Alert archive / Pennsylvania / Areal Flood Warnings in 2012

Areal Flood Warning 26, NWS Philadelphia/Mount Holly

September 18, 20124 counties in Pennsylvania

NWS Philadelphia/Mount Holly issued this areal flood warning at Sep 18, 2012, 6:19 PM EDT for 4 counties in Pennsylvania. It was in force for 16 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: Sep 18, 2012, 6:19 PM EDT (22:19 UTC)
Expired: Sep 19, 2012, 10:15 AM EDT
In force: 16 hr
Issued by: NWS Philadelphia/Mount Holly
Area: Storm-based polygon
Flood severity: None

Counties Carbon County, PA, Lehigh County, PA, Monroe County, PA, Northampton County, PA

The radar

The Binghamton radar (KBGM), 132 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 22:20 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

Time	Report	Where	Remark
Sep 18, 6:20 PM EDT	FLOOD	Pocono Twp, PA	ROAD CLOSURES.

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

The nearest sounding before it

Phillips Aaf/Abe, MD (KAPG), launched 12:00Z, 10.3 hours before the alert went out and 185 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-p

Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.

Hodograph

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: 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

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

360 
WGUS41 KPHI 182219
FLWPHI

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOUNT HOLLY NJ
619 PM EDT TUE SEP 18 2012

PAC025-077-089-095-190415-
/O.NEW.KPHI.FA.W.0026.120918T2219Z-120919T0415Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
LEHIGH PA-MONROE PA-CARBON PA-NORTHAMPTON PA-
619 PM EDT TUE SEP 18 2012

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MOUNT HOLLY NJ HAS ISSUED A

* FLOOD WARNING FOR SMALL STREAMS IN...
  NORTH CENTRAL LEHIGH COUNTY IN EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA...
  MONROE COUNTY IN NORTHEAST PENNSYLVANIA...
  CARBON COUNTY IN NORTHEAST PENNSYLVANIA...
  WEST CENTRAL NORTHAMPTON COUNTY IN EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA...

* UNTIL 1215 AM EDT

* AT 613 PM EDT RADAR INDICATES THE HEAVY RAINS HAVE ENDED BUT...
  RUNOFF RESPONSE FROM THE 5 TO AS MUCH AS 8 INCHES WILL CAUSE
  CONTINUED RISES ON SMALL STREAMS THROUGH EARLY TONIGHT. 

POOR DRAINAGE STREET FLOODING WILL BE RECEDING THIS EVENING.

THE PRIMARY RISK OF ADDITIONAL FLOODING IS ALONG SMALL STREAMS
AND CREEKS. 

AT 6 PM...THE POHOPOCO CREEK AT KRESGEVILLE WAS ABOUT 6 TENTHS OF A 
FOOT BELOW FLOOD STAGE AND STILL RISING....THREATENING TO NEAR 
FLOOD STAGE BETWEEN 7 AND 8 PM.  

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 CAUSE ELEVATED LEVELS ON
SMALL CREEKS AND STREAMS...AND PONDING OF WATER ON COUNTRY ROADS AND
FARMLAND ALONG THE BANKS OF CREEKS AND STREAMS.

A FLOOD WARNING MEANS 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.

TO REPORT FLOODING...HAVE THE NEAREST LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY RELAY
YOUR REPORT TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORECAST OFFICE.

&&

LAT...LON 4124 7512 4116 7515 4115 7508 4108 7503
      4086 7530 4068 7562 4091 7599 4093 7597
      4101 7575 4103 7574 4105 7578 4109 7577
      4113 7570 4113 7564 4123 7554 4126 7513

$$

DRAG

3 follow-up statements

822 
WGUS81 KPHI 182332
FLSPHI

FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOUNT HOLLY NJ
732 PM EDT TUE SEP 18 2012

PAC025-077-089-095-190415-
/O.CON.KPHI.FA.W.0026.000000T0000Z-120919T0415Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
LEHIGH PA-MONROE PA-CARBON PA-NORTHAMPTON PA-
732 PM EDT TUE SEP 18 2012

...THE FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1215 AM EDT FOR SMALL
STREAMS IN NORTHWESTERN NORTHAMPTON...CARBON...MONROE AND NORTH
CENTRAL LEHIGH COUNTIES...

AT 720 PM EDT THE RAIN HAS ESSENTIALLY ENDED BUT AN AREAL FLOOD 
WARNING CONTINUES FOR ROAD CLOSURES ASSOCIATED WITH THE EXCESSIVE 
RAINS OF TODAY. THOSE ROAD CLOSURES WERE NOTED IN LEHMAN TOWNSHIP... 
TOBYHANNA AND POCONO TOWNSHIP AMONG THE REPORTS RECEIVED SO FAR. 

A DAILY RECORD AMOUNT OF 5.33 INCHES OCCURRED AT MOUNT POCONO. 

THERE WERE MANY OTHER REPORTS OF 4 TO AS MUCH AS 8 INCHES TODAY.  
THEY INCLUDE 5.73 INCHES AT LEHIGHTON AND 5.62 INCHES AT BELTZVILLE 
LAKE...4.57 INCHES AT KRESGEVILLE AND REPORTEDLY 8 INCHES IN 
ALBRIGHTSVILLE.  

THE RUNOFF FROM THE THE RAINS IS STILL CAUSING SMALL STREAM RISES 
AND RECESSIONS MAY NOT BEGIN TIL SOMETIME LATE THIS EVENING. 

THE POHOPOCO CREEK AT KRESGEVILLE SHOULD CREST NEAR OR JUST BELOW 
FLOOD STAGE BETWEEN 8 PM AND 10 PM.  

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 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.

A FLOOD WARNING MEANS 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.

TO REPORT FLOODING...HAVE THE NEAREST LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY RELAY
YOUR REPORT TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORECAST OFFICE.

&&

LAT...LON 4124 7512 4116 7515 4115 7508 4108 7503
      4086 7530 4068 7562 4091 7599 4093 7597
      4101 7575 4103 7574 4105 7578 4109 7577
      4113 7570 4113 7564 4123 7554 4126 7513

$$

DRAG

484 
WGUS41 KPHI 190213
FLWPHI

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOUNT HOLLY NJ
1013 PM EDT TUE SEP 18 2012

PAC025-077-089-095-191415-
/O.EXT.KPHI.FA.W.0026.000000T0000Z-120919T1415Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
LEHIGH PA-MONROE PA-CARBON PA-NORTHAMPTON PA-
1013 PM EDT TUE SEP 18 2012

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MOUNT HOLLY NJ HAS EXTENDED THE

* FLOOD WARNING FOR SMALL STREAMS IN...
  NORTH CENTRAL LEHIGH COUNTY IN EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA...
  MONROE COUNTY IN NORTHEAST PENNSYLVANIA...
  CARBON COUNTY IN NORTHEAST PENNSYLVANIA...
  NORTHWESTERN NORTHAMPTON COUNTY IN EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA...

* UNTIL 1015 AM EDT WEDNESDAY

* AT 1010 PM EDT...RUNOFF FROM TUESDAY'S HEAVY RAINFALL CONTINUED TO
  CAUSE FLOODING IN THE POCONO REGION AND IN ADJACENT AREAS OF THE
  LEHIGH VALLEY. FROM 4 TO 8 INCHES OF RAIN FELL IN PARTS OF THE 
  POCONO REGION.

* THE FLOOD WATERS WILL SUBSIDE SLOWLY. AS A RESULT, THE FLOOD
  WARNING HAS BEEN EXTENDED INTO WEDNESDAY MORNING.

A FLOOD WARNING MEANS THAT FLOODING IS IMMINENT OR HAS BEEN REPORTED.
ALL INTERESTED PARTIES SHOULD TAKE NECESSARY PRECAUTIONS.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

BE ESPECIALLY CAUTIOUS AT NIGHT WHEN IT IS HARDER TO RECOGNIZE THE 
DANGERS OF FLOODING. IF FLOODING IS OBSERVED ACT QUICKLY. MOVE UP TO 
HIGHER GROUND TO ESCAPE FLOOD WATERS.

A FLOOD WARNING MEANS 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.

TO REPORT FLOODING...HAVE THE NEAREST LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY RELAY
YOUR REPORT TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORECAST OFFICE.

&&

LAT...LON 4124 7512 4116 7515 4115 7508 4108 7503
      4086 7530 4068 7562 4091 7599 4093 7597
      4101 7575 4103 7574 4105 7578 4109 7577
      4113 7570 4113 7564 4123 7554 4126 7513

$$

IOVINO

118 
WGUS81 KPHI 190933
FLSPHI

FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOUNT HOLLY NJ
533 AM EDT WED SEP 19 2012

PAC025-077-089-095-191415-
/O.CON.KPHI.FA.W.0026.000000T0000Z-120919T1415Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
LEHIGH PA-MONROE PA-CARBON PA-NORTHAMPTON PA-
533 AM EDT WED SEP 19 2012

...THE FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1015 AM EDT FOR SMALL
STREAMS IN NORTHWESTERN NORTHAMPTON...CARBON...MONROE AND NORTH
CENTRAL LEHIGH COUNTIES...

AT 530 AM EDT...ALL RAIN HAD ENDED AND FLOODING WAS RECEDING. 
HOWEVER...THERE STILL WERE SOME ROAD CLOSURES NEAR SMALL STREAMS IN 
THE WARNING AREA. 

THIS FLOOD WARNING MEANS THAT FLOODING...ALTHOUGH RECEDING...WAS 
STILL OCCURRING IN SOME SPOTS. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

BE ESPECIALLY CAUTIOUS AT NIGHT WHEN IT IS HARDER TO RECOGNIZE THE
DANGERS OF FLOODING. 

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 REPORT FLOODING...HAVE THE NEAREST LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY RELAY
YOUR REPORT TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORECAST OFFICE.

&&

LAT...LON 4124 7512 4116 7515 4115 7508 4108 7503
      4086 7530 4068 7562 4091 7599 4093 7597
      4101 7575 4103 7574 4105 7578 4109 7577
      4113 7570 4113 7564 4123 7554 4126 7513

$$

MPD

The 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, 3:07 PM EDT	Areal Flood Warning	PHI	Berks, Lehigh	8 hr
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, 6:54 PM EDT	Areal Flood Advisory	PHI	Bucks	111 min

Nearby

Areal Flood Warnings in Pennsylvania, 2012 Every 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; local storm reports from the same archive; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.