Alert archive / Pennsylvania / Tornado Warnings in 2009

Tornado Warning 9, NWS State College, PA

August 9, 2009Clearfield County, Elk County, Pennsylvania

NWS State College, PA issued this tornado warning at Aug 9, 2009, 4:56 PM EDT for Clearfield County, Elk County, Pennsylvania. It was in force for 34 min. 1 report came from inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The outline as issued, with what was reported inside it.

The facts

Issued
Aug 9, 2009, 4:56 PM EDT (20:56 UTC)
Expired
Aug 9, 2009, 5:30 PM EDT
In force
34 min
Issued by
NWS State College, PA
Area
Storm-based polygon

Counties Clearfield County, PA, Elk County, PA

The radar

The State College radar (KCCX), 41 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 20:57 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
Aug 9, 5:25 PM EDTTORNADO5 Ese Penfield, PATORNADO REPORTED ON THE GROUND IN PARKER STATE PARK ALONG TYLER ROAD.

Local storm reports filed while the alert was in force, from inside its polygon or its counties.

The watch it was issued in

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

IssuedProductOfficeLasted
Aug 9, 11:57 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WatchSPC6 hr
Aug 9, 3:18 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WatchSPC5 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Pittsburgh, PA (KPIT), launched 12:00Z, 8.9 hours before the alert went out and 171 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, Pittsburgh, PA at 12:00Z on 2009-08-09Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 1344 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, Pittsburgh, PA at 12:00Z on 2009-08-09The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 201 square meters per square second.193958Sfc1 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
1344 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-14 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
591 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
32 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
201 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
199 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
1.0
Supercell composite
5.7

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
WFUS51 KCTP 092056
TORCTP
PAC033-047-092130-
/O.NEW.KCTP.TO.W.0009.090809T2056Z-090809T2130Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA
456 PM EDT SUN AUG 9 2009

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN STATE COLLEGE PA HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  NORTHEASTERN CLEARFIELD COUNTY IN CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA...
  SOUTHEASTERN ELK COUNTY IN NORTH CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA...

* UNTIL 530 PM EDT

* AT 453 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO NEAR FORCE...OR
  11 MILES SOUTH OF ST. MARYS...MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 30 MPH.

* THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
  PARKER DAM STATE PARK...MEDIX RUN AND S.B. ELLIOT STATE PARK AROUND
  505 PM EDT...
  CLEARFIELD AROUND 525 PM EDT...
  LECONTES MILLS AROUND 530 PM EDT...

THIS WILL IMPACT I-80 BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 113 AND 122.

THIS WILL ALSO IMPACT THE FOLLOWING MAJOR ROADS...ROUTE 322 NEAR
CLEARFIELD...STATE ROAD 153...STATE ROAD 255.

WHEN A TORNADO WARNING IS ISSUED BASED ON DOPPLER RADAR...IT MEANS
THAT STRONG ROTATION HAS BEEN DETECTED IN THE STORM. A TORNADO MAY
ALREADY BE ON THE GROUND...OR IS EXPECTED TO DEVELOP SHORTLY.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

IN ADDITION TO THE TORNADO...THIS STORM IS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING 
NICKLE SIZE HAIL AND DESTRUCTIVE STRAIGHT LINE WINDS.

IF IN MOBILE HOMES OR VEHICLES...EVACUATE THEM AND GET INSIDE A
STURDY SHELTER. IF NO SHELTER IS AVAILABLE...LIE FLAT IN THE NEAREST
DITCH OR OTHER LOW SPOT AND COVER YOUR HEAD WITH YOUR HANDS.

THE SAFEST PLACE TO BE DURING A TORNADO IS IN A BASEMENT. GET UNDER A
WORKBENCH OR OTHER PIECE OF STURDY FURNITURE. IF NO BASEMENT IS
AVAILABLE...TAKE SHELTER ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF THE BUILDING IN AN
INTERIOR HALLWAY OR ROOM SUCH AS A CLOSET. USE BLANKETS OR PILLOWS TO
COVER YOUR BODY AND ALWAYS STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS.

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 700 PM EDT SUNDAY
EVENING FOR NORTH CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA. A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH
ALSO REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1000 PM EDT SUNDAY EVENING FOR CENTRAL
PENNSYLVANIA.

&&

LAT...LON 4115 7808 4098 7844 4128 7864 4136 7848
TIME...MOT...LOC 2056Z 310DEG 26KT 4126 7851

$$

FORECASTER: DANGELO
1 follow-up statement
000 
WWUS51 KCTP 092116
SVSCTP

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA
516 PM EDT SUN AUG 9 2009

PAC033-047-092130-
/O.CON.KCTP.TO.W.0009.000000T0000Z-090809T2130Z/
CLEARFIELD PA-ELK PA-
516 PM EDT SUN AUG 9 2009

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 530 PM EDT FOR
SOUTHEASTERN ELK AND NORTHEASTERN CLEARFIELD COUNTIES...

AT 513 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO
INDICATE A TORNADO.  THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR PARKER DAM STATE
PARK...OR 13 MILES NORTH OF CLEARFIELD...MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 20 MPH.

IF YOU ARE IN OR NEAR PARKER DAM STATE PARK....TAKE COVER INSIDE A 
VERY STRONG BUILDING NOW

THIS WILL IMPACT THE FOLLOWING MAJOR ROADS...ROUTE 322...STATE ROAD
153...STATE ROAD 255.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

IN ADDITION TO THE TORNADO...THIS STORM IS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING 
LARGE HAIL AND DESTRUCTIVE STRAIGHT LINE WINDS.

IF IN MOBILE HOMES OR VEHICLES...EVACUATE THEM AND GET INSIDE A
STURDY SHELTER. IF NO SHELTER IS AVAILABLE...LIE FLAT IN THE NEAREST
DITCH OR OTHER LOW SPOT AND COVER YOUR HEAD WITH YOUR HANDS.

IF YOU ARE CAUGHT OUTSIDE...SEEK SHELTER IN A NEARBY REINFORCED
BUILDING. AS A LAST RESORT...SEEK SHELTER IN A CULVERT...DITCH OR LOW
SPOT AND COVER YOUR HEAD WITH YOUR HANDS.

DO NOT USE YOUR CAR TO TRY TO OUTRUN A TORNADO. CARS ARE EASILY
TOSSED AROUND BY TORNADO WINDS. IF YOU ARE CAUGHT IN THE PATH OF A
TORNADO...LEAVE THE CAR AND GO TO A STRONG BUILDING. IF NO SAFE
STRUCTURE IS NEARBY...SEEK SHELTER IN A DITCH OR LOW SPOT AND COVER
YOUR HEAD.

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 700 PM EDT SUNDAY
EVENING FOR NORTH CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA. A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH
ALSO REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1000 PM EDT SUNDAY EVENING FOR CENTRAL
PENNSYLVANIA.

&&

LAT...LON 4129 7841 4115 7808 4098 7844 4128 7864
TIME...MOT...LOC 2115Z 334DEG 18KT 4119 7849

$$

FORECASTER: DANGELO

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Aug 9, 12:15 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCTPSchuylkill60 min
Aug 9, 2:20 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPMcKean, Potter, Tioga70 min
Aug 9, 2:26 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPMcKean, Warren79 min
Aug 9, 2:36 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCTPCameron24 min
Aug 9, 3:01 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPClinton, Lycoming, Potter, Tioga59 min
Aug 9, 3:09 PM EDTHeat AdvisoryCTPAdams, Columbia, Cumberland, Dauphin, Franklin, Lancaster and 9 more28 hr
Aug 9, 3:28 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPCameron, Clinton, Elk, McKean, Potter62 min
Aug 9, 3:47 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPCentre, Clinton, Columbia, Lycoming, Montour, Northumberland and 4 more43 min
Aug 9, 4:05 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryCTPClinton, Lycoming, Potter, Sullivan, Tioga3 hr
Aug 9, 4:10 PM EDTTornado WarningCTPElk50 min
Aug 9, 4:11 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningCTPMcKean, Potter3 hr
Aug 9, 4:25 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPColumbia, Dauphin, Juniata, Lebanon, Montour, Northumberland and 4 more65 min
Aug 9, 4:41 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPClearfield64 min
Aug 9, 5:11 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPCumberland, Dauphin, Perry, York49 min
Aug 9, 5:19 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPLancaster, York56 min
Aug 9, 5:28 PM EDTTornado WarningCTPClearfield32 min
Aug 9, 5:58 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPClearfield32 min
Aug 9, 5:59 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPLancaster, York46 min
Aug 9, 6:06 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryCTPClearfield114 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Pennsylvania, 2009Every tornado warning in 2009Tornadoes 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; local storm reports from the same archive; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.