Alert archive / Pennsylvania / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2003

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 85, NWS Pittsburgh, PA

July 7, 2003Washington County, Pennsylvania

NWS Pittsburgh, PA issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Jul 7, 2003, 5:39 PM EDT for Washington County, Pennsylvania. It was in force for 96 min. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The outline as issued.

The facts

Issued: Jul 7, 2003, 5:39 PM EDT (21:39 UTC)
Expired: Jul 7, 2003, 7:15 PM EDT
In force: 96 min
Issued by: NWS Pittsburgh, PA
Area: Counties, with a storm outline in the text

County Washington County, PA

The radar

The Pittsburgh radar (KPBZ), 26 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 21:40 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.

Did it verify

Not verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow found no qualifying storm report inside this severe thunderstorm warning while it was in force. That is not proof nothing happened: reports are thin where few people live.

Cow counts a report within 15 km of the polygon while the warning was in force: a tornado for a tornado warning; hail of 1 inch or more, a gust of 58 mph or more or wind damage for a severe thunderstorm warning; a flash flood report for a flash flood warning.

The watch it was issued in

The SPC watch in force over the same counties when this warning went out.

Issued	Product	Office	Lasted
Jul 7, 3:10 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Watch	SPC	6 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Pittsburgh, PA (KPIT), launched 12:00Z, 9.7 hours before the alert went out and 14 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-p

Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.

Hodograph

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: 202 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -78 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 648 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 36 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 67 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 93 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 0.0
Supercell composite: 0.3

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

738 
WUUS51 KPBZ 072139
SVRPBZ
PAC125-072315-

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA
539 PM EDT MON JUL 7 2003

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN PITTSBURGH HAS ISSUED A

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

* UNTIL 715 PM EDT

* AT 539 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  SEVERE THUNDERSTORM 6 MILES NORTHWEST OF BURGETTSTOWN...MOVING
  SOUTHEAST AT 25 MPH.

* SOME LOCATIONS AFFECTED BY THIS STORM INCLUDE...
  BAIDLAND...
  BENTLEYVILLE...
  BURGETTSTOWN...
  CALIFORNIA...
  CANONSBURG...
  CECIL-BISHOP...
  CHARLEROI...

<<CALL TO ACTION>>SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCE WINDS IN EXCESS OF 58
MILES AN HOUR AND LARGE HAIL GREATER THAN THREE QUARTERS OF AN INCH.

PLEASE REPORT HAIL...STRONG WINDS OR WIND DAMAGE TO THE NATIONAL
WEATHER SERVICE BY CALLING TOLL FREE...1-877-633-6772...WHEN YOU CAN
DO SO SAFELY.

LAT...LON 4048 8037 4033 8017 4027 7994 4024 7997
          4020 7989 4003 7987 4013 8006 4023 8024
          4039 8053 4047 8053

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 Pittsburgh, PA wrote its last area forecast discussion before this severe thunderstorm warning went out at Jul 7, 3:22 PM EDT, 2 hours 17 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jul 7, 3:22 PM EDT, 2 hours 17 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA
322 PM EDT MON JUL 7 2003

FFA TIL 10 PM THIS EVENING AND SVR TSTM WATCH TIL 9 PM THIS EVENING
FOR ENTIRE CWA. WE REMAIN IN SOUPY AIRMASS INTO THURSDAY. UPPER FLOW
IS PRETTY MUCH ZONAL SO FLOODING WILL BE DUE TO TRAIN ECHOES. AS FAR
AS SVR TSTM WATCH EHI 2-4 THIS EVENING AND HELICITY 270. CHC SHOWERS
AND TSTMS INTO THURSDAY UNTIL FRONT FINALLY PASSES.

PIT   69  88  69  79 /  50  40  50  40
HLG   69  86  69  78 /  50  40  50  40
MGW   69  86  69  78 /  50  40  50  40
ZZV   70  87  70  79 /  50  50  50  40
PHD   70  87  70  79 /  50  50  50  40
FKL   67  84  67  76 /  50  50  50  40
DUJ   67  84  67  76 /  50  50  50  40
LBE   69  86  69  78 /  50  40  50  40
BTP   67  84  67  76 /  50  50  50  40
IDI   67  84  67  76 /  50  50  50  40
ODM   65  83  65  76 /  50  40  50  40

.PBZ...
MD...FLOOD WATCH FOR THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING FOR ZONE MDZ001.

SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH FOR THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING FOR ZONE
MDZ001.

OH...FLOOD WATCH FOR THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING FOR ZONES
OHZ039>041...OHZ048>050...OHZ057>059...OHZ068>069.

SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH FOR THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING FOR ZONES
OHZ039>041...OHZ048>050...OHZ057>059...OHZ068>069.

PA...FLOOD WATCH FOR THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING FOR ZONES
PAZ007>009...PAZ013>016...PAZ020>023...PAZ029>032.

SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH FOR THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING FOR ZONES
PAZ007>009...PAZ013>016...PAZ020>023...PAZ029>032.

WV...FLOOD WATCH FOR THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING FOR ZONES
WVZ001>004...WVZ012...WVZ021>023...WVZ041.

SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH FOR THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING FOR ZONES
WVZ001>004...WVZ012...WVZ021>023...WVZ041.

Hazardous weather outlook, Jul 7, 3:09 PM EDT, 2 hours 30 minutes before

MDZ001-OHZ039>041-048>050-057>059-068-069-PAZ007>009-013>016-020>023-
029>032-WVZ001>004-012-021>023-041-080100-

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA
309 PM EDT MON JUL 7 2003

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA
EAST CENTRAL OHIO...NORTHERN WEST VIRGINIA AND
GARRETT COUNTY MARYLAND.

.DAY ONE...TODAY

MODERATE RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT FOR
EAST CENTRAL OHIO AND THE NORTHERN PANHANDLE OF WEST VIRGINIA.

SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT FOR
EXTREME NORTHERN WEST VIRGINIA...WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA AND GARRETT
COUNTY MARYLAND.

THE GREATEST THREAT FROM THESE STORMS WILL BE STRONG DAMAGING WINDS
AND HEAVY RAIN.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...

A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS IS POSSIBLE AGAIN ON TUESDAY
FOR THE REGION.

.SPOTTER CALL TO ACTION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL BE LIKELY.

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Jul 7, 4:48 PM EDT, 51 minutes before

OHZ040-072200-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA
448 PM EDT MON JUL 7 2003

THUNDERSTORMS WITH STRONG GUSTY WINDS AND HEAVY RAIN ARE MOVING EAST
ACROSS CARROLL COUNTY. GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH CAN BE EXPECTED. HAIL IS
ALSO POSSIBLE WITH THESE STORMS.

Local storm report, Jul 7, 4:58 PM EDT, 41 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA
458 PM EDT MON JUL 7 2003

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

0430 PM    COUNTYWIDE                OH   WIND DAMAGE
07/07/03   COSHOCTON                      NUMEROUS TREES DOWN. 911

0450 PM    NEW BEDFORD               OH   WIND DAMAGE
07/07/03   COSHOCTON                      UNOCCUPIED MOBILE HOME
                                          BLOWN OVER. SHERIFF

Local storm report, Jul 7, 5:17 PM EDT, 22 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA
517 PM EDT MON JUL 7 2003

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

0440 PM    ZANESVILLE                OH   WIND DAMAGE
07/07/03   MUSKINGUM                      LARGE TREES DOWN. 911

0513 PM    GNADENHUTTEN              OH   WIND DAMAGE
07/07/03   TUSCARAWAS                     TREES AND LARGE LIMBS DOWN.
                                          PUBLIC

Local storm report, Jul 7, 5:27 PM EDT, 12 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA
527 PM EDT MON JUL 7 2003

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

0520 PM    NEW BEAVER                PA   WIND DAMAGE
07/07/03   LAWRENCE                       LARGE TREES DOWN BETWEEN
                                          NEW BEAVER AND ELLWOOD. 911

Special weather statement, Jul 7, 5:31 PM EDT, 8 minutes before

PAZ021-072300-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA
531 PM EDT MON JUL 7 2003

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS MOVING TOWARD ALLEGHENY COUNTY...

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR SHOWED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS
MOVING TOWARD ALLEGHENY COUNTY FROM THE WEST.  THEY SHOULD AFFECT
THE COUNTY BETWEEN 5:45 AND 6:45 PM.  THESE STORMS MAY PRODUCE WIND
GUSTS OF 50 MPH, AND POSSIBLY STRONGER.  TORRENTIAL RAIN AND
FREQUENT LIGHTNING ARE ALSO LIKELY.

RESIDENTS OF ALLEGHENY COUNTY AND THE IMMEDIATE SURROUNDING AREA
SHOULD BE PREPARED FOR POSSIBLE POWER SURGES OR POWER OUTAGES.
MOTORISTS SHOULD BE ALERT AS WATER MAY POND ON ROADS.  SOME POOR
DRAINAGE AND LOW LAND FLOODING MAY ALSO OCCUR.

WHEN THREATENING WEATHER APPROACHES, MOVE INDOORS.  REMEMBER,
LIGHTNING KILLS. STAY TUNED FOR UPDATES AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS.

REHAK

Local storm report, Jul 7, 5:33 PM EDT, 6 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA
533 PM EDT MON JUL 7 2003

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

0520 PM    CAMBRIDGE                 OH   WIND DAMAGE
07/07/03   GUERNSEY                       LARGE TREES AND POWER LINES
                                          DOWN. 911

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Jul 7, 5:05 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	PBZ	Beaver	55 min
Jul 7, 5:12 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	PBZ	Lawrence	63 min
Jul 7, 5:36 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	PBZ	Butler	54 min
Jul 7, 5:46 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	PBZ	Allegheny	74 min
Jul 7, 6:22 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	PBZ	Greene	68 min
Jul 7, 6:27 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	PBZ	Westmoreland	78 min
Jul 7, 6:55 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	PBZ	Fayette	65 min
Jul 7, 6:58 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	PBZ	Indiana	62 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Pennsylvania, 2003 Every severe thunderstorm warning in 2003

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; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.