Alert archive / Pennsylvania / Tornado Warnings in 2011

Tornado Warning 4, NWS State College, PA

April 27, 2011Franklin County, Fulton County, Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania

NWS State College, PA issued this tornado warning at Apr 27, 2011, 5:57 PM EDT for Franklin County, Fulton County, Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania. It was in force for 33 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 27, 2011, 5:57 PM EDT (21:57 UTC)
Expired
Apr 27, 2011, 6:30 PM EDT
In force
33 min
Issued by
NWS State College, PA
Area
Storm-based polygon

Counties Franklin County, PA, Fulton County, PA, Huntingdon County, PA

The radar

The State College radar (KCCX), 81 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 22:00 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 watch it was issued in

The SPC watch in force over the same counties when this warning went out.

IssuedProductOfficeLasted
Apr 27, 3:10 PM EDTTornado WatchSPC7 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Washington/Dulle, VA (KIAD), launched 12:00Z, 10.0 hours before the alert went out and 145 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 2011-04-27Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 215 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°0°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Washington/Dulle, VA at 12:00Z on 2011-04-27The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 123 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
215 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-75 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
636 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
39 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
123 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
150 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.1
Supercell composite
0.8

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

788 
WFUS51 KCTP 272157
TORCTP
PAC055-057-061-272230-
/O.NEW.KCTP.TO.W.0004.110427T2157Z-110427T2230Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA
557 PM EDT WED APR 27 2011

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN STATE COLLEGE PA HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  NORTH CENTRAL FRANKLIN COUNTY IN SOUTH CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA...
  NORTHEASTERN FULTON COUNTY IN SOUTH CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA...
  SOUTHEASTERN HUNTINGDON COUNTY IN CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA...

* UNTIL 630 PM EDT

* AT 555 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO. THE STORM
  CONTAINING THE POSSIBLE TORNADO WAS NEAR SIDELING HILL REST...
  MOVING NORTHEAST AT 40 MPH.

* THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
  FORT LITTLETON AROUND 605 PM EDT...
  FANNETTSBURG AROUND 610 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 PENNSYLVANIA TURNPIKE BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 168
AND 196.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

IF IN MOBILE HOMES OR VEHICLES...EVACUATE THEM AND GET INSIDE A
STURDY SHELTER. IF NO SHELTER IS AVAILABLE...LIE FLAT IN THE NEAREST
DITCH OR OTHER LOW SPOT AND COVER YOUR HEAD WITH YOUR HANDS.

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 WEDNESDAY EVENING
FOR CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA.

&&

LAT...LON 4001 7818 4037 7783 4036 7781 4038 7775
      4027 7770 4029 7767 4027 7766 4025 7767
      4025 7764 4022 7765 4022 7764 4023 7761
      3990 7800
TIME...MOT...LOC 2157Z 219DEG 35KT 4003 7801

$$

FORECASTER: LA CORTE
2 follow-up statements
965 
WWUS51 KCTP 272205
SVSCTP

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA
605 PM EDT WED APR 27 2011

PAC055-057-061-272230-
/O.CON.KCTP.TO.W.0004.000000T0000Z-110427T2230Z/
FRANKLIN PA-FULTON PA-HUNTINGDON PA-
605 PM EDT WED APR 27 2011

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 630 PM EDT FOR
SOUTHEASTERN HUNTINGDON...NORTHEASTERN FULTON AND NORTH CENTRAL
FRANKLIN COUNTIES...

AT 600 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
FORT LITTLETON...OR 14 MILES EAST OF BREEZEWOOD...MOVING NORTHEAST AT
40 MPH.

THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
SHADE GAP AND WILLOW HILL AROUND 620 PM EDT...


THIS WILL IMPACT THE PENNSYLVANIA TURNPIKE BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 174
AND 196.

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.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1000 PM EDT WEDNESDAY EVENING
FOR CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA.

&&

LAT...LON 4005 7807 4037 7778 4038 7775 4027 7769
      4025 7765 4022 7764 4022 7762 4018 7766
      3997 7796
TIME...MOT...LOC 2205Z 222DEG 33KT 4007 7794

$$

FORECASTER: LA CORTE
327 
WWUS51 KCTP 272219
SVSCTP

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA
619 PM EDT WED APR 27 2011

PAC057-272228-
/O.CAN.KCTP.TO.W.0004.000000T0000Z-110427T2230Z/
FULTON PA-
619 PM EDT WED APR 27 2011

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR NORTHEASTERN FULTON COUNTY IS CANCELLED...

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

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1000 PM EDT WEDNESDAY EVENING
FOR CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA.

LAT...LON 4005 7788 4006 7786 4010 7794 4014 7798
      4030 7772 4027 7770 4027 7769 4025 7765
      4022 7765 4022 7762 4019 7765 4004 7786
TIME...MOT...LOC 2218Z 232DEG 31KT 4013 7781

$$

PAC055-061-272230-
/O.CON.KCTP.TO.W.0004.000000T0000Z-110427T2230Z/
FRANKLIN PA-HUNTINGDON PA-
619 PM EDT WED APR 27 2011

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 630 PM EDT FOR
SOUTHEASTERN HUNTINGDON AND NORTH CENTRAL FRANKLIN COUNTIES...

AT 617 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
WILLOW HILL...OR 16 MILES NORTHWEST OF CHAMBERSBURG...MOVING
NORTHEAST AT 35 MPH.

THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
DOYLESBURG AROUND 630 PM EDT...

THIS WILL IMPACT THE PENNSYLVANIA TURNPIKE BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 185
AND 196.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

IF IN MOBILE HOMES OR VEHICLES...EVACUATE THEM AND GET INSIDE A
STURDY SHELTER. IF NO SHELTER IS AVAILABLE...LIE FLAT IN THE NEAREST
DITCH OR OTHER LOW SPOT AND COVER YOUR HEAD WITH YOUR HANDS.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1000 PM EDT WEDNESDAY EVENING
FOR CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA.

&&

LAT...LON 4005 7788 4006 7786 4010 7794 4014 7798
      4030 7772 4027 7770 4027 7769 4025 7765
      4022 7765 4022 7762 4019 7765 4004 7786
TIME...MOT...LOC 2218Z 232DEG 31KT 4013 7781

$$

FORECASTER: LA CORTE

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Apr 26, 8:22 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPColumbia, Juniata, Lycoming, Montour, Northumberland, Perry and 2 more68 min
Apr 26, 8:27 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCTPBedford, Blair, Cambria, Somerset48 min
Apr 26, 8:40 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCTPLycoming, Sullivan50 min
Apr 26, 8:58 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCTPBedford, Fulton, Huntingdon62 min
Apr 26, 9:01 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPColumbia, Lycoming, Montour, Northumberland, Schuylkill, Snyder and 1 more59 min
Apr 26, 10:12 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCTPColumbia, Cumberland, Dauphin, Juniata, Montour, Northumberland and 3 more63 min
Apr 26, 10:43 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningCTPSullivan3 hr
Apr 26, 11:11 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCTPColumbia, Dauphin, Schuylkill34 min
Apr 27, 11:16 AM EDTFlash Flood WatchCTPAdams, Bedford, Blair, Cambria, Cameron, Centre and 26 more23 hr
Apr 27, 11:19 AM EDTRiver Flood WarningCTPColumbia3 days
Apr 27, 4:42 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCTPCameron48 min
Apr 27, 4:49 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCTPElk, McKean, Warren41 min
Apr 27, 4:55 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPCameron, Clearfield, Elk, McKean, Potter50 min
Apr 27, 5:19 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPElk, McKean, Warren26 min
Apr 27, 5:43 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCTPFulton47 min
Apr 27, 5:43 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPBlair, Cambria, Cameron, Centre, Clearfield, Clinton and 5 more62 min
Apr 27, 5:52 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPCumberland, Franklin, Fulton, Huntingdon, Juniata, Mifflin and 1 more53 min
Apr 27, 5:59 PM EDTTornado WarningCTPCameron, Potter31 min
Apr 27, 6:29 PM EDTTornado WarningCTPCumberland, Franklin, Perry31 min
Apr 27, 6:30 PM EDTTornado WarningCTPPotter, Tioga30 min
Apr 27, 6:40 PM EDTTornado WarningCTPCentre, Clinton, Mifflin, Union35 min
Apr 27, 6:45 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPBlair, Cambria, Cameron, Centre, Clearfield, Clinton and 6 more60 min
Apr 27, 7:07 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryCTPCameron, Centre, Clearfield, Clinton, Elk, McKean and 2 more3 hr
Apr 27, 7:12 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPDauphin, Juniata, Northumberland, Perry, Snyder63 min
Apr 27, 7:48 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPCentre, Clinton, Columbia, Lycoming, Montour, Northumberland and 5 more57 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; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.