Alert archive / Pennsylvania / Tornado Warnings in 2016
Tornado Warning 9, NWS Pittsburgh, PA
NWS Pittsburgh, PA issued this tornado warning at Sep 17, 2016, 7:38 PM EDT for 4 counties in Pennsylvania. It was in force for 37 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
- Sep 17, 2016, 7:38 PM EDT (23:38 UTC)
- Expired
- Sep 17, 2016, 8:15 PM EDT
- In force
- 37 min
- Issued by
- NWS Pittsburgh, PA
- Area
- Storm-based polygon
- Tornado
- Observed
- Hail
- 0.75 in
Counties Armstrong County, PA, Butler County, PA, Clarion County, PA, Venango County, PA
The radar
The Pittsburgh radar (KPBZ), 70 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 23:38 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 17, 7:40 PM EDT | TSTM WND DMG | 5 Nnw West Sunbury, PA | SEVERAL TREES DOWN. |
| Sep 17, 7:40 PM EDT | TORNADO | 2 Sw Atwells Crossing, PA | TORNADO REPORTED ON THE GROUND |
| Sep 17, 7:44 PM EDT | TSTM WND DMG | 5 Se Harrisville, PA | SEVERAL TREES AND LARGE BRANCHES SNAPPED AND DOWN. |
Local storm reports filed while the alert was in force, from inside its polygon or its counties.
The nearest sounding before it
Pittsburgh, PA (KAGC), launched 12:00Z, 11.6 hours before the alert went out and 79 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.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 76 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -151 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 974 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 27 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 61 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 77 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 0.0
The text
As transmitted.
804
WFUS51 KPBZ 172338
TORPBZ
PAC005-019-031-121-180015-
/O.NEW.KPBZ.TO.W.0009.160917T2338Z-160918T0015Z/
BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA
738 PM EDT SAT SEP 17 2016
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN PITTSBURGH HAS ISSUED A
* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
NORTHWESTERN ARMSTRONG COUNTY IN WEST CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA...
SOUTH CENTRAL VENANGO COUNTY IN NORTHWESTERN PENNSYLVANIA...
NORTHEASTERN BUTLER COUNTY IN WEST CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA...
WEST CENTRAL CLARION COUNTY IN WEST CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA...
* UNTIL 815 PM EDT..
* AT 738 PM EDT...A POSSIBLE TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR SLIPPERY
ROCK...OR 8 MILES SOUTHEAST OF GROVE CITY...MOVING EAST AT 30 MPH.
HAZARD...DAMAGING TORNADO.
SOURCE...LAW ENFORCEMENT CONFIRMED TORNADO.
IMPACT...FLYING DEBRIS WILL BE DANGEROUS TO THOSE CAUGHT WITHOUT
SHELTER. MOBILE HOMES WILL BE DAMAGED OR DESTROYED.
DAMAGE TO ROOFS...WINDOWS...AND VEHICLES WILL OCCUR. TREE
DAMAGE IS LIKELY.
* THIS TORNADIC THUNDERSTORM WILL REMAIN OVER MAINLY RURAL AREAS OF
NORTHWESTERN ARMSTRONG...SOUTH CENTRAL VENANGO...NORTHEASTERN
BUTLER AND WEST CENTRAL CLARION COUNTIES...INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING
LOCATIONS: EMLENTON...ST. PETERSBURG...CHERRY VALLEY...PARKER...EAU
CLAIRE...FOXBURG AND HARRISVILLE.
THIS INCLUDES INTERSTATE 80 IN PENNSYLVANIA BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 36
AND 47.
PLEASE REPORT SEVERE WEATHER BY CALLING 4 1 2...2 6 2...1 9 8 8...
POSTING TO THE NWS PITTSBURGH FACEBOOK PAGE...OR USING TWITTER
@NWSPITTSBURGH.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
TO REPEAT...A TORNADO MAY BE ON THE GROUND. TAKE COVER NOW! MOVE TO A
BASEMENT OR AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF A STURDY
BUILDING. AVOID WINDOWS. IF YOU ARE OUTDOORS...IN A MOBILE HOME...OR
IN
A VEHICLE...MOVE TO THE CLOSEST SUBSTANTIAL SHELTER AND PROTECT
YOURSELF FROM FLYING DEBRIS.
&&
LAT...LON 4101 8003 4114 8003 4124 7969 4110 7959
TIME...MOT...LOC 2338Z 253DEG 24KT 4108 7997
TORNADO...OBSERVED
HAIL...<.75IN
$$
243 follow-up statements
425
WWUS51 KPBZ 172342
SVSPBZ
SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA
742 PM EDT SAT SEP 17 2016
PAC005-019-031-121-180015-
/O.CON.KPBZ.TO.W.0009.000000T0000Z-160918T0015Z/
ARMSTRONG PA-VENANGO PA-BUTLER PA-CLARION PA-
742 PM EDT SAT SEP 17 2016
...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 815 PM EDT FOR
NORTHWESTERN ARMSTRONG...SOUTH CENTRAL VENANGO...NORTHEASTERN BUTLER
AND WEST CENTRAL CLARION COUNTIES...
AT 742 PM EDT...A CONFIRMED TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR SLIPPERY ROCK...
OR 9 MILES SOUTHEAST OF GROVE CITY...MOVING EAST AT 30 MPH.
HAZARD...DAMAGING TORNADO.
SOURCE...RADAR CONFIRMED TORNADO.
IMPACT...FLYING DEBRIS WILL BE DANGEROUS TO THOSE CAUGHT WITHOUT
SHELTER. MOBILE HOMES WILL BE DAMAGED OR DESTROYED. DAMAGE
TO ROOFS...WINDOWS...AND VEHICLES WILL OCCUR. TREE DAMAGE
IS LIKELY.
LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
HARRISVILLE...PARKER...EMLENTON...ST. PETERSBURG...EAU CLAIRE...
FOXBURG AND CHERRY VALLEY.
THIS INCLUDES INTERSTATE 80 IN PENNSYLVANIA BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 36
AND 47.
PLEASE REPORT SEVERE WEATHER BY CALLING 4 1 2...2 6 2...1 9 8 8...
POSTING TO THE NWS PITTSBURGH FACEBOOK PAGE...OR USING TWITTER
@NWSPITTSBURGH.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
TO REPEAT...A TORNADO IS ON THE GROUND. TAKE COVER NOW! MOVE TO A
BASEMENT OR AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF A STURDY
BUILDING. AVOID WINDOWS. IF YOU ARE OUTDOORS...IN A MOBILE HOME...OR
IN
A VEHICLE...MOVE TO THE CLOSEST SUBSTANTIAL SHELTER AND PROTECT
YOURSELF FROM FLYING DEBRIS.
&&
LAT...LON 4103 7995 4114 8002 4124 7969 4110 7959
TIME...MOT...LOC 2342Z 253DEG 24KT 4109 7994
TORNADO...OBSERVED
HAIL...<.75IN
$$
24279
WWUS51 KPBZ 172352
SVSPBZ
SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA
752 PM EDT SAT SEP 17 2016
PAC005-019-031-121-180015-
/O.CON.KPBZ.TO.W.0009.000000T0000Z-160918T0015Z/
ARMSTRONG PA-VENANGO PA-BUTLER PA-CLARION PA-
752 PM EDT SAT SEP 17 2016
...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 815 PM EDT FOR
NORTHWESTERN ARMSTRONG...SOUTH CENTRAL VENANGO...NORTHEASTERN BUTLER
AND WEST CENTRAL CLARION COUNTIES...
AT 751 PM EDT...A TORNADO WAS REPORTD ON THE GROUND BY LAW
ENFORCEMENT AND A TRAINED SPOTTER LOCATED 11 MILES EAST OF
SLIPPERY ROCK...OR 12 MILES EAST OF GROVE CITY...MOVING EAST AT 30
MPH.
HAZARD...DAMAGING TORNADO.
SOURCE...WEATHER SPOTTERS CONFIRMED TORNADO.
IMPACT...FLYING DEBRIS WILL BE DANGEROUS TO THOSE CAUGHT WITHOUT
SHELTER. MOBILE HOMES WILL BE DAMAGED OR DESTROYED. DAMAGE
TO ROOFS...WINDOWS...AND VEHICLES WILL OCCUR. TREE DAMAGE
IS LIKELY.
LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
PARKER...EMLENTON...ST. PETERSBURG...EAU CLAIRE...FOXBURG AND CHERRY
VALLEY.
THIS INCLUDES INTERSTATE 80 IN PENNSYLVANIA BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 35
AND 47.
PLEASE REPORT SEVERE WEATHER BY CALLING 4 1 2...2 6 2...1 9 8 8...
POSTING TO THE NWS PITTSBURGH FACEBOOK PAGE...OR USING TWITTER
@NWSPITTSBURGH.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
TO REPEAT...A TORNADO WAS REPORTD ON THE GROUND BY LAW ENFORCEMENT
AND A TRAINED SPOTTER. TAKE COVER NOW! MOVE TO A
BASEMENT OR AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF A STURDY
BUILDING. AVOID WINDOWS. IF YOU ARE OUTDOORS...IN A MOBILE HOME...OR
IN A VEHICLE...MOVE TO THE CLOSEST SUBSTANTIAL SHELTER AND PROTECT
YOURSELF FROM FLYING DEBRIS.
&&
LAT...LON 4105 7984 4110 7990 4118 7991 4124 7969
4110 7959
TIME...MOT...LOC 2351Z 250DEG 25KT 4112 7985
TORNADO...OBSERVED
HAIL...<.75IN
$$
24439
WWUS51 KPBZ 180006
SVSPBZ
SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA
806 PM EDT SAT SEP 17 2016
PAC005-019-031-121-180016-
/O.EXP.KPBZ.TO.W.0009.000000T0000Z-160918T0015Z/
ARMSTRONG PA-VENANGO PA-BUTLER PA-CLARION PA-
806 PM EDT SAT SEP 17 2016
...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR NORTHWESTERN ARMSTRONG...SOUTH CENTRAL
VENANGO...NORTHEASTERN BUTLER AND WEST CENTRAL CLARION COUNTIES WILL
EXPIRE AT 815 PM EDT...
THE STORM WHICH PROMPTED THE WARNING HAS WEAKENED BELOW SEVERE
LIMITS...AND HAS EXITED THE WARNED AREA. THEREFORE...THE WARNING WILL
BE ALLOWED TO EXPIRE.
TO REPORT SEVERE WEATHER...CONTACT YOUR NEAREST LAW ENFORCEMENT
AGENCY. THEY WILL RELAY YOUR REPORT TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
PITTSBURGH.
LAT...LON 4105 7984 4110 7990 4118 7991 4124 7969
4110 7959
TIME...MOT...LOC 0006Z 253DEG 24KT 4115 7973
$$
24The office that day
Everything else NWS Pittsburgh, PA issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 17, 4:08 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | PBZ | Mercer | 37 min |
| Sep 17, 5:46 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | PBZ | Mercer | 29 min |
| Sep 17, 5:49 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | PBZ | Butler, Lawrence, Mercer, Venango | 26 min |
| Sep 17, 6:01 PM EDT | Tornado Warning | PBZ | Butler, Lawrence, Mercer, Venango | 29 min |
| Sep 17, 6:25 PM EDT | Tornado Warning | PBZ | Armstrong, Butler, Clarion, Venango | 35 min |
| Sep 17, 7:17 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | PBZ | Butler, Lawrence, Mercer, Venango | 28 min |
| Sep 17, 7:33 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | PBZ | Venango | 27 min |
| Sep 17, 7:40 PM EDT | Tornado Warning | PBZ | Forest, Venango | 35 min |
Nearby
Tornado Warnings in Pennsylvania, 2016Every tornado warning in 2016Tornadoes in 2016
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.