Alert archive / Pennsylvania / Tornado Warnings in 2011

Tornado Warning 15, NWS State College, PA

April 28, 2011Lancaster County, York County, Pennsylvania

NWS State College, PA issued this tornado warning at Apr 28, 2011, 10:13 AM EDT for Lancaster County, York County, Pennsylvania. It was in force for 32 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
Apr 28, 2011, 10:13 AM EDT (14:13 UTC)
Expired
Apr 28, 2011, 10:45 AM EDT
In force
32 min
Issued by
NWS State College, PA
Area
Storm-based polygon

Counties Lancaster County, PA, York County, PA

The radar

The Dover AFB radar (KDOX), 136 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 14:13 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, 2.2 hours before the alert went out and 51 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, Phillips Aaf/Abe, MD at 12:00Z on 2011-04-28Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 482 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, Phillips Aaf/Abe, MD at 12:00Z on 2011-04-28The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 371 square meters per square second.1939587897Sfc1 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
482 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-47 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
670 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
56 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
371 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
401 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
1.3
Supercell composite
5.5

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

190 
WFUS51 KCTP 281413
TORCTP
PAC071-133-281445-
/O.NEW.KCTP.TO.W.0015.110428T1413Z-110428T1445Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA
1013 AM EDT THU APR 28 2011

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN STATE COLLEGE PA HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  SOUTHEASTERN LANCASTER COUNTY IN SOUTH CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA...
  SOUTHEASTERN YORK COUNTY IN SOUTH CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA...

* UNTIL 1045 AM EDT

* AT 1009 AM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO. THE STORM
  CONTAINING THE POSSIBLE TORNADO WAS NEAR SUNNYBURN...MOVING
  NORTHEAST AT 65 MPH.

* THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
  QUARRYVILLE AND SMITHVILLE AROUND 1020 AM EDT...
  PARADISE AND STRASBURG AROUND 1025 AM EDT...
  GAP AROUND 1030 AM EDT...
  CHURCHTOWN AROUND 1040 AM EDT...

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.

THIS WILL IMPACT THE PENNSYLVANIA TURNPIKE BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 293
AND 294.

THIS WILL ALSO IMPACT THE FOLLOWING MAJOR ROADS...ROUTE 30...ROUTE
222...ROUTE 322...STATE ROAD 41.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TAKE COVER INSIDE NOW. DO NOT WAIT TO SEE OR HEAR THE TORNADO. MOVE
TO AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST LEVEL OF A STURDY BUILDING. PUT AS
MANY WALLS BETWEEN YOU AND THE OUTSIDE AS YOU CAN. AVOID WINDOWS.
PROTECT YOURSELF FROM FLYING DEBRIS.

&&

LAT...LON 3982 7648 4019 7596 4012 7589 4011 7593
      4004 7593 3996 7599 3987 7598 3986 7600
      3971 7637 3972 7639
TIME...MOT...LOC 1413Z 233DEG 58KT 3982 7629

$$

FORECASTER: STEINBUGL
3 follow-up statements
932 
WWUS51 KCTP 281421
SVSCTP

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA
1021 AM EDT THU APR 28 2011

PAC133-281431-
/O.CAN.KCTP.TO.W.0015.000000T0000Z-110428T1445Z/
YORK PA-
1021 AM EDT THU APR 28 2011

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR SOUTHEASTERN YORK COUNTY IS CANCELLED...

THE STORM THAT PROMPTED THE TORNADO WARNING HAS MOVED OUT OF THE
AREA...THEREFORE THE TORNADO WARNING HAS BEEN CANCELLED.

LAT...LON 3986 7600 3978 7627 3984 7633 4019 7596
      4012 7589 4011 7593 4004 7593 3996 7599
      3987 7598
TIME...MOT...LOC 1421Z 233DEG 58KT 3985 7619

$$

PAC071-281445-
/O.CON.KCTP.TO.W.0015.000000T0000Z-110428T1445Z/
LANCASTER PA-
1021 AM EDT THU APR 28 2011

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1045 AM EDT FOR
SOUTHEASTERN LANCASTER COUNTY...

AT 1019 AM EDT...WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO INDICATE
A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WITH STRONG ROTATION THAT MAY BE PRODUCING A
TORNADO. THIS STORM THAT MAY BE PRODUCING A TORNADO WAS LOCATED 6
MILES SOUTHWEST OF QUARRYVILLE...OR 11 MILES SOUTH OF WILLOW
STREET...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 65 MPH.

THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
CHRISTIANA AND PARADISE AROUND 1030 AM EDT...
GAP AROUND 1035 AM EDT...

THIS WILL IMPACT THE FOLLOWING MAJOR ROADS...ROUTE 30...ROUTE 222...
ROUTE 322...STATE ROAD 41.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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. IF YOU
ARE IN THE PATH OF THIS DANGEROUS STORM...MOVE INDOORS AND TO THE
LOWEST LEVEL OF THE BUILDING. STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS. IF DRIVING...DO
NOT SEEK SHELTER UNDER A HIGHWAY OVERPASS.

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...SEEK 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.

&&

LAT...LON 3986 7600 3978 7627 3984 7633 4019 7596
      4012 7589 4011 7593 4004 7593 3996 7599
      3987 7598
TIME...MOT...LOC 1421Z 233DEG 58KT 3985 7619

$$

FORECASTER: STEINBUGL
090 
WWUS51 KCTP 281436
SVSCTP

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA
1036 AM EDT THU APR 28 2011

PAC071-281445-
/O.CON.KCTP.TO.W.0015.000000T0000Z-110428T1445Z/
LANCASTER PA-
1036 AM EDT THU APR 28 2011

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1045 AM EDT FOR EAST
CENTRAL LANCASTER COUNTY...

AT 1032 AM EDT...WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO INDICATE
A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WITH STRONG ROTATION THAT MAY BE PRODUCING A
TORNADO. THIS STORM THAT MAY BE PRODUCING A TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR
QUARRYVILLE...OR 11 MILES SOUTHEAST OF WILLOW STREET...MOVING
NORTHEAST AT 50 MPH.

OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO
CHRISTIANA

THIS WILL IMPACT THE FOLLOWING MAJOR ROADS...ROUTE 30...STATE ROAD
41.

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. IF NO BASEMENT IS
AVAILABLE...SEEK 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.

&&

LAT...LON 3989 7601 3986 7612 3989 7617 4008 7593
      4004 7593 3996 7599 3992 7599
TIME...MOT...LOC 1436Z 237DEG 43KT 3993 7604

$$

FORECASTER: STEINBUGL
749 
WWUS51 KCTP 281443
SVSCTP

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA
1043 AM EDT THU APR 28 2011

PAC071-281453-
/O.EXP.KCTP.TO.W.0015.000000T0000Z-110428T1445Z/
LANCASTER PA-
1043 AM EDT THU APR 28 2011

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR EAST CENTRAL LANCASTER COUNTY WILL EXPIRE
AT 1045 AM EDT...

THE TORNADO WARNING WILL BE ALLOWED TO EXPIRE.

LAT...LON 3989 7601 3986 7612 3989 7617 4008 7593
      4004 7593 3996 7599 3992 7599
TIME...MOT...LOC 1443Z 237DEG 43KT 3997 7595

$$

FORECASTER: STEINBUGL

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Apr 27, 8:09 PM EDTTornado WarningCTPLycoming, Sullivan26 min
Apr 27, 8:22 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPColumbia, Montour, Northumberland53 min
Apr 27, 8:46 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPColumbia, Lycoming, Sullivan, Tioga44 min
Apr 27, 9:14 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCTPYork31 min
Apr 27, 9:32 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCTPSullivan28 min
Apr 27, 10:38 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCTPCambria37 min
Apr 27, 10:52 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCTPClearfield23 min
Apr 27, 11:09 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCTPClinton36 min
Apr 27, 11:19 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCTPCambria, Centre, Clearfield41 min
Apr 27, 11:25 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPCentre, Clearfield, Clinton37 min
Apr 27, 11:59 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCTPClinton, Lycoming46 min
Apr 28, 12:14 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCTPCambria31 min
Apr 28, 12:19 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCTPCentre, Clinton41 min
Apr 28, 12:26 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPBedford, Somerset64 min
Apr 28, 12:33 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPLycoming, Tioga57 min
Apr 28, 12:44 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCTPCentre31 min
Apr 28, 1:02 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCTPLycoming43 min
Apr 28, 1:21 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPBedford, Blair, Huntingdon, Mifflin39 min
Apr 28, 1:29 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCTPClinton31 min
Apr 28, 1:35 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPLycoming, Sullivan25 min
Apr 28, 1:42 AM EDTFlash Flood WarningCTPCameron, Clinton, Lycoming, Potter, Sullivan, Tioga4 hr
Apr 28, 1:42 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCTPFulton33 min
Apr 28, 1:44 AM EDTFlash Flood WarningCTPBedford, Blair, Cambria, Fulton, Huntingdon, Somerset4 hr
Apr 28, 1:58 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCTPClinton47 min
Apr 28, 2:03 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCTPMifflin42 min
Apr 28, 2:19 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCTPHuntingdon41 min
Apr 28, 2:26 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCTPFranklin34 min
Apr 28, 2:30 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCTPClinton30 min
Apr 28, 2:42 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCTPClinton33 min
Apr 28, 2:52 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPCentre, Clinton, Cumberland, Franklin, Juniata, Mifflin and 3 more53 min
Apr 28, 2:55 AM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryCTPCentre, Franklin, Juniata, Mifflin, Perry, Snyder and 1 more3 hr
Apr 28, 3:02 AM EDTFlash Flood WarningCTPCentre3 hr
Apr 28, 3:03 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCTPLycoming, Tioga42 min
Apr 28, 3:11 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCTPAdams, Franklin34 min
Apr 28, 3:34 AM EDTFlash Flood WarningCTPFranklin3 hr
Apr 28, 3:37 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPCentre, Clinton, Dauphin, Juniata, Lycoming, Montour and 4 more38 min
Apr 28, 3:39 AM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryCTPAdams, Cumberland, Dauphin, Montour, Northumberland, York3 hr
Apr 28, 3:41 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCTPLycoming34 min
Apr 28, 3:46 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPAdams, Cumberland, Dauphin, Lancaster, Lebanon, Perry and 1 more44 min
Apr 28, 4:00 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPColumbia, Dauphin, Lycoming, Montour, Northumberland, Schuylkill and 1 more60 min
Apr 28, 4:12 AM EDTRiver Flood WarningCTPLycoming41 hr
Apr 28, 4:12 AM EDTRiver Flood WarningCTPLycoming, Northumberland, Union35 hr
Apr 28, 4:12 AM EDTRiver Flood WarningCTPNorthumberland, Union41 hr
Apr 28, 4:12 AM EDTRiver Flood WarningCTPNorthumberland, Union41 hr
Apr 28, 4:12 AM EDTRiver Flood WarningCTPColumbia, Montour, Northumberland65 hr
Apr 28, 4:25 AM EDTFlash Flood WarningCTPAdams, Cumberland, Dauphin, Perry, York7 hr
Apr 28, 4:28 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPAdams, Cumberland, Dauphin, Lancaster, Lebanon, Schuylkill and 1 more47 min
Apr 28, 5:14 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPAdams, Cumberland, Franklin, York46 min
Apr 28, 5:35 AM EDTTornado WarningCTPAdams, Cumberland, York25 min
Apr 28, 5:49 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPDauphin, Lebanon, Schuylkill56 min
Apr 28, 6:13 AM EDTFlash Flood WarningCTPLebanon, Schuylkill4 hr
Apr 28, 6:32 AM EDTWind AdvisoryCTPCambria, Cameron, Clearfield, Elk, McKean, Potter and 2 more5 hr
Apr 28, 6:47 AM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryCTPColumbia, Franklin, Fulton, Huntingdon, Juniata, Lycoming and 7 more3 hr
Apr 28, 6:53 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPLebanon, Schuylkill37 min
Apr 28, 7:11 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCTPColumbia, Montour, Northumberland, Sullivan49 min
Apr 28, 7:41 AM EDTRiver Flood WarningCTPClinton20 hr
Apr 28, 7:50 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCTPDauphin25 min
Apr 28, 7:54 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCTPLebanon, York36 min
Apr 28, 7:59 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCTPYork46 min
Apr 28, 8:04 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCTPAdams26 min
Apr 28, 8:07 AM EDTRiver Flood WarningCTPCumberland, York24 hr
Apr 28, 8:17 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPLancaster, York58 min
Apr 28, 8:21 AM EDTTornado WarningCTPYork24 min
Apr 28, 8:44 AM EDTTornado WarningCTPLancaster, York14 min
Apr 28, 8:54 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPLancaster, York66 min
Apr 28, 9:30 AM EDTTornado WarningCTPLancaster, York15 min
Apr 28, 9:58 AM EDTTornado WarningCTPYork21 min
Apr 28, 10:03 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPLancaster, York27 min
Apr 28, 10:26 AM EDTRiver Flood WarningCTPDauphin, Juniata, Northumberland, Perry, Union45 hr
Apr 28, 10:26 AM EDTRiver Flood WarningCTPCumberland, Dauphin, Juniata, Lancaster, Northumberland, Perry and 2 more48 hr
Apr 28, 10:26 AM EDTRiver Flood WarningCTPLancaster, York63 hr
Apr 28, 10:26 AM EDTRiver Flood WarningCTPHuntingdon11 hr
Apr 28, 10:35 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPLancaster10 min
Apr 28, 10:49 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCTPLancaster26 min
Apr 28, 11:15 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCTPLancaster15 min
Apr 28, 12:52 PM EDTRiver Flood WarningCTPLycoming15 hr
Apr 28, 5:55 PM EDTRiver Flood WarningCTPDauphin, Lebanon, Schuylkill10 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; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.