Alert archive / Pennsylvania / Tornado Warnings in 1998
Tornado Warning 5, NWS State College, PA
NWS State College, PA issued this tornado warning at May 31, 1998, 5:35 PM EDT for Columbia County, Sullivan County, Pennsylvania. It was in force for 50 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
- May 31, 1998, 5:35 PM EDT (21:35 UTC)
- Expired
- May 31, 1998, 6:25 PM EDT
- In force
- 50 min
- Issued by
- NWS State College, PA
- Area
- Whole counties
Counties Columbia County, PA, Sullivan County, PA
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 12:00Z, 9.6 hours before the alert went out and 268 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
- 917 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -147 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 1159 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 23 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 53 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 83 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 0.3
The text
As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.
559 WFUS01 KCTP 312133 RRA TORCTP PAC037-113-312225- BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED TORNADO WARNING NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA 535 PM EDT SUN MAY 31 1998 THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN STATE COLLEGE HAS ISSUED A * TORNADO WARNING FOR... SULLIVAN COUNTY IN NORTH CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA COLUMBIA COUNTY IN CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA * UNTIL 625 PM EDT * AT 534 PM EDT... STATE COLLEGE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A TORNADO 7 MILES SOUTHEAST OF LAPORTE OR 1 MILE WEST OF ELK GROVE MOVING EAST AT 35 MPH. * THE TORNADO IS EXPECTED TO BE NEAR... ELK GROVE BY 538 PM EDT GRASSMERE BY 540 PM EDT CENTRAL BY 540 PM EDT GO TO THE BASEMENT OR A SMALL INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR THESE STORMS HAVE PRODUCED TORNADOES AND MAY DO SO AGAIN. IT IS ADVISABLE TO MOVE TO SHELTER NOW...BEFORE LIFE-THREATENING WEATHER REACHES YOUR AREA. LA CORTE/WINTHER &
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 May 31, 3:00 PM EDT, 2 hours 35 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, May 31, 3:00 PM EDT, 2 hours 35 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
Special weather statement, May 31, 5:00 PM EDT, 35 minutes before
PAZ004>006-010>012-017>019-024>028-033>037-041-042-045-046-049>053- 056>059-063>066-010300 - SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT - TORNADO WATCH NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA 5 PM EDT SUN MAY 31 1998 ...A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM EDT FOR ALL OF CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA... THIS WATCH INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES... WARREN...MCKEAN...POTTER... ELK... CAMERON... CLEARFIELD... CLINTON... TIOGA... LYCOMING... CENTRE... CAMBRIA... SOMERSET... BEDFORD... BLAIR... HUNTINGDON... FULTON... FRANKLIN... JUNIATA... MIFFLIN... UNION... SNYDER... NORTHUMBERLAND... MONTOUR... SULLIVAN... COLUMBIA... SCHUYLKILL... PERRY... DAUPHIN... LEBANON... CUMBERLAND... ADAMS... YORK... AND LANCASTER. A STRONG COLD FRONT APPROACHING THE REGION WILL TRIGGER A ROUND OF THUNDERSTORMS THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. THE STORMS WILL HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO BECOME LOCALLY SEVERE...CAUSING LARGE HAIL...DAMAGING WINDS...AND POSSIBLE TORNADOES. PERSONS IN AND CLOSE TO THE WATCH AREA SHOULD MONITOR NOAA WEATHER RADIO...OR THEIR FAVORITE LOCAL SOURCE OF WEATHER INFORMATION FOR THE LATEST STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE SEVERE STORM WARNINGS. LA CORTE
Special weather statement, May 31, 5:00 PM EDT, 35 minutes before
PAZ004>006-010>012-017>019-024>028-033>037-041-042-045-046-049>053- 056>059-063>066-010300 - SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT - TORNADO WATCH NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA 5 PM EDT SUN MAY 31 1998 ...A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM EDT FOR ALL OF CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA... THIS WATCH INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES... WARREN...MCKEAN...POTTER... ELK... CAMERON... CLEARFIELD... CLINTON... TIOGA... LYCOMING... CENTRE... CAMBRIA... SOMERSET... BEDFORD... BLAIR... HUNTINGDON... FULTON... FRANKLIN... JUNIATA... MIFFLIN... UNION... SNYDER... NORTHUMBERLAND... MONTOUR... SULLIVAN... COLUMBIA... SCHUYLKILL... PERRY... DAUPHIN... LEBANON... CUMBERLAND... ADAMS... YORK... AND LANCASTER. A STRONG COLD FRONT APPROACHING THE REGION WILL TRIGGER A ROUND OF THUNDERSTORMS THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. THE STORMS WILL HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO BECOME LOCALLY SEVERE...CAUSING LARGE HAIL...DAMAGING WINDS...AND POSSIBLE TORNADOES. PERSONS IN AND CLOSE TO THE WATCH AREA SHOULD MONITOR NOAA WEATHER RADIO...OR THEIR FAVORITE LOCAL SOURCE OF WEATHER INFORMATION FOR THE LATEST STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE SEVERE STORM WARNINGS. LA CORTE
Local storm report, May 31, 5:20 PM EDT, 15 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PENNSYLVANIA
520 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 LYCOMINGLocal storm report, May 31, 5:20 PM EDT, 15 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PENNSYLVANIA
520 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 LYCOMINGLocal storm report, May 31, 5:28 PM EDT, 7 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, 5:28 PM EDT, 7 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.The office that day
Everything else NWS State College, PA issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 31, 12:50 PM EDT | Tornado Warning | CTP | Warren | 60 min |
| May 31, 1:24 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | CTP | McKean | 61 min |
| May 31, 3:29 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | CTP | Cameron | 46 min |
| May 31, 3:58 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | CTP | Potter | 32 min |
| May 31, 4:25 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | CTP | Lycoming, Sullivan | 65 min |
| May 31, 5:12 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | CTP | Warren | 48 min |
| May 31, 5:22 PM EDT | Tornado Warning | CTP | Lycoming | 33 min |
| May 31, 6:26 PM EDT | Tornado Warning | CTP | McKean | 34 min |
| May 31, 6:44 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | CTP | Warren | 61 min |
| May 31, 6:50 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | CTP | Potter | 65 min |
| May 31, 7:07 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | CTP | Elk, McKean | 63 min |
| May 31, 7:20 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | CTP | Tioga | 65 min |
| May 31, 7:20 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | CTP | Cameron | 65 min |
| May 31, 7:28 PM EDT | Tornado Warning | CTP | Elk | 62 min |
| May 31, 7:35 PM EDT | Tornado Warning | CTP | Tioga | 50 min |
| May 31, 7:53 PM EDT | Tornado Warning | CTP | Cameron | 62 min |
| May 31, 7:56 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | CTP | Potter | 64 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.