Alert archive / Pennsylvania / Winter Storm Warnings in 2008

Winter Storm Warning 4, NWS Philadelphia/Mount Holly

December 10, 2008Sussex County, New Jersey; Carbon County, Monroe County, Pennsylvania

NWS Philadelphia/Mount Holly issued this winter storm warning at Dec 10, 2008, 3:37 PM EST for Sussex County, New Jersey; Carbon County, Monroe County, Pennsylvania. It took effect at Dec 11, 2008, 4:00 AM EST. It was in force for 30 hr. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Dec 10, 2008, 3:37 PM EST (20:37 UTC)
In effect from
Dec 11, 2008, 4:00 AM EST
Expired
Dec 12, 2008, 9:53 AM EST
In force
30 hr
Issued by
NWS Philadelphia/Mount Holly

Counties Sussex County, NJ, Carbon County, PA, Monroe County, PA

The radar

The Philadelphia radar (KDIX), 140 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 20:38 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.

The nearest sounding before it

Phillips Aaf/Abe, MD (KAPG), launched 12:00Z, 8.6 hours before the alert went out and 189 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, Phillips Aaf/Abe, MD at 12:00Z on 2008-12-10Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 0 joules per kilogram.LCL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km-30°-20°-10°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Phillips Aaf/Abe, MD at 12:00Z on 2008-12-10The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 380 square meters per square second.19395878Sfc1 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
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
No buoyant parcel
Mixed-layer LCL
568 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
47 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
380 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
460 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.

000 
WWUS41 KPHI 102037
WSWPHI

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOUNT HOLLY NJ
337 PM EST WED DEC 10 2008

NJZ001-PAZ054-055-111100-
/O.UPG.KPHI.WS.A.0005.081211T1200Z-081212T1200Z/
/O.NEW.KPHI.WS.W.0004.081211T1100Z-081212T1100Z/
SUSSEX-CARBON-MONROE-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...NEWTON...JIM THORPE...STROUDSBURG
337 PM EST WED DEC 10 2008

...WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 6 AM THURSDAY TO 6 AM EST
FRIDAY...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MOUNT HOLLY HAS ISSUED A WINTER STORM
WARNING FOR CARBON AND MONROE COUNTIES OF NORTHEAST PENNSYLVANIA AND
SUSSEX COUNTY IN NORTHWEST NEW JERSEY FOR THE POTENTIAL OF ICE 
ACCUMULATIONS OF ONE QUARTER TO ONE HALF INCH. THE WARNING IS IN EFFECT
FROM 6 AM THURSDAY TO 6 AM EST FRIDAY AND HAS REPLACED THE WINTER STORM
WATCH.

WARM AIR HAS PILED UP AHEAD OF AN APPROACHING COLD FRONT THAT WILL
SLOWLY MOVE EAST BUT REMAIN ALONG THE COAST OVERNIGHT. LOW
PRESSURE WILL FORM ON THE SOUTHERN END OF THIS FRONT ALONG THE
SOUTHERN APPALACHIANS ON THURSDAY, AND MOVE NORTHEAST. BEFORE THE
ONSET OF MUCH HEAVIER PRECIPITATION THURSDAY INTO EARLY FRIDAY, A
PERIOD OF MIXED RAIN, SLEET, SNOW AND FREEZING RAIN IS POSSIBLE
BY DAYBREAK THURSDAY. IF THAT IS THE CASE, PLEASE DRIVE WITH CARE
OVERNIGHT.

MEANWHILE, THE NEXT LOW WILL TRACK NORTHEAST ON THURSDAY REACHING
THE SOUTHERN NEW JERSEY COAST THURSDAY NIGHT. THERE WILL PLENTY OF
MOISTURE MOVING ALONG WITH THE LOW, AS TEMPERATURES BEGIN FALLING
OVER THE WARNING AREA. AS A RESULT, SNOW SLEET AND FREEZING RAIN
WILL BE FALLING THURSDAY INTO THE AFTERNOON HOURS. THERE MAY BE A
PERIOD WHEN A CHANGE OVER TO ALL RAIN OCCURS, BUT IT WILL CHANGE
BACK TO A MIXED EVENT WITH FREEZING RAIN BECOMING THE BIGGEST
THREAT AND CONTINUING INTO THE OVERNIGHT HOURS.

THE PROLONGED PERIOD OF FREEZING RAIN COULD ACCUMULATE ONE QUARTER
TO ONE HALF INCH ON SURFACES BEFORE ENDING. IF THAT IS THE CASE,
TRAVELING WILL BE EXTREMELY HAZARDOUS, BRINGING SMALL TREES AND
WIRES DOWN WITH POWER INTERRUPTIONS.

THE HEAVIEST PRECIPITATION WILL BE ENDING FRIDAY MORNING, BUT
TEMPERATURES WILL CONTINUE TO FALL, CAUSING ADDITIONAL FREEZING.
IN ADDITION, NORTHWEST WINDS COULD GUST TO 25 OR 30 MPH FURTHER
BRINING DOWN POWER LINES AND TREES.

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THIS
POTENTIAL WINTER STORM SITUATION AND MAKE FURTHER REFINEMENTS TO
THE FORECAST AS NEEDED. 

A WINTER STORM WARNING MEANS SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF SNOW...
SLEET...AND ICE ARE EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. STRONG WINDS ARE ALSO
POSSIBLE.  THIS WILL MAKE TRAVEL VERY HAZARDOUS OR IMPOSSIBLE.

$$


EBERWINE/NIERENBERG
6 follow-up statements
000 
WWUS41 KPHI 110830
WSWPHI

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOUNT HOLLY NJ
330 AM EST THU DEC 11 2008

NJZ001-PAZ054-055-111700-
/O.EXT.KPHI.WS.W.0004.081211T0900Z-081212T1100Z/
SUSSEX-CARBON-MONROE-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...NEWTON...JIM THORPE...STROUDSBURG
330 AM EST THU DEC 11 2008

...WINTER STORM WARNING NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 AM EST FRIDAY...

THE WINTER STORM WARNING IS NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 AM EST FRIDAY. 

RAIN AND HIGHER ELEVATION FREEZING RAIN IS OCCURRING ACROSS THE
SOUTHERN POCONOS AND SUSSEX COUNTY NEW JERSEY AREA EARLY THIS
MORNING. A LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM WILL TRACK UP THE EAST COAST TODAY
AND TONIGHT AND IT WILL BRING ANOTHER ROUND OF WINTRY WEATHER WITH
IT. 

THE HIGHEST ELEVATIONS ARE EXPECTED TO REMAIN COLD ENOUGH TODAY
FOR SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF SNOW, SLEET AND FREEZING RAIN TO OCCUR.
THE LOWER ELEVATIONS WILL HAVE RAIN WITH AREAS OF FREEZING RAIN,
BUT THE POTENTIAL FOR ICING EXISTS THERE TOO. TONIGHT, COLDER AIR
WILL ARRIVE ACROSS THE AREA AND THE PRECIPITATION WILL CHANGE TO
SNOW ACROSS THE ENTIRE AREA. SNOW ACCUMULATIONS UP TO 6 INCHES
ARE POSSIBLE, ESPECIALLY OVER THE HIGHEST LOCATIONS.

ANY PROLONGED PERIOD OF FREEZING RAIN COULD ACCUMULATE ONE
QUARTER TO ONE HALF INCH ON SURFACES. IF THAT IS THE CASE,
TRAVELING WILL BE EXTREMELY HAZARDOUS, BRINGING SMALL TREES AND
WIRES DOWN WITH POWER INTERRUPTIONS.

THE HEAVIEST PRECIPITATION WILL END FRIDAY MORNING, BUT TEMPERATURES
WILL CONTINUE TO FALL, CAUSING ADDITIONAL FREEZING. IN ADDITION,
GUSTY NORTHWEST WINDS COULD BRING DOWN POWER LINES AND TREES.

A WINTER STORM WARNING MEANS SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF SNOW...
SLEET...AND ICE ARE EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. STRONG WINDS ARE ALSO
POSSIBLE.  THIS WILL MAKE TRAVEL VERY HAZARDOUS OR IMPOSSIBLE.

$$

PO
000 
WWUS41 KPHI 111500
WSWPHI

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOUNT HOLLY NJ
1000 AM EST THU DEC 11 2008

NJZ001-PAZ054-055-112300-
/O.CON.KPHI.WS.W.0004.000000T0000Z-081212T1100Z/
SUSSEX-CARBON-MONROE-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...NEWTON...JIM THORPE...STROUDSBURG
1000 AM EST THU DEC 11 2008

...WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 AM EST FRIDAY...

A WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 AM EST FRIDAY. 

RAIN WITH SOME SLEET AND HIGHER ELEVATION FREEZING RAIN IS
OCCURRING ACROSS THE SOUTHERN POCONOS AND SUSSEX COUNTY NEW
JERSEY. THIS TYPE OF WEATHER IS EXPECTED TO PERSIST INTO THIS
EVENING.

A LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM WILL TRACK UP THE EAST COAST TONIGHT AND IT
WILL BRING ANOTHER ROUND OF WINTRY WEATHER WITH IT. THE LIKELIHOOD
EXISTS FOR SIGNIFICANT ICING OVER THE HIGHER TERRAIN BEFORE ANY
CHANGE OVER TO SNOW OCCURS.

THE HIGHEST ELEVATIONS ARE EXPECTED TO REMAIN COLD ENOUGH THIS
AFTERNOON AND EVENING FOR FREEZING RAIN AND SLEET. THE LOWER
ELEVATIONS WILL HAVE RAIN AND SLEET WITH SOME POSSIBLE FREEZING
RAIN. OVERNIGHT...COLDER AIR WILL ARRIVE ACROSS THE AREA AND THE
PRECIPITATION WILL CHANGE TO SNOW ACROSS THE ENTIRE AREA. SNOW AND
SLEET ACCUMULATIONS OF 2 TO 4 INCHES ARE POSSIBLE, ESPECIALLY OVER
THE HIGHEST LOCATIONS. 

ANY PROLONGED PERIOD OF FREEZING RAIN COULD ACCRUE TO AROUND HALF
AN INCH ON EXPOSED SURFACES. IF THAT IS THE CASE... TRAVELING
WILL BE EXTREMELY HAZARDOUS. ALSO THE ICE WILL BRING SMALL
TREES...TREE LIMBS AND WIRES DOWN WITH POWER INTERRUPTIONS LIKELY.

THE HEAVIEST PRECIPITATION WILL END BY FRIDAY MORNING... BUT
TEMPERATURES WILL NOT CHANGE MUCH...LEADING TO VERY LITTLE
MELTING DURING THE DAY. IN ADDITION...GUSTY NORTHWEST WINDS COULD
BRING DOWN POWER LINES AND TREES.

A WINTER STORM WARNING MEANS SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF SNOW...
SLEET...AND ICE ARE EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. STRONG WINDS ARE ALSO
POSSIBLE.  THIS WILL MAKE TRAVEL VERY HAZARDOUS OR IMPOSSIBLE.

$$

TFG
000 
WWUS41 KPHI 112021
WSWPHI

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOUNT HOLLY NJ
321 PM EST THU DEC 11 2008

NJZ001-PAZ054-055-121100-
/O.EXT.KPHI.WS.W.0004.000000T0000Z-081212T1500Z/
SUSSEX-CARBON-MONROE-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...NEWTON...JIM THORPE...STROUDSBURG
321 PM EST THU DEC 11 2008

...WINTER STORM WARNING NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 AM EST FRIDAY...

THE WINTER STORM WARNING IS NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 AM EST FRIDAY.

RAIN WITH SOME SLEET, AND HIGHER ELEVATION FREEZING RAIN, CONTINUES 
ACROSS THE SOUTHERN POCONOS AND SUSSEX COUNTY NEW JERSEY. THIS IS 
EXPECTED TO PERSIST WELL INTO TONIGHT AS LOW PRESSURE TRACKS UP THE 
EAST COAST. SIGNIFICANT ICING IS EXPECTED OVER THE HIGHER TERRAIN 
BEFORE THE PRECIPITATION CHANGES OVER TO SNOW LATER TONIGHT.

THE HIGHEST ELEVATIONS ARE EXPECTED TO REMAIN COLD ENOUGH THROUGH
THE EVENING HOURS FOR FREEZING RAIN AND SLEET, WHILE THE LOWER
ELEVATIONS WILL HAVE MAINLY RAIN AND SLEET. OVERNIGHT, COLDER AIR
WILL ARRIVE ACROSS THE AREA AND THE PRECIPITATION WILL CHANGE TO
SNOW AFTER MIDNIGHT. SNOW AND SLEET ACCUMULATIONS OF 2 TO 4 INCHES
ARE POSSIBLE, ESPECIALLY OVER THE HIGHEST LOCATIONS.

ICE ACCUMULATIONS AS OF MID AFTERNOON RANGED UP TO AROUND 1/4 INCH,
MAINLY ON OFF-ROAD SURFACES, ESPECIALLY TREES AND WIRES. THE ICE 
COULD ACCRUE TO AROUND 1/2 INCH ON EXPOSED SURFACES IN AREAS THAT
REMAIN AT OR BELOW FREEZING FOR ANY PROLONGED PERIOD OF TIME.
TRAVELING COULD BECOME HAZARDOUS OVERNIGHT AS TEMPERATURES BEGIN
TO FALL AND ROADWAYS BEGIN ICE OVER. ALSO THE ICE COULD BRING
SMALL TREES, TREE LIMBS, AND WIRES DOWN WITH POWER INTERRUPTIONS
POSSIBLE.

THE HEAVIEST PRECIPITATION WILL END BY FRIDAY MORNING, BUT 
TEMPERATURES WILL NOT CHANGE MUCH DURING THE DAY FRIDAY, LEADING
TO VERY LITTLE MELTING DURING THE DAY. IN ADDITION, GUSTY
NORTHWEST WINDS COULD BRING DOWN POWER LINES AND TREES.

A WINTER STORM WARNING MEANS SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF SNOW, SLEET, AND
ICE ARE EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. STRONG WINDS ARE ALSO POSSIBLE.
THIS WILL MAKE TRAVEL VERY HAZARDOUS OR IMPOSSIBLE.

$$

RPW
000 
WWUS41 KPHI 120309
WSWPHI

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOUNT HOLLY NJ
1009 PM EST THU DEC 11 2008

NJZ001-PAZ054-055-121115-
/O.CON.KPHI.WS.W.0004.000000T0000Z-081212T1500Z/
SUSSEX-CARBON-MONROE-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...NEWTON...JIM THORPE...STROUDSBURG
1009 PM EST THU DEC 11 2008

...WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 AM EST
FRIDAY...

A WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 AM EST FRIDAY. 

IN THE SOUTHERN POCONOS IN PENNSYLVANIA AND SUSSEX COUNTY NEW
JERSEY, COLDER TEMPERATURES WILL BE RETURNING OVERNIGHT. RAIN
WILL CHANGE TO FREEZING RAIN AND SLEET, MAINLY AT THE HIGHER
ELEVATIONS BY 3 AM. DURING THE EARLY MORNING HOURS, AROUND
SUNRISE, RAIN, FREEZING RAIN AND SLEET SHOULD CHANGE OVER TO
SNOW.

ICE ACCUMULATIONS COULD ACCRUE TO 1/4 TO 1/2 INCH ON EXPOSED
SURFACES. AFTER THE PRECIPITATION CHANGES TO SNOW, 2 TO 4 INCHES
ARE POSSIBLE...ESPECIALLY OVER THE HIGHEST LOCATIONS.

TRAVELING WILL BECOME HAZARDOUS OVERNIGHT AS TEMPERATURES AGAIN
FALL BELOW FREEZING AND ROADWAYS BEGIN ICE OVER. ALSO THE ICE
COULD BRING SMALL TREES...TREE LIMBS...AND WIRES DOWN WITH POWER
INTERRUPTIONS POSSIBLE.

EVEN THOUGH THE HEAVIEST PRECIPITATION WILL END EARLY FRIDAY
MORNING...PRECIPITATION SHOULD CONTINUE UNTIL AROUND NOON.
TEMPERATURES WILL NOT CHANGE MUCH DURING THE DAY FRIDAY...
LEADING TO VERY LITTLE MELTING DURING THE DAY. IN ADDITION...
GUSTY NORTHWEST WINDS COULD BRING DOWN POWER LINES AND TREES.

A WINTER STORM WARNING MEANS SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF SNOW...
SLEET... AND ICE ARE EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. STRONG WINDS ARE ALSO
POSSIBLE. THIS WILL MAKE TRAVEL VERY HAZARDOUS OR IMPOSSIBLE.

$$

RNS
000 
WWUS41 KPHI 120812
WSWPHI

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOUNT HOLLY NJ
312 AM EST FRI DEC 12 2008

NJZ001-PAZ054-055-121500-
/O.CON.KPHI.WS.W.0004.000000T0000Z-081212T1500Z/
SUSSEX-CARBON-MONROE-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...NEWTON...JIM THORPE...STROUDSBURG
312 AM EST FRI DEC 12 2008

...WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 AM EST THIS
MORNING...

A WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 AM EST THIS
MORNING. 

IN THE SOUTHERN POCONOS IN PENNSYLVANIA AND SUSSEX COUNTY NEW
JERSEY...COLDER TEMPERATURES WILL BE RETURNING THROUGH THIS
MORNING. OVERNIGHT TEMPERATURES HOVERED AROUND FREEZING AT THE
HIGHER ELEVATIONS BUT WERE IN THE MID TO UPPER 30S ELSEWHERE. THIS
MEANT THAT MOSTLY RAIN FELL. HOWEVER, COLDER AIR WILL BE SPREADING
IN FROM THE NORTH AND TEMPERATURES WILL FALL SLOWLY THROUGH THIS
MORNING. 

AT THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS, FREEZING RAIN AND SLEET CAN BE EXPECTED
FOR A FEW HOURS BEFORE CHANGING TO SNOW AND SNOW SHOWERS DURING
THE MORNING HOURS. SNOW MAY ACCUMULATE 1 TO 3 INCHES AND FREEZING
RAIN COULD ACCUMULATE UP TO 1/4 INCH.

AT THE LOWER ELEVATIONS, RAIN AND SLEET SHOULD CHANGE TO SNOW AND
SNOW SHOWERS AND A PERIOD OF FREEZING RAIN IS POSSIBLE EARLY THIS
MORNING THAT COULD LEAVE A LIGHT COATING OF ICE.

BY THIS AFTERNOON, THE SIGNIFICANT PRECIPITATION SHOULD BE OVER,
BUT THERE STILL MIGHT BE SOME LINGERING SNOW SHOWERS.

TRAVELING WILL BECOME MORE HAZARDOUS THIS MORNING AS TEMPERATURES
FALL BELOW FREEZING AND ROADWAYS GET SLIPPERY. ALSO THE ICE COULD
BRING SMALL TREES...TREE LIMBS...AND WIRES DOWN WITH POWER
INTERRUPTIONS POSSIBLE.

GUSTY NORTHWEST WINDS SHOULD DEVELOP LATE THIS MORNING AND THIS
AFTERNOON WITH WIND GUSTS TO 25 OR 30 MPH.

A WINTER STORM WARNING MEANS SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF SNOW...
SLEET... AND ICE ARE EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. STRONG WINDS ARE ALSO
POSSIBLE. THIS WILL MAKE TRAVEL VERY HAZARDOUS OR IMPOSSIBLE.

$$

RNS
000 
WWUS41 KPHI 121453
WSWPHI

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOUNT HOLLY NJ
953 AM EST FRI DEC 12 2008
 

NJZ001-PAZ054-055-121600-
/O.CAN.KPHI.WS.W.0004.000000T0000Z-081212T1500Z/
SUSSEX-CARBON-MONROE-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...NEWTON...JIM THORPE...STROUDSBURG
953 AM EST FRI DEC 12 2008

...WINTER STORM WARNING IS CANCELLED...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MOUNT HOLLY HAS CANCELLED THE
WINTER STORM WARNING. 

THE HEAVY PRECIPITATION IS OVER. THERE ARE SIGNIFICANT ACCRETIONS
OF ICE OVER THE HIGHER TERRAIN OF SUSSEX COUNTY AND THE POCONOS,
WITH SOME PLACES ACCRUING AS MUCH AS THREE QUARTERS OF AN INCH OF ICE.

PLEASE BE WARY IF TRAVELING THROUGH THOSE AREAS TODAY. DO NOT GO
ANYWHERE NEAR ANY DOWNED UTILITY WIRES.


$$

TFG

The office that day

Everything else NWS Philadelphia/Mount Holly issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Dec 10, 3:28 PM ESTFlood WatchPHIAtlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester and 9 more42 hr

Nearby

Winter Storm Warnings in Pennsylvania, 2008Winter Storm Warnings in New Jersey, 2008Every winter storm warning in 2008

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.