Alert archive / Pennsylvania / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1998

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 101, NWS Pittsburgh, PA

May 31, 1998Fayette County, Pennsylvania

NWS Pittsburgh, PA issued this severe thunderstorm warning at May 31, 1998, 10:03 PM EDT for Fayette County, Pennsylvania. It was in force for 57 min. 1 report 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, 10:03 PM EDT (02:03 UTC)
Expired
May 31, 1998, 11:00 PM EDT
In force
57 min
Issued by
NWS Pittsburgh, PA
Area
Whole counties

County Fayette County, PA

The radar

The Pittsburgh radar (KPBZ), 84 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 02:03 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
May 31, 10:30 PM EDTThunderstorm WindPerryopolis, PAThunderstorm winds downed a tree.

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
May 31, 6:30 PM EDTTornado WatchSPC7 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Pittsburgh, PA (KPIT), launched 00:00Z, 2.1 hours before the alert went out and 67 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, Pittsburgh, PA at 00:00Z on 1998-06-01Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 5 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°0°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Pittsburgh, PA at 00:00Z on 1998-06-01The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 93 square meters per square second.1939587897Sfc1 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
5 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-334 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1772 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
62 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
93 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
223 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.

343 
WUUS1 KPIT 010204 RRA
SVRPIT
PAC051-010300-

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA
1003 PM EDT SUN MAY 31 1998

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN PITTSBURGH HAS ISSUED A

   * SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR...
     FAYETTE COUNTY IN PENNSYLVANIA

   * UNTIL 1100 PM EDT

   * AT 1003 PM EDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED 
     A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM 9 MILES NORTHWEST OF                      
     CONNELLSVILLE...OR ABOUT 14 MILES SOUTHWEST OF                  
     GREENSBURG...MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 35 MILES PER HOUR.

IF SEVERE WEATHER APPROACHES YOUR AREA...GO INSIDE A STURDY SHELTER
AWAY FROM CREEK BEDS AND OTHER FLOOD-PRONE AREAS. REMEMBER...A SEVERE
THUNDERSTORM CAN PRODUCE LARGE DAMAGING HAIL...DAMAGING WINDS IN
EXCESS OF 55 MPH...DEADLY LIGHTNING...AND VERY HEAVY RAIN.

KANE

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.

In the hours before

Local storm report, May 31, 5:49 PM EDT, 4 hours 14 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PENNSYLVANIA
549 PM EDT SUN MAY 31 1998

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

0545 PM    5 W NEW BEDFORD           OH   WIND DAMAGE
05/31/98   COSHOCTON                      LARGE TREE DOWN AND POWER
                                          LINES DOWN
Local storm report, May 31, 5:54 PM EDT, 4 hours 9 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PENNSYLVANIA
554 PM EDT SUN MAY 31 1998

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

0550 PM    HARLEM SPGS               OH   1.75 INCH HAIL
05/31/98   CARROLL
Local storm report, May 31, 6:01 PM EDT, 4 hours 2 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PENNSYLVANIA
601 PM EDT SUN MAY 31 1998

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

0550 PM    DOVER                     OH   WIND DAMAGE
05/31/98   TUSCARAWAS                     LARGE TREES DOWN
Special weather statement, May 31, 6:48 PM EDT, 3 hours 15 minutes before
OHZ039>041-048>050-057>059-068-069-PAZ007>009-013>016-020>023-
029>032-WVZ001>004-012-012-021>023-041-MDZ001-060100-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA
648 PM EDT SUN MAY 31 1998

...NEW TORNADO WATCH IN EFFECT UNTIL 1AM MONDAY MORNING...

A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT TIL 1AM MONDAY MORNING FOR THE FOLLOWING
COUNTIES...

IN WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA...
WASHINGTON FAYETTE AND GREENE

IN EXTERME NORTHERN WEST VIRGINIA...
BROOKE OHIO MARSHALL WETZEL MARION MONONGALIA PRESTON AND TUCKER

IN WESTERN MARYLAND...
GARRETT

IN EAST CENTRAL OHIO...
BELMONT NOBLE AND MONROE

...A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT TIL 10PM SUNDAY EVENING FOR
THE REMAINDER OF THE COUNTIES IN WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA...EAST CENTRAL
OHIO AND HANCOCK COUNTY IN THE NORTHERN WEST VIRGINIA PANHANDLE.

REMEMBER A TORNADO WATCH MEANS CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR
TORNADOES AND SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS IN AND CLOSE TO THE WATCH AREA.
PERSONS IN THE WATCH AREA SHOULD BE ON THE ALERT FOR THREATENING
WEATHER AND LISTEN FOR FURTHER UPDATES AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS.

THE GREATEST THREAT WITH THE POTENTIAL STORM ACTIVITY WILL BE
DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS OF 55 MPH AND LARGE HAIL. THIS IS A
DANGEROUS WEATHER SITUATION AND PEOPLES LIVING IN AND CLOSE TO THE
WATCH AREA SHOULD BE PREPARED TO TAKE ACTION QUICKLY.  HEAVY
DOWNPOURS AND FREQUENT LIGHTNING WILL OCCUR ALSO. AN INCH OF RAIN
CAN OCCUR IN LESS THAN AN HOUR...PONDING OF WATER ON ROADWAYS
BASEMENT AND POOR DRAINAGE FLOODING IS POSSIBLE.

PLEASE STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO...OTHER MEDIA OUTLETS OR
CONTACT OUR WEB SITE AT WWW.NWS.NOAA.GOV/ER/PIT.
Special weather statement, May 31, 6:48 PM EDT, 3 hours 15 minutes before
OHZ039>041-048>050-057>059-068-069-PAZ007>009-013>016-020>023-
029>032-WVZ001>004-012-012-021>023-041-MDZ001-060100-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA
648 PM EDT SUN MAY 31 1998

...NEW TORNADO WATCH IN EFFECT UNTIL 1AM MONDAY MORNING...

A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT TIL 1AM MONDAY MORNING FOR THE FOLLOWING
COUNTIES...

IN WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA...
WASHINGTON FAYETTE AND GREENE

IN EXTERME NORTHERN WEST VIRGINIA...
BROOKE OHIO MARSHALL WETZEL MARION MONONGALIA PRESTON AND TUCKER

IN WESTERN MARYLAND...
GARRETT

IN EAST CENTRAL OHIO...
BELMONT NOBLE AND MONROE

...A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT TIL 10PM SUNDAY EVENING FOR
THE REMAINDER OF THE COUNTIES IN WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA...EAST CENTRAL
OHIO AND HANCOCK COUNTY IN THE NORTHERN WEST VIRGINIA PANHANDLE.

REMEMBER A TORNADO WATCH MEANS CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR
TORNADOES AND SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS IN AND CLOSE TO THE WATCH AREA.
PERSONS IN THE WATCH AREA SHOULD BE ON THE ALERT FOR THREATENING
WEATHER AND LISTEN FOR FURTHER UPDATES AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS.

THE GREATEST THREAT WITH THE POTENTIAL STORM ACTIVITY WILL BE
DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS OF 55 MPH AND LARGE HAIL. THIS IS A
DANGEROUS WEATHER SITUATION AND PEOPLES LIVING IN AND CLOSE TO THE
WATCH AREA SHOULD BE PREPARED TO TAKE ACTION QUICKLY.  HEAVY
DOWNPOURS AND FREQUENT LIGHTNING WILL OCCUR ALSO. AN INCH OF RAIN
CAN OCCUR IN LESS THAN AN HOUR...PONDING OF WATER ON ROADWAYS
BASEMENT AND POOR DRAINAGE FLOODING IS POSSIBLE.

PLEASE STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO...OTHER MEDIA OUTLETS OR
CONTACT OUR WEB SITE AT WWW.NWS.NOAA.GOV/ER/PIT.

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 31, 8:38 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPBZBeaver57 min
May 31, 8:50 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPBZButler50 min
May 31, 9:04 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPBZAllegheny56 min
May 31, 9:39 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPBZWestmoreland51 min
May 31, 9:41 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPBZWashington49 min
May 31, 9:45 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPBZIndiana45 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.