER SIZE

0530 PM    BUTTONWOOD                PA   WIND DAMAGE
05/31/98   LYCOMING                       TREES DOWN. ROOF OF SHED
                                          BLOWN OFF.

CORRECTED FOR LOCATION OF TORNADO SIGHTING.

WINTHER/OSTUNO

Local storm report, May 31, 7:45 PM EDT, 11 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PENNSYLVANIA
745 PM EDT SUN MAY 31 1998

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

0630 PM    3S BRADFORD               PA   TORNADO
05/31/98   MCKEAN                         REPORTED BY EMA

0730 PM                              PA   WIND DAMAGE
05/31/98   ELK                            TREES DOWN COUNTYWIDE

OSTUNO

The office that day

Everything else NWS State College, PA issued on the same UTC day.

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
May 31, 12:50 PM EDT	Tornado Warning	CTP	Warren	60 min
May 31, 1:24 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	CTP	McKean	61 min
May 31, 3:29 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	CTP	Cameron	46 min
May 31, 3:58 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	CTP	Potter	32 min
May 31, 4:25 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	CTP	Lycoming, Sullivan	65 min
May 31, 5:12 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	CTP	Warren	48 min
May 31, 5:22 PM EDT	Tornado Warning	CTP	Lycoming	33 min
May 31, 5:35 PM EDT	Tornado Warning	CTP	Columbia, Sullivan	50 min
May 31, 6:26 PM EDT	Tornado Warning	CTP	McKean	34 min
May 31, 6:44 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	CTP	Warren	61 min
May 31, 6:50 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	CTP	Potter	65 min
May 31, 7:07 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	CTP	Elk, McKean	63 min
May 31, 7:20 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	CTP	Tioga	65 min
May 31, 7:20 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	CTP	Cameron	65 min
May 31, 7:28 PM EDT	Tornado Warning	CTP	Elk	62 min
May 31, 7:35 PM EDT	Tornado Warning	CTP	Tioga	50 min
May 31, 7:53 PM EDT	Tornado Warning	CTP	Cameron	62 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Pennsylvania, 1998 Every severe thunderstorm warning 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; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive.