Alert archive / Pennsylvania / Flash Flood Warnings in 2012

Flash Flood Warning 4, NWS Philadelphia/Mount Holly

May 26, 2012Monroe County, Northampton County, Pennsylvania

NWS Philadelphia/Mount Holly issued this flash flood warning at May 26, 2012, 3:32 PM EDT for Monroe County, Northampton County, Pennsylvania. It was in force for 4 hr. 2 reports 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
May 26, 2012, 3:32 PM EDT (19:32 UTC)
Expired
May 26, 2012, 7:30 PM EDT
In force
4 hr
Issued by
NWS Philadelphia/Mount Holly
Area
Storm-based polygon
Flood severity
None

Counties Monroe County, PA, Northampton County, PA

The radar

The Philadelphia radar (KDIX), 127 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 19:35 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
May 26, 3:38 PM EDTFLASH FLOODHamilton Twp, PAMULTIPLE ROADS FLOODED AND TREES DOWN. MUDSLIDE.
May 26, 3:55 PM EDTFLASH FLOODHamilton Twp, PANUMEROUS REPORTS OF FLASH FLOODING.

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

The nearest sounding before it

Brookhaven, NY (KOKX), launched 12:00Z, 7.5 hours before the alert went out and 202 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 2012-05-26Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 144 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 2012-05-26The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 42 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
144 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-138 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
659 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
10 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
42 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
105 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.

616 
WGUS51 KPHI 261932
FFWPHI
PAC089-095-262330-
/O.NEW.KPHI.FF.W.0004.120526T1932Z-120526T2330Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
FLASH FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOUNT HOLLY NJ
332 PM EDT SAT MAY 26 2012

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MOUNT HOLLY NJ HAS ISSUED A

* FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR...
  NORTH CENTRAL NORTHAMPTON COUNTY...
  SOUTH CENTRAL MONROE COUNTY...

* UNTIL 730 PM EDT...

* AT 326 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED
  VERY HEAVY RAIN FROM A THUNDERSTORM OVER NORTH CENTRAL NORTHAMPTON
  AND SOUTH CENTRAL MONROE COUNTIES.

* LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO 
SAYLORSBURG...BANGOR...PEN ARGYL AND WIND GAP.

TWO TO THREE INCHES OF RAIN HAS FALLEN ACROSS THE AREA OVER THE LAST 
HOUR. ADDITIONAL RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF AN INCH OR MORE 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.

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 4085 7519 4081 7526 4093 7540 4097 7532

$$

ROBERTSON
3 follow-up statements
840 
WGUS71 KPHI 262117
FFSPHI

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOUNT HOLLY NJ
517 PM EDT SAT MAY 26 2012

PAC089-095-262330-
/O.CON.KPHI.FF.W.0004.000000T0000Z-120526T2330Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
NORTHAMPTON PA-MONROE PA-
517 PM EDT SAT MAY 26 2012

...A FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 730 PM EDT FOR SOUTH
CENTRAL MONROE AND NORTH CENTRAL NORTHAMPTON COUNTIES...

AT 509 PM EDT...LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS REPORTED WIDESPREAD 
FLOODING AND ROAD CLOSURES OVER SOUTH CENTRAL MONROE AND NORTH 
CENTRAL NORTHAMPTON COUNTIES...

LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO 
SAYLORSBURG...HAMILTON...BANGOR...PEN ARGYL... AND WIND GAP.

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

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

MOST FLOOD DEATHS OCCUR IN AUTOMOBILES. NEVER DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE INTO
AREAS WHERE THE WATER COVERS THE ROADWAY. FLOOD WATERS ARE USUALLY
DEEPER THAN THEY APPEAR. JUST ONE FOOT OF FLOWING WATER IS POWERFUL
ENOUGH TO SWEEP VEHICLES OFF THE ROAD. WHEN ENCOUNTERING FLOODED
ROADS MAKE THE SMART CHOICE...TURN AROUND...DONT 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.

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 4085 7519 4081 7526 4093 7540 4097 7532

$$

ROBERTSON
429 
WGUS71 KPHI 262249
FFSPHI

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOUNT HOLLY NJ
649 PM EDT SAT MAY 26 2012

PAC089-095-262330-
/O.CON.KPHI.FF.W.0004.000000T0000Z-120526T2330Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
NORTHAMPTON PA-MONROE PA-
649 PM EDT SAT MAY 26 2012

...A FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 730 PM EDT FOR SOUTH
CENTRAL MONROE AND NORTH CENTRAL NORTHAMPTON COUNTIES...

AT 639 PM EDT...LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS REPORTED ROUTE 33 
HAS REOPENED...HOWEVER...THERE MAY STILL BE SMALLER ROADS THAT MAY 
BE CLOSED OR HAVE WATER COVERING THEM

WHILE THE HEAVIEST RAIN HAS ENDED...THERE MAY BE ADDITIONAL 
RAINFALL LATER THIS EVENING.

SMALLER CREEKS AND STREAMS CONTINUE TO RISE...ALTHOUGH NONE HAVE 
REPORTEDLY OVERFLOWED THEIR BANKS TO OUR KNOWLEDGE.

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.

MOST FLOOD DEATHS OCCUR IN AUTOMOBILES. NEVER DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE INTO
AREAS WHERE THE WATER COVERS THE ROADWAY. FLOOD WATERS ARE USUALLY
DEEPER THAN THEY APPEAR. JUST ONE FOOT OF FLOWING WATER IS POWERFUL
ENOUGH TO SWEEP VEHICLES OFF THE ROAD. WHEN ENCOUNTERING FLOODED
ROADS MAKE THE SMART CHOICE...TURN AROUND...DONT 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.

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 4085 7519 4081 7526 4093 7540 4097 7532

$$

ROBERTSON
230 
WGUS71 KPHI 262324
FFSPHI

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOUNT HOLLY NJ
724 PM EDT SAT MAY 26 2012

PAC089-095-262332-
/O.EXP.KPHI.FF.W.0004.000000T0000Z-120526T2330Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
NORTHAMPTON PA-MONROE PA-
724 PM EDT SAT MAY 26 2012

...THE FLASH FLOOD WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 730 PM EDT FOR SOUTH
CENTRAL MONROE AND NORTH CENTRAL NORTHAMPTON COUNTIES...

THE HEAVIEST RAIN HAS ENDED FOR THIS EVENING. SOME SMALLER CREEKS 
AND STREAMS MAY CONTINUE TO RISE...BUT SHOULD BEGIN RECEEDING OVER 
THE NEXT COUPLE OF HOURS.

MORE HEAVY RAINFALL IS POSSIBLE ON SUNDAY WHICH COULD CAUSE 
ADDITIONAL FLOODING.

LAT...LON 4085 7519 4081 7526 4093 7540 4097 7532

$$

ROBERTSON

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 26, 2:02 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPHIMonroe, Northampton58 min
May 26, 2:18 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryPHIMonroe, Northampton5 hr
May 26, 2:23 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryPHICarbon3 hr
May 26, 2:36 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningPHIMonroe, Northampton5 hr
May 26, 2:42 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPHIMonroe, Northampton48 min
May 26, 2:46 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementPHICarbon44 min
May 26, 3:15 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryPHICarbon2 hr
May 26, 3:39 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementPHIMonroe51 min
May 26, 3:40 PM EDTExcessive Heat WatchPHIDelaware, Philadelphia23 hr
May 26, 3:45 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryPHICarbon3 hr
May 26, 3:48 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryPHIMonroe3 hr
May 26, 3:51 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementPHICarbon39 min
May 26, 3:54 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningPHICarbon4 hr
May 26, 4:31 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryPHICarbon, Monroe, Northampton3 hr
May 26, 4:37 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementPHICarbon, Monroe38 min
May 26, 4:54 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementPHINorthampton51 min
May 26, 5:26 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementPHIBucks49 min
May 26, 5:33 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningPHIMonroe114 min
May 26, 5:36 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryPHILehigh, Northampton114 min
May 26, 6:02 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementPHIBerks43 min
May 26, 6:10 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryPHIBerks, Bucks, Montgomery111 min
May 26, 6:26 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementPHIBerks49 min
May 26, 7:18 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryPHIBucks60 min
May 26, 7:20 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryPHIBerks, Chester59 min

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.