Alert archive / Pennsylvania / Flash Flood Warnings in 2012

Flash Flood Warning 11, NWS State College, PA

July 12, 2012McKean County, Pennsylvania

NWS State College, PA issued this flash flood warning at Jul 12, 2012, 7:51 PM EDT for McKean County, Pennsylvania. It was in force for 4 hr. 1 report 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
Jul 12, 2012, 7:51 PM EDT (23:51 UTC)
Expired
Jul 12, 2012, 11:45 PM EDT
In force
4 hr
Issued by
NWS State College, PA
Area
Storm-based polygon
Flood severity
None

County McKean County, PA

The radar

The State College radar (KCCX), 117 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 23:54 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
Jul 12, 9:15 PM EDTFLASH FLOODRew, PAWATER ACROSS INTERSECTION OF ROUTES 46 AND 646 IN REW

Local storm reports filed while the alert was in force, from inside its polygon or its counties.

The nearest sounding before it

Buffalo Intl Airport, NY (KBUF), launched 12:00Z, 11.9 hours before the alert went out and 114 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, Buffalo Intl Airport, NY at 12:00Z on 2012-07-12Temperature 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, Buffalo Intl Airport, NY at 12:00Z on 2012-07-12The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 14 square meters per square second.1939Sfc1 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
2007 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
11 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
14 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
38 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.

496 
WGUS51 KCTP 122351
FFWCTP
PAC083-130345-
/O.NEW.KCTP.FF.W.0011.120712T2351Z-120713T0345Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
FLASH FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA
751 PM EDT THU JUL 12 2012

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN STATE COLLEGE PA HAS ISSUED A

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

* UNTIL 1145 PM EDT...

* AT 743 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED
  VERY HEAVY RAIN FROM A CLUSTER OF SLOW-MOVING THUNDERSTORMS OVER
  NORTHEASTERN MCKEAN COUNTY. THE RADAR ESTIMATES ARE MORE THAN 3
  INCHES IN THE LAST TWO HOURS. THIS AMOUNT OF RAIN WILL CAUSE FLASH
  FLOODING. 

* LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO 
  ELDRED...CORYVILLE AND REW. 

THE STORMS APPEAR TO BE WEAKENING AND RAIN SHOULD BE DISSIPATING 
THROUGH 830 PM OR 9 PM. BUT ADDITIONAL RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF UP TO AN 
INCH ARE POSSIBLE IN THE WARNED AREA. 

THE HEAVIEST RAIN HAS BEEN TO THE EAST OF THE CITY OF BRADFORD AND 
NORTH OF SMETHPORT AND PORT ALLEGANY. SMALLER STREAMS AND CREEKS 
WHICH EMPTY INTO THE ALLEGHENY RIVER NEAR ELDRED ARE MOST AT RISK 
FOR FLASH FLOODING. 

IF YOU LIVE NEAR ELDRED...BE PREPARED TO MOVE TO HIGHER GROUND TO 
ESCAPE FLOOD WATERS. 

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!

IN HILLY TERRAIN THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF LOW WATER CROSSINGS WHICH ARE
POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS IN HEAVY RAIN. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO TRAVEL ACROSS
FLOODED ROADS. FIND ALTERNATE ROUTES. IT TAKES ONLY A FEW INCHES OF
SWIFTLY FLOWING WATER TO CARRY VEHICLES AWAY.

&&

LAT...LON 4184 7821 4183 7858 4200 7872 4201 7869
      4201 7821

$$

FORECASTER: DANGELO
3 follow-up statements
949 
WGUS71 KCTP 130109
FFSCTP

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA
909 PM EDT THU JUL 12 2012

PAC083-130345-
/O.CON.KCTP.FF.W.0011.000000T0000Z-120713T0345Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
MCKEAN PA-
909 PM EDT THU JUL 12 2012

...A FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1145 PM EDT FOR
NORTHEASTERN MCKEAN COUNTY...

AT 902 PM EDT...DOPPLER RADAR ESTIMATES AND RAIN GAGE REPORTS 
CONTINUE TO INDICATE HEAVY RAINFALL FROM THUNDERSTORMS. 

THE STORMS HAVE WEAKENED...BUT THE HEAVY RAIN SHIFTED TO THE 
WEST...AND A SECOND AREA OF 2 TO 3 INCHES OF RAIN HAS OCCURRED 
BETWEEN BRADFORD AND REW. AND RAINFALL HAS JUST BEGUN IN THE CITY OF 
BRADFORD. THIS 2 TO 3 INCHES OF RAINFALL IN SUCH A SHORT AMOUNT OF 
TIME IS ENOUGH TO PRODUCE FLOODING.

LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO 
BRADFORD...REW...ELDRED AND CORYVILLE.

MORE SHOWERS CONTINUE TO POP UP TO THE NORTH AND WEST OF THE WARNED 
AREA...AND MAY MOVE INTO THE WARNED AREA.

ADDITIONAL RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF AN INCH OR MORE ARE POSSIBLE IN THE 
WARNED AREA.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

EXCESSIVE RUNOFF FROM HEAVY RAINFALL WILL CAUSE FLOODING OF SMALL
CREEKS AND STREAMS...COUNTRY ROADS...AS WELL AS FARMLAND ALONG THE
BANKS OF CREEKS AND STREAMS.

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 8 7 7 6 3 3 6 7 7 2.

&&

LAT...LON 4184 7821 4183 7858 4200 7872 4201 7869
      4201 7821

$$

FORECASTER: DANGELO
970 
WGUS71 KCTP 130224
FFSCTP

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA
1024 PM EDT THU JUL 12 2012

PAC083-130345-
/O.CON.KCTP.FF.W.0011.000000T0000Z-120713T0345Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
MCKEAN PA-
1024 PM EDT THU JUL 12 2012

...A FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1145 PM EDT FOR 
NORTHEASTERN MCKEAN COUNTY...

AT 1020 PM EDT...DOPPLER RADAR ESTIMATES AND RAIN GAGE REPORTS 
CONTINUE TO INDICATE THAT RAIN CONTINUES TO FALL OVER NORTHEASTERN 
MCKEAN COUNTY. ADDITIONAL RAIN SHOWERS HAVE DEVELOPED TO THE WEST OF 
THE AREA WHICH HAS THUS FAR RECEIVED THE HEAVY RAIN. THOSE NEWER 
SHOWERS ARE MOVING TO THE EAST...AND WILL ONLY MAKE ANY FLOODING 
WORSE IF THEY CONTINUE INTO THE WARNED AREA.  

SPOTS NEAR REW AND ELDRED MAY HAVE PICKED UP 3 TO 5 INCHES OF RAIN 
ALREADY THIS EVENING...AND MORE RAIN IS EXPECTED. ADDITIONAL 
RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF AN INCH OR MORE ARE POSSIBLE IN THE WARNED AREA.

LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO 
BRADFORD...REW...ELDRED AND CORYVILLE.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

EXCESSIVE RUNOFF FROM HEAVY RAINFALL WILL CAUSE FLOODING OF SMALL
CREEKS AND STREAMS...COUNTRY ROADS...AS WELL AS FARMLAND ALONG THE
BANKS OF CREEKS AND STREAMS.

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 8 7 7 6 3 3 6 7 7 2.

&&

LAT...LON 4184 7821 4183 7858 4200 7872 4201 7869
      4201 7821

$$

FORECASTER: DANGELO
208 
WGUS71 KCTP 130345
FFSCTP

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA
1145 PM EDT THU JUL 12 2012

PAC083-130345-
/O.CON.KCTP.FF.W.0011.000000T0000Z-120713T0345Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
MCKEAN PA-
1145 PM EDT THU JUL 12 2012

...A FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1145 PM EDT FOR
NORTHEASTERN MCKEAN COUNTY...

AT 1124 PM EDT...DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO INDICATE AREAS OF HEAVY 
RAIN SHOWERS ACROSS THE NORTHEAST PART OF MCKEAN COUNTY. THE SHOWERS 
WERE DRIFTING VERY SLOWLY TO THE EAST. 


LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO BRADFORD...
ELDRED...AND REW.

DOPPLER RADAR ESTIMATED THAT AROUND ONE INCH OF RAIN HAS FALLEN 
BETWEEN 1030 PM AND 1130 PM...WITHIN THE AREA BOUNDED BY THE TOWNS 
OF ELDRED...CORRYVILLE AND REW.

RADAR ESTIMATES OF STORM TOTAL RAINFALL OVER THE PAST SEVERAL HOURS 
WERE BETWEEN 3 AND 5 INCHES IN A NARROW BAND STRETCHING FROM JUST 
WEST OF REW...NORTHEAST THROUGH THE ELDRED AREA...TO THE NEW YORK 
BORDER SEVERAL MILE TO THE SOUTH OF PORTVILLE.

LOCAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT OFFICIALS RECEIVED NO REPORTS OF 
SIGNIFICANT FLOODING SO FAR TONIGHT.  

ADDITIONAL...AND HIGHLY LOCALIZED RAINFALL OF BETWEEN ONE HALF OF AN 
INCH...AND ONE INCH COULD STILL FALL OVER THE NEXT HOUR OR TWO 
ACROSS THE WARNED AREA. HOWEVER...RAINFALL RATES ARE DIMINISHING 
SLOWLY. 

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.

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 8 7 7 6 3 3 6 7 7 2.

&&

LAT...LON 4191 7828 4187 7842 4190 7856 4196 7856
      4195 7868 4200 7872 4201 7869 4201 7821

$$

FORECASTER: LAMBERT

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jul 12, 6:27 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryCTPMcKean2 hr

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in Pennsylvania, 2012Every flash flood warning in 2012

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.