Alert archive / Pennsylvania / Flash Flood Warnings in 2011

Flash Flood Warning 35, NWS Philadelphia/Mount Holly

August 21, 2011Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania

NWS Philadelphia/Mount Holly issued this flash flood warning at Aug 21, 2011, 3:31 PM EDT for Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania. It was in force for 8 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
Aug 21, 2011, 3:31 PM EDT (19:31 UTC)
Expired
Aug 22, 2011, 12:00 AM EDT
In force
8 hr
Issued by
NWS Philadelphia/Mount Holly
Area
Storm-based polygon
Flood severity
None

County Philadelphia County, PA

The radar

The Philadelphia radar (KDIX), 57 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 19:30 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

Brookhaven, NY (KOKX), launched 12:00Z, 7.5 hours before the alert went out and 209 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, Brookhaven, NY at 12:00Z on 2011-08-21Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 874 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, Brookhaven, NY at 12:00Z on 2011-08-21The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 55 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
874 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-29 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
857 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
22 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
55 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
116 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.

873 
WGUS51 KPHI 211931
FFWPHI
PAC101-212230-
/O.NEW.KPHI.FF.W.0035.110821T1931Z-110821T2230Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
FLASH FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOUNT HOLLY NJ
331 PM EDT SUN AUG 21 2011

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MOUNT HOLLY NJ HAS ISSUED A

* FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR...
  NORTHEASTERN PHILADELPHIA COUNTY...

* UNTIL 630 PM EDT...

* AT 326 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED
  VERY HEAVY RAIN FROM A THUNDERSTORM OVER NORTHEASTERN PHILADELPHIA
  COUNTY.

* LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO
  PHILADELPHIA. NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR HAS ESTIMATED BETWEEN
  2 AND 2 1/2 INCHES OF RAIN DURING THE PAST HOUR. ADDITIONAL
  RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF AROUND 1 INCH ARE POSSIBLE IN THE WARNED AREA.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

PLEASE REPORT FLOODING...HAIL OR WIND DAMAGE TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER
SERVICE BY CALLING TOLL FREE...1-877-633-6772.

FLOODING IS OCCURRING OR IS IMMINENT. MOST FLOOD RELATED DEATHS OCCUR
IN AUTOMOBILES. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO CROSS WATER COVERED BRIDGES...
DIPS...OR LOW WATER CROSSINGS. TURN AROUND...DON'T DROWN! NEVER TRY
TO CROSS A FLOWING STREAM...EVEN A SMALL ONE...ON FOOT. TO ESCAPE
RISING WATER MOVE UP TO HIGHER GROUND.

&&

LAT...LON 4003 7499 4001 7504 3998 7507 3998 7511
      3995 7517 4006 7518 4006 7514 4005 7512
      4010 7504 4010 7498

$$
6 follow-up statements
383 
WGUS71 KPHI 211952
FFSPHI

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOUNT HOLLY NJ
352 PM EDT SUN AUG 21 2011

PAC101-212230-
/O.CON.KPHI.FF.W.0035.000000T0000Z-110821T2230Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
PHILADELPHIA PA-
352 PM EDT SUN AUG 21 2011

...A FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 630 PM EDT FOR
NORTHEASTERN PHILADELPHIA COUNTY...

AT 347 PM EDT...DOPPLER RADAR ESTIMATES CONTINUE TO INDICATE A
THUNDERSTORM PRODUCING FLASH FLOODING OVER NORTHEASTERN PHILADELPHIA
COUNTY.

LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO PHILADELPHIA.

FRANKFORD CREEK WAS FLOODING AND RISING VERY RAPIDLY. MODERATE 
FLOODING WAS OCCURRING AND MAJOR FLOODING IS LIKELY THERE THIS 
AFTERNOON.

ADDITIONAL RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 1/4 TO 1/3 INCH IS POSSIBLE IN THE 
WARNED AREA DURING THE NEXT HOUR. RUNOFF WILL CONTINUE TO OCCUR THIS 
AFTERNOON.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

EXCESSIVE RUNOFF FROM HEAVY RAINFALL WILL CAUSE FLOODING OF SMALL 
CREEKS AND STREAMS...URBAN AREAS...HIGHWAYS...STREETS AND UNDERPASSES
AS WELL AS OTHER DRAINAGE AREAS AND LOW LYING SPOTS.

FLOODING IS OCCURRING OR IS IMMINENT. MOST FLOOD RELATED DEATHS 
OCCUR IN AUTOMOBILES. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO CROSS WATER COVERED 
BRIDGES...DIPS...OR LOW WATER CROSSINGS. NEVER TRY TO CROSS A 
FLOWING STREAM...EVEN A SMALL ONE...ON FOOT. TO ESCAPE RISING WATER 
MOVE UP TO HIGHER GROUND.

PLEASE REPORT FLOODING...HAIL OR WIND DAMAGE BY CALLING YOUR LOCAL
LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS OR BY CALLING THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
TOLL FREE AT...1-877-633-6772.

&&

LAT...LON 4003 7499 4001 7504 3998 7507 3998 7511
      3995 7517 4006 7518 4006 7514 4005 7512
      4010 7504 4010 7498

$$
204 
WGUS71 KPHI 212130
FFSPHI

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOUNT HOLLY NJ
530 PM EDT SUN AUG 21 2011

PAC101-212230-
/O.CON.KPHI.FF.W.0035.000000T0000Z-110821T2230Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
PHILADELPHIA PA-
530 PM EDT SUN AUG 21 2011

...A FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 630 PM EDT FOR
NORTHEASTERN PHILADELPHIA COUNTY...

AT 523 PM EDT...THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCING FLASH FLOODING WERE 
CONTINUING OVER NORTHEASTERN PHILADELPHIA COUNTY.

LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO PHILADELPHIA.

ADDITIONAL RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 1/2 TO 3/4 INCHES OF RAIN ARE 
POSSIBLE IN THE WARNED AREA THROUGH 6:00 PM AS THE LAST OF SEVERAL 
THUNDERSTORMS APPEARS TO BE MOVING THROUGH THE AREA. RUNOFF WILL 
CONTINUE AT LEAST THROUGH 6:30 PM...AND THE WARNING MAY NEED TO BE 
EXTENDED. FRANKFORD CREEK IN NORTHEASTERN PHILADELPHIA HAD STARTED 
TO RECEDE ALTHOUGH IT WAS STILL ABOVE FLOOD STAGE...BUT RENEWED 
RAINFALL WAS CAUSING THE CREEK TO RISE ONCE AGAIN. PENNYPACK CREEK 
HAD FALLEN BELOW FLOOD STAGE...BUT WAS ALSO RISING AGAIN. 

MOTORISTS ARE URGED TO NOT DRIVE INTO FLOODED ROADWAYS. IF WATER IS 
RISING IN YOUR LOCATION...ABANDON YOUR CAR AND MOVE TO HIGHER GROUND 
IMMEDIATELY.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

EXCESSIVE RUNOFF FROM HEAVY RAINFALL WILL CAUSE FLOODING OF SMALL 
CREEKS AND STREAMS...URBAN AREAS...HIGHWAYS...STREETS AND UNDERPASSES
AS WELL AS OTHER DRAINAGE AREAS AND LOW LYING SPOTS.

DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE INTO AREAS WHERE THE WATER COVERS THE 
ROADWAY. THE WATER DEPTH MAY BE TOO GREAT TO ALLOW YOUR CAR TO CROSS 
SAFELY. MOVE TO HIGHER GROUND.

PLEASE REPORT FLOODING...HAIL OR WIND DAMAGE BY CALLING YOUR LOCAL 
LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS OR BY CALLING THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE 
TOLL FREE AT...1-877-633-6772.

&&

LAT...LON 4003 7499 4001 7504 3998 7507 3998 7511
      3995 7517 4006 7518 4006 7514 4005 7512
      4010 7504 4010 7498

$$
113 
WGUS51 KPHI 212212
FFWPHI
PAC101-220030-
/O.EXT.KPHI.FF.W.0035.000000T0000Z-110822T0030Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
FLASH FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOUNT HOLLY NJ
612 PM EDT SUN AUG 21 2011

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MOUNT HOLLY NJ HAS EXTENDED THE

* FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR...
  NORTHEASTERN PHILADELPHIA COUNTY...

* UNTIL 830 PM EDT...

* AT 605 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR ESTIMATES
  AND RAIN GAGE REPORTS INDICATED FLASH FLOODING FROM PERSISTENT
  THUNDERSTORMS OVER NORTHEASTERN PHILADELPHIA COUNTY. 2 TO AROUND
  3 INCHES OF RAIN HAVE OCCURRED IN OR NEAR THE WARNED AREA THIS
  AFTERNOON...MUCH OF THAT WITH AN HOUR OR TWO.

* LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO
  PHILADELPHIA.

ADDITIONAL SIGNIFICANT RAINFALL AMOUNTS ARE NOT EXPECTED BUT 
CONTINUING RUNOFF FROM THE HEAVY RAINS WILL CONTINUE IN THE WARNED 
AREA.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

PLEASE REPORT FLOODING...HAIL OR WIND DAMAGE TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER 
SERVICE BY CALLING TOLL FREE...1-877-633-6772.

FLOODING IS OCCURRING OR IS IMMINENT. MOST FLOOD RELATED DEATHS 
OCCUR IN AUTOMOBILES. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO CROSS WATER COVERED 
BRIDGES...DIPS...OR LOW WATER CROSSINGS. TURN AROUND...DON'T DROWN! 
NEVER TRY TO CROSS A FLOWING STREAM...EVEN A SMALL ONE...ON FOOT. TO 
ESCAPE RISING WATER MOVE UP TO HIGHER GROUND.

&&

LAT...LON 4003 7499 4001 7504 3998 7507 3998 7511
      3995 7517 4006 7518 4006 7514 4005 7512
      4010 7504 4010 7498

$$
215 
WGUS51 KPHI 212349
FFWPHI
PAC101-220200-
/O.EXT.KPHI.FF.W.0035.000000T0000Z-110822T0200Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
FLASH FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOUNT HOLLY NJ
749 PM EDT SUN AUG 21 2011

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MOUNT HOLLY NJ HAS EXTENDED THE

* FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR...
  NORTHEASTERN PHILADELPHIA COUNTY...

* UNTIL 1000 PM EDT...

* AT 745 PM EDT...FLASH FLOODING FROM PREVIOUS THUNDERSTORMS
  WAS CONTINUING OVER NORTHEASTERN PHILADELPHIA COUNTY. MINOR
  FLOODING WAS STILL OCCURRING ON THE WISSAHICKON CREEK...BUT THE
  WATER LEVEL THERE MAY DROP BELOW FLOOD STAGE SHORTLY. OTHER CREEKS
  AND STEAMS WERE RUNNING VERY HIGH. HOWEVER...ADDTIONAL SHOWERS AND
  THUNDERSTORMS WERE UPSTREAM AND ADDITIONAL RAINFALL MAY OCCUR THIS
  EVENING. RUNOFF WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THIS EVENING.

* LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO
  PHILADELPHIA.

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!

FLOODING IS OCCURRING. MOST FLOOD RELATED DEATHS OCCUR IN 
AUTOMOBILES. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO CROSS WATER COVERED BRIDGES...DIPS... 
OR LOW WATER CROSSINGS. TURN AROUND...DON'T DROWN! NEVER TRY TO 
CROSS A FLOWING STREAM...EVEN A SMALL ONE...ON FOOT. TO ESCAPE 
RISING WATER MOVE UP TO HIGHER GROUND.

&&

LAT...LON 4003 7499 4001 7504 3998 7507 3998 7511
      3995 7517 4006 7518 4006 7514 4005 7512
      4010 7504 4010 7498

$$
989 
WGUS51 KPHI 220151
FFWPHI
PAC101-220400-
/O.EXT.KPHI.FF.W.0035.000000T0000Z-110822T0400Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
FLASH FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOUNT HOLLY NJ
951 PM EDT SUN AUG 21 2011

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MOUNT HOLLY NJ HAS EXTENDED THE

* FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR...
  NORTHEASTERN PHILADELPHIA COUNTY...

* UNTIL MIDNIGHT EDT...

* AT 945 PM EDT...SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WERE ENDING OVER
  PHILADELPHIA BUT HAVE COMBINED WITH THE HIGH RAIN TOTALS OF THIS
  AFTERNOON TO PRODUCE CONTINUING RUNOFF LATE THIS EVENING. THE
  WISSAHICKON CREEK IN PHILADELPHIA CONTINUES TO PRODUCE MINOR
  FLOODING ALONG SOME OF ITS LENGTH. THEREFORE THE FLASH FLOOD
  WARNING WILL BE EXTENDED THROUGH MIDNIGHT TO ALLOW WATER TO DRAIN
  AWAY OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF HOURS. MOTORISTS ARE URGED TO WATCH
  FOR FLOODED AREAS ON ROADS. NEVER DRIVE INTO OR THROUGH FLOODED
  ROADWAYS.

* LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO
  PHILADELPHIA.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

BE ESPECIALLY CAUTIOUS AT NIGHT WHEN IT IS HARDER TO RECOGNIZE THE 
DANGERS OF FLOODING. IF FLASH FLOODING IS OBSERVED ACT QUICKLY. MOVE 
UP TO HIGHER GROUND TO ESCAPE FLOOD WATERS. DO NOT STAY IN AREAS 
SUBJECT TO FLOODING WHEN WATER BEGINS RISING.

FLOODING IS OCCURRING. MOST FLOOD RELATED DEATHS OCCUR IN 
AUTOMOBILES. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO CROSS WATER COVERED BRIDGES...DIPS... 
OR LOW WATER CROSSINGS. TURN AROUND...DON'T DROWN! NEVER TRY TO 
CROSS A FLOWING STREAM...EVEN A SMALL ONE...ON FOOT. TO ESCAPE 
RISING WATER MOVE UP TO HIGHER GROUND.

&&

LAT...LON 4003 7499 4001 7504 3998 7507 3998 7511
      3995 7517 4006 7518 4006 7514 4005 7512
      4010 7504 4010 7498

$$
978 
WGUS71 KPHI 220357
FFSPHI

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOUNT HOLLY NJ
1157 PM EDT SUN AUG 21 2011

PAC101-220407-
/O.EXP.KPHI.FF.W.0035.000000T0000Z-110822T0400Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
PHILADELPHIA PA-
1157 PM EDT SUN AUG 21 2011

...THE FLASH FLOOD WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT MIDNIGHT EDT FOR
NORTHEASTERN PHILADELPHIA COUNTY...

THE WATERS FROM THE EARLIER HEAVY RAINS ARE RECEDING AND NO LONGER
POSE A THREAT TO LIFE OR PROPERTY. THEREFORE...THE FLASH FLOOD
WARNING WILL BE ALLOWED TO EXPIRE.

LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO PHILADELPHIA.

LAT...LON 4003 7499 4001 7504 3998 7507 3998 7511
      3995 7517 4006 7518 4006 7514 4005 7512
      4010 7504 4010 7498

$$

HAYES

The office that day

Everything else NWS Philadelphia/Mount Holly issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Aug 21, 3:28 AM EDTFlash Flood WatchPHIDelaware, Philadelphia17 hr
Aug 21, 1:11 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementPHIMontgomery64 min
Aug 21, 1:25 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryPHIBucks, Chester, Montgomery110 min
Aug 21, 1:47 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPHIBucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, Philadelphia58 min
Aug 21, 2:33 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryPHIBucks, Delaware, Montgomery, Philadelphia117 min
Aug 21, 2:43 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPHIBucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, Philadelphia62 min
Aug 21, 4:11 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementPHICarbon, Monroe64 min
Aug 21, 4:19 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryPHICarbon, Monroe3 hr
Aug 21, 4:35 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryPHIBerks, Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Lehigh, Montgomery and 2 more3 hr
Aug 21, 4:53 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementPHILehigh, Northampton67 min
Aug 21, 6:05 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningPHIBucks, Delaware, Montgomery, Philadelphia6 hr
Aug 21, 6:41 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementPHIBerks64 min
Aug 21, 7:35 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryPHIBerks, Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, Philadelphia115 min

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in Pennsylvania, 2011Every 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.