Alert archive / Pennsylvania / Tornado Warnings in 1998
Tornado Warning 43, NWS State College, PA
NWS State College, PA issued this tornado warning at Jun 2, 1998, 8:52 PM EDT for Centre County, Pennsylvania. It was in force for 63 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, 8:52 PM EDT (00:52 UTC)
- Expired
- Jun 2, 1998, 9:55 PM EDT
- In force
- 63 min
- Issued by
- NWS State College, PA
- Area
- Whole counties
County Centre County, PA
What was reported inside it
| Time | Report | Where | Remark |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 2, 9:05 PM EDT | Hail 0.75 | Howard, PA | |
| Jun 2, 9:35 PM EDT | Tornado F0 | Philipsburg, 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.
| Issued | Product | Office | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 2, 4:15 PM EDT | Tornado Watch | SPC | 6 hr |
| Jun 2, 5:15 PM EDT | Tornado Watch | SPC | 6 hr |
The nearest sounding before it
Pittsburgh, PA (KPIT), launched 00:00Z, 0.9 hours before the alert went out and 200 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
- 1770 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -32 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 1107 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 59 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 352 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 383 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 4.1
- Supercell composite
- 19.4
The text
As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.
000 TTAA00 KCTP 030052 RRA TORCTP PAC027-030155- BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED TORNADO WARNING NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA 852 PM EDT TUE JUN 2 1998 THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN STATE COLLEGE HAS ISSUED A * TORNADO WARNING FOR... CENTRE COUNTY IN CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA * UNTIL 955 PM EDT * AT 851 PM EDT... STATE COLLEGE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A TORNADO 24 MILES WEST OF STATE COLLEGE OR 4 MILES WEST OF SANDY RIDGE MOVING EAST AT 35 MPH. * THE TORNADO IS EXPECTED TO BE NEAR... PORT MATILDA BY 915 PM EDT STORMSTOWN BY 915 PM EDT GATESBURG BY 920 PM EDT STATE COLLEGE BY 930 PM EDT PINE GROVE MILLS BY 930 PM EDT ABANDON MOBILE HOMES! GO IN A NEARBY STURDY BUILDING. AS A LAST RESORT LIE FLAT IN A DITCH AND COVER YOUR HEAD. IF YOU ARE IN THE PATH OF A TORNADO...THE SAFEST PLACE IN A HOME OR BUSINESS IS AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR POSSIBLE. AVOID WINDOWS. 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, 7:28 PM EDT, 1 hour 24 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Jun 2, 7:28 PM EDT, 1 hour 24 minutes before
CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA 725 PM EDT TUE JUNE 2 1998 ...SEVERAL REPORTS OF TORNADOES...STRONG S WINDS AND PRESSURE FALL/RISE CENTERS...WILL SUPPORT MORE SUPERCELLS...AS LOW DEEPENS OVER LOWER LAKES... THAT IS ALL FOR NOW. MARTIN
In the hours before
Special weather statement, Jun 2, 4:12 PM EDT, 4 hours 40 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, 3 hours 48 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, 3 hours 48 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, 2 hours 37 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
FITZGERALDLocal storm report, Jun 2, 6:35 PM EDT, 2 hours 17 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PENNSYLVANIA
635 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 TREES DOWN
0604 PM WILLIAMSTOWN PA 1 INCH HAIL
06/02/98 DAUPHIN
0610 PM BROCKWAY PA UNCONFIRMED TORNADO
06/02/98 ELK
0623 PM VALLEY VIEW PA UNCONFIRMED TORNADO
06/02/98 SCHUYLKILL
0630 PM PINE GROVE PA .75 INCH HAIL
06/02/98 SCHUYLKILL
0625 PM 5N FREDERICKSBURG PA 1 INCH HAIL
06/02/98 LEBANON
FITZGERALDLocal storm report, Jun 2, 7:40 PM EDT, 1 hour 12 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PENNSYLVANIA
740 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 POSSIBLE TORNADO
06/02/98 MCKEAN MANY TREES DOWN
0604 PM WILLIAMSTOWN PA 1 INCH HAIL
06/02/98 DAUPHIN
0610 PM BROCKWAY PA POSSIBLE TORNADO
06/02/98 ELK
0623 PM VALLEY VIEW PA POSSIBLE TORNADO
06/02/98 SCHUYLKILL
0630 PM PINE GROVE PA .75 INCH HAIL
06/02/98 SCHUYLKILL
0625 PM 5N FREDERICKSBURG PA 1 INCH HAIL
06/02/98 LEBANON
0650 PM 10N WELLSBORO PA FUNNEL CLOUD
06/02/98 TIOGA SIGHTED
0655 PM 5W CLEARFIELD PA TORNADO SIGHTED
06/02/98 CLEARFIELD BY EMA
0705 PM BUCKSTOWN PA POSSIBLE TORNADO
06/02/98 SOMERSET
0710 PM 5N WELLSBORO PA POSSIBLE TORNADO
06/02/98 TIOGA
0715 PM CONFLUENCE PA FUNNEL CLOUD
06/02/98 SOMERSET SIGHTED
0725 PM PINE GROVE PA 1 INCH HAIL
06/02/98 SCHUYLKILL
0725 PM 10S YORK PA TORNADO SIGHTED
06/02/98 YORK BY EMA
0730 PM DUSHORE PA 1 INCH HAIL
06/02/98 SULLIVAN
0735 PM MEYERSDALE PA FUNNEL CLOUD
06/02/98 SOMERSET SIGHTED
FITZGERALDThe office that day
Everything else NWS State College, PA issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 2, 8:02 PM EDT | Tornado Warning | CTP | Cameron | 63 min |
| Jun 2, 8:10 PM EDT | Tornado Warning | CTP | Juniata, Mifflin | 75 min |
| Jun 2, 8:13 PM EDT | Tornado Warning | CTP | Somerset | 92 min |
| Jun 2, 8:57 PM EDT | Tornado Warning | CTP | Union | 48 min |
| Jun 2, 9:04 PM EDT | Tornado Warning | CTP | Montour, Northumberland | 61 min |
| Jun 2, 9:10 PM EDT | Tornado Warning | CTP | Huntingdon, Mifflin | 45 min |
| Jun 2, 9:12 PM EDT | Tornado Warning | CTP | Snyder | 33 min |
| Jun 2, 9:25 PM EDT | Tornado Warning | CTP | Columbia, Schuylkill | 75 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.