Alert archive / Pennsylvania / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2012

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 219, NWS Philadelphia/Mount Holly

September 18, 2012Chester County, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania

NWS Philadelphia/Mount Holly issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Sep 18, 2012, 2:23 PM EDT for Chester County, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. It was in force for 30 min. 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, 2:23 PM EDT (18:23 UTC)
Expired
Sep 18, 2012, 2:53 PM EDT
In force
30 min
Issued by
NWS Philadelphia/Mount Holly
Area
Storm-based polygon

Counties Chester County, PA, Montgomery County, PA

The radar

The Philadelphia radar (KDIX), 103 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 18:24 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 watch it was issued in

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

IssuedProductOfficeLasted
Sep 18, 12:10 PM EDTTornado WatchSPC9 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Phillips Aaf/Abe, MD (KAPG), launched 12:00Z, 6.4 hours before the alert went out and 95 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 2012-09-18Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 330 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 2012-09-18The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 265 square meters per square second.19395878Sfc1 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
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.

672 
WUUS51 KPHI 181823
SVRPHI
PAC029-091-181915-
/O.NEW.KPHI.SV.W.0219.120918T1823Z-120918T1915Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOUNT HOLLY NJ
223 PM EDT TUE SEP 18 2012

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MOUNT HOLLY NJ HAS ISSUED A

* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR...
  NORTHEASTERN CHESTER COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST PENNSYLVANIA...
  WESTERN MONTGOMERY COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST PENNSYLVANIA...

* UNTIL 315 PM EDT

* AT 220 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 NEAR CHESTER SPRINGS...OR 8
  MILES NORTH OF WEST CHESTER...AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 50 MPH.

* OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO
  PUGHTOWN...PHOENIXVILLE...CEDARVILLE...ROYERSFORD...POTTSTOWN...
  COLLEGEVILLE...TRAPPE...GILBERTSVILLE...SCHWENKSVILLE...SPRING
  MOUNT...LANSDALE...GREEN LANE...HATFIELD...SOUDERTON AND EAST
  GREENVILLE

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

DOPPLER RADAR HAS INDICATED SOME ROTATION WITHIN THIS STORM. WHILE
NOT IMMEDIATELY LIKELY...A TORNADO MAY STILL DEVELOP. IF A TORNADO IS
SPOTTED...ACT QUICKLY AND MOVE TO A PLACE OF SAFETY IN A STURDY
STRUCTURE...SUCH AS A BASEMENT OR SMALL INTERIOR ROOM.

THIS STORM MAY CONTAIN LITTLE OR NO LIGHTNING. DO NOT WAIT TO 
HEAR THUNDER BEFORE TAKING COVER. SEEK SHELTER IMMEDIATELY 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 TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 700 PM EDT TUESDAY EVENING
FOR DELAWARE AND NORTHEASTERN MARYLAND AND NEW JERSEY AND EASTERN
PENNSYLVANIA.

&&

LAT...LON 4023 7569 4044 7553 4027 7523 4005 7560
      4010 7570
TIME...MOT...LOC 1823Z 212DEG 45KT 4011 7560

$$

GORSE
2 follow-up statements
606 
WWUS51 KPHI 181836
SVSPHI

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOUNT HOLLY NJ
236 PM EDT TUE SEP 18 2012

PAC029-181845-
/O.CAN.KPHI.SV.W.0219.000000T0000Z-120918T1915Z/
CHESTER PA-
236 PM EDT TUE SEP 18 2012

...THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR NORTHEASTERN CHESTER COUNTY IS
CANCELLED...

THE STORM HAS EXITED THE AREA, THEREFORE THE WARNING HAS BEEN 
CANCELLED.

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 TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 700 PM EDT TUESDAY EVENING
FOR DELAWARE AND NORTHEASTERN MARYLAND AND NEW JERSEY AND EASTERN
PENNSYLVANIA.

LAT...LON 4044 7553 4027 7524 4016 7548 4020 7556
      4021 7556 4020 7557 4021 7559
TIME...MOT...LOC 1835Z 212DEG 45KT 4023 7550

$$

PAC091-181915-
/O.CON.KPHI.SV.W.0219.000000T0000Z-120918T1915Z/
MONTGOMERY PA-
236 PM EDT TUE SEP 18 2012

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 315 PM EDT
FOR CENTRAL MONTGOMERY COUNTY...

AT 233 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO
INDICATE A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING DAMAGING WINDS IN
EXCESS OF 60 MPH.  THIS STORM WAS LOCATED NEAR TRAPPE...OR 18 MILES
NORTH OF WEST CHESTER...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 50 MPH.

OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO
SKIPPACK...SCHWENKSVILLE...SPRING MOUNT...KULPSVILLE...
HARLEYSVILLE...GREEN LANE...HATFIELD...RED HILL...SOUDERTON...
PENNSBURG AND EAST GREENVILLE

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

DOPPLER RADAR HAS INDICATED SOME WEAK ROTATION WITHIN THIS STORM.
WHILE NOT IMMEDIATELY LIKELY...A TORNADO MAY STILL DEVELOP. IF A
TORNADO IS SPOTTED...ACT QUICKLY AND MOVE TO A PLACE OF SAFETY IN A
STURDY STRUCTURE...SUCH AS A BASEMENT OR SMALL INTERIOR ROOM.

THIS STORM MAY CONTAIN LITTLE OR NO LIGHTNING. DO NOT WAIT 
FOR THUNDER BEFORE TAKING COVER. SEEK SHELTER IMMEDIATELY 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 TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 700 PM EDT TUESDAY EVENING
FOR DELAWARE AND NORTHEASTERN MARYLAND AND NEW JERSEY AND EASTERN
PENNSYLVANIA.

&&

LAT...LON 4044 7553 4027 7524 4016 7548 4020 7556
      4021 7556 4020 7557 4021 7559
TIME...MOT...LOC 1835Z 212DEG 45KT 4023 7550

$$

GORSE
259 
WWUS51 KPHI 181853
SVSPHI

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOUNT HOLLY NJ
253 PM EDT TUE SEP 18 2012

PAC091-181903-
/O.CAN.KPHI.SV.W.0219.000000T0000Z-120918T1915Z/
MONTGOMERY PA-
253 PM EDT TUE SEP 18 2012

...THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR CENTRAL MONTGOMERY COUNTY IS
CANCELLED...

THE CELL THAT PROMPTED THE WARNING HAS MOVED OUT OF THE AREA, 
THEREFORE THE WARNING HAS BEEN CANCELLED.

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 TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 700 PM EDT TUESDAY EVENING
FOR DELAWARE AND NORTHEASTERN MARYLAND AND NEW JERSEY AND EASTERN
PENNSYLVANIA.

LAT...LON 4044 7553 4027 7524 4016 7548 4020 7556
      4021 7556 4020 7557 4021 7559
TIME...MOT...LOC 1853Z 212DEG 45KT 4042 7534

$$

GORSE

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Sep 18, 4:13 AM EDTCoastal Flood AdvisoryPHIDelaware, Philadelphia21 hr
Sep 18, 12:58 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryPHICarbon, Monroe93 min
Sep 18, 12:59 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementPHIBerks, Lehigh46 min
Sep 18, 1:05 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryPHIBerks, Lehigh115 min
Sep 18, 1:32 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPHIBerks, Lehigh43 min
Sep 18, 2:00 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementPHIChester, Montgomery60 min
Sep 18, 2:18 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementPHICarbon, Monroe57 min
Sep 18, 2:25 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningPHICarbon, Lehigh, Monroe, Northampton4 hr
Sep 18, 2:52 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPHIBucks, Lehigh, Northampton17 min
Sep 18, 3:07 PM EDTAreal Flood WarningPHIBerks, Lehigh8 hr
Sep 18, 3:16 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementPHIMonroe59 min
Sep 18, 3:24 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementPHIBerks, Carbon51 min
Sep 18, 3:52 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementPHIChester53 min
Sep 18, 4:05 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryPHIBerks, Lehigh55 min
Sep 18, 4:19 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPHIBerks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery56 min
Sep 18, 4:23 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPHIBerks, Lehigh, Monroe, Northampton52 min
Sep 18, 4:26 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryPHIBucks, Lehigh, Northampton3 hr
Sep 18, 4:35 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryPHIBucks, Chester, Lehigh, Montgomery55 min
Sep 18, 5:01 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPHIBucks, Chester, Delaware, Lehigh, Montgomery, Northampton and 1 more59 min
Sep 18, 5:12 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryPHIBucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery63 min
Sep 18, 5:12 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPHIDelaware, Philadelphia78 min
Sep 18, 5:13 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPHIMonroe, Northampton62 min
Sep 18, 6:00 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPHIBucks, Montgomery, Philadelphia60 min
Sep 18, 6:06 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryPHIBucks, Montgomery, Philadelphia54 min
Sep 18, 6:19 PM EDTAreal Flood WarningPHICarbon, Lehigh, Monroe, Northampton16 hr
Sep 18, 6:54 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryPHIBucks111 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; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.