Alert archive / Pennsylvania / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2004
Severe Thunderstorm Warning 95, NWS Pittsburgh, PA
NWS Pittsburgh, PA issued this severe thunderstorm warning at May 24, 2004, 4:20 AM EDT for Mercer County, Pennsylvania. It was in force for 55 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
- May 24, 2004, 4:20 AM EDT (08:20 UTC)
- Expired
- May 24, 2004, 5:15 AM EDT
- In force
- 55 min
- Issued by
- NWS Pittsburgh, PA
- Area
- Counties, with a storm outline in the text
County Mercer County, PA
The radar
The Pittsburgh radar (KPBZ), 82 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 08:23 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 24, 12:30 AM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Watch | SPC | 6 hr |
The nearest sounding before it
Pittsburgh, PA (KPIT), launched 00:00Z, 8.3 hours before the alert went out and 97 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
- 1100 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -22 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 1452 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 17 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 111 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 288 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 0.0
The text
As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.
885 WUUS51 KPBZ 240820 SVRPBZ PAC085-240915- BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA 420 AM EDT MON MAY 24 2004 THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN PITTSBURGH HAS ISSUED A * SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR... MERCER COUNTY IN PENNSYLVANIA * UNTIL 515 AM EDT * AT 417 AM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING PENNY SIZE HAIL...AND DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS OF 58 MPH. THIS STORM WAS LOCATED NEAR HERMITAGE...AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 55 MPH. * LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE... MERCER... FREDONIA... JACKSON CENTER... STONEBORO... SHARON... LAT...LON 4124 8050 4115 8044 4122 8007 4145 8015 $$
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 May 24, 3:19 AM EDT, 1 hour 1 minute earlier.
Area forecast discussion, May 24, 3:19 AM EDT, 1 hour 1 minute before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA 319 AM EDT MON MAY 24 2004 SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IN EFFECT TILL 6AM FOR ALL OF WRN PA, NRN PANHANDLE OF WV AND ALL OF OUR EAST CENTRAL OHIO COUNTIES. BOW ECHO WEAKENED AS IT RACED ACROSS OHIO. SOIL CONDITIONS REMAIN VERY MOIST. WE WILL EXTEND FFA TILL 4 PM THIS AFTN FOR THE ENTIRE CWA. COLD FROPA DURING THE DAY TODAY. DEWPOINTS RUNNING IN THE MID 60S PREFRONTAL. 1 HR FFGS ANYWHERE FROM 0.8 TO 1.5 AND 3 HRS FROM 1.1 TO 1.9. PRECIP WATER 1.15 INCHES. ALSO CONVECTION ASSOCIATED WITH WEAKENING BOW ECHO WILL PRODUCE SOME DOWNPOURS. WE FINALLY CATCH A BREAK IN THE WX TONIGHT. BUT TUESDAY NIGHT A COLD FRONT MOVES THROUGH CWA RAPIDLY. SLIGHT CHC SVR LOOKS GOOD. FLOODING STILL A THREAT WITH MOIST SOIL CONDITIONS. && .PBZ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... MD...FLOOD WATCH TIL 4 PM TODAY FOR ZONE MD001. OH...FLOOD WATCH TIL 4 PM TODAY FOR ZONES OHZ039>041...OHZ048>050...OHZ057>059...OHZ068>069. SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH TIL 6 AM THIS MORNING FOR ZONES OHZ039>041...OHZ048>050...OHZ057>059...OHZ068>069. PA...FLOOD WATCH TIL 4 PM TODAY FOR ZONES PAZ007>009...PAZ013>016...PAZ020>023...PAZ029>032. SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH TIL 6 AM THIS MORNING FOR ZONES PAZ007>009...PAZ013>016...PAZ020>023...PAZ029>032. WV...FLOOD WATCH TIL 4 PM TODAY FOR ZONES WVZ001>004...WVZ012-021>023-041. SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH TIL 6AM THIS MORNING FOR ZONES WVZ001>004. &&
Hazardous weather outlook, May 23, 4:57 AM EDT, 23 hours 23 minutes before
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA 457 AM EDT SUN MAY 23 2004 MDZ001-OHZ039>041-048>050-057>059-068-069-PAZ007>009-013>016-020>023- 029>032-WVZ001>004-012-021>023-041-230851- ALLEGHENY PA-ARMSTRONG PA-BEAVER PA-BELMONT OH-BROOKE WV-BUTLER PA- CARROLL OH-CLARION PA-COLUMBIANA OH-COSHOCTON OH-FAYETTE PA- FOREST PA-GARRETT MD-GREENE PA-GUERNSEY OH-HANCOCK WV-HARRISON OH- INDIANA PA-JEFFERSON PA-JEFFERSON OH-LAWRENCE PA-MARION WV- MARSHALL WV-MERCER PA-MONONGALIA WV-MONROE OH-MUSKINGUM OH-NOBLE OH- OHIO WV-PRESTON WV-TUCKER WV-TUSCARAWAS OH-VENANGO PA-WASHINGTON PA- WESTMORELAND PA-WETZEL WV- 457 AM EDT SUN MAY 23 2004 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA EAST CENTRAL OHIO...NORTHERN WEST VIRGINIA AND GARRETT COUNTY MARYLAND. .DAY ONE...TODAY A FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 AM MONDAY AS SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP AGAIN LATE TODAY AND TONIGHT AS A LOW PRESSURE SYSTEMS MOVES OVER THE GREAT LAKES. THE BEST CHANCE FOR STORMS WILL BE FOR COUNTIES ALONG AND NORTH OF INTERSTATE 80. THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF THAT SOME OF THE STORMS MAY BECOME SEVERE WEATHER. THE PRIMARY SEVERE THREAT WILL BE FROM HAIL AND DAMAGING WIND GUSTS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN... NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER CALL TO ACTION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE REQUIRED. 15
In the hours before
Special weather statement, May 24, 12:27 AM EDT, 3 hours 53 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA 1227 AM EDT MON MAY 24 2004 OHZ039>041-048>050-057>059-068-069-PAZ007>009-013>016-020>023- 029>032-WVZ001>004-241000- ALLEGHENY PA-ARMSTRONG PA-BEAVER PA-BELMONT OH-BROOKE WV-BUTLER PA- CARROLL OH-CLARION PA-COLUMBIANA OH-COSHOCTON OH-FAYETTE PA- FOREST PA-GREENE PA-GUERNSEY OH-HANCOCK WV-HARRISON OH-INDIANA PA- JEFFERSON PA-JEFFERSON OH-LAWRENCE PA-MARSHALL WV-MERCER PA- MONROE OH-MUSKINGUM OH-NOBLE OH-OHIO WV-TUSCARAWAS OH-VENANGO PA- WASHINGTON PA-WESTMORELAND PA- 1227 AM EDT MON MAY 24 2004 SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IN EFFECT UNTIL 600 AM EDT MONDAY MORNING FOR THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES... IN PENNSYLVANIA... ALLEGHENY ARMSTRONG BEAVER BUTLER CLARION FAYETTE FOREST GREENE INDIANA JEFFERSON LAWRENCE MERCER VENANGO WASHINGTON WESTMORELAND IN WEST VIRGINIA... BROOKE HANCOCK MARSHALL OHIO IN OHIO... BELMONT CARROLL COLUMBIANA COSHOCTON GUERNSEY HARRISON JEFFERSON MONROE MUSKINGUM NOBLE TUSCARAWAS <<< CALL TO ACTION >>> A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH MEANS THAT SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE IN AND CLOSE TO THE WATCH AREA...PRODUCING DAMAGING WINDS..LARGE HAIL..AND FREQUENT LIGHTNING.
Special weather statement, May 24, 2:26 AM EDT, 1 hour 54 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA 226 AM EDT MON MAY 24 2004 OHZ048-057-240800- COSHOCTON OH-MUSKINGUM OH- 226 AM EDT MON MAY 24 2004 ...THUNDERSTORMS MOVING INTO THE REGION... THUNDERSTORMS WILL MOVE INTO THE AREA BY 3 AM. SOME OF THESE STORMS WILL CONTAIN HEAVY RAIN, WIND GUSTS 40 TO 50 MPH, HAIL AND FREQUENT LIGHTNING STRIKES. STORMS ARE MOVING TOWARD THE EAST AROUND 40 MPH. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO DRIVE THROUGH FLOODED ROADWAYS.
Special weather statement, May 24, 3:08 AM EDT, 1 hour 12 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA 308 AM EDT MON MAY 24 2004 OHZ039>041-049-058-240830- CARROLL OH-COLUMBIANA OH-GUERNSEY OH-HARRISON OH-TUSCARAWAS OH- 308 AM EDT MON MAY 24 2004 ...THUNDERSTORMS MOVING INTO THE REGION... THUNDERSTORMS WILL MOVE ACROSS THE AREA DURING THE PREDAWN HOURS. SOME OF THESE STORMS WILL CONTAIN HEAVY RAIN, WIND GUSTS 40 MPH, HAIL AND LIGHTNING STRIKES. STORMS ARE MOVING TOWARD THE EAST AROUND 40 MPH. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO DRIVE THROUGH FLOODED ROADWAYS.
Special weather statement, May 24, 3:34 AM EDT, 46 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA 334 AM EDT MON MAY 24 2004 PAZ013-020-241000- BEAVER PA-LAWRENCE PA- 334 AM EDT MON MAY 24 2004 ...THUNDERSTORMS MOVING INTO THE REGION... THUNDERSTORMS WILL MOVE INTO THE REGION DURING THE PREDAWN HOURS AFTER 4 AM. SOME OF THESE STORMS WILL CONTAIN HEAVY RAIN, WIND GUSTS 40 MPH, HAIL AND LIGHTNING STRIKES. STORMS ARE MOVING TOWARD THE NORTHEAST AROUND 40 MPH. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO DRIVE THROUGH FLOODED ROADWAYS.
The office that day
Everything else NWS Pittsburgh, PA issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 24, 4:23 AM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | PBZ | Lawrence | 52 min |
| May 24, 5:26 AM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | PBZ | Venango | 3 hr |
Nearby
Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Pennsylvania, 2004Every severe thunderstorm warning in 2004
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.