Alert archive / Pennsylvania / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2000

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 63, NWS State College, PA

May 18, 2000Sullivan County, Pennsylvania

NWS State College, PA issued this severe thunderstorm warning at May 18, 2000, 3:51 PM EDT for Sullivan County, Pennsylvania. It was in force for 69 min. 1 report came from inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The outline the Iowa Environmental Mesonet reconstructed for it; the warning itself named whole counties, with what was reported inside it.

The facts

Issued
May 18, 2000, 3:51 PM EDT (19:51 UTC)
Expired
May 18, 2000, 5:00 PM EDT
In force
69 min
Issued by
NWS State College, PA
Area
Whole counties; the outline is the Mesonet’s reconstruction

County Sullivan County, PA

The radar

The Binghamton radar (KBGM), 81 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 19:51 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 18, 4:30 PM EDTThunderstorm WindLaporte, PATrees down on Route 154 north of Laporte.

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 18, 3:15 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WatchSPC5 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Buffalo Intl Airport, NY (KBUF), launched 12:00Z, 7.9 hours before the alert went out and 236 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, Buffalo Intl Airport, NY at 12:00Z on 2000-05-18Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 239 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Buffalo Intl Airport, NY at 12:00Z on 2000-05-18The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 273 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
239 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-78 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1133 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
44 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
273 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
349 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
2.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
WUUS51 KCTP 181954
SVRCTP
PAC113-182100-

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA
351 PM EDT THU MAY 18 2000

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN STATE COLLEGE PA HAS ISSUED A

* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR...
  SULLIVAN COUNTY.

* UNTIL 500 PM EDT.

* AT 341 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED 
  A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 12 MILES
  SOUTHEAST OF MANSFIELD TO 11 MILES SOUTH OF MANSFIELD...MOVING
  SOUTHEAST AT 45 MPH.

* SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE NEAR...
  FORKSVILLE AT 410 PM EDT.
  DUSHORE AT 415 PM EDT.
  EAGLES MERE...LAPORTE AT 420 PM EDT.

THIS IS A DANGEROUS STORM. STAY INDOORS AWAY FROM WINDOWS.

.END/ JUNG/RXR

LAT...LON 4181 7658 4174 7676 4159 7717 4121 7629
          4140 7609 4145 7598

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.

NWS State College, PA wrote its last area forecast discussion before this severe thunderstorm warning went out at May 18, 3:15 PM EDT, 36 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 18, 3:15 PM EDT, 36 minutes before
CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA
315 PM EDT THU MAY 18 2000

+TSRAS MOVG INTO NW PA AND W NY ARE MOVG DUE E. ERI HAD .85 IN ONE
HOUR. SO FAR NO REPORTS OF SEVERE WX WITH THIS LINE...JUST HEAVY
RAIN. THE WIND IS LINED UP ALG THE LINE BUT THERE APPEARS TO BE A
TENDENCY FOR A LEWP TO DEVELOP. AT THE SAME TIME THE LAPS SOUNDINGS
SHOW THE CAP STRENGTHENING OVER CPA. WE ARE STARTING TO GET SEVERE
REPORTS FROM N OF US. A CALL TO WARREN COUNTY INDICATES WIND DAMAGE
IN THE CITY OF WARREN.

THE FRONT WILL SLIP SOUTH INTO OUR N COUNTIES DURING THE EARLY EVE.
THIS WILL FOCUS TSRAS ACRS  CPA. SPC HAS CALLED TO COORD WITH US
PRIVATELY AND WITH A CONF CALL. APPRECIATE THE COORD. AGREE WITH THE
NEED FOR A WATCH ACROSS CPA THIS AFTN AND EVE. THERE IS ALREADY
SEVERE WX OCCURING AND THE LINE IS MOVING INTO HEATED AND WELL MIXED
AIR MASS WITH STRONG PRES FALLS AHEAD OF THE LINE.

ONCE COLD FRONT DROPS IN THE THREAT FOR SEVERE WX ENDS BUT THE
THREAT FOR +RA DOES NOT. THE EMPHASIS FOR +RA WILL SHIFT SOUTH INTO
THE LAURELS AND SC MTNS. TEMPS WILL REMAIN VERY MILD FOR THIS TIME
OF YEAR OVNT IN THE SOUTH. THERE IS LOTS OF CONVERGENCE AHEAD OF THE
FRONT WITH HIGH DEWPTS UP TO 85H.

DURING FRI A STEADY STRATIFORM RAIN APPRS LIKELY AND WILL LEAVE HIGH
POPS IN ZFP. THIS MAY CONTINUE INTO FRI NITE AND SAT. MOS NUMBERS
SEEM TOO HI FOR SAT AND LOWERED MAXES ACCORDINGLY.

AVN SHOWS ANOTHER WAVE COMING OUT FOR SUN AND THIS FOLLOWS CLOSELY
WITH 00Z MRF. THEREFORE INTRODUCING CHC RAIN FOR SUNDAY OVR THE S
AND CHC SHRA N.

IN THE EXTENDED...MON MAY BREAK AS WE WILL BE BETWEEN SYSTEMS. THIS
WILQL BRING TEMPS UP. TUE ANOTHER CHC OF SHRA. WHAT A PATTERN SHIFT!

.CTP...NONE.

HEAD

In the hours before

Special weather statement, May 18, 11:00 AM EDT, 4 hours 51 minutes before
PAZ004>006-010>012-017>019-024>028-033>037-041-042-045-046-049>053-
056>059-063>066-180100-

SEVERE WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA
1100 AM EDT THU MAY 18 2000

...THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS IN PARTS OF CENTRAL
PENNSYLVANIA LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT...

SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL DEVELOP IN AN UNSTABLE AIR MASS THIS
AFTERNOON AND EVENING. HEAVY RAIN...SMALL HAIL AND GUSTY WINDS ARE
EXPECTED FROM THESE STORMS. MORE ORGANIZED STORMS ARE EXPECTED TO
DEVELOP AHEAD OF A COLD FRONT MOVING INTO NORTHWEST PENNSYLVANIA THIS
EVENING...THEN TRACK SOUTHEAST TO THE LOWER SUSQUEHANNA RIVER VALLEY
BY LATE TONIGHT. A FEW OF THESE STORMS COULD BECOME SEVERE...WITH
LOCALIZED WIND GUSTS PAST 50 MPH OR LARGE HAIL.

OCCASIONAL SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE ACROSS CENTRAL
PENNSYLVANIA ON FRIDAY...HOWEVER THE RISK OF STRONG WINDS OR HAIL
WILL DECREASE BY FRIDAY MORNING. LOCALLY HEAVY RAINS COULD DEVELOP LATE
TONIGHT...ESPECIALLY ACROSS THE WESTERN HALF OF THE STATE.

SKYWARN SPOTTER NETWORKS MAY NEED TO BE ACTIVATED LATE THIS EVENING.

.END/DEVOIR/HEAD
Special weather statement, May 18, 11:00 AM EDT, 4 hours 51 minutes before
PAZ004>006-010>012-017>019-024>028-033>037-041-042-045-046-049>053-
056>059-063>066-182100-

SEVERE WEATHER OUTLOOK...CORRECTED EXPIRATION TIME
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA
1100 AM EDT THU MAY 18 2000

...THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS IN PARTS OF CENTRAL
PENNSYLVANIA LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT...

SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL DEVELOP IN AN UNSTABLE AIR MASS THIS
AFTERNOON AND EVENING. HEAVY RAIN...HAIL AND GUSTY WINDS ARE
EXPECTED FROM THESE STORMS. THE STORMS ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP AHEAD
OF A COLD FRONT MOVING INTO NORTHWEST PENNSYLVANIA LATE THIS
AFTERNOON...THEN TRACK SOUTHEAST TO THE LOWER SUSQUEHANNA RIVER
VALLEY BY LATE TONIGHT. A FEW OF THESE STORMS COULD BECOME
SEVERE...WITH LOCALIZED WIND GUSTS GREATER THAN 50 MPH AND LARGE
HAIL.

OCCASIONAL SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE ACROSS CENTRAL
PENNSYLVANIA ON FRIDAY...HOWEVER THE RISK OF STRONG WINDS OR HAIL
WILL DECREASE BY FRIDAY MORNING. LOCALLY HEAVY RAINS COULD DEVELOP LATE
TONIGHT...ESPECIALLY ACROSS THE WESTERN HALF OF THE STATE.

SKYWARN SPOTTER NETWORKS MAY NEED TO BE ACTIVATED LATE THIS EVENING.

.END/ HEAD
Special weather statement, May 18, 1:31 PM EDT, 2 hours 20 minutes before
PAZ004>006-010>012-017>019-024>028-033>037-041-042-045-046-049>053-
056>059-063>066-182100-

SEVERE WEATHER OUTLOOK...CORRECTED EXPIRATION TIME
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA
1100 AM EDT THU MAY 18 2000

...THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS IN PARTS OF CENTRAL
PENNSYLVANIA LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT...

SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL DEVELOP IN AN UNSTABLE AIR MASS THIS
AFTERNOON AND EVENING. HEAVY RAIN...HAIL AND GUSTY WINDS ARE
EXPECTED FROM THESE STORMS. THE STORMS ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP AHEAD
OF A COLD FRONT MOVING INTO NORTHWEST PENNSYLVANIA LATE THIS
AFTERNOON...THEN TRACK SOUTHEAST TO THE LOWER SUSQUEHANNA RIVER
VALLEY BY LATE TONIGHT. A FEW OF THESE STORMS COULD BECOME
SEVERE...WITH LOCALIZED WIND GUSTS GREATER THAN 50 MPH AND LARGE
HAIL.

OCCASIONAL SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE ACROSS CENTRAL
PENNSYLVANIA ON FRIDAY...HOWEVER THE RISK OF STRONG WINDS OR HAIL
WILL DECREASE BY FRIDAY MORNING. LOCALLY HEAVY RAINS COULD DEVELOP LATE
TONIGHT...ESPECIALLY ACROSS THE WESTERN HALF OF THE STATE.

SKYWARN SPOTTER NETWORKS MAY NEED TO BE ACTIVATED LATE THIS EVENING.

.END/ HEAD

e
Special weather statement, May 18, 3:26 PM EDT, 25 minutes before
PAZ004>006-010-011-017-018-024>028-033>037-041-042-045-049>053-
056>059-063-190000-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA
326 PM EDT THU MAY 18 2000

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING
UNTIL 8 PM FOR THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES IN CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA...

BEDFORD...CAMBRIA...CAMERON...CENTRE...CLEARFIELD...CLINTON...
COLUMBIA...CUMBERLAND...DAUPHIN...ELK...FRANKLIN...FULTON...
HUNTINGDON...JUNIATA...LEBANON...BLAIR...LYCOMING...
MCKEAN...MIFFLIN...MONTOUR...NORTHUMBERLAND...PERRY...
POTTER...SCHUYLKILL...SNYDER...SOMERSET...SULLIVAN...
TIOGA...AND UNION.

SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCE LARGE DAMAGING HAIL 3/4 OF AN INCH IN
DIAMETER OR LARGER...DAMAGING THUNDERSTORM WINDS OF 58 MPH OR
GREATER AND DANGEROUS CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING.

REMEMBER...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH MEANS CONDITIONS ARE
FAVORABLE FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS IN AND CLOSE TO THE WATCH AREA.
PERSONS IN THESE AREAS SHOULD BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR THREATENING
WEATHER CONDITIONS AND LISTEN FOR LATER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE
WARNINGS.

.END/LAMBERT
Special weather statement, May 18, 3:51 PM EDT, 0 minutes before
PAZ004>006-010-011-017-018-024>028-033>037-041-042-045-049>053-
056>059-063-190000-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT...CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA
351 PM EDT THU MAY 18 2000

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING
UNTIL 8 PM FOR THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES IN CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA...

BEDFORD...CAMBRIA...CAMERON...CENTRE...CLEARFIELD...CLINTON...
COLUMBIA...CUMBERLAND...DAUPHIN...ELK...FRANKLIN...FULTON...
HUNTINGDON...JUNIATA...LEBANON...BLAIR...LYCOMING...
MCKEAN...MIFFLIN...MONTOUR...NORTHUMBERLAND...PERRY...
POTTER...SCHUYLKILL...SNYDER...SOMERSET...SULLIVAN...TIOGA...
UNION...AND WARREN.

SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCE LARGE DAMAGING HAIL 3/4 OF AN INCH IN
DIAMETER OR LARGER...DAMAGING THUNDERSTORM WINDS OF 58 MPH OR
GREATER AND DANGEROUS CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING.

REMEMBER...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH MEANS CONDITIONS ARE
FAVORABLE FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS IN AND CLOSE TO THE WATCH AREA.
PERSONS IN THESE AREAS SHOULD BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR THREATENING
WEATHER CONDITIONS AND LISTEN FOR LATER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE
WARNINGS.

.END/LAMBERT

CORRECTED TO INCLUDE WARREN COUNTY IN THE COUNTY LISTING

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 18, 2:42 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPMcKean, Potter, Warren63 min
May 18, 3:01 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPCameron, Elk44 min
May 18, 3:04 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPTioga41 min
May 18, 3:34 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPClinton, Lycoming71 min
May 18, 3:40 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPCameron, Elk50 min
May 18, 3:43 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPPotter, Tioga47 min
May 18, 4:30 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPClinton, Lycoming45 min
May 18, 4:45 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPColumbia, Montour, Northumberland60 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Pennsylvania, 2000Every severe thunderstorm warning in 2000

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.