Alert archive / Pennsylvania / Winter Storm Watches in 2011

Winter Storm Watch 9, NWS Philadelphia/Mount Holly

December 6, 2011Carbon County, Monroe County, Pennsylvania; Sussex County, New Jersey

NWS Philadelphia/Mount Holly issued this winter storm watch at Dec 6, 2011, 3:10 PM EST for Carbon County, Monroe County, Pennsylvania; Sussex County, New Jersey. It took effect at Dec 7, 2011, 10:00 PM EST. It was in force for .

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Dec 6, 2011, 3:10 PM EST (20:10 UTC)
In effect from
Dec 7, 2011, 10:00 PM EST
Expired
Dec 7, 2011, 4:12 AM EST
In force
Issued by
NWS Philadelphia/Mount Holly

Counties Sussex County, NJ, Carbon County, PA, Monroe County, PA

The radar

The Philadelphia radar (KDIX), 140 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 20:11 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, 8.2 hours before the alert went out and 189 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 2011-12-06Temperature 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, Phillips Aaf/Abe, MD at 12:00Z on 2011-12-06The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 199 square meters per square second.1939587897117Sfc1 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
522 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
60 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
199 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
125 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.

444 
WWUS41 KPHI 062010
WSWPHI

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOUNT HOLLY NJ
310 PM EST TUE DEC 6 2011
 
NJZ001-PAZ054-055-071030-
/O.NEW.KPHI.WS.A.0009.111208T0300Z-111208T1200Z/
SUSSEX-CARBON-MONROE-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...NEWTON...JIM THORPE...STROUDSBURG
310 PM EST TUE DEC 6 2011

...WINTER STORM WATCH IN EFFECT FROM WEDNESDAY EVENING THROUGH
THURSDAY MORNING...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MOUNT HOLLY HAS ISSUED A WINTER
STORM WATCH...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM WEDNESDAY EVENING THROUGH
THURSDAY MORNING. 

* LOCATIONS...CARBON AND MONROE COUNTIES IN THE SOUTHERN POCONOS
  AND SUSSEX COUNTY IN NEW JERSEY.

* HAZARD TYPES...HEAVY SNOW EXPECTED.

* ACCUMULATIONS...3 TO 8 INCHES WITH THE GREATEST ACCUMULATIONS IN
  THE HIGHER TERRAIN.

* TIMING...THE RAIN SHOULD START CHANGING TO SNOW OVER THE HIGHER
  TERRAIN IN THE POCONOS DURING WEDNESDAY EVENING AND CHANGE OVER
  IN ALL AREAS BY VERY EARLY THURSDAY MORNING. THE SNOW SHOULD END
  AROUND THE START OF THE MORNING COMMUTE ON THURSDAY. 

* IMPACTS...THE GREATEST COMMUTING IMPACT SHOULD OCCUR THURSDAY
  MORNING. BUT ANYONE DRIVING WEDNESDAY EVENING AND NIGHT COULD
  FACE DIFFICULT TRAVEL. SNOWFALL RATES OF 1 TO 2 INCHES PER HOUR
  ARE POSSIBLE DURING THE HEIGHT OF THE STORM.

* WINDS...NORTHWEST 10 TO 15 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 20 MPH. THE SNOW
  IS EXPECTED TO BE ON THE WETTER SIDE, SO BLOWING AND DRIFTING 
  SHOULD BE LESS THAN AVERAGE. 

* TEMPERATURES...WILL FALL THROUGH THE 30S AND BY THURSDAY MORNING
  WILL BE IN THE UPPER 20S AND LOWER 30S.

* VISIBILITIES...ONE QUARTER MILE OR LESS AT TIMES. THIS WILL MAKE
  FOR DIFFICULT TRAVEL ESPECIALLY ON HIGHER TERRAIN ROADWAYS.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A WINTER STORM WATCH MEANS THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR SIGNIFICANT
SNOW...SLEET...OR ICE ACCUMULATIONS THAT MAY IMPACT TRAVEL.
CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE LATEST FORECASTS.

&&

$$

/GIGI
1 follow-up statement
511 
WWUS41 KPHI 070912
WSWPHI

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOUNT HOLLY NJ
412 AM EST WED DEC 7 2011

PAZ054-055-071715-
/O.UPG.KPHI.WS.A.0009.111208T0300Z-111208T1200Z/
/O.NEW.KPHI.WS.W.0011.111208T0100Z-111208T0900Z/
CARBON-MONROE-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...JIM THORPE...STROUDSBURG
412 AM EST WED DEC 7 2011

...WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 8 PM THIS EVENING TO 4 AM
EST THURSDAY...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MOUNT HOLLY HAS ISSUED A WINTER
STORM WARNING FOR SNOW...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 8 PM THIS EVENING TO
4 AM EST THURSDAY. THE WINTER STORM WATCH IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT.

* LOCATIONS...THE POCONOS.

* HAZARD TYPES...SNOW...HEAVIEST IN THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS.

* ACCUMULATIONS...4 TO 8 INCHES OF SNOW.

* TIMING...RAIN WILL CHANGE TO OCCASIONALLY HEAVY WET SNOW BETWEEN
  9 PM AND MIDNIGHT AND END BETWEEN 2 AM AND 4 AM. 

* IMPACTS...TREACHEROUS TRAVEL SHOULD DEVELOP...ESPECIALLY IN THE
  POCONOS AS TEMPERATURES PLUNGE INTO THE 28 TO 32 DEGREE RANGE
  SHORTLY AFTER THE CHANGE TO SNOW. WET SNOW MAY CAUSE SOME TREE
  LIMBS TO BREAK IF ACCUMULATIONS EXCEED 4 INCHES. 

* WINDS...NORTHWEST 15 TO 25 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 35 MPH.

* VISIBILITIES...ONE QUARTER MILE OR LESS AT TIMES BETWEEN 10 PM
  AND 1 AM WITH ACCUMULATIONS OF 1 TO 2 INCHES PER HOUR FOR AN
  HOUR OR 2 LATE THIS EVENING.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A WINTER STORM WARNING MEANS SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF SNOW...
SLEET...AND ICE ARE EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. STRONG WINDS ARE ALSO
POSSIBLE.  THIS WILL MAKE TRAVEL VERY HAZARDOUS OR IMPOSSIBLE.

&&

$$

NJZ001-071715-
/O.UPG.KPHI.WS.A.0009.111208T0300Z-111208T1200Z/
/O.NEW.KPHI.WW.Y.0023.111208T0300Z-111208T0900Z/
SUSSEX-
INCLUDING THE CITY OF...NEWTON
412 AM EST WED DEC 7 2011

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 10 PM THIS EVENING TO
4 AM EST THURSDAY...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MOUNT HOLLY HAS ISSUED A WINTER
WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SNOW...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 10 PM THIS
EVENING TO 4 AM EST THURSDAY. THE WINTER STORM WATCH IS NO LONGER
IN EFFECT.

* LOCATIONS...FAR NORTHWEST NEW JERSEY INCLUDING WANTAGE...VERNON
  AND NEWTON.

* HAZARD TYPES...SNOW.

* ACCUMULATIONS...3 TO 5 INCHES OF SNOW....HEAVIEST IN HIGHER 
  ELEVATIONS.

* TIMING...RAIN CHANGES TO SNOW FROM WEST TO EAST IN THE COUNTY
  BETWEEN 10 PM AND MIDNIGHT AND THEN ENDS BY 4 AM.

* IMPACTS...TRAVEL SHOULD BECOME TREACHEROUS FOR SEVERAL HOURS
  AROUND MIDNIGHT. 

* WINDS...NORTHWEST 10 TO 15 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 25 MPH....BUT
  GUSTS TO 35 MPH NEAR HIGH POINT. 

* TEMPERATURES...DROP SUDDENLY IN THE UPPER 20S AND LOWER 30S...
  WITHIN AN HOUR OE 2 OF THE CHANGE TO SNOW.

* VISIBILITIES...ONE QUARTER TO ONE HALF MILE AT TIMES WITH
  ACCUMULATION RATES OF 1 TO 2 INCHES PER HOUR FOR AN HOUR OR 2.

* VARIABILITY...AMOUNTS MAY BE HIGHLY VARIABLE AND ARE ELEVATION
  DEPENDENT. FINAL STORM TOTALS IN THE COUNTY MAY RANGE BETWEEN 1
  AND 6 INCHES. THIS HAS TO DO WITH THE AMOUNT OF PRECIPITATION
  STILL FALLING ONCE IT IS COLD ENOUGH TO SNOW.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY MEANS THAT PERIODS OF SNOW...SLEET...OR
FREEZING RAIN WILL CAUSE TRAVEL DIFFICULTIES. BE PREPARED FOR
SLIPPERY ROADS AND LIMITED VISIBILITIES...AND USE CAUTION WHILE
DRIVING.

&&

$$

NJZ007-PAZ060>062-071715-
/O.NEW.KPHI.WW.Y.0023.111208T0300Z-111208T0900Z/
WARREN-BERKS-LEHIGH-NORTHAMPTON-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...WASHINGTON...READING...ALLENTOWN...
BETHLEHEM...EASTON
412 AM EST WED DEC 7 2011

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 10 PM THIS EVENING TO
4 AM EST THURSDAY...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MOUNT HOLLY HAS ISSUED A WINTER
WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SNOW...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 10 PM THIS
EVENING TO 4 AM EST THURSDAY.

* LOCATIONS...FROM NEAR READING THROUGH THE LEHIGH VALLEY
  INCLUDING ALLENTOWN INTO WARREN COUNTY OF NORTHWEST NEW JERSEY.

* HAZARD TYPES...SNOW.

* ACCUMULATIONS...MOST LIKELY 2 TO 4 INCHES OF SNOW. HEAVIEST
  AMOUNTS IN THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS.  

* TIMING...RAIN CHANGES TO A PERIOD OF HEAVY WET SNOW BETWEEN 10
  PM AND MIDNIGHT AND ENDS BETWEEN 2 AM AND 4 AM.
 

* IMPACTS...TREACHEROUS TRAVEL SHOULD DEVELOP FOR SEVERAL HOURS AS
  TEMPERATURES PLUNGE TO BETWEEN 30 AND 32 DEGREES IN THE SNOW.

* WINDS...NORTHWEST 15 TO 20 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 35 MPH.

* VISIBILITIES...ONE QUARTER MILE OR LESS AT TIMES AS SNOW
  ACCUMULATES AT THE RATE OF AN INCH OR 2 PER HOUR FOR AN HOUR OR
  TWO NEAR MIDNIGHT.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY MEANS THAT PERIODS OF SNOW...SLEET...OR
FREEZING RAIN WILL CAUSE TRAVEL DIFFICULTIES. BE PREPARED FOR
SLIPPERY ROADS AND LIMITED VISIBILITIES...AND USE CAUTION WHILE
DRIVING.

&&

$$

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Dec 6, 3:10 PM ESTFlood WatchPHIBerks, Delaware, Lehigh, Northampton, Philadelphia36 hr
Dec 6, 3:50 AM ESTGale WatchPHI23 hr
Dec 6, 4:08 PM ESTSmall Craft AdvisoryPHI26 hr

Nearby

Winter Storm Watches in Pennsylvania, 2011Winter Storm Watches in New Jersey, 2011Every winter storm watch 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.