Alert archive / Pennsylvania / Tornado Warnings in 1998

Tornado Warning 44, NWS State College, PA

June 2, 1998Union County, Pennsylvania

NWS State College, PA issued this tornado warning at Jun 2, 1998, 8:57 PM EDT for Union County, Pennsylvania. It was in force for 48 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
Jun 2, 1998, 8:57 PM EDT (00:57 UTC)
Expired
Jun 2, 1998, 9:45 PM EDT
In force
48 min
Issued by
NWS State College, PA
Area
Whole counties

County Union County, PA

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

Washington/Dulle, VA (KIAD), launched 00:00Z, 1.0 hours before the alert went out and 226 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, Washington/Dulle, VA at 00:00Z on 1998-06-03Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 1513 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km-30°-20°-10°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Washington/Dulle, VA at 00:00Z on 1998-06-03The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 229 square meters per square second.19395878Sfc1 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
1513 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-23 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1158 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
41 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
229 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
416 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
2.2
Supercell composite
11.8

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
TTAA00 KCTP 030057 RRA
TORCTP
PAC119-030145-

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

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN STATE COLLEGE HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  UNION COUNTY IN CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA

* UNTIL 945 PM EDT

* AT 855 PM EDT... STATE COLLEGE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A TORNADO
  11 MILES WEST OF LEWISBURG OR IN THE VICINITY OF WILDWOOD MOVING
  EAST AT 35 MPH.

* THE TORNADO IS EXPECTED TO BE NEAR...
  MIFFLINBURG                     BY 900 PM EDT
  VICKSBURG                       BY 900 PM EDT
  NEW BERLIN                      BY 905 PM EDT
  LEWISBURG                       BY 910 PM EDT

IF YOU ARE IN A MULTIPLE STORY BUILDING...GO TO A SMALL INTERIOR
ROOM AWAY FROM WINDOWS.

PEOPLE IN THE ABOVE LOCATIONS ARE IN THE PROJECTED PATH OF THE
TORNADO AND SHOULD TAKE SHELTER IMMEDIATELY.  MOVE INSIDE A STORM
CELLAR...A BASEMENT...OR A SMALL INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR
OF YOUR HOUSE.

DANGELO

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 29 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jun 2, 7:28 PM EDT, 1 hour 29 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, 5:04 PM EDT, 3 hours 53 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 42 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
Local storm report, Jun 2, 6:35 PM EDT, 2 hours 22 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

FITZGERALD
Local storm report, Jun 2, 7:40 PM EDT, 1 hour 17 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

FITZGERALD
Special weather statement, Jun 2, 8:56 PM EDT, 1 minute before
PAZ004>006-010-011-030155-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA
856 PM EDT TUE JUN 2 1998

...THE TORNADO WATCH FOR THE NORTHERN MOUNTAINS OF
PENNSYLVANIA IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT...

THE WATCH IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT FOR WARREN...MCKEAN...
ELK...POTTER...AND CAMERON COUNTIES.

HOWEVER...THE WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM FOR
MOST OF CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA...AND 11 PM FOR PORTIONS
OF THE MIDDLE AND LOWER SUSQUEHANNA VALLEY OF
PENNSYLVANIA.

DANGEROUS STORMS CONTINUE TO MOVE EASTWARD ACROSS MUCH
OF THE REGION.

MARTIN
Special weather statement, Jun 2, 8:56 PM EDT, 1 minute before
PAZ004>006-010-011-030155-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA
856 PM EDT TUE JUN 2 1998

...THE TORNADO WATCH FOR THE NORTHERN MOUNTAINS OF
PENNSYLVANIA IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT...

THE WATCH IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT FOR WARREN...MCKEAN...
ELK...POTTER...AND CAMERON COUNTIES.

HOWEVER...THE WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM FOR
MOST OF CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA...AND 11 PM FOR PORTIONS
OF THE MIDDLE AND LOWER SUSQUEHANNA VALLEY OF
PENNSYLVANIA.

DANGEROUS STORMS CONTINUE TO MOVE EASTWARD ACROSS MUCH
OF THE REGION.

MARTIN

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jun 2, 8:02 PM EDTTornado WarningCTPCameron63 min
Jun 2, 8:10 PM EDTTornado WarningCTPJuniata, Mifflin75 min
Jun 2, 8:13 PM EDTTornado WarningCTPSomerset92 min
Jun 2, 8:52 PM EDTTornado WarningCTPCentre63 min
Jun 2, 9:04 PM EDTTornado WarningCTPMontour, Northumberland61 min
Jun 2, 9:10 PM EDTTornado WarningCTPHuntingdon, Mifflin45 min
Jun 2, 9:12 PM EDTTornado WarningCTPSnyder33 min
Jun 2, 9:25 PM EDTTornado WarningCTPColumbia, Schuylkill75 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; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive.