Alert archive / Pennsylvania / Tornado Warnings in 2011

Tornado Warning 15, NWS Cleveland, OH

May 26, 2011Crawford County, Erie County, Pennsylvania

NWS Cleveland, OH issued this tornado warning at May 26, 2011, 4:53 PM EDT for Crawford County, Erie County, Pennsylvania. It was in force for 52 min. 3 reports 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
May 26, 2011, 4:53 PM EDT (20:53 UTC)
Expired
May 26, 2011, 5:45 PM EDT
In force
52 min
Issued by
NWS Cleveland, OH
Area
Storm-based polygon

Counties Crawford County, PA, Erie County, PA

The radar

The Buffalo radar (KBUF), 143 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 20:54 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
May 26, 4:55 PM EDTTORNADO2 N Springboro, PANUMEROUS TREES DOWN FROM POSSIBLE TORNADO ALONG RT 18 N OF SPRINGBORO AND ON MILGROVE ROAD.
May 26, 5:11 PM EDTHAIL 0.754 Sw Erie, PATRAINED SPOTTER REPORTED HAIL.
May 26, 5:35 PM EDTHAIL 0.88Wattsburg, PA

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

The nearest sounding before it

Buffalo Intl Airport, NY (KBUF), launched 12:00Z, 8.9 hours before the alert went out and 143 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, Buffalo Intl Airport, NY at 12:00Z on 2011-05-26Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 72 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, Buffalo Intl Airport, NY at 12:00Z on 2011-05-26The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 106 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
72 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-52 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
868 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
51 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
106 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
329 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.2

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

964 
WFUS51 KCLE 262053
TORCLE
PAC039-049-262145-
/O.NEW.KCLE.TO.W.0015.110526T2053Z-110526T2145Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CLEVELAND OH
453 PM EDT THU MAY 26 2011

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN CLEVELAND HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  NORTHWESTERN CRAWFORD COUNTY IN NORTHWEST PENNSYLVANIA
  ERIE COUNTY IN NORTHWEST PENNSYLVANIA

* UNTIL 545 PM EDT

* AT 450 PM EDT...TRAINED WEATHER SPOTTERS REPORTED A TORNADO NEAR
  ALBION...OR 20 MILES NORTHWEST OF MEADVILLE. DOPPLER RADAR SHOWED
  THIS TORNADO MOVING NORTHEAST AT 45 MPH.

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  EDINBORO...
  WATERFORD...
  NORTH EAST...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

THE SAFEST PLACE TO BE DURING A TORNADO IS IN A BASEMENT. IF NO
BASEMENT IS AVAILABLE...SEEK SHELTER ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF THE
BUILDING IN AN INTERIOR HALLWAY OR CLOSET.

&&

PLEASE REPORT SEVERE WEATHER TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BY
CALLING TOLL FREE. 1-877-633-6772. WHEN YOU CAN DO SO SAFELY.

LAT...LON 4200 7977 4201 7975 4200 7967 4200 7966
      4178 8039 4194 8049 4225 7976
TIME...MOT...LOC 2053Z 245DEG 40KT 4190 8033

$$

MULLEN
4 follow-up statements
459 
WWUS51 KCLE 262110
SVSCLE

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CLEVELAND OH
510 PM EDT THU MAY 26 2011

PAC039-262119-
/O.CAN.KCLE.TO.W.0015.000000T0000Z-110526T2145Z/
CRAWFORD PA-
510 PM EDT THU MAY 26 2011

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR NORTHWESTERN CRAWFORD COUNTY IN NORTHWEST
PENNSYLVANIA IS CANCELLED...

LAT...LON 4225 7976 4200 7977 4201 7973 4200 7966
      4185 8020 4185 8030 4200 8035
TIME...MOT...LOC 2109Z 245DEG 40KT 4197 8011

$$

PAC049-262145-
/O.CON.KCLE.TO.W.0015.000000T0000Z-110526T2145Z/
ERIE PA-
510 PM EDT THU MAY 26 2011

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 545 PM EDT FOR ERIE
COUNTY IN NORTHWEST PENNSYLVANIA...

AT 455 PM EDT...WEATHER SPOTTERS REPORTED A POSSIBLE TORNADO NEAR 
SPRINGBORO. 

THIS POSSIBLE TORNADO WAS NOW LOCATED 6 MILES NORTH OF EDINBORO...OR 
12 MILES SOUTH OF ERIE...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 45 MPH.

LOCATIONS NEAR THE PATH OF THE  POSSIBLE TORNADO INCLUDE...WATERFORD
AND NORTH EAST.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

THE SAFEST PLACE TO BE DURING A TORNADO IS IN A BASEMENT. GET UNDER A
WORKBENCH OR OTHER PIECE OF STURDY FURNITURE. OTHERWISE...SEEK
SHELTER ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF THE BUILDING IN AN INTERIOR HALLWAY OR
ROOM SUCH AS A CLOSET.

&&

LAT...LON 4225 7976 4200 7977 4201 7973 4200 7966
      4185 8020 4185 8030 4200 8035
TIME...MOT...LOC 2109Z 245DEG 40KT 4197 8011

$$

MULLEN
427 
WWUS51 KCLE 262123
SVSCLE

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CLEVELAND OH
523 PM EDT THU MAY 26 2011

PAC049-262145-
/O.CON.KCLE.TO.W.0015.000000T0000Z-110526T2145Z/
ERIE PA-
523 PM EDT THU MAY 26 2011

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 545 PM EDT FOR CENTRAL
ERIE COUNTY IN NORTHWEST PENNSYLVANIA...

AT 520 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO
INDICATE A POSSIBLE TORNADO. THIS POSSIBLE TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR 
WATERFORD...OR 8 MILES SOUTHEAST OF ERIE...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 40 
MPH.

LARGE HAIL UP TO GOLFBALL SIZE AND TORRENTIAL RAIN WILL ALSO 
ACCOMPANY THIS STORM. 

LOCATIONS NEAR THE PATH OF THE POSSIBLE TORNADO 
INCLUDE...MIDDLEBORO...HAMMETT AND LITTLE HOPE.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

THE SAFEST PLACE TO BE DURING A TORNADO IS IN A BASEMENT. GET UNDER A
WORKBENCH OR OTHER PIECE OF STURDY FURNITURE. OTHERWISE...SEEK
SHELTER ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF THE BUILDING IN AN INTERIOR HALLWAY OR
ROOM SUCH AS A CLOSET.

&&

LAT...LON 4186 8023 4204 8025 4225 7976 4200 7977
      4200 7973 4200 7966
TIME...MOT...LOC 2121Z 242DEG 35KT 4202 8001

$$

MULLEN
895 
WWUS51 KCLE 262134
SVSCLE

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CLEVELAND OH
534 PM EDT THU MAY 26 2011

PAC049-262145-
/O.CON.KCLE.TO.W.0015.000000T0000Z-110526T2145Z/
ERIE PA-
534 PM EDT THU MAY 26 2011

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 545 PM EDT FOR EASTERN
ERIE COUNTY IN NORTHWEST PENNSYLVANIA...

AT 530 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO
INDICATE A POSSIBLE TORNADO. THIS POSSIBLE TORNADO WAS LOCATED 9
MILES NORTHEAST OF WATERFORD...OR 12 MILES SOUTHEAST OF ERIE...MOVING
NORTHEAST AT 40 MPH.

LOCATIONS NEAR THE PATH OF THE  POSSIBLE TORNADO INCLUDE...LOWVILLE 
AND LITTLE HOPE.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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.

THE SAFEST PLACE TO BE DURING A TORNADO IS IN A BASEMENT. GET UNDER A
WORKBENCH OR OTHER PIECE OF STURDY FURNITURE. OTHERWISE...SEEK
SHELTER ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF THE BUILDING IN AN INTERIOR HALLWAY OR
ROOM SUCH AS A CLOSET.

&&

LAT...LON 4192 7999 4210 8010 4225 7976 4200 7977
      4200 7966
TIME...MOT...LOC 2133Z 242DEG 35KT 4206 7985

$$

MULLEN
578 
WWUS51 KCLE 262145
SVSCLE

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CLEVELAND OH
545 PM EDT THU MAY 26 2011

PAC049-262155-
/O.EXP.KCLE.TO.W.0015.000000T0000Z-110526T2145Z/
ERIE PA-
545 PM EDT THU MAY 26 2011

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR EASTERN ERIE COUNTY IN NORTHWEST
PENNSYLVANIA EXPIRES AT 545 PM EDT...

LAT...LON 4192 7999 4210 8010 4225 7976 4200 7977
      4200 7966
TIME...MOT...LOC 2134Z 242DEG 35KT 4206 7984

$$

THOMPSON

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 25, 8:17 PM EDTAreal Flood WarningCLECrawford, Erie10 hr
May 25, 8:34 PM EDTTornado WarningCLEErie56 min
May 25, 8:37 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCLECrawford, Erie53 min
May 25, 9:25 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCLECrawford, Erie35 min
May 26, 12:53 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCLECrawford67 min
May 26, 11:02 AM EDTFlood WatchCLECrawford, Erie11 hr
May 26, 4:39 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCLECrawford, Erie66 min
May 26, 4:54 PM EDTAreal Flood WarningCLEErie4 hr

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Pennsylvania, 2011Every tornado warning in 2011Tornadoes in 2011

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.