Alert archive / Pennsylvania / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2013

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 261, NWS Pittsburgh, PA

December 22, 20134 counties in Pennsylvania; 4 counties in West Virginia

NWS Pittsburgh, PA issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Dec 22, 2013, 3:26 AM EST for 4 counties in Pennsylvania; 4 counties in West Virginia. It was in force for 49 min. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Dec 22, 2013, 3:26 AM EST (08:26 UTC)
Expired
Dec 22, 2013, 4:15 AM EST
In force
49 min
Issued by
NWS Pittsburgh, PA
Area
Storm-based polygon

Counties Armstrong County, PA, Fayette County, PA, Indiana County, PA, Westmoreland County, PA, Marion County, WV, Monongalia County, WV, Preston County, WV, Tucker County, WV

The radar

The Pittsburgh radar (KPBZ), 83 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 08:29 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
Dec 22, 1:36 AM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WatchSPC3 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Pittsburgh, PA (KAGC), launched 00:00Z, 8.4 hours before the alert went out and 66 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, Pittsburgh, PA at 00:00Z on 2013-12-22Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 0 joules per kilogram.LCL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°0°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Pittsburgh, PA at 00:00Z on 2013-12-22The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 498 square meters per square second.1939587897117Sfc1 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
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
No buoyant parcel
Mixed-layer LCL
714 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
81 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
498 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
527 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this severe thunderstorm warning went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Pittsburgh, PA wrote its last area forecast discussion before this severe thunderstorm warning went out at Dec 22, 1:40 AM EST, 1 hour 46 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Dec 22, 1:40 AM EST, 1 hour 46 minutes before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA
140 AM EST SUN DEC 22 2013

.SYNOPSIS...
PASSAGE OF A COLD FRONT WILL SPREAD MORE RAIN OVER THE REGION THIS
MORNING AND BRING A RETURN OF MORE SEASONABLE WEATHER.

&&

.NEAR TERM /THROUGH TODAY/...
UPDATE ISSUED FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH WHICH WILL CONSIST OF
SHALLOW CONVECTION WITH DAMAGING WIND GUSTS.

RAPIDLY PROGRESSING LOW PRES WL MOVE OVR THE GREAT LAKES THIS MRNG
AND DRAG THE RAIN FOCUSING FRONT ACRS THE UPR OHIO REGION. ONLY
CHANGES NEEDED TO THE FORECAST WERE TWEAKS TO TIMING AND WINDS.

THE FLOOD WATCH CONTS...AND SHALLOW CONVECTION WL CONT TO BE
MONITORED FOR GUSTS.

&&

.SHORT TERM /TONIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY NIGHT/...
COLD FRONT WILL BE EAST OF OUR AREA BY TNGT AND PCPN CHCS WL
RAPIDLY DIMINISH. THE NXT CONCERN WL BE DEEP MID TROF AND
ASSOCIATED COLD POOL PROGGED FOR A MONDAY NGT ENCROACHMENT...AND
TUES PASSAGE OVR THE REGION.

SNOW SHWR CHCS WL THUS BE ON THE INCRS...WITH BTR CHC ON TUE WITH
PASSAGE OF THE TROF AXIS...AND IN THE COLD FLOW IN ITS WAKE.
PROGRESSION OF THE SHRTWV AND RAPID SBSDNC ONSET SHOULD DROP
INVERSION AND LIMIT ACCUMULATION POTENTIAL...BUT ANY SNOW THAT
DOES ACCUMULATE...ESPECIALLY FM PIT N AND EWD...WL STAY FOR
CHRISTMAS GIVEN THE COLD TEMPS.

&&

.LONG TERM /WEDNESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/...
BLDG HIGH PRES SHOULD END ANY SNOW SHWRS TUE EVE...WITH DRY
WEATHER CONTG WED. A WK CLIPPER IS PROGGED FOR THU...THOUGH TIMING
AND STRENGTH DIFFERENCES IN THE MDLS PRECLUDE MORE THAN A SLGT CHC
MENTION FOR SNOW SHWRS ATTM. BLDG HIGH PRES IS EXPD AGAIN BY THE
END OF THE WK. OVERALL...TEMPS SHOULD AVG BLO SEASONAL LVLS THRU
THE PD.

&&

.AVIATION /07Z SUNDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/...
CONDS WL DETERIORATE TO MVFR AND OCNL IFR AS GUSTY SHWRS
ASSOCIATED WITH A CDFNT MOVE ACRS THE RGN. A LLVL JET WL MAINTAIN
THE LLVL WND SHEAR THREAT INTO SUN MRNG AS WELL. AFT FROPA EXP
MVFR CIGS TO LINGER INTO SUN BEFORE SOME IMPROVEMENT TO LOW END
VFR. GUSTY SW WNDS WL DVLP AFT FROPA BEFORE DCRG TWD EVE.

.OUTLOOK.../MONDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/...
OCNL RSTRNS ARE PSBL THRU TUEN ESP N OF PIT AS AN UPR LVL TROF
MOVES ACRS THE GT LKS.

&&

.PBZ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
MD...NONE.
OH...FLOOD WATCH THROUGH THIS AFTERNOON FOR OHZ039>041-048-057.
PA...FLOOD WATCH THROUGH THIS AFTERNOON FOR PAZ007>009-013.
WV...NONE.

&&
Hazardous weather outlook, Dec 22, 1:40 AM EST, 1 hour 46 minutes before
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA
140 AM EST SUN DEC 22 2013

OHZ039>041-048-057-PAZ007>009-013-230645-
TUSCARAWAS-CARROLL-COLUMBIANA-COSHOCTON-MUSKINGUM-MERCER-VENANGO-
FOREST-LAWRENCE-
140 AM EST SUN DEC 22 2013

...FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT THROUGH THIS AFTERNOON...
...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 589 IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 AM EST THIS
MORNING...

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR EAST CENTRAL OHIO...NORTHWEST
PENNSYLVANIA AND WEST CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA.

.DAY ONE...TONIGHT.

PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE
INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS.

   FLOOD WATCH.
   SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY.

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER
CONDITIONS ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES.

MDZ001-OHZ049-050-058-059-068-069-PAZ014>016-020>023-029-031-073>076-
WVZ001>004-012-021>023-041-230645-
GARRETT-HARRISON-JEFFERSON OH-GUERNSEY-BELMONT-NOBLE-MONROE-BUTLER-
CLARION-JEFFERSON PA-BEAVER-ALLEGHENY-ARMSTRONG-INDIANA-WASHINGTON-
GREENE-WESTMORELAND-WESTMORELAND RIDGES-FAYETTE-FAYETTE RIDGES-
HANCOCK-BROOKE-OHIO-MARSHALL-WETZEL-MARION-MONONGALIA-PRESTON-TUCKER-
140 AM EST SUN DEC 22 2013

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 589 IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 AM EST THIS
MORNING...

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR WESTERN MARYLAND...EAST
CENTRAL OHIO...SOUTHWEST PENNSYLVANIA...WEST CENTRAL
PENNSYLVANIA...NORTHERN WEST VIRGINIA AND NORTHERN PANHANDLE OF
WEST VIRGINIA.

.DAY ONE...TONIGHT.

PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE
INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS.

   SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY.

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER
CONDITIONS ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES.

In the hours before

Local storm report, Dec 22, 2:42 AM EST, 44 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA
242 AM EST SUN DEC 22 2013

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0242 AM     TSTM WND DMG     WHEELING                40.08N  80.70W
12/22/2013                   OHIO               WV   FIRE DEPT/RESCUE

            SCATTERED TREES DOWN

&&

EVENT NUMBER PBZ1303641

15
Local storm report, Dec 22, 2:55 AM EST, 31 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA
255 AM EST SUN DEC 22 2013

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0240 AM     TSTM WND DMG     FRANKLIN                41.39N  79.84W
12/22/2013                   VENANGO            PA   911 CALL CENTER

            A COUPLE OF TREES DOWN

&&

EVENT NUMBER PBZ1303642

07
Local storm report, Dec 22, 2:59 AM EST, 27 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA
259 AM EST SUN DEC 22 2013

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0259 AM     TSTM WND DMG     WASHINGTON              40.17N  80.25W
12/22/2013                   WASHINGTON         PA   EMERGENCY MNGR

            TREES DOWN ACROSS COUNTY

&&

EVENT NUMBER PBZ1303643

15
Local storm report, Dec 22, 3:17 AM EST, 9 minutes before
<!doctype html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
  <meta charset="utf-8">
  <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1">
  <title>Service Notice</title>
  <link rel="stylesheet" href="index.css">
</head>
<body>
  <main class="wrap">
    <section class="card" role="status" aria-live="polite">
      <div class="status" id="status">Temporary Notice</div>
      <h1 id="headline">This service is currently unavailable.</h1>
      <p id="message1">
        The site you requested is temporarily down for maintenance or an unexpected outage.
      </p>
      <p id="message2">
        Please try again in a few minutes.
      </p>
      <p class="small" id="detail">
        If you are an administrator, restore upstream service and remove the redirect/fallback rule when normal operations resume.
      </p>
    </section>
  </main>
  <script src="index.js"></script>
</body>
</html>
Local storm report, Dec 22, 3:19 AM EST, 7 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA
319 AM EST SUN DEC 22 2013

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0318 AM     TSTM WND DMG     PITTSBURGH              40.44N  79.98W
12/22/2013                   ALLEGHENY          PA   EMERGENCY MNGR

            TREES AND WIRES DOWN...CENTERED AROUND THE SOUTH HILLS

&&

EVENT NUMBER PBZ1303645

15
Local storm report, Dec 22, 3:24 AM EST, 2 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA
324 AM EST SUN DEC 22 2013

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0310 AM     TSTM WND DMG     BUTLER                  40.86N  79.90W
12/22/2013                   BUTLER             PA   911 CALL CENTER

            A FEW TREES DOWN THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY

&&

EVENT NUMBER PBZ1303646

07

The office that day

Everything else NWS Pittsburgh, PA issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Dec 21, 9:47 PM ESTSpecial Weather StatementPBZLawrence58 min
Dec 22, 1:58 AM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPBZButler, Lawrence, Mercer, Venango62 min
Dec 22, 2:11 AM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPBZBeaver, Butler, Lawrence, Washington64 min
Dec 22, 2:37 AM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPBZAllegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Fayette, Greene and 3 more53 min
Dec 22, 2:53 AM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPBZArmstrong, Beaver, Butler, Clarion, Forest, Indiana and 3 more37 min
Dec 22, 3:28 AM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPBZArmstrong, Clarion, Forest, Indiana, Jefferson47 min
Dec 21, 10:36 PM ESTAreal Flood WarningPBZTuscarawas3 days
Dec 22, 1:05 AM ESTSpecial Weather StatementPBZCarroll, Coshocton, Guernsey, Harrison, Muskingum, Noble and 1 more55 min
Dec 22, 1:16 AM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPBZCarroll, Columbiana, Coshocton, Harrison, Tuscarawas59 min
Dec 22, 1:18 AM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPBZBelmont, Coshocton, Guernsey, Harrison, Monroe, Muskingum and 2 more27 min
Dec 22, 1:44 AM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPBZBelmont, Guernsey, Harrison, Jefferson, Monroe, Noble and 1 more61 min
Dec 22, 2:16 AM ESTAreal Flood WarningPBZTuscarawas8 hr
Dec 22, 5:34 AM ESTAreal Flood AdvisoryPBZCoshocton6 hr

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Pennsylvania, 2013Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in West Virginia, 2013Every severe thunderstorm warning in 2013

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.