Alert archive / Pennsylvania / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1998

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 74, NWS State College, PA

May 31, 1998Lancaster County, York County, Pennsylvania

NWS State College, PA issued this severe thunderstorm warning at May 31, 1998, 8:56 PM EDT for Lancaster County, York County, Pennsylvania. It was in force for 34 min. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The outline the Iowa Environmental Mesonet reconstructed for it; the warning itself named whole counties.

The facts

Issued: May 31, 1998, 8:56 PM EDT (00:56 UTC)
Expired: May 31, 1998, 9:30 PM EDT
In force: 34 min
Issued by: NWS State College, PA
Area: Whole counties; the outline is the Mesonet’s reconstruction

Counties Lancaster County, PA, York County, PA

The radar

The Sterling radar (KLWX), 148 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 01:00 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.

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

Washington/Dulle, VA (KIAD), launched 00:00Z, 0.9 hours before the alert went out and 147 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: 3110 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -29 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 1063 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 30 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 203 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 277 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 3.0
Supercell composite: 18.2

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

947 
WUUS01 KCTP 010059 RRA
SVRCTP
PAC071-133-010130-

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA
856 PM EDT SUN MAY 31 1998

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN STATE COLLEGE PA HAS ISSUED A

   * SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR...
     NORTHWESTERN LANCASTER COUNTY IN PENNSYLVANIA
     CENTRAL YORK COUNTY IN PENNSYLVANIA
     INCLUDING YORK...WRIGHTSVILLE...WEST YORK...VALLEY VIEW...TYLER
     RUN-QUEENS GATE...STONYBROOK-WILSHIRE...SPRY...SPRINGETTS
     MANOR-YORKLYN...SHILOH...SALUNGA-LANDISVILLE...MOUNT JOY...
     MARIETTA...MANHEIM...LITITZ...GRANTLEY...EMIGSVILLE...EAST
     YORK...DENVER AND COLUMBIA

   * UNTIL 930 PM EDT

   * AT 852 PM EDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
     LINE OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS FROM NEAR LITITZ TO NEAR YORK. THE 
     LINE IS MOVING EAST AT 30 MPH AND WILL MOVE THROUGH LANCASTER   
     AND RED LION BETWEEN 915 AND 930 PM.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1000 PM EDT FOR THE AREA. 
SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CAN PRODUCE TORNADOES WITH LITTLE OR NO 
WARNING.

REPORT SEVERE WEATHER TO THE NEAREST LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY. THEY 
WILL RELAY YOUR REPORT TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORECAST 
OFFICE IN STATE COLLEGE PA.

LA CORTE
LAT...LON 3982 7680 4008 7640 4025 7608 4032 7614
          4025 7640 3996 7686

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, 5 hours 56 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 31, 3:00 PM EDT, 5 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, 3 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, 2 hours 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, 2 hours 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, 1 hour 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, 1 hour 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, 1 hour 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, 8:10 PM EDT	Tornado Warning	CTP	Lebanon	35 min
May 31, 8:12 PM EDT	Tornado Warning	CTP	Clinton, Potter	78 min
May 31, 8:22 PM EDT	Tornado Warning	CTP	Somerset	38 min
May 31, 8:24 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	CTP	Centre	91 min
May 31, 8:24 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	CTP	Lycoming	91 min
May 31, 8:45 PM EDT	Tornado Warning	CTP	Bedford, Somerset	60 min
May 31, 9:01 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	CTP	Columbia, Montour, Northumberland, Union	89 min
May 31, 9:01 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	CTP	Sullivan	89 min
May 31, 9:32 PM EDT	Tornado Warning	CTP	Bedford	28 min
May 31, 9:45 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	CTP	Cambria, Somerset	60 min
May 31, 9:45 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	CTP	Blair	60 min
May 31, 9:46 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	CTP	Fulton	29 min
May 31, 10:19 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	CTP	Franklin	56 min
May 31, 10:24 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	CTP	Bedford	66 min
May 31, 10:39 PM EDT	Tornado Warning	CTP	Bedford	66 min
May 31, 10:48 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	CTP	Huntingdon	62 min
May 31, 10:52 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	CTP	Fulton	38 min
May 31, 11:32 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	CTP	Franklin	48 min
May 31, 11:36 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	CTP	Adams, Cumberland	64 min
May 31, 11:47 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	CTP	Dauphin, York	93 min
Jun 1, 12:09 AM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	CTP	Lancaster	76 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; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.