Alert archive / Pennsylvania / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1998
Severe Thunderstorm Warning 85, NWS State College, PA
NWS State College, PA issued this severe thunderstorm warning at May 31, 1998, 11:36 PM EDT for Adams County, Cumberland 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, 11:36 PM EDT (03:36 UTC)
- Expired
- Jun 1, 1998, 12:40 AM EDT
- In force
- 64 min
- Issued by
- NWS State College, PA
- Area
- Whole counties
Counties Adams County, PA, Cumberland County, PA
The radar
The Sterling radar (KLWX), 118 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 03:36 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, 11:50 PM EDT | Thunderstorm Wind 55 | Shiremanstown, PA | |
| May 31, 11:59 PM EDT | Thunderstorm Wind 51 | Cashtown, PA | Trees down. Route 30 and 233 closed. |
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 nearest sounding before it
Washington/Dulle, VA (KIAD), launched 00:00Z, 3.6 hours before the alert went out and 120 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
- 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
The text
As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.
860 WUUS01 KCTP 010333 RRA SVRCTP PAC001-041-010440- BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA 1136 PM EDT SUN MAY 31 1998 THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN STATE COLLEGE HAS ISSUED A * SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR... CUMBERLAND COUNTY IN SOUTH CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA ADAMS COUNTY IN SOUTH CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA * UNTIL 1240 AM EDT * AT 1133 PM EDT... STATE COLLEGE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM 17 MILES NORTHWEST OF GETTYSBURG OR 12 MILES WEST OF ARENDTSVILLE MOVING EAST AT 35 MPH. * THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WILL BE NEAR... SHIPPENSBURG BY 1145 PM EDT ARENDTSVILLE BY 1145 PM EDT PINE GROVE FURNACE STATE PARK BY 1150 PM EDT GETTYSBURG BY 1150 PM EDT CARLISLE BY 1150 PM EDT DAMAGING WINDS AND HEAVY RAIN ARE LIKELY. GO INSIDE A STURDY BUILDING AND STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS MSE
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, 8 hours 36 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, May 31, 3:00 PM EDT, 8 hours 36 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, 7:45 PM EDT, 3 hours 51 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
OSTUNOSpecial weather statement, May 31, 9:27 PM EDT, 2 hours 9 minutes before
PAZ004>006-010>012-017-018-010140- SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT- TORNADO WATCH CANCELLATION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA 927 PM EDT SUN MAY 31 1998 THE TORNADO WATCH IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT FOR WARREN...MCKEAN... POTTER...ELK...CAMERON...CLEARFIELD...CENTRE... AND NORTHERN CLINTON COUNTY. THE COLD FRONT IS USHERING COOLER...DRIER AIR INTO THE REGION ENDING THE SEVERE WEATHER THREAT. NO MORE SEVERE WEATHER IS EXPECTED TONIGHT IN THE ABOVE NAMED COUNTIES. HEAD
Special weather statement, May 31, 9:27 PM EDT, 2 hours 9 minutes before
PAZ004>006-010>012-017-018-010140- SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT- TORNADO WATCH CANCELLATION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA 927 PM EDT SUN MAY 31 1998 THE TORNADO WATCH IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT FOR WARREN...MCKEAN... POTTER...ELK...CAMERON...CLEARFIELD...CENTRE... AND NORTHERN CLINTON COUNTY. THE COLD FRONT IS USHERING COOLER...DRIER AIR INTO THE REGION ENDING THE SEVERE WEATHER THREAT. NO MORE SEVERE WEATHER IS EXPECTED TONIGHT IN THE ABOVE NAMED COUNTIES. HEAD
Local storm report, May 31, 10:10 PM EDT, 1 hour 26 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PENNSYLVANIA
1010 PM EDT SUN MAY 31 1998
TIME(EDT) .....CITY LOCATION..... STATE ...EVENT/REMARKS...
....COUNTY LOCATION....
0835 PM 7W SALISBURY PA 1 INCH HAIL
05/31/98 SOMERSET QUARTER SIZED HAIL.
0845 PM SALISBURY PA TORNADO
05/31/98 SOMERSET HOUSES AND TRAILERS
DAMAGED OR DESTROYED.
MANY INJURIES REPORTED.
0914 PM MUNCY PA 62 MPH TSTM GUST
05/31/98 LYCOMING
0930 PM MILLVILLE PA 61 MPH TSTM GUST
05/31/98 COLUMBIALocal storm report, May 31, 10:10 PM EDT, 1 hour 26 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PENNSYLVANIA
1010 PM EDT SUN MAY 31 1998
TIME(EDT) .....CITY LOCATION..... STATE ...EVENT/REMARKS...
....COUNTY LOCATION....
0835 PM 7W SALISBURY PA 1 INCH HAIL
05/31/98 SOMERSET QUARTER SIZED HAIL.
0845 PM SALISBURY PA TORNADO
05/31/98 SOMERSET HOUSES AND TRAILERS
DAMAGED OR DESTROYED.
MANY INJURIES REPORTED.
0914 PM MUNCY PA 62 MPH TSTM GUST
05/31/98 LYCOMING
0930 PM MILLVILLE PA 61 MPH TSTM GUST
05/31/98 COLUMBIASpecial weather statement, May 31, 10:10 PM EDT, 1 hour 26 minutes before
PAZ004>006-010>012-017-018-010140- SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT- TORNADO WATCH EXPIRATION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA 1010 PM EDT SUN MAY 31 1998 THE TORNADO WATCH IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT FOR CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA. THE WATCH HAS BEE ALLOWED TO EXPIRE IN THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES... TIOGA... LYCOMING... SULLIVAN... UNION... NORTHUMBERLAND... MONTOUR... COLUMBIA... SCHUYLKILL... CAMBRIA... BLAIR... HUNTINGDON... JUNIATA... MIFFLIN... SNYDER... SOMERSET... BEDFORD... FULTON... FRANKLIN... PERRY... CUMBERLAND... ADAMS... YORK... DAUPHIN... LEBANON... AND LANCASTER. THE STRONGEST STORMS HAVE SHIFTED EAST OF THE AREA. MORE SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS MOVING THROUGH THE LAUREL HIGHLANDS MAY CAUSE BRIEFLY HEAVY RAIN AND STRONG WINDS THROUGH MIDNIGHT...BUT THE THREAT FOR SEVERE WEATHER HAS DIMINISHED FOR MOST OF THE REGION. LA CORTE
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, 8:56 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | CTP | Lancaster, York | 34 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, 11:47 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, 1998Every 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; verification from NCEI's Storm Data; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.