Alert archive / Pennsylvania / Special Weather Statements in 2011

Special Weather Statement, NWS State College, PA

May 15, 2011Lancaster County, Pennsylvania

NWS State College, PA issued this special weather statement at May 15, 2011, 6:53 PM EDT for Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. It was in force for 52 min. 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 15, 2011, 6:53 PM EDT (22:53 UTC)
Expired: May 15, 2011, 7:45 PM EDT
In force: 52 min
Issued by: NWS State College, PA

County Lancaster County, PA

The radar

The Philadelphia radar (KDIX), 157 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 22:55 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

Washington/Dulle, VA (KIAD), launched 12:00Z, 10.9 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-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: 55 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -69 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 545 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 28 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 3 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 50 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.

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What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this special weather statement went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS State College, PA wrote its last area forecast discussion before this special weather statement went out at May 15, 3:46 PM EDT, 3 hours 7 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 15, 3:46 PM EDT, 3 hours 7 minutes before

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      <div class="status" id="status">Temporary Notice</div>
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        The site you requested is temporarily down for maintenance or an unexpected outage.
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Hazardous weather outlook, May 15, 10:10 AM EDT, 8 hours 43 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA
1010 AM EDT SUN MAY 15 2011

PAZ012-017>019-024>028-033>036-041-042-045-046-049>053-056>059-063-
161415-
NORTHERN CLINTON-CLEARFIELD-NORTHERN CENTRE-SOUTHERN CENTRE-CAMBRIA-
BLAIR-HUNTINGDON-MIFFLIN-JUNIATA-SOMERSET-BEDFORD-FULTON-FRANKLIN-
NORTHERN LYCOMING-SULLIVAN-SOUTHERN CLINTON-SOUTHERN LYCOMING-UNION-
SNYDER-MONTOUR-NORTHUMBERLAND-COLUMBIA-PERRY-DAUPHIN-SCHUYLKILL-
LEBANON-CUMBERLAND-
1010 AM EDT SUN MAY 15 2011

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT.

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY.

A SLOW MOVING UPPER-LEVEL SYSTEM COULD PRODUCE A PROLONGED PERIOD
OF STEADY RAINFALL TUESDAY INTO THURSDAY. THERE IS A CHANCE OF
LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL DURING THIS PERIOD.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

PAZ064>066-161415-
ADAMS-YORK-LANCASTER-
1010 AM EDT SUN MAY 15 2011

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT.

THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS OVER THE EXTREME
LOWER SUSQUEHANNA VALLEY THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY.

A FEW STRONG THUNDERSTORMS MAY APPROACH SEVERE LEVELS ON MONDAY. A
SLOW MOVING UPPER-LEVEL SYSTEM COULD PRODUCE A PROLONGED PERIOD
OF STEADY RAINFALL TUESDAY INTO THURSDAY. THERE IS A CHANCE OF
LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL DURING THIS PERIOD.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED.

PAZ006-010-011-037-161415-
POTTER-ELK-CAMERON-TIOGA-
1010 AM EDT SUN MAY 15 2011

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT.

PERIODS OF MODERATE TO HEAVY RAIN WILL OCCUR ACROSS THE REGION
THIS AFTERNOON INTO THIS EVENING. ADDITIONAL RAINFALL FROM LATE
THIS MORNING THROUGH MIDNIGHT WILL BE BETWEEN ONE HALF OF AN
INCH...AND ONE INCH. THIS AREA WILL NEED TO BE MONITORED FOR
POTENTIAL FLOODING.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY.

A SLOW MOVING UPPER-LEVEL SYSTEM COULD PRODUCE A PROLONGED PERIOD
OF STEADY RAINFALL TUESDAY INTO THURSDAY. THERE IS A CHANCE OF
LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL DURING THIS PERIOD.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO RELAY REPORTS OF HEAVY RAIN AND ANY
FLOODING TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN STATE COLLEGE.

PAZ004-005-161415-
WARREN-MCKEAN-
1010 AM EDT SUN MAY 15 2011

...FLASH FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM EDT THIS EVENING...

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT.

PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO
WEATHER.GOV/STATECOLLEGE ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE
INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS.

   FLASH FLOOD WATCH.

PERIODS OF HEAVY RAIN WILL OCCUR INTO THIS EVENING. ADDITIONAL
RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 1.5 TO 2 INCHES ARE LIKELY BY LATE THIS
EVENING. THE RAINFALL IS APPROXIMATELY WHAT IS REQUIRED TO BEGIN
FLOODING OF SMALL STREAMS AND CREEKS ACROSS THE WATCH AREA.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY.

A SLOW MOVING UPPER-LEVEL SYSTEM COULD PRODUCE A PROLONGED PERIOD
OF STEADY RAINFALL TUESDAY INTO THURSDAY. THERE IS A CHANCE OF
LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL DURING THIS PERIOD.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO RELAY REPORTS OF HEAVY RAIN AND ANY
FLOODING TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN STATE COLLEGE.

LAMBERT

In the hours before

Special weather statement, May 15, 2:05 PM EDT, 4 hours 48 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA
205 PM EDT SUN MAY 15 2011

PAZ026-034>036-151915-
BEDFORD PA-FRANKLIN PA-FULTON PA-HUNTINGDON PA-
205 PM EDT SUN MAY 15 2011

...A DEVELOPING LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT
FULTON...SOUTH CENTRAL HUNTINGDON...SOUTHEASTERN BEDFORD AND WESTERN
FRANKLIN COUNTIES THROUGH 315 PM EDT...

AT 200 PM EDT...SEVERAL STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WERE DEVELOPING ALONG A
LINE FROM NEAR NEW ENTERPRISE TO CLEARVILLE TO FOREST PARK. THE
STORMS WERE MOVING TO THE EAST NORTHEAST AT 20 MPH.

WIND GUSTS TO 40 MPH AND PEA SIZE HAIL ARE POSSIBLE WITH THESE
STORMS. THESE STORMS WILL BE NEAR LOCUST GROVE...CRYSTAL
SPRINGS...AND BREEZEWOOD AROUND 210 PM...HOPEWELL...VALLEY-HI...
NEEDMORE...AND COVE MILLS AROUND 220 PM...WELLS TANNERY AROUND 230
PM...SIDELING HILL REST AND SALUVIA AROUND 240 PM.

THIS WILL IMPACT THE FOLLOWING CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA INTERSTATES...THE
PENNSYLVANIA TURNPIKE BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 152 AND 187...I-70 BETWEEN
MILE MARKERS 147 AND 170.

THIS WILL ALSO IMPACT THE FOLLOWING MAJOR ROADS...ROUTE 30...ROUTE
522.

LAT...LON 4010 7844 4026 7789 3995 7779 3972 7775
      3972 7838

FORECASTER: LAMBERT

Special weather statement, May 15, 2:23 PM EDT, 4 hours 30 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA
223 PM EDT SUN MAY 15 2011

PAZ066-151915-
LANCASTER PA-
223 PM EDT SUN MAY 15 2011

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT NORTHEASTERN LANCASTER COUNTY...

AT 222 PM EDT...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS NEAR EPHRATA...MOVING
NORTHEAST AT 20 MPH.

WIND GUSTS TO 50 MPH AND PEA SIZE HAIL ARE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM.
THIS STORM WILL BE NEAR DENVER AROUND 230 PM AND ADAMSTOWN AROUND 240
PM.

THIS WILL IMPACT THE PENNSYLVANIA TURNPIKE BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 274
AND 291.

THIS WILL ALSO IMPACT THE FOLLOWING MAJOR ROADS...ROUTE 222...ROUTE
322...STATE ROAD 501.

LAT...LON 4014 7616 4017 7625 4023 7632 4029 7622
      4032 7615 4022 7599 4020 7597

FORECASTER: LAMBERT

Special weather statement, May 15, 2:26 PM EDT, 4 hours 27 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA
226 PM EDT SUN MAY 15 2011

PAZ058-059-151915-
LEBANON PA-SCHUYLKILL PA-
226 PM EDT SUN MAY 15 2011

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT NORTHERN LEBANON AND SOUTH
CENTRAL SCHUYLKILL COUNTIES THROUGH 315 PM EDT...

AT 222 PM EDT...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS NEAR HARPER TAVERN...MOVING
NORTHEAST AT 20 MPH.

WIND GUSTS TO 50 MPH AND PEA...TO ONE HALF INCH SIZE HAIL ARE
POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM. THIS STORM WILL BE NEAR FREDERICKSBURG
AROUND 240 PM AND PINE GROVE AROUND 300 PM.

THIS WILL IMPACT THE FOLLOWING CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA INTERSTATES...
I-78 BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 0 AND 8...I-81 BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 84 AND
104.

THIS WILL ALSO IMPACT THE FOLLOWING MAJOR ROADS...ROUTE 22...ROUTE
422.

LAT...LON 4051 7634 4049 7643 4043 7632 4042 7630
      4041 7631 4032 7649 4033 7662 4045 7662
      4062 7637 4051 7625

FORECASTER: LAMBERT

Special weather statement, May 15, 3:42 PM EDT, 3 hours 11 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA
342 PM EDT SUN MAY 15 2011

PAZ058-152030-
SCHUYLKILL PA-
342 PM EDT SUN MAY 15 2011

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT EAST CENTRAL SCHUYLKILL
COUNTY...

AT 337 PM EDT...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS NEAR AUBURN...MOVING EAST
AT 20 MPH.

WIND GUSTS TO 40 MPH AND SMALL HAIL ARE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM.
VERY HEAVY RAIN WILL FALL FROM THIS STORM...AND WILL CAUSE WATER TO
POND ON ROADS AND FILL POOR DRAINAGE AREAS. THE RAIN MAY CAUSE RAPID
RISES ON SMALL STREAMS AND CREEKS. THIS STORM WILL BE NEAR PORT
CLINTON AROUND 350 PM...NEW RINGGOLD AROUND 400 PM AND SNYDERS AROUND
430 PM.

THIS WILL IMPACT THE FOLLOWING MAJOR ROADS...STATE ROAD 61...STATE
ROAD 309.

LAT...LON 4069 7583 4064 7598 4057 7601 4058 7605
      4056 7609 4055 7614 4064 7612 4077 7580
      4074 7576

FORECASTER: EVANEGO

Special weather statement, May 15, 6:53 PM EDT, 0 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA
653 PM EDT SUN MAY 15 2011

PAZ066-152345-
LANCASTER PA-
653 PM EDT SUN MAY 15 2011

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT NORTHERN LANCASTER COUNTY...

AT 650 PM EDT...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS NEAR MANHEIM...MOVING EAST
AT 25 MPH.

WIND GUSTS TO 40 MPH AND SMALL HAIL ARE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM.
VERY HEAVY RAIN WILL FALL FROM THIS STORM...AND WILL CAUSE WATER TO
POND ON ROADS AND FILL POOR DRAINAGE AREAS. THE RAIN WILL CAUSE RAPID
RISES ON SMALL STREAMS AND CREEKS. THIS STORM WILL BE NEAR MANHEIM
AROUND 700 PM...LITITZ AROUND 710 PM...EPHRATA AROUND 720 PM...DENVER
AROUND 730 PM AND ADAMSTOWN AROUND 740 PM.

THIS WILL IMPACT THE PENNSYLVANIA TURNPIKE BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 268
AND 295.

THIS WILL ALSO IMPACT THE FOLLOWING MAJOR ROADS...STATE HIGHWAY
283...ROUTE 222...ROUTE 322...STATE ROAD 501.

LAT...LON 4016 7591 4005 7641 4018 7653 4024 7640
      4025 7630 4032 7615

FORECASTER: EVANEGO

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
May 15, 9:50 AM EDT	Flash Flood Watch	CTP	McKean, Warren	12 hr
May 15, 2:05 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	CTP	Fulton	70 min
May 15, 2:23 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	CTP	Lancaster	52 min
May 15, 2:26 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	CTP	Lebanon	49 min
May 15, 3:42 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	CTP	Schuylkill	48 min
May 15, 5:18 PM EDT	Areal Flood Advisory	CTP	Perry	117 min
May 15, 7:04 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	CTP	Lancaster	26 min

Nearby

Special Weather Statements in Pennsylvania, 2011 Every special weather statement 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.