Alert archive / Pennsylvania / Tornado Warnings in 1998

Tornado Warning 26, NWS State College, PA

June 2, 1998Adams County, Cumberland County, York County, Pennsylvania

NWS State College, PA issued this tornado warning at Jun 2, 1998, 6:15 PM EDT for Adams County, Cumberland County, York County, Pennsylvania. It was in force for 75 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
Jun 2, 1998, 6:15 PM EDT (22:15 UTC)
Expired
Jun 2, 1998, 7:30 PM EDT
In force
75 min
Issued by
NWS State College, PA
Area
Whole counties

Counties Adams County, PA, Cumberland County, PA, York County, PA

The radar

The Sterling radar (KLWX), 118 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 22:16 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

TimeReportWhereRemark
Jun 2, 7:10 PM EDTHail 1.25Dover, PA
Jun 2, 7:40 PM EDTTornado F0Loganville, PA

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
Jun 2, 5:15 PM EDTTornado WatchSPC6 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Phillips Aaf/Abe, MD (KAPG), launched 12:00Z, 10.3 hours before the alert went out and 101 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, Phillips Aaf/Abe, MD at 12:00Z on 1998-06-02Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 0 joules per kilogram.LCL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Phillips Aaf/Abe, MD at 12:00Z on 1998-06-02The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 91 square meters per square second.193958Sfc1 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
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
No buoyant parcel
Mixed-layer LCL
1987 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
38 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
91 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
79 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.

000 
TTAA00 KCTP 022215 RRA
TORCTP
PAC001-041-133-022330-

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA
615 PM EDT TUE JUN 2 1998

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN STATE COLLEGE HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  CUMBERLAND COUNTY IN SOUTH CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA
  NORTHERN ADAMS COUNTY IN SOUTH CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA
  YORK COUNTY IN SOUTH CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA

* UNTIL 730 PM EDT

* AT 613 PM EDT... STATE COLLEGE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  DEVELOPING TORNADO 27 MILES WEST OF YORK OR IN THE VICINITY OF
  TOLAND MOVING EAST AT 35 MPH.

* THE TORNADO IS EXPECTED TO BE NEAR...
  MOUNT HOLLY SPRINGS             BY 612 PM EDT
  KINGS GAP                       BY 612 PM EDT
  YORK SPRINGS                    BY 620 PM EDT
  DILLSBURG                       BY 625 PM EDT
  GIFFORD PINCHOT STATE PARK      BY 640 PM EDT

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


IF YOU ARE IN THE PATH OF A TORNA4DO...THE SAFEST PLACE IN A HOME
OR BUSINESS IS AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR POSSIBLE.  AVOID
WINDOWS.


LAMBERT/DANGELO/EVANS

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 State College, PA wrote its last area forecast discussion before this tornado warning went out at Jun 2, 12:22 PM EDT, 5 hours 53 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jun 2, 12:22 PM EDT, 5 hours 53 minutes before
CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA
1225 PM EDT TUE JUNE 2 1998

...WILL SEND OUT A SET OF WRKZNS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE...

STILL NOT SURE IF DYNAMICS CAN PHASE WITH THE MOISTURE
...BUT LETS HOPE NOT.

ANYWAY...WILL NOT MAKE A LOT OF CHANGES TO ZNS...MAINLY
PUT SOME CLDS IN S ZNS WED...AND SHOWERS WED NIGHT S OF ABOUT
I-80.

THINK FWC NUMBERS LOOK TO COOL FOR WED...THINK THICK
CLDS WILL HOLD OFF TO LATER IN THE DAY.

MAYBE WE CAN HAVE A GOOD DAY THU.

MARTIN

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Jun 2, 4:12 PM EDT, 2 hours 3 minutes before
PAZ004>006-010>012-017>019-024>028-033>037-041-045-046-030210-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT - TORNADO WATCH
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA
412 PM EDT TUE JUN 2 1998

...A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR MUCH OF CENTRAL
PENNSYLVANIA UNTIL 10 PM...

THE WATCH INCLUDES WARREN...MCKEAN...POTTER...CAMERON...
CLINTON...CLEARFIELD...CENTRE...CAMBRIA...BLAIR...
HUNTINGDON...SOMERSET...BEDFORD...FRANKLIN...AND
FULTON COUNTIES.

ALSO INCLUDED IS TIOGA...LYCOMING...MIFFLIN...AND JUNIATA
COUNTIES.

SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED THROUGH LATE EVENING.
ANY STORMS THAT FORM MAY CONTAIN HAIL...STRONG WINDS...
DANGEROUS LIGHTNING AND TORNADOES.

PERSONS IN AND CLOSE TO THE WATCH AREA SHOULD BE ALERT
FOR DANGEROUS WEATHER AND WARNINGS...AND SEEK SHELTER
IF SEVERE WEATHER IS SIGHTED...OR A WARNING IS ISSUED.

MARTIN
Special weather statement, Jun 2, 4:12 PM EDT, 2 hours 3 minutes before
PAZ004>006-010>012-017>019-024>028-033>037-041-045-046-030210-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT - TORNADO WATCH
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA
412 PM EDT TUE JUN 2 1998

...A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR MUCH OF CENTRAL
PENNSYLVANIA UNTIL 10 PM...

THE WATCH INCLUDES WARREN...MCKEAN...POTTER...CAMERON...
CLINTON...CLEARFIELD...CENTRE...CAMBRIA...BLAIR...
HUNTINGDON...SOMERSET...BEDFORD...FRANKLIN...AND
FULTON COUNTIES.

ALSO INCLUDED IS TIOGA...LYCOMING...MIFFLIN...AND JUNIATA
COUNTIES.

SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED THROUGH LATE EVENING.
ANY STORMS THAT FORM MAY CONTAIN HAIL...STRONG WINDS...
DANGEROUS LIGHTNING AND TORNADOES.

PERSONS IN AND CLOSE TO THE WATCH AREA SHOULD BE ALERT
FOR DANGEROUS WEATHER AND WARNINGS...AND SEEK SHELTER
IF SEVERE WEATHER IS SIGHTED...OR A WARNING IS ISSUED.

MARTIN
Special weather statement, Jun 2, 5:04 PM EDT, 1 hour 11 minutes before
PAZ004>006-010>012-017>019-024>028-033>037-041-042-045-046-049>053-
056>059-063>066-030255-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT - TORNADO WATCH
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA
504 PM EDT TUE JUN 2 1998

...A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR ALL OF CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA...

THE WATCH INCLUDES WARREN...MCKEAN...POTTER...ELK...CAMERON...
CLINTON...CLEARFIELD...CENTRE...CAMBRIA...BLAIR...HUNTINGDON...
SOMERSET...BEDFORD...FULTON...FRANKLIN...MIFFLIN...JUNIATA...
TIOGA...AND LYCOMING COUNTIES UNTIL 10 PM.

A TORNADO WATCH IS NOW IN EFFECT FOR MUCH OF THE MIDDLE AND
LOWER SUSQUEHANNA VALLEY THROUGH 10 PM (UNTIL 11 PM).

THE WATCH INCLUDES SULLIVAN...UNION...SNYDER...MONTOUR...
COLUMBIA...NORTHUMBERLAND...SCHUYLKILL...PERRY...DAUPHIN...
LEBANON...CUMBERLAND...ADAMS...YORK...AND  LANCASTER
COUNTIES.

THE WATCH MEANS THAT SEVERE STORMS ARE LIKELY.  STORMS
MAY PRODUCE LARGE HAIL...DAMAGING WINDS...DANGEROUS
LIGHTNING...AND TORNADOES.

PERSONS IN AND CLOSE TO THE WATCH AREA SHOULD SEEK
SHELTER IF SEVERE WEATHER IS NOTED...OR A WARNING
IS ISSUED.  SEEK SHELTER IN A BASEMENT...OR SMALL
INTERIOR ROOM.  DO NOT TRY TO OUTRUN A STORM IN
YOUR CAR.

MARTIN
Special weather statement, Jun 2, 5:04 PM EDT, 1 hour 11 minutes before
PAZ004>006-010>012-017>019-024>028-033>037-041-042-045-046-049>053-
056>059-063>066-030255-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT - TORNADO WATCH
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA
504 PM EDT TUE JUN 2 1998

...A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR ALL OF CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA...

THE WATCH INCLUDES WARREN...MCKEAN...POTTER...ELK...CAMERON...
CLINTON...CLEARFIELD...CENTRE...CAMBRIA...BLAIR...HUNTINGDON...
SOMERSET...BEDFORD...FULTON...FRANKLIN...MIFFLIN...JUNIATA...
TIOGA...AND LYCOMING COUNTIES UNTIL 10 PM.

A TORNADO WATCH IS NOW IN EFFECT FOR MUCH OF THE MIDDLE AND
LOWER SUSQUEHANNA VALLEY THROUGH 10 PM (UNTIL 11 PM).

THE WATCH INCLUDES SULLIVAN...UNION...SNYDER...MONTOUR...
COLUMBIA...NORTHUMBERLAND...SCHUYLKILL...PERRY...DAUPHIN...
LEBANON...CUMBERLAND...ADAMS...YORK...AND  LANCASTER
COUNTIES.

THE WATCH MEANS THAT SEVERE STORMS ARE LIKELY.  STORMS
MAY PRODUCE LARGE HAIL...DAMAGING WINDS...DANGEROUS
LIGHTNING...AND TORNADOES.

PERSONS IN AND CLOSE TO THE WATCH AREA SHOULD SEEK
SHELTER IF SEVERE WEATHER IS NOTED...OR A WARNING
IS ISSUED.  SEEK SHELTER IN A BASEMENT...OR SMALL
INTERIOR ROOM.  DO NOT TRY TO OUTRUN A STORM IN
YOUR CAR.

MARTIN
Local storm report, Jun 2, 6:15 PM EDT, 0 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PENNSYLVANIA
615 PM EDT TUE JUN 2 1998

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

0506 PM    LOTTSVILLE                PA   FUNNEL CLOUD
06/02/98   WARREN                         SIGHTED.

0547 PM    BRADFORD                  PA   50 MPH TSTM GUST
06/02/98   MCKEAN                         POSSIBLE TORNADO

0555 PM    BRADFORD                  PA   TORNADO SIGHTED
06/02/98   MCKEAN                         MANY TRRES DOWN

FITZGERALD

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jun 2, 4:29 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPWarren66 min
Jun 2, 4:46 PM EDTTornado WarningCTPDauphin, Northumberland64 min
Jun 2, 4:46 PM EDTTornado WarningCTPSnyder64 min
Jun 2, 5:01 PM EDTTornado WarningCTPUnion59 min
Jun 2, 5:07 PM EDTTornado WarningCTPSchuylkill93 min
Jun 2, 5:10 PM EDTTornado WarningCTPMcKean, Warren95 min
Jun 2, 5:13 PM EDTTornado WarningCTPColumbia, Montour62 min
Jun 2, 5:25 PM EDTTornado WarningCTPCumberland, Dauphin, York45 min
Jun 2, 5:30 PM EDTTornado WarningCTPSullivan60 min
Jun 2, 5:55 PM EDTTornado WarningCTPPotter75 min
Jun 2, 6:00 PM EDTTornado WarningCTPClearfield, Elk75 min
Jun 2, 6:17 PM EDTTornado WarningCTPLebanon33 min
Jun 2, 6:32 PM EDTTornado WarningCTPDauphin, Northumberland, Schuylkill78 min
Jun 2, 6:39 PM EDTTornado WarningCTPTioga91 min
Jun 2, 6:42 PM EDTTornado WarningCTPSomerset88 min
Jun 2, 7:01 PM EDTTornado WarningCTPClearfield64 min
Jun 2, 7:05 PM EDTTornado WarningCTPBlair, Cambria65 min
Jun 2, 7:23 PM EDTTornado WarningCTPCentre62 min
Jun 2, 7:27 PM EDTTornado WarningCTPBedford78 min
Jun 2, 7:30 PM EDTTornado WarningCTPLancaster, York35 min
Jun 2, 7:33 PM EDTTornado WarningCTPPotter62 min
Jun 2, 7:36 PM EDTTornado WarningCTPTioga94 min
Jun 2, 7:45 PM EDTTornado WarningCTPHuntingdon80 min
Jun 2, 7:50 PM EDTTornado WarningCTPElk65 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.