Alert archive / Pennsylvania / Tornado Warnings in 1998
Tornado Warning 16, NWS Pittsburgh, PA
NWS Pittsburgh, PA issued this tornado warning at Jun 2, 1998, 7:53 PM EDT for Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. It was in force for 67 min. 3 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, 7:53 PM EDT (23:53 UTC)
- Expired
- Jun 2, 1998, 9:00 PM EDT
- In force
- 67 min
- Issued by
- NWS Pittsburgh, PA
- Area
- Whole counties
County Westmoreland County, PA
The radar
The Pittsburgh radar (KPBZ), 68 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 23:56 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
| Time | Report | Where | Remark |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 2, 8:20 PM EDT | Hail 0.75 | Delmont, PA | |
| Jun 2, 8:22 PM EDT | Tornado F0 | Irwin, PA | |
| Jun 2, 8:30 PM EDT | Hail 1.25 | Irwin, 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 |
The nearest sounding before it
Pittsburgh, PA (KPIT), launched 12:00Z, 11.9 hours before the alert went out and 55 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
- 158 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -77 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 1288 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 57 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 224 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 261 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 1.1
The text
As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.
905 WFUS1 KPIT 022355 RRA TORPIT PAC129-030100- BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED TORNADO WARNING NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA 753 PM EDT TUE JUN 2 1998 THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN PITTSBURGH HAS ISSUED A * TORNADO WARNING FOR... WESTMORELAND COUNTY IN SOUTHWESTERN PENNSYLVANIA. * UNTIL 900 PM EDT. * AT 753 PM... NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A TORNADO IN THE NORTH HILLS OF PITTSBURGH...WILL BE ENTERING NORTHWESTERN WESTMORELAND COUNTY...MOVING SOUTHEAST AROUND 35 MPH. * THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR... NEW KENSINGTON AROUND 810 PM. SLICKVILLE AROUND 825 PM. LATROBE AROUND 835 PM <<CALL-TO-ACTION>>ABANDON MOBILE HOMES GO IN A NEARBY STURDY BUILDING. AS A LAST RESORT LIE FLAT IN A DITCH AND COVER YOUR HEAD. .END/MURPHY/PALKO
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.
In the hours before
Local storm report, Jun 2, 5:52 PM EDT, 2 hours 1 minute before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PENNSYLVANIA
552 PM EDT TUE JUN 02 1998
TIME(EDT) .....CITY LOCATION..... STATE ...EVENT/REMARKS...
....COUNTY LOCATION....
0517 PM FREDERICKTOWN OH 1 INCH HAIL
06/02/98 COLUMBIANA
0525 PM MONACA PA .75 INCH HAIL
06/02/98 BEAVER
0528 PM CONWAY PA 1 INCH HAIL
06/02/98 BEAVER
0542 PM SHIPPINGPORT PA .75 INCH HAIL
06/02/98 BEAVER
0542 PM MONACA PA WIND DAMAGE
06/02/98 BEAVER LARGE TREE KNOCKED DOWN.
0547 PM INGOMAR PA 1 INCH HAIL
06/02/98 ALLEGHENY
0550 PM WEXFORD PA 1 INCH HAIL
06/02/98 ALLEGHENYLocal storm report, Jun 2, 6:16 PM EDT, 1 hour 37 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PENNSYLVANIA
616 PM EDT TUE JUN 02 1998
TIME(EDT) .....CITY LOCATION..... STATE ...EVENT/REMARKS...
....COUNTY LOCATION....
0525 PM SHIPPINGPORT PA WIND DAMAGE
06/02/98 BEAVER LARGE TREES KNOCKED DOWN.
0555 PM WILDWOOD PA .75 INCH HAIL
06/02/98 ALLEGHENY
0556 PM ETNA PA .75 INCH HAIL
06/02/98 ALLEGHENY
0605 PM PITTSBURGH PA TORNADO
06/02/98 ALLEGHENY MOUNT WASHINGTON SECTION.
ROOF OFF BUILDING. LARGE
TREES AND POWER LINES
KNOCKED DOWN.
0610 PM VERONA PA .75 INCH HAIL
06/02/98 ALLEGHENY
0615 PM PLEASANT HILLS PA .75 INCH HAIL
06/02/98 ALLEGHENYLocal storm report, Jun 2, 6:16 PM EDT, 1 hour 37 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PENNSYLVANIA
616 PM EDT TUE JUN 02 1998
TIME(EDT) .....CITY LOCATION..... STATE ...EVENT/REMARKS...
....COUNTY LOCATION....
0525 PM SHIPPINGPORT PA WIND DAMAGE
06/02/98 BEAVER LARGE TREES KNOCKED DOWN.
0555 PM WILDWOOD PA .75 INCH HAIL
06/02/98 ALLEGHENY
0556 PM ETNA PA .75 INCH HAIL
06/02/98 ALLEGHENY
0605 PM PITTSBURGH PA TORNADO
06/02/98 ALLEGHENY MOUNT WASHINGTON SECTION.
ROOF OFF BUILDING. LARGE
TREES AND POWER LINES
KNOCKED DOWN.
0610 PM VERONA PA .75 INCH HAIL
06/02/98 ALLEGHENY
0615 PM PLEASANT HILLS PA .75 INCH HAIL
06/02/98 ALLEGHENYLocal storm report, Jun 2, 6:21 PM EDT, 1 hour 32 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PENNSYLVANIA
621 PM EDT TUE JUN 02 1998
TIME(EDT) .....CITY LOCATION..... STATE ...EVENT/REMARKS...
....COUNTY LOCATION....
0605 PM PITTSBURGH PA .75 INCH HAIL
06/02/98 ALLEGHENY EAST LIBERTY SECTION.
0610 PM IRWIN PA .75 INCH HAIL
06/02/98 WESTMORELANDLocal storm report, Jun 2, 7:18 PM EDT, 35 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PENNSYLVANIA
718 PM EDT TUE JUN 02 1998
TIME(EDT) .....CITY LOCATION..... STATE ...EVENT/REMARKS...
....COUNTY LOCATION....
0530 PM GREEN GARDEN PA TORNADO
06/02/98 BEAVER ALSO RACCOON TWP. MANY
LARGE TREES AND POWER
LINES KNOCKED DOWN.
0615 PM TURTLE CREEK PA WIND DAMAGE
06/02/98 ALLEGHENY LARGE TREES KNOCKED DOWN.
0620 PM ARONA PA 1 INCH HAIL
06/02/98 WESTMORELAND
0628 PM IRWIN PA TORNADO
06/02/98 WESTMORELAND EOC SIGHTING ON GROUND.
0630 PM CHARLESTON PA .75 INCH HAIL
06/02/98 MERCER
0640 PM TRAFFORD PA WIND DAMAGE
06/02/98 WESTMORELAND LARGE TREES KNOCKED DOWN.
0640 PM BESSEMER PA 2 INCH HAIL
06/02/98 LAWRENCE ALSO MOUNT JACKSON AREA.
0640 PM CHAMPION PA 2 INCH HAIL
06/02/98 FAYETTE
0642 PM NORVELT PA 1.75 INCH HAIL
06/02/98 WESTMORELAND ALSO MOUNT PLEASANT.
0645 PM HILLSVILLE PA .75 INCH HAIL
06/02/98 LAWRENCE
0645 PM NEW STANTON PA 1 INCH HAIL
06/02/98 WESTMORELAND
0646 PM IRWIN PA 1 INCH HAIL
06/02/98 WESTMORELAND
0652 PM DONEGAL PA 1 INCH HAIL
06/02/98 WESTMORELAND
0654 PM CHAMPION PA 1.75 INCH HAIL
06/02/98 FAYETTE
0655 PM COULTER PA .75 INCH HAIL
06/02/98 JEFFERSON
0655 PM COLUMBIANA OH 3 INCH HAIL
06/02/98 COLUMBIANA ALSO NEAR LETONIA.
0655 PM PERRYSVILLE PA .75 INCH HAIL
06/02/98 ALLEGHENY
0700 PM DONEGAL PA WIND DAMAGE
06/02/98 WESTMORELAND LARGE TREES KNOCKED DOWN
ACROSS THE PA TURNPIKE.Local storm report, Jun 2, 7:18 PM EDT, 35 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PENNSYLVANIA
718 PM EDT TUE JUN 02 1998
TIME(EDT) .....CITY LOCATION..... STATE ...EVENT/REMARKS...
....COUNTY LOCATION....
0530 PM GREEN GARDEN PA TORNADO
06/02/98 BEAVER ALSO RACCOON TWP. MANY
LARGE TREES AND POWER
LINES KNOCKED DOWN.
0615 PM TURTLE CREEK PA WIND DAMAGE
06/02/98 ALLEGHENY LARGE TREES KNOCKED DOWN.
0620 PM ARONA PA 1 INCH HAIL
06/02/98 WESTMORELAND
0628 PM IRWIN PA TORNADO
06/02/98 WESTMORELAND EOC SIGHTING ON GROUND.
0630 PM CHARLESTON PA .75 INCH HAIL
06/02/98 MERCER
0640 PM TRAFFORD PA WIND DAMAGE
06/02/98 WESTMORELAND LARGE TREES KNOCKED DOWN.
0640 PM BESSEMER PA 2 INCH HAIL
06/02/98 LAWRENCE ALSO MOUNT JACKSON AREA.
0640 PM CHAMPION PA 2 INCH HAIL
06/02/98 FAYETTE
0642 PM NORVELT PA 1.75 INCH HAIL
06/02/98 WESTMORELAND ALSO MOUNT PLEASANT.
0645 PM HILLSVILLE PA .75 INCH HAIL
06/02/98 LAWRENCE
0645 PM NEW STANTON PA 1 INCH HAIL
06/02/98 WESTMORELAND
0646 PM IRWIN PA 1 INCH HAIL
06/02/98 WESTMORELAND
0652 PM DONEGAL PA 1 INCH HAIL
06/02/98 WESTMORELAND
0654 PM CHAMPION PA 1.75 INCH HAIL
06/02/98 FAYETTE
0655 PM COULTER PA .75 INCH HAIL
06/02/98 JEFFERSON
0655 PM COLUMBIANA OH 3 INCH HAIL
06/02/98 COLUMBIANA ALSO NEAR LETONIA.
0655 PM PERRYSVILLE PA .75 INCH HAIL
06/02/98 ALLEGHENY
0700 PM DONEGAL PA WIND DAMAGE
06/02/98 WESTMORELAND LARGE TREES KNOCKED DOWN
ACROSS THE PA TURNPIKE.The office that day
Everything else NWS Pittsburgh, PA issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 2, 4:33 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | PBZ | Mercer | 57 min |
| Jun 2, 4:49 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | PBZ | Venango | 56 min |
| Jun 2, 4:57 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | PBZ | Beaver, Lawrence | 63 min |
| Jun 2, 5:17 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | PBZ | Allegheny, Butler | 58 min |
| Jun 2, 5:25 PM EDT | Tornado Warning | PBZ | Beaver | 45 min |
| Jun 2, 5:29 PM EDT | Tornado Warning | PBZ | Allegheny | 51 min |
| Jun 2, 5:40 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | PBZ | Washington | 50 min |
| Jun 2, 5:50 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | PBZ | Westmoreland | 55 min |
| Jun 2, 5:54 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | PBZ | Clarion | 51 min |
| Jun 2, 6:09 PM EDT | Tornado Warning | PBZ | Westmoreland | 61 min |
| Jun 2, 6:13 PM EDT | Tornado Warning | PBZ | Allegheny | 27 min |
| Jun 2, 6:20 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | PBZ | Lawrence, Mercer | 60 min |
| Jun 2, 6:25 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | PBZ | Jefferson | 65 min |
| Jun 2, 6:35 PM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | PBZ | Allegheny, Westmoreland | 2 hr |
| Jun 2, 6:36 PM EDT | Tornado Warning | PBZ | Jefferson | 59 min |
| Jun 2, 6:45 PM EDT | Tornado Warning | PBZ | Fayette | 45 min |
| Jun 2, 6:53 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | PBZ | Venango | 57 min |
| Jun 2, 6:56 PM EDT | Tornado Warning | PBZ | Indiana | 34 min |
| Jun 2, 6:58 PM EDT | Tornado Warning | PBZ | Beaver, Lawrence | 62 min |
| Jun 2, 7:05 PM EDT | Tornado Warning | PBZ | Allegheny, Butler | 70 min |
| Jun 2, 7:14 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | PBZ | Clarion | 61 min |
| Jun 2, 7:15 PM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | PBZ | Beaver | 105 min |
| Jun 2, 7:28 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | PBZ | Jefferson | 62 min |
| Jun 2, 7:40 PM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | PBZ | Allegheny, Westmoreland | 2 hr |
| Jun 2, 7:57 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | PBZ | Washington | 58 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.