Alert archive / Pennsylvania / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2012

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 16, NWS Philadelphia/Mount Holly

May 29, 2012Berks County, Carbon County, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania

NWS Philadelphia/Mount Holly issued this severe thunderstorm warning at May 29, 2012, 5:25 PM EDT for Berks County, Carbon County, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania. It was in force for 95 min. 3 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 29, 2012, 5:25 PM EDT (21:25 UTC)
Expired
May 29, 2012, 7:00 PM EDT
In force
95 min
Issued by
NWS Philadelphia/Mount Holly
Area
Storm-based polygon

Counties Berks County, PA, Carbon County, PA, Lehigh County, PA

The radar

The Philadelphia radar (KDIX), 145 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 21:25 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 29, 6:00 PM EDTTSTM WND DMGTowamensing Twp, PATREES REPORTED DOWN IN TOWAMENSING.
May 29, 6:15 PM EDTHAIL 0.75Palmerton, PAPENNY SIZE HAIL REPORTED IN PALMERTON.
May 29, 6:30 PM EDTTSTM WND DMGSouth Whitehall Twp, PAWIRES DOWN

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

The watch it was issued in

The SPC watch in force over the same counties when this warning went out.

IssuedProductOfficeLasted
May 29, 1:03 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WatchSPC8 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Phillips Aaf/Abe, MD (KAPG), launched 12:00Z, 9.4 hours before the alert went out and 149 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 2012-05-29Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 667 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, Phillips Aaf/Abe, MD at 12:00Z on 2012-05-29The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity -39 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
667 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-217 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1153 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
6 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
-39 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
-10 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.

789 
WUUS51 KPHI 292125
SVRPHI
PAC011-025-077-292300-
/O.NEW.KPHI.SV.W.0016.120529T2125Z-120529T2300Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOUNT HOLLY NJ
525 PM EDT TUE MAY 29 2012

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MOUNT HOLLY NJ HAS ISSUED A

* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR...
  NORTHERN BERKS COUNTY IN EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA...
  NORTHERN LEHIGH COUNTY IN EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA...
  CARBON COUNTY IN NORTHEAST PENNSYLVANIA...
  THIS INCLUDES THE CITY OF LEHIGHTON...

* UNTIL 700 PM EDT

* AT 520 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS
  OF 60 MPH.  THIS STORM WAS LOCATED 9 MILES NORTHWEST OF
  STRAUSSTOWN...OR 26 MILES NORTHWEST OF READING...AND MOVING EAST AT
  30 MPH. OTHER LIKELY SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE ALSO IN DAUPHIN
  AND LEBANON COUNTIES AND IF THEY MAINTAIN THEMSELVES WILL AFFECT
  BERKS COUNTY.

* THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WILL BE NEAR...
  WANAMAKERS AROUND 605 PM EDT...
  NEW MAHONING AROUND 610 PM EDT...
  NEW TRIPOLI AND NEW MAHONING AROUND 615 PM EDT...
  JORDAN VALLEY AND LEHIGHTON AROUND 620 PM EDT...
  EMERALD AND NEFFS AROUND 625 PM EDT...
  PALMERTON AND SLATINGTON AROUND 630 PM EDT...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

THIS IS A DANGEROUS STORM. IF YOU ARE IN ITS PATH...PREPARE
IMMEDIATELY FOR DAMAGING WINDS...DESTRUCTIVE HAIL...AND DEADLY CLOUD
TO GROUND LIGHTNING. PEOPLE OUTSIDE SHOULD MOVE TO A SHELTER...
PREFERABLY INSIDE A STRONG BUILDING BUT AWAY FROM WINDOWS.

STORMS TODAY HAVE HAD A HISTORY OF PRODUCING WIND DAMAGE IN 
CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA. SEEK SHELTER NOW INSIDE A STURDY STRUCTURE AND 
STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS!

PLEASE REPORT HAIL OR STRONG WINDS TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BY
CALLING TOLL FREE...1-877-633-6772...WHEN YOU CAN DO SO SAFELY.

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 900 PM EDT
TUESDAY EVENING FOR NORTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA.

&&

LAT...LON 4058 7602 4065 7599 4073 7578 4091 7600
      4101 7575 4108 7578 4114 7567 4111 7562
      4099 7550 4094 7557 4082 7547 4080 7559
      4075 7560 4072 7557 4073 7553 4066 7548
      4067 7544 4066 7542 4033 7618 4049 7643
TIME...MOT...LOC 2123Z 251DEG 28KT 4061 7625

$$

TFG
2 follow-up statements
532 
WWUS51 KPHI 292155
SVSPHI

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOUNT HOLLY NJ
555 PM EDT TUE MAY 29 2012

PAC011-025-077-292300-
/O.CON.KPHI.SV.W.0016.000000T0000Z-120529T2300Z/
BERKS PA-LEHIGH PA-CARBON PA-
555 PM EDT TUE MAY 29 2012

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 700 PM EDT
FOR CARBON...NORTHERN LEHIGH AND NORTHERN BERKS COUNTIES...

AT 550 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO
INDICATE A LINE OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING QUARTER
SIZE HAIL...AND DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS OF 60 MPH.  THESE STORMS
WERE LOCATED ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM NEW MAHONING TO BOWMANSTOWN
TO BELTZVILLE STATE PARK...OR ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 6 MILES
SOUTHWEST OF LEHIGHTON TO LEHIGHTON TO 8 MILES EAST OF LEHIGHTON...
MOVING EAST AT 35 MPH.

OTHER POTENTIALLY SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WERE OVER NORTHERN BERKS 
COUNTY.

THE LINE OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE NEAR...
  LEHIGHTON...JIM THORPE...PARRYVILLE AND WEISSPORT BY 600 PM EDT...
  WEISSPORT EAST BY 605 PM EDT...
  BELTZVILLE STATE PARK...WANAMAKERS AND STRAUSSTOWN BY 610 PM EDT...
  JORDAN VALLEY BY 615 PM EDT...
  NEW TRIPOLI BY 620 PM EDT...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

THIS STORM HAS A HISTORY OF PRODUCING DESTRUCTIVE WINDS AND LARGE
DAMAGING HAIL. SEEK SHELTER NOW INSIDE A STURDY STRUCTURE AND STAY
AWAY FROM WINDOWS!

PLEASE REPORT HAIL OR STRONG WINDS TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BY
CALLING TOLL FREE...1-877-633-6772...WHEN YOU CAN DO SO SAFELY.

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 900 PM EDT 
TUESDAY EVENING FOR NORTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA.  

&&

LAT...LON 4058 7602 4065 7599 4073 7578 4091 7600
      4101 7575 4108 7578 4114 7567 4111 7562
      4099 7550 4094 7557 4082 7547 4080 7559
      4075 7560 4072 7557 4073 7553 4066 7548
      4067 7544 4066 7542 4033 7618 4049 7643
TIME...MOT...LOC 2154Z 249DEG 31KT 4081 7578 4080 7563
          4086 7552

$$
 
TFG
217 
WWUS51 KPHI 292225
SVSPHI

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOUNT HOLLY NJ
625 PM EDT TUE MAY 29 2012

PAC011-025-077-292300-
/O.CON.KPHI.SV.W.0016.000000T0000Z-120529T2300Z/
BERKS PA-LEHIGH PA-CARBON PA-
625 PM EDT TUE MAY 29 2012

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 700 PM EDT
FOR SOUTHERN CARBON...NORTHERN LEHIGH AND NORTHERN BERKS COUNTIES...

AT 620 PM EDT...A LINE OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WAS REPORTED CAPABLE
OF PRODUCING QUARTER SIZE HAIL...AND DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS OF 60
MPH.  THESE STORMS WERE LOCATED ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM BERNVILLE
TO CENTERPORT TO LENHARTSVILLE...OR ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 16
MILES NORTHWEST OF READING TO 11 MILES NORTH OF READING TO 15 MILES
NORTH OF READING...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 25 MPH.

SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE NEAR...
  LENHARTSVILLE BY 630 PM EDT...
  HAMBURG BY 635 PM EDT...
  CLAUSSVILLE AND NEW TRIPOLI BY 650 PM EDT...
  EMERALD...WANAMAKERS...JORDAN VALLEY AND 6 MILES WEST OF SLATINGTON
  BY 700 PM EDT...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

PLEASE REPORT HAIL OR STRONG WINDS TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BY
CALLING TOLL FREE...1-877-633-6772...WHEN YOU CAN DO SO SAFELY.

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 900 PM EDT
TUESDAY EVENING FOR NORTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA.

&&

LAT...LON 4056 7614 4057 7604 4065 7599 4074 7577
      4083 7590 4099 7552 4094 7557 4082 7548
      4080 7559 4075 7560 4072 7557 4073 7553
      4066 7548 4066 7542 4034 7615 4033 7619
      4036 7623 4037 7625
TIME...MOT...LOC 2225Z 213DEG 20KT 4051 7612 4051 7598
          4056 7586

$$
 
TFG

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 29, 12:29 PM EDTFlash Flood WatchPHIBerks, Carbon, Delaware, Lehigh, Monroe, Northampton and 1 more8 hr
May 29, 1:36 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementPHIMonroe54 min
May 29, 1:50 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryPHICarbon, Monroe115 min
May 29, 5:06 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementPHIBerks, Carbon, Lehigh, Monroe, Northampton114 min
May 29, 5:45 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPHIMonroe, Northampton75 min
May 29, 6:14 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPHIBerks, Lehigh, Northampton91 min
May 29, 6:23 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningPHICarbon, Monroe112 min
May 29, 6:44 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryPHIBerks, Bucks, Lehigh, Montgomery3 hr
May 29, 6:46 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementPHIBucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, Philadelphia89 min
May 29, 6:52 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPHIBucks, Chester, Montgomery53 min
May 29, 7:34 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementPHIDelaware, Philadelphia56 min
May 29, 7:35 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryPHIBucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, Philadelphia115 min
May 29, 7:44 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementPHIBucks61 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Pennsylvania, 2012Every severe thunderstorm 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.