Alert archive / Pennsylvania / Tornado Warnings in 2011

Tornado Warning 23, NWS State College, PA

May 26, 20114 counties in Pennsylvania

NWS State College, PA issued this tornado warning at May 26, 2011, 6:11 PM EDT for 4 counties in Pennsylvania. It was in force for 49 min. 4 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, 6:11 PM EDT (22:11 UTC)
Expired
May 26, 2011, 7:00 PM EDT
In force
49 min
Issued by
NWS State College, PA
Area
Storm-based polygon

Counties Adams County, PA, Cumberland County, PA, Franklin County, PA, Fulton County, PA

The radar

The Sterling radar (KLWX), 105 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 22:14 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, 6:13 PM EDTTSTM WND DMG3 Se Chambersburg, PATRACTOR TRAILER BLOWN OVER ON I 81 NEAR WAYNE EXIT. ROAD SIGNS ALSO BLOWN OVER
May 26, 6:20 PM EDTTSTM WND DMGChambersburg, PAROOF DAMAGED.
May 26, 6:24 PM EDTHAIL 1Chambersburg, PA
May 26, 6:30 PM EDTHAIL 0.88St. Thomas, PA

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
May 26, 2:53 PM EDTTornado WatchSPC7 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Washington/Dulle, VA (KIAD), launched 12:00Z, 10.2 hours before the alert went out and 110 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, Washington/Dulle, VA at 12:00Z on 2011-05-26Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 0 joules per kilogram.LCL10008507005003002001001 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, Washington/Dulle, VA at 12:00Z on 2011-05-26The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 240 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
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
No buoyant parcel
Mixed-layer LCL
0 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
34 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
240 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
239 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
1.9

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

445 
WFUS51 KCTP 262211
TORCTP
PAC001-041-055-057-262300-
/O.NEW.KCTP.TO.W.0023.110526T2211Z-110526T2300Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA
611 PM EDT THU MAY 26 2011

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN STATE COLLEGE PA HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  NORTHWESTERN ADAMS COUNTY IN SOUTH CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA...
  WESTERN CUMBERLAND COUNTY IN SOUTH CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA...
  FRANKLIN COUNTY IN SOUTH CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA...
  CENTRAL FULTON COUNTY IN SOUTH CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA...

* UNTIL 700 PM EDT

* AT 606 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO. THE STORM
  CONTAINING THE POSSIBLE TORNADO WAS NEAR MARION...MOVING NORTHEAST
  AT 30 MPH.

* THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
  MARION AND ST. THOMAS AROUND 615 PM EDT...
  CHAMBERSBURG AND UPPER STRASBURG AROUND 620 PM EDT...
  SCOTLAND AND FAYETTEVILLE AROUND 625 PM EDT...
  ROXBURY AROUND 630 PM EDT...
  SHIPPENSBURG AROUND 640 PM EDT...
  CASHTOWN AROUND 645 PM 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 FOLLOWING CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA INTERSTATES...THE
PENNSYLVANIA TURNPIKE BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 200 AND 212...I-81 BETWEEN
MILE MARKERS 4 AND 36.

THIS WILL ALSO IMPACT THE FOLLOWING MAJOR ROADS...ROUTE 11...ROUTE
30...ROUTE 522.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

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.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1000 PM EDT THURSDAY EVENING
FOR CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA. A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH ALSO REMAINS IN
EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT EDT FRIDAY MORNING FOR CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA.

&&

LAT...LON 3986 7814 4025 7747 3993 7716 3978 7760
      3972 7800
TIME...MOT...LOC 2210Z 241DEG 27KT 3988 7773

$$

FORECASTER: CERU/JUNG
1 follow-up statement
692 
WWUS51 KCTP 262234
SVSCTP

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA
634 PM EDT THU MAY 26 2011

PAC001-041-055-057-262300-
/O.CON.KCTP.TO.W.0023.000000T0000Z-110526T2300Z/
ADAMS PA-CUMBERLAND PA-FRANKLIN PA-FULTON PA-
634 PM EDT THU MAY 26 2011

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 700 PM EDT FOR CENTRAL
FULTON...FRANKLIN...SOUTHWESTERN CUMBERLAND AND NORTHWESTERN ADAMS
COUNTIES...

AT 629 PM 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
SHIPPENSBURG...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 45 MPH.

THREE STORMS IN THIS WARNING ARE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO.
THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
WALNUT BOTTOM AND NEWVILLE AROUND 640 PM EDT...
NEWVILLE AROUND 645 PM EDT...

THE STORMS BEHIND THIS TORNADIC STORM ARE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING LARGE 
HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS. 

THIS WILL IMPACT THE FOLLOWING CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA INTERSTATES...THE
PENNSYLVANIA TURNPIKE BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 200 AND 212...I-81 BETWEEN
MILE MARKERS 4 AND 36.

THIS WILL ALSO IMPACT THE FOLLOWING MAJOR ROADS...ROUTE 11...ROUTE
30...ROUTE 522.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

THIS STORM HAS A HISTORY OF PRODUCING DESTRUCTIVE WINDS AND LARGE
HAIL. SEEK SHELTER NOW INSIDE A STURDY STRUCTURE...AND STAY AWAY FROM
WINDOWS.

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

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1000 PM EDT THURSDAY EVENING
FOR CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA. A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH ALSO REMAINS IN
EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT EDT FRIDAY MORNING FOR CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA.

&&

LAT...LON 3986 7814 4025 7747 3993 7716 3978 7760
      3972 7800
TIME...MOT...LOC 2231Z 234DEG 37KT 4004 7747

$$

FORECASTER: CERU/JUNG

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 25, 8:10 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCTPWarren110 min
May 25, 9:19 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPWarren56 min
May 25, 10:14 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPMcKean, Warren61 min
May 25, 10:40 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCTPCameron, Elk80 min
May 25, 11:10 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPCameron, Clearfield, Clinton, Elk, McKean, Potter65 min
May 25, 11:24 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPMcKean, Potter, Tioga66 min
May 25, 11:55 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCTPClinton, Tioga80 min
May 26, 12:13 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPClinton, Lycoming, Potter, Tioga62 min
May 26, 1:26 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCTPLycoming64 min
May 26, 2:25 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCTPSullivan50 min
May 26, 3:09 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCTPNorthumberland, Snyder36 min
May 26, 3:19 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPColumbia, Lycoming, Montour, Northumberland, Snyder, Union56 min
May 26, 3:43 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCTPTioga62 min
May 26, 4:11 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPLycoming, Sullivan49 min
May 26, 4:19 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCTPSchuylkill26 min
May 26, 4:26 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCTPBedford64 min
May 26, 4:44 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPFranklin, Fulton76 min
May 26, 4:49 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPColumbia, Northumberland, Schuylkill56 min
May 26, 4:54 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPColumbia, Lycoming, Montour, Northumberland66 min
May 26, 5:07 PM EDTTornado WarningCTPAdams, Cumberland, Franklin, Fulton68 min
May 26, 5:15 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPBedford, Franklin, Fulton, Huntingdon60 min
May 26, 5:35 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCTPClinton55 min
May 26, 5:35 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPBedford, Blair, Cambria, Clearfield, Elk, Somerset55 min
May 26, 5:49 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPSchuylkill41 min
May 26, 5:49 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPCumberland, Franklin, Juniata, Perry56 min
May 26, 6:28 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPBlair, Cameron, Centre, Clearfield, Clinton, Elk and 3 more62 min
May 26, 6:29 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPSchuylkill61 min
May 26, 6:40 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPAdams, Cumberland, Dauphin, Franklin, Lebanon, Northumberland and 3 more65 min
May 26, 6:48 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryCTPAdams, Cumberland, Franklin, Perry, York3 hr
May 26, 7:10 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningCTPFranklin, Fulton3 hr
May 26, 7:23 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPClinton, Lycoming, Potter, Sullivan, Tioga67 min
May 26, 7:28 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPColumbia, Northumberland, Schuylkill62 min
May 26, 7:34 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPAdams, Cumberland, Dauphin, Lancaster, Lebanon, Perry and 1 more56 min
May 26, 7:54 PM EDTTornado WarningCTPDauphin, Lebanon, Schuylkill36 min

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.