Alert archive / Pennsylvania / Flash Flood Warnings in 2011

Flash Flood Warning 20, NWS State College, PA

May 18, 20116 counties in Pennsylvania

NWS State College, PA issued this flash flood warning at May 18, 2011, 4:31 PM EDT for 6 counties in Pennsylvania. It was in force for 4 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: May 18, 2011, 4:31 PM EDT (20:31 UTC)
Expired: May 18, 2011, 8:25 PM EDT
In force: 4 hr
Issued by: NWS State College, PA
Area: Storm-based polygon
Flood severity: None

Counties Adams County, PA, Cumberland County, PA, Dauphin County, PA, Lancaster County, PA, Perry County, PA, York County, PA

The radar

The State College radar (KCCX), 117 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 20:35 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, 8.5 hours before the alert went out and 112 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: 79 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -31 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 561 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 31 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 66 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 169 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 0.0
Supercell composite: 0.4

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

723 
WGUS51 KCTP 182031
FFWCTP
PAC001-041-043-071-099-133-182330-
/O.NEW.KCTP.FF.W.0020.110518T2031Z-110518T2330Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
FLASH FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA
431 PM EDT WED MAY 18 2011

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN STATE COLLEGE PA HAS ISSUED A

* FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR...
  NORTHEASTERN ADAMS COUNTY...
  EASTERN CUMBERLAND COUNTY...
  WESTERN DAUPHIN COUNTY...
  NORTHWESTERN LANCASTER COUNTY...
  EASTERN PERRY COUNTY...
  YORK COUNTY...

* UNTIL 730 PM EDT...

* AT 423 PM EDT...RAIN GAGE REPORTS FROM STORM SPOTTERS INDICATE 
  THAT VERY HEAVY RAIN HAS FALLEN ACROSS MUCH OF YORK COUNTY...AND 
  THAT RAIN IS SPREADING NORTH AND WEST. 

* LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO   
  DALLASTOWN...HANOVER...RED LION...SPRY...WEIGELSTOWN...
  YORK...COLUMBIA...ELIZABETHTOWN...CAMP HILL...CARLISLE...
  ENOLA...MECHANICSBURG...HARRISBURG...HUMMELSTOWN...
  MIDDLETOWN...AND NEWPORT.

RAIN GAGE REPORTS IN THE AREA INDICATE THAT UP TO 2.4 INCHES OF RAIN 
HAS FALLEN IN THE LAST HOUR AND A HALF. THIS RAIN WILL BE ENOUGH TO 
CAUSE FLASH FLOODING. 

ADDITIONAL RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF UP TO 2 INCHES ARE POSSIBLE IN THE 
WARNED AREA.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A FLASH FLOOD WARNING MEANS THAT FLOODING IS IMMINENT OR OCCURRING.
IF YOU ARE IN THE WARNING AREA MOVE TO HIGHER GROUND IMMEDIATELY.
RESIDENTS LIVING ALONG STREAMS AND CREEKS SHOULD TAKE IMMEDIATE
PRECAUTIONS TO PROTECT LIFE AND PROPERTY. NEVER ATTEMPT TO CROSS
SWIFTLY FLOWING WATERS OR WATERS OF UNKNOWN DEPTH BY FOOT OR IN AN
AUTOMOBILE. TURN AROUND DON'T DROWN!

PLEASE REPORT FLOODING...HAIL OR WIND DAMAGE TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER
SERVICE BY CALLING TOLL FREE...1 8 7 7 6 3 3 6 7 7 2.

&&

LAT...LON 4030 7727 4050 7731 4063 7696 3972 7623
      3972 7699

$$

FORECASTER: DANGELO

4 follow-up statements

578 
WGUS71 KCTP 182235
FFSCTP

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA
635 PM EDT WED MAY 18 2011

PAC001-041-043-071-099-133-182330-
/O.CON.KCTP.FF.W.0020.000000T0000Z-110518T2330Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
ADAMS PA-CUMBERLAND PA-DAUPHIN PA-LANCASTER PA-PERRY PA-YORK PA-
635 PM EDT WED MAY 18 2011

...A FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 730 PM EDT FOR
YORK...EASTERN PERRY...NORTHWESTERN LANCASTER...DAUPHIN...EASTERN
CUMBERLAND AND NORTHEASTERN ADAMS COUNTIES...

TRAINED WEATHER SPOTTERS AND LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS HAVE REPORTED 
FLASH FLOODING WAS OCCURRING OVER MUCH OF DAUPHIN...EASTERN 
CUMBERLAND...EASTERN PERRY...NORTHEASTERN ADAMS...NORTHWESTERN 
LANCASTER AND YORK COUNTIES.

THE RAIN IS TAPERING OFF FROM NORTH TO SOUTH AT THIS TIME. 
ADDITIONAL RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF LESS THAN A HALF OF AN INCH ARE 
POSSIBLE IN THE WARNED AREA. THIS SHOULD ALLOW THE FLOOD WATERS TO 
BEGIN TO RECEDE IN AN HOUR OR SO. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

EXCESSIVE RUNOFF FROM HEAVY RAINFALL WILL CAUSE FLOODING OF SMALL
CREEKS AND STREAMS...HIGHWAYS AND UNDERPASSES. ADDITIONALLY...COUNTRY
ROADS AND FARMLANDS ALONG THE BANKS OF CREEKS...STREAMS AND OTHER LOW
LYING AREAS ARE SUBJECT TO FLOODING.

MOST FLOOD DEATHS OCCUR IN AUTOMOBILES. NEVER DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE INTO
AREAS WHERE THE WATER COVERS THE ROADWAY. FLOOD WATERS ARE USUALLY
DEEPER THAN THEY APPEAR. JUST ONE FOOT OF FLOWING WATER IS POWERFUL
ENOUGH TO SWEEP VEHICLES OFF THE ROAD. WHEN ENCOUNTERING FLOODED
ROADS MAKE THE SMART CHOICE...TURN AROUND...DONT DROWN.

A FLASH FLOOD WARNING MEANS THAT FLOODING IS IMMINENT OR OCCURRING.
IF YOU ARE IN THE WARNING AREA MOVE TO HIGHER GROUND IMMEDIATELY.
RESIDENTS LIVING ALONG STREAMS AND CREEKS SHOULD TAKE IMMEDIATE
PRECAUTIONS TO PROTECT LIFE AND PROPERTY. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO CROSS
SWIFTLY FLOWING WATERS OR WATERS OF UNKNOWN DEPTH BY FOOT OR BY
AUTOMOBILE.

PLEASE REPORT FLOODING...HAIL OR WIND DAMAGE BY CALLING YOUR LOCAL
LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS OR BY CALLING THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
TOLL FREE AT...1 8 7 7 6 3 3 6 7 7 2.

&&

LAT...LON 4030 7727 4050 7731 4063 7696 3972 7623
      3972 7699

$$

FORECASTER: DANGELO

643 
WGUS51 KCTP 182326
FFWCTP
PAC001-041-043-071-099-133-190130-
/O.EXT.KCTP.FF.W.0020.000000T0000Z-110519T0130Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
FLASH FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA
726 PM EDT WED MAY 18 2011

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN STATE COLLEGE PA HAS EXTENDED THE

* FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR...
  NORTHEASTERN ADAMS COUNTY...
  EASTERN CUMBERLAND COUNTY...
  DAUPHIN COUNTY...
  NORTHWESTERN LANCASTER COUNTY...
  EASTERN PERRY COUNTY...
  YORK COUNTY...

* UNTIL 930 PM EDT...

* AT 718 PM EDT...FLASH FLOODING WAS REPORTED OVER DAUPHIN...EASTERN 
  CUMBERLAND...EASTERN PERRY...NORTHEASTERN   ADAMS...NORTHWESTERN   
  LANCASTER AND YORK COUNTIES.

* LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO
  DALLASTOWN...HANOVER...PARKVILLE...RED LION...SPRY...WEIGELSTOWN...
  YORK...COLUMBIA...ELIZABETHTOWN...CAMP HILL...CARLISLE...ENOLA...
  LEMOYNE...LOWER ALLEN...MECHANICSBURG...NEW CUMBERLAND...COLONIAL
  PARK...HARRISBURG...HUMMELSTOWN...LINGLESTOWN...MIDDLETOWN...
  PROGRESS AND STEELTON.


PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A FLASH FLOOD WARNING MEANS THAT FLOODING IS IMMINENT OR OCCURRING.
IF YOU ARE IN THE WARNING AREA MOVE TO HIGHER GROUND IMMEDIATELY.
RESIDENTS LIVING ALONG STREAMS AND CREEKS SHOULD TAKE IMMEDIATE
PRECAUTIONS TO PROTECT LIFE AND PROPERTY. NEVER ATTEMPT TO CROSS
SWIFTLY FLOWING WATERS OR WATERS OF UNKNOWN DEPTH BY FOOT OR IN AN
AUTOMOBILE. TURN AROUND DON'T DROWN!

PLEASE REPORT FLOODING...HAIL OR WIND DAMAGE TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER
SERVICE BY CALLING TOLL FREE...1 8 7 7 6 3 3 6 7 7 2.

&&

LAT...LON 4030 7727 4050 7731 4063 7696 3972 7623
      3972 7699

$$

FORECASTER: CR

921 
WGUS71 KCTP 182338
FFSCTP

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA
738 PM EDT WED MAY 18 2011

PAC001-071-182347-
/O.CAN.KCTP.FF.W.0020.000000T0000Z-110519T0130Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
ADAMS PA-LANCASTER PA-
738 PM EDT WED MAY 18 2011

...THE FLASH FLOOD WARNING HAS BEEN CANCELLED FOR NORTHWESTERN
LANCASTER AND NORTHEASTERN ADAMS COUNTIES...

THE WATERS FROM THE EARLIER HEAVY RAINS ARE RECEDING AND FLOOD WATERS
NO LONGER POSE A THREAT TO LIFE OR PROPERTY. THEREFORE...THE FLASH
FLOOD WARNING HAS BEEN CANCELLED.

LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO COLUMBIA AND
ELIZABETHTOWN.

PLEASE REPORT FLOODING...HAIL OR WIND DAMAGE BY CALLING YOUR LOCAL
LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS OR BY CALLING THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
TOLL FREE AT...1 8 7 7 6 3 3 6 7 7 2.

LAT...LON 4030 7727 4050 7731 4063 7696 4019 7660
      4016 7667 4014 7719

$$

PAC041-043-099-133-190130-
/O.CON.KCTP.FF.W.0020.000000T0000Z-110519T0130Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
CUMBERLAND PA-DAUPHIN PA-PERRY PA-YORK PA-
738 PM EDT WED MAY 18 2011

...A FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 930 PM EDT FOR
NORTHWESTERN YORK...EASTERN PERRY...DAUPHIN AND NORTHEASTERN
CUMBERLAND COUNTIES...

AT 732 PM EDT...HEVAY RAINFALL PRODUCING FLASH FLOODING WAS REPORTED 
OVER DAUPHIN...EASTERN PERRY...EXTREME NORTHWESTERN YORK AND 
NORTHEASTERN CUMBERLAND COUNTIES.

LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO CAMP HILL...
CARLISLE...ENOLA...LEMOYNE...LOWER ALLEN...MECHANICSBURG...NEW
CUMBERLAND...COLONIAL PARK...HARRISBURG...HUMMELSTOWN...
LINGLESTOWN...MIDDLETOWN...PROGRESS AND STEELTON.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

PLEASE REPORT FLOODING...HAIL OR WIND DAMAGE BY CALLING YOUR LOCAL
LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS OR BY CALLING THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
TOLL FREE AT...1 8 7 7 6 3 3 6 7 7 2.

&&

LAT...LON 4030 7727 4050 7731 4063 7696 4019 7660
      4016 7667 4014 7719

$$

FORECASTER: CR

041 
WGUS71 KCTP 190025
FFSCTP

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA
825 PM EDT WED MAY 18 2011

PAC041-043-099-133-190035-
/O.CAN.KCTP.FF.W.0020.000000T0000Z-110519T0130Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
CUMBERLAND PA-DAUPHIN PA-PERRY PA-YORK PA-
825 PM EDT WED MAY 18 2011

...THE FLASH FLOOD WARNING HAS BEEN CANCELLED FOR NORTHWESTERN
YORK...EASTERN PERRY...DAUPHIN AND NORTHEASTERN CUMBERLAND
COUNTIES...

THE WATERS FROM THE EARLIER HEAVY RAINS ARE RECEDING AND FLOOD WATERS
NO LONGER POSE A THREAT TO LIFE OR PROPERTY. THEREFORE...THE FLASH
FLOOD WARNING HAS BEEN CANCELLED.

LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO CAMP HILL...
CARLISLE...ENOLA...LEMOYNE...LOWER ALLEN...MECHANICSBURG...NEW
CUMBERLAND...COLONIAL PARK...HARRISBURG...HUMMELSTOWN...
LINGLESTOWN...MIDDLETOWN...PROGRESS AND STEELTON.

LAT...LON 4030 7727 4050 7731 4063 7696 4019 7660
      4016 7667 4014 7719

$$

FORECASTER: CR

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
May 17, 8:17 PM EDT	Tornado Warning	CTP	Franklin, Fulton	28 min
May 17, 8:45 PM EDT	Tornado Warning	CTP	Franklin, Fulton	45 min
May 17, 9:30 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	CTP	Bedford	30 min
May 18, 2:25 AM EDT	Areal Flood Advisory	CTP	Somerset	3 hr
May 18, 5:13 AM EDT	Areal Flood Advisory	CTP	Bedford, Somerset	3 hr
May 18, 11:51 AM EDT	Special Weather Statement	CTP	Bedford	24 min
May 18, 12:00 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	CTP	Fulton	30 min
May 18, 12:14 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	CTP	Somerset	31 min
May 18, 2:51 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	CTP	York	54 min
May 18, 3:11 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	CTP	York	49 min
May 18, 4:00 PM EDT	Areal Flood Advisory	CTP	Bedford, Somerset	3 hr
May 18, 4:11 PM EDT	Flash Flood Warning	CTP	Somerset	3 hr
May 18, 4:20 PM EDT	Areal Flood Advisory	CTP	Cumberland, Dauphin, York	3 hr
May 18, 4:23 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	CTP	Juniata, Perry	67 min
May 18, 4:47 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	CTP	Dauphin	43 min
May 18, 5:11 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	CTP	Franklin	64 min
May 18, 5:20 PM EDT	Areal Flood Advisory	CTP	Centre, Juniata, Mifflin, Snyder, Union	3 hr
May 18, 5:52 PM EDT	Flash Flood Warning	CTP	Centre, Clearfield, Clinton, Juniata, Mifflin, Snyder and 1 more	3 hr
May 18, 6:31 PM EDT	Flash Flood Warning	CTP	Dauphin, Northumberland, Snyder	3 hr
May 18, 6:32 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	CTP	Dauphin, Snyder, Union	43 min
May 18, 6:52 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	CTP	Centre, Clinton, Lycoming, Snyder, Union	38 min
May 18, 7:47 PM EDT	Areal Flood Advisory	CTP	Cameron, Clearfield, Clinton, Elk, McKean, Potter and 1 more	3 hr
May 18, 7:57 PM EDT	Areal Flood Advisory	CTP	Centre, Clinton, Lycoming, Snyder, Union	3 hr

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in Pennsylvania, 2011 Every flash flood warning 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; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.