Alert archive / Pennsylvania / Flash Flood Warnings in 2009

Flash Flood Warning 10, NWS Cleveland, OH

June 30, 2009Erie County, Pennsylvania

NWS Cleveland, OH issued this flash flood warning at Jun 30, 2009, 9:36 AM EDT for Erie County, Pennsylvania. It was in force for 6 hr. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The outline as issued.

The facts

Issued: Jun 30, 2009, 9:36 AM EDT (13:36 UTC)
Expired: Jun 30, 2009, 3:30 PM EDT
In force: 6 hr
Issued by: NWS Cleveland, OH
Area: Storm-based polygon
Flood severity: None

County Erie County, PA

The radar

The Buffalo radar (KBUF), 147 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 13:38 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

Buffalo Intl Airport, NY (KBUF), launched 12:00Z, 1.6 hours before the alert went out and 148 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: 229 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -2 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 573 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 17 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 65 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 77 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 
WGUS51 KCLE 301336
FFWCLE
PAC049-301930-
/O.NEW.KCLE.FF.W.0010.090630T1336Z-090630T1930Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
FLASH FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CLEVELAND OH
936 AM EDT TUE JUN 30 2009

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN CLEVELAND HAS ISSUED A

* FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR...
  NORTHERN ERIE COUNTY IN NORTHWEST PENNSYLVANIA

* UNTIL 330 PM EDT

* AT 934 AM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED 
  A NEW LINE OF SLOW MOVING THUNDERSTORMS WITH VERY HEAVY RAINFALL 
  HAS FORMED ALONG NORTHERN ERIE COUNTY PARALLEL TO THE LAKESHORE.  
  ADDITIONAL RAINFALL OF ONE TO TWO INCHES IS POSSIBLE IN THE ERIE 
  AREA THROUGH 11 AM. 

* RUNOFF FROM THIS EXCESSIVE RAINFALL WILL CAUSE FLASH FLOODING TO
  OCCUR. SOME LOCATIONS THAT WILL EXPERIENCE FLOODING INCLUDE...
  ERIE...GIRARD AND NORTH EAST.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

EXCESSIVE RUNOFF FROM HEAVY RAINFALL WILL QUICKLY CAUSE FLOODING OF 
SMALL CREEKS AND STREAMS. IN URBAN AREAS...FLOODING WILL RAPIDLY 
OCCUR ALONG POORLY DRAINED AND LOW LYING HIGHWAYS...STREETS...AND 
UNDERPASSES. IF YOU ENCOUNTER A FLOODED ROADWAY... TURN AROUND DONT 
DROWN

TO REPORT FLOODING...HAVE THE NEAREST LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY RELAY
YOUR REPORT TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORECAST OFFICE IN
CLEVELAND.

&&

LAT...LON 4209 7977 4185 8052 4194 8053 4200 8051
      4209 8023 4213 8015 4216 8015 4218 8011
      4217 8004 4224 7990 4228 7977

$$

ASTIFAN

5 follow-up statements

000 
WGUS71 KCLE 301447
FFSCLE

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CLEVELAND OH
1047 AM EDT TUE JUN 30 2009

PAC049-301930-
/O.CON.KCLE.FF.W.0010.000000T0000Z-090630T1930Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
ERIE PA-
1047 AM EDT TUE JUN 30 2009

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR NORTHERN ERIE COUNTY IN
NORTHWEST PENNSYLVANIA UNTIL 330 PM EDT...

AT 1036 AM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A 
NEARLY STATIONARY LINE OF VERY HEAVY RAINFALLL ROUGHLY CENTERED 
ALONG INTERSTATE 90 BETWEEN INTERSTATE 79 AND THE OHIO... 
PENNSYLVANIA BORDER.  THE HEAVIEST RAIN WAS FALLING NEAR AND JUST 
WEST OF GIRARD.  DOPPLER RADAR ESTIMATES ONE TO LOCALLY TWO INCHES 
OF RAIN HAS FALLEN BETWEEN ERIE AND GIRARD DURING THE PAST HOUR.  
SINCE EARLY THIS MORNING...OVER FOUR INCHES OF RAIN HAS FALLEN IN 
PARTS OF NORTHERN ERIE COUNTY.  

HEAVY RAIN CONTINUES TO FALL ACROSS THE WARNED AREA. ADDITIONAL 
RAINFALL OF ONE TO LOCALLY TWO INCHES IS POSSIBLE THROUGH 
NOON...ESPECIALLY ALONG INTERSTATE 90. RUNOFF FROM THIS EXCESSIVE 
RAINFALL WILL CAUSE FLASH FLOODING TO OCCUR. SOME LOCATIONS THAT 
WILL EXPERIENCE FLOODING INCLUDE...ERIE...GIRARD AND NORTH EAST.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

NUMEROUS ROADS IN NORTHERN ERIE COUNTY HAVE BEEN FLOODED BY THE 
EXCESSIVE RAINFALL THIS MORNING.  NEVER YOUR VEHICLE INTO AREAS 
WHERE WATER COVERS THE ROADWAY. THE WATER DEPTH MAY BE TOO GREAT 
TO ALLOW YOUR CAR TO CROSS SAFELY. TURN AROUND...DONT DROWN

REPORT FLOODING TO THE NEAREST LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY SO THAT THEY
MAY TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION TO CLOSE FLOODED ROADWAYS. THEY WILL
RELAY YOUR REPORT TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN CLEVELAND.

&&

LAT...LON 4209 7977 4185 8052 4194 8053 4200 8051
      4209 8023 4213 8015 4216 8015 4218 8011
      4217 8004 4224 7990 4228 7977

$$

ASTIFAN

000 
WGUS71 KCLE 301522
FFSCLE

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CLEVELAND OH
1122 AM EDT TUE JUN 30 2009

PAC049-301930-
/O.CON.KCLE.FF.W.0010.000000T0000Z-090630T1930Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
ERIE PA-
1122 AM EDT TUE JUN 30 2009

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR NORTHERN ERIE COUNTY IN
NORTHWEST PENNSYLVANIA UNTIL 330 PM EDT...

AS OF 1030 AM THIS MORNING...THE CITY OF ERIE HAS REQUESTED THAT ALL 
NON-ESSENTIAL TRAVEL STOP IN ERIE DUE TO THE ONGOING FLASH 
FLOODING.  ACCORDING TO RAINFALL REPORTS AND DOPPLER RADAR ESTIMATES 
FOUR TO LOCALLY FIVE INCHES OF RAINFALL HAS OCCURRED IN AND NEAR 
ERIE SINCE EARLY THIS MORNING... LEADING TO EXCESSIVE FLASH FLOODING 
WITHIN THE CITY.

EVACUATIONS HAVE BEEN ORDERED ALONG MILL CREEK IN THE BELLE VALLEY 
AREA. 

AT 1115 AM EDT...HEAVY RAIN CONTINUES TO FALL ACROSS THE WARNED 
AREA. THE HEAVIEST RAINS AT THIS TIME ARE LOCATED NEAR 
GIRARD...TRACKING SLOWLY EAST.  ADDITIONAL HEAVY RAINFALL IS 
POSSIBLE ALONG THE INTERSTATE 90 CORRIDOR THROUGH EARLY AFTERNOON.  
ANY ADDITIONAL RAINFALL WILL QUICKLY RUNOFF...LEADING TO ADDITIONAL 
FLASH FLOODING. 

LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING AREA INCLUDE ALL OF INTERSTATE 90 IN 
PENNSYLVANIA...AND THE CITIES OF ERIE...GIRARD AND NORTH EAST.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE INTO AREAS WHERE THE WATER COVERS THE
ROADWAY. THE WATER DEPTH MAY BE TOO GREAT TO ALLOW YOUR CAR TO CROSS
SAFELY. TURN AROUND...DONT DROWN

REPORT FLOODING TO THE NEAREST LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY SO THAT THEY
MAY TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION TO CLOSE FLOODED ROADWAYS. THEY WILL
RELAY YOUR REPORT TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN CLEVELAND.

&&

LAT...LON 4209 7977 4185 8052 4194 8053 4200 8051
      4209 8023 4213 8015 4216 8015 4218 8011
      4217 8004 4224 7990 4228 7977

$$

ASTIFAN

000 
WGUS71 KCLE 301544
FFSCLE

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CLEVELAND OH
1144 AM EDT TUE JUN 30 2009

PAC049-301930-
/O.CON.KCLE.FF.W.0010.000000T0000Z-090630T1930Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
ERIE PA-
1144 AM EDT TUE JUN 30 2009

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR NORTHERN ERIE COUNTY IN
NORTHWEST PENNSYLVANIA UNTIL 330 PM EDT...

AT 1135 AM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A 
SLOW MOVING AREA OF TORRENTIAL RAINFALL LOCATED JUST EAST OF GIRARD. 
RAINFALL OF BETWEEN ONE AND TWO INCHES PER HOUR IS OCCURING WITH 
THIS AREA OF HEAVY RAINFALL. 

ADDITIONAL HEAVY RAINFALL IS POSSIBLE ALONG THE INTERSTATE 90 
CORRIDOR THROUGH EARLY AFTERNOON.  ANY ADDITIONAL RAINFALL WILL 
QUICKLY RUNOFF...LEADING TO ADDITIONAL FLASH FLOODING. 

FLOODING IS LIKELY ALONG THE FOLLOWING CREEKS AND STREAMS IN 
NORTHERN ERIE COUNTY...
  WALNUT CREEK...
  BRANDY RUN...
  ELK CREEK...
  MILL CREEK...
  FOURMILE CREEK...
  SIXMILE CREEK...

PEOPLE LIVING NEAR THESE CREEKS SHOULD PREPARE NOW FOR THE 
POSSIBILITY OF FLASH FLOODING.  OBEY ALL EVACUATION ORDERS.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

DO NOT UNDERESTIMATE THE POWER OF FLOOD WATERS. ONLY A FEW INCHES OF
RAPIDLY FLOWING WATER CAN QUICKLY CARRY AWAY YOUR VEHICLE. TURN
AROUND...DONT DROWN

REPORT FLOODING TO THE NEAREST LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY SO THAT THEY
MAY TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION TO CLOSE FLOODED ROADWAYS. THEY WILL
RELAY YOUR REPORT TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN CLEVELAND.

&&

LAT...LON 4209 7977 4185 8052 4194 8053 4200 8051
      4209 8023 4213 8015 4216 8015 4218 8011
      4217 8004 4224 7990 4228 7977

$$

ASTIFAN

000 
WGUS71 KCLE 301709
FFSCLE

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CLEVELAND OH
109 PM EDT TUE JUN 30 2009

PAC049-301930-
/O.CON.KCLE.FF.W.0010.000000T0000Z-090630T1930Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
ERIE PA-
109 PM EDT TUE JUN 30 2009

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR NORTHERN ERIE COUNTY IN
NORTHWEST PENNSYLVANIA UNTIL 330 PM EDT...

AT 103 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR SHOWED A LINE 
OF LIGHT TO MODERATE RAINFALL ALONG THE ERIE LAKESHORE IN 
PENNSYLVANIA.  RAINFALL OF UP TO A HALF INCH PER HOUR IS POSSIBLE 
WITH THESE SHOWERS.  SCATTERED SHOWERS ARE EXPECTED TO CONTINUE 
THROUGH THE AFTERNOON IN THE WARNING AREA. 

FLASH FLOODING HAS BEEN REPORTED THROUGHOUT NORTHERN ERIE COUNTY.  
MANY LOW LYING AREAS NEAR MILL CREEK IN THE CITY OF ERIE HAVE BEEN 
FLOODED AND EVACUATED.  OTHER STREAMS LIKELY TO EXPERIENCE MAJOR 
FLASH FLOODING TODAY INCLUDE...
  WALNUT CREEK...
  BRANDY RUN...
  ELK CREEK...
  FOURMILE CREEK...
  SIXMILE CREEK...
  BEAR RUN...

IF YOU LIVE OR TRAVEL IN LOW LYING AREAS NEAR THESE STREAMS...BE 
ALERT FOR RAPIDLY RISING WATER LEVELS.

WIDESPREAD RAINFALL TOTALS IN EXCESS OF FOUR INCHES HAVE BEEN 
MEASURED THIS MORNING ALONG INTERSTATE 90 IN NORTHEASTERN 
PENNSYLVANIA.  

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

DO NOT UNDERESTIMATE THE POWER OF FLOOD WATERS. ONLY A FEW INCHES OF 
RAPIDLY FLOWING WATER CAN QUICKLY CARRY AWAY YOUR VEHICLE. TURN 
AROUND...DONT DROWN

REPORT FLOODING TO THE NEAREST LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY SO THAT THEY
MAY TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION TO CLOSE FLOODED ROADWAYS. THEY WILL
RELAY YOUR REPORT TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN CLEVELAND.

&&

LAT...LON 4209 7977 4185 8052 4194 8053 4200 8051
      4209 8023 4213 8015 4216 8015 4218 8011
      4217 8004 4224 7990 4228 7977

$$

ASTIFAN

000 
WGUS71 KCLE 301932
FFSCLE

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CLEVELAND OH
332 PM EDT TUE JUN 30 2009

PAC049-301946-
/O.EXP.KCLE.FF.W.0010.000000T0000Z-090630T1930Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
ERIE PA-
332 PM EDT TUE JUN 30 2009

...THE FLASH FLOOD WARNING THAT WAS IN EFFECT FOR NORTHERN ERIE
COUNTY IN NORTHWEST PENNSYLVANIA HAS BEEN ALLOWED TO EXPIRE...

A FLOOD WARNING IS NOW IN EFFECT FOR NORTHERN ERIE COUNTY.  
ADDITIONAL SHARP RISES ARE NOT EXPECTED THIS EVENING ON AREA 
STREAMS...HOWEVER WIDESPREAD FLOODING REMAINS ACROSS THE AREA.  
PLEASE SEE THE FLOOD WARNING - FLWCLE - FOR ADDITIONAL DETAILS ON 
THIS ONGOING THREAT.  


LAT...LON 4209 7977 4185 8052 4194 8053 4200 8051
      4209 8023 4213 8015 4216 8015 4218 8011
      4217 8004 4224 7990 4228 7977

$$

ASTIFAN

The office that day

Everything else NWS Cleveland, OH issued on the same UTC day.

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Jun 30, 5:19 AM EDT	Flood Watch	CLE	Erie	30 hr
Jun 30, 5:28 AM EDT	Areal Flood Warning	CLE	Erie	6 hr
Jun 30, 3:30 PM EDT	Areal Flood Warning	CLE	Erie	20 hr

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in Pennsylvania, 2009 Every flash flood warning in 2009

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.