Alert archive / Pennsylvania / Areal Flood Warnings in 2012
Areal Flood Warning 25, NWS Philadelphia/Mount Holly
NWS Philadelphia/Mount Holly issued this areal flood warning at Sep 18, 2012, 3:07 PM EDT for Berks County, Lehigh 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
- Sep 18, 2012, 3:07 PM EDT (19:07 UTC)
- Expired
- Sep 18, 2012, 11:00 PM EDT
- In force
- 8 hr
- Issued by
- NWS Philadelphia/Mount Holly
- Area
- Storm-based polygon
- Flood severity
- None
Counties Berks County, PA, Lehigh County, PA
The radar
The Philadelphia radar (KDIX), 158 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 19:07 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, 7.1 hours before the alert went out and 120 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.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 330 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -6 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 519 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 40 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 265 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 275 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.4
- Supercell composite
- 2.3
The text
As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.
145
WGUS41 KPHI 181907
FLWPHI
BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOUNT HOLLY NJ
307 PM EDT TUE SEP 18 2012
PAC011-077-182300-
/O.NEW.KPHI.FA.W.0025.120918T1907Z-120918T2300Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
BERKS PA-LEHIGH PA-
307 PM EDT TUE SEP 18 2012
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MOUNT HOLLY NJ HAS ISSUED A
* FLOOD WARNING FOR URBAN AREAS AND SMALL STREAMS IN...
NORTHERN BERKS COUNTY IN EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA...
NORTHWESTERN LEHIGH COUNTY IN EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA...
* UNTIL 700 PM EDT
* AT 259 PM EDT...PREVIOUSLY HEAVY RAINS HAVE FORCED MANY SMALL
STREAMS TO RISE RAPIDLY. ANOTHER BAND OR TWO OF MODERATE TO
BRIEFLY HEAVY RAIN IS GOING TO BE MOVING THROUGH THIS AREA BETWEEN
NOW AND 5 PM. THIS SHOULD BE ENOUGH TO CAUSE THE SCHUYLKILL RIVER
AT LANDINGVILLE TO BE NEAR FLOOD STAGE BY 6 PM.
THE LITTLE SCHUYLKILL AT TAMAQUA WAS ALSO RISING RAPIDLY AS WAS THE
LEHIGH RIVER AT LEHIGHTON. WHILE THESE RIVERS SHOULD REMAIN WITHIN
BANKFULL...SEVERAL TRIBUTARIES TO THESE STREAMS SHOULD EXCEED
BANKFULL.
A FLOOD WARNING MEANS THAT FLOODING IS IMMINENT OR HAS BEEN REPORTED.
ALL INTERESTED PARTIES SHOULD TAKE NECESSARY PRECAUTIONS IMMEDIATELY.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
ADDITIONAL RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF ONE HALF TO 2 INCHES IS LIKELY IN THE
WARNED AREA.
EXCESSIVE RUNOFF FROM HEAVY RAINFALL WILL CAUSE FLOODING OF SMALL
CREEKS AND STREAMS...HIGHWAYS AND UNDERPASSES. ADDITIONALLY...COUNTRY
ROADS AND FARMLANDS ALONG THE BANKS OF CREEKS...STREAMS AND OTHER LOW
LYING AREAS ARE SUBJECT TO FLOODING.
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.
&&
LAT...LON 4051 7640 4052 7624 4058 7606 4058 7602
4065 7599 4074 7574 4062 7553 4032 7616
4049 7643
$$
DRAG4 follow-up statements
069
WGUS81 KPHI 181932
FLSPHI
FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOUNT HOLLY NJ
332 PM EDT TUE SEP 18 2012
PAC011-077-182300-
/O.CON.KPHI.FA.W.0025.000000T0000Z-120918T2300Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
BERKS PA-LEHIGH PA-
332 PM EDT TUE SEP 18 2012
...THE FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 700 PM EDT FOR URBAN
AREAS AND SMALL STREAMS IN WEST CENTRAL LEHIGH AND NORTHERN BERKS
COUNTIES...
AT 325 PM EDT SHOWERS...BRIEFLY HEAVY RAIN WAS MOVING THROUGH THE
FLOOD WARNING AREA WHERE SMALL STREAMS WERE RISING RAPIDLY.
RADAR INDICATES THAT ISOLATED RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 4 INCHES HAS
OCCURRED TODAY FROM NEAR PORT CLINTON TO NEAR STRAUSSTOWN.
ONE OR TWO SMALL STREAMS SHOULD EXCEED BANKFULL BY 7 PM...ESPECIALLY
IN FAR WESTERN BERKS COUNTY.
A FLOOD WARNING MEANS THAT FLOODING IS IMMINENT OR HAS BEEN REPORTED.
ALL INTERESTED PARTIES SHOULD TAKE NECESSARY PRECAUTIONS IMMEDIATELY.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
ADDITIONAL RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF ONE HALF TO POSSIBLY AS MUCH AS 2
INCHES ARE POSSIBLE IN THE WARNED AREA.
EXCESSIVE RUNOFF FROM HEAVY RAINFALL WILL CAUSE FLOODING OF SMALL
CREEKS AND STREAMS...HIGHWAYS AND UNDERPASSES. ADDITIONALLY...COUNTRY
ROADS AND FARMLANDS ALONG THE BANKS OF CREEKS...STREAMS AND OTHER LOW
LYING AREAS ARE SUBJECT TO FLOODING.
DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE INTO AREAS WHERE THE WATER COVERS THE
ROADWAY. THE WATER DEPTH MAY BE TOO GREAT TO ALLOW YOUR CAR TO CROSS
SAFELY. MOVE TO HIGHER GROUND.
&&
LAT...LON 4051 7640 4052 7624 4058 7606 4058 7602
4065 7599 4074 7574 4062 7553 4032 7616
4049 7643
$$
DRAG530
WGUS81 KPHI 182127
FLSPHI
FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOUNT HOLLY NJ
527 PM EDT TUE SEP 18 2012
PAC011-077-182300-
/O.CON.KPHI.FA.W.0025.000000T0000Z-120918T2300Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
BERKS PA-LEHIGH PA-
527 PM EDT TUE SEP 18 2012
...THE FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 700 PM EDT FOR URBAN
AREAS AND SMALL STREAMS IN WEST CENTRAL LEHIGH AND NORTHERN BERKS
COUNTIES...
AT 523 PM EDT THE HEAVIEST RAIN HAS OCCURRED.
THE WARNING CONTINUES...TO ACCOUNT FOR DELAYED RESPONSE RUNOFF RISES
IN SMALL CREEKS AND STREAMS. SO FAR THERE HAVE BEEN NO REPORTS TO
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE REGARDING EXTENSIVE FLOODING.
KUTZTOWN HAS RECEIVED 2.4 INCHES. RADAR INDICATED THAT UP TO 4
INCHES OF RAIN COULD HAVE OCCURRED IN PARTS OF THE WARNING AREA.
A FLOOD WARNING MEANS THAT FLOODING IS IMMINENT OR HAS BEEN REPORTED.
ALL INTERESTED PARTIES SHOULD CONTINUE TO TAKE NECESSARY
PRECAUTIONS.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
EXCESSIVE RUNOFF FROM HEAVY RAINFALL WILL CAUSE FLOODING OF A COUPLE
OF SMALL CREEKS AND STREAMS...HIGHWAYS AND UNDERPASSES.
ADDITIONALLY...COUNTRY ROADS AND FARMLANDS ALONG THE BANKS OF
CREEKS...STREAMS AND OTHER LOW LYING AREAS ARE SUBJECT TO FLOODING.
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.
&&
LAT...LON 4044 7624 4049 7625 4052 7624 4058 7606
4058 7602 4065 7599 4074 7574 4062 7553
4038 7604
$$
DRAG596
WGUS41 KPHI 182153
FLWPHI
BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOUNT HOLLY NJ
553 PM EDT TUE SEP 18 2012
PAC011-077-190300-
/O.EXT.KPHI.FA.W.0025.000000T0000Z-120919T0300Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
BERKS PA-LEHIGH PA-
553 PM EDT TUE SEP 18 2012
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MOUNT HOLLY NJ HAS EXTENDED THE
* FLOOD WARNING FOR SMALL STREAMS IN...
NORTHERN BERKS COUNTY IN EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA...
WEST CENTRAL LEHIGH COUNTY IN EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA...
* UNTIL 1100 PM EDT
* AT 547 PM EDT RADAR INDICATES THE HEAVIEST RAIN HAS MOVED EAST OF
THE AREA. HOWEVER...RUNOFF RESPONSE FROM THE EXCESSIVE RAINFALL IN
SCHUYLKILL AND POSSIBLY LUZERNE COUNTIES WILL BE CONTRIBUTING TO
CONTINUED RISES ON SOME STREAMS...INCLUDING THE SCHUYLKILL.
SO WHILE MOST OF THE AREA WILL PROBABLY NOT HAVE ANY FURTHER
FLOODING...AREAS ALONG SMALLER RIVERS NEED TO BE PREPARED EITHER
FOR CURRENT FLOODING LASTING INTO THE NIGHT OR DEVELOPING LATE THIS
EVENING....ESPECIALLY ALONG THE SCHUYLKILL.
A FLOOD WARNING MEANS THAT FLOODING IS IMMINENT OR HAS BEEN REPORTED.
STREAM RISES WILL BE SLOW AND FLASH FLOODING IS NOT EXPECTED.
HOWEVER...ALL INTERESTED PARTIES NEAR STREAMS AND SMALLER RIVER
SHOULD TAKE NECESSARY PRECAUTIONS IMMEDIATELY.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
EXCESSIVE RUNOFF FROM HEAVY RAINFALL WILL CAUSE ELEVATED LEVELS ON
SMALL CREEKS AND STREAMS...AND PONDING OF WATER ON COUNTRY ROADS AND
FARMLAND ALONG THE BANKS OF CREEKS AND STREAMS.
DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE INTO AREAS WHERE THE WATER COVERS THE
ROADWAY. THE WATER DEPTH MAY BE TOO GREAT TO ALLOW YOUR CAR TO CROSS
SAFELY. MOVE TO HIGHER GROUND.
&&
LAT...LON 4044 7624 4049 7625 4052 7624 4058 7606
4058 7602 4065 7599 4074 7574 4062 7553
4038 7604
$$
DRAG137
WGUS81 KPHI 182346
FLSPHI
FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOUNT HOLLY NJ
746 PM EDT TUE SEP 18 2012
PAC011-077-190300-
/O.CON.KPHI.FA.W.0025.000000T0000Z-120919T0300Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
BERKS PA-LEHIGH PA-
746 PM EDT TUE SEP 18 2012
...THE FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1100 PM EDT FOR SMALL
STREAMS IN WEST CENTRAL LEHIGH AND NORTHERN BERKS COUNTIES...
AT 737 PM EDT THE RAIN HAS ESSENTIALLY ENDED BUT POCKETS OF FLOODING
NEAR SMALL STREAMS MAY STILL BE CONTINUING...ESPECIALLY NEAR THE
SCHUYLKILL COUNTY BORDER WHERE ISOLATED 5 INCH AMOUNTS PROBABLY
OCCURRED. BERNE IN BERKS COUNTY HAD 4 INCHES TODAY.
A BAND OF LIGHT TO MODERATE SHOWERS SHOULD CROSS THE AREA BETWEEN 9
PM AND MIDNIGHT...BUT BE INSIGNIFICANT COMPARED TO THE RAINFALL OF
EARLIER TODAY.
THE SCHUYLKILL RIVER WILL PROBABLY CREST JUST BELOW FLOOD STAGE
WEDNESDAY MORNING AT BERNE.
A FLOOD WARNING MEANS THAT FLOODING IS IMMINENT OR HAS BEEN REPORTED.
STREAM RISES WILL BE SLOW AND FLASH FLOODING IS NOT EXPECTED.
HOWEVER...ALL INTERESTED PARTIES SHOULD TAKE NECESSARY PRECAUTIONS
IMMEDIATELY.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
EXCESSIVE RUNOFF FROM HEAVY RAINFALL WILL STILL CAUSE ELEVATED
LEVELS ON SMALL CREEKS AND STREAMS...AND PONDING OF WATER IN URBAN
AREAS...HIGHWAYS...STREETS AND UNDERPASSES AS WELL AS OTHER POOR
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.
&&
LAT...LON 4044 7624 4049 7625 4052 7624 4058 7606
4058 7602 4065 7599 4074 7574 4062 7553
4038 7604
$$
DRAGThe office that day
Everything else NWS Philadelphia/Mount Holly issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 18, 4:13 AM EDT | Coastal Flood Advisory | PHI | Delaware, Philadelphia | 21 hr |
| Sep 18, 12:58 PM EDT | Areal Flood Advisory | PHI | Carbon, Monroe | 93 min |
| Sep 18, 12:59 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | PHI | Berks, Lehigh | 46 min |
| Sep 18, 1:05 PM EDT | Areal Flood Advisory | PHI | Berks, Lehigh | 115 min |
| Sep 18, 1:32 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | PHI | Berks, Lehigh | 43 min |
| Sep 18, 2:00 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | PHI | Chester, Montgomery | 60 min |
| Sep 18, 2:18 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | PHI | Carbon, Monroe | 57 min |
| Sep 18, 2:23 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | PHI | Chester, Montgomery | 30 min |
| Sep 18, 2:25 PM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | PHI | Carbon, Lehigh, Monroe, Northampton | 4 hr |
| Sep 18, 2:52 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | PHI | Bucks, Lehigh, Northampton | 17 min |
| Sep 18, 3:16 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | PHI | Monroe | 59 min |
| Sep 18, 3:24 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | PHI | Berks, Carbon | 51 min |
| Sep 18, 3:52 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | PHI | Chester | 53 min |
| Sep 18, 4:05 PM EDT | Areal Flood Advisory | PHI | Berks, Lehigh | 55 min |
| Sep 18, 4:19 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | PHI | Berks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery | 56 min |
| Sep 18, 4:23 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | PHI | Berks, Lehigh, Monroe, Northampton | 52 min |
| Sep 18, 4:26 PM EDT | Areal Flood Advisory | PHI | Bucks, Lehigh, Northampton | 3 hr |
| Sep 18, 4:35 PM EDT | Areal Flood Advisory | PHI | Bucks, Chester, Lehigh, Montgomery | 55 min |
| Sep 18, 5:01 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | PHI | Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Lehigh, Montgomery, Northampton and 1 more | 59 min |
| Sep 18, 5:12 PM EDT | Areal Flood Advisory | PHI | Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery | 63 min |
| Sep 18, 5:12 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | PHI | Delaware, Philadelphia | 78 min |
| Sep 18, 5:13 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | PHI | Monroe, Northampton | 62 min |
| Sep 18, 6:00 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | PHI | Bucks, Montgomery, Philadelphia | 60 min |
| Sep 18, 6:06 PM EDT | Areal Flood Advisory | PHI | Bucks, Montgomery, Philadelphia | 54 min |
| Sep 18, 6:19 PM EDT | Areal Flood Warning | PHI | Carbon, Lehigh, Monroe, Northampton | 16 hr |
| Sep 18, 6:54 PM EDT | Areal Flood Advisory | PHI | Bucks | 111 min |
Nearby
Areal Flood Warnings in Pennsylvania, 2012Every areal 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; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.