Alert archive / Pennsylvania / Flash Flood Warnings in 2017

Flash Flood Warning 7, NWS Philadelphia/Mount Holly

July 1, 2017Berks County, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania

NWS Philadelphia/Mount Holly issued this flash flood warning at Jul 1, 2017, 4:20 PM EDT for Berks County, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania. It was in force for 4 hr. 6 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
Jul 1, 2017, 4:20 PM EDT (20:20 UTC)
Expired
Jul 1, 2017, 8:15 PM EDT
In force
4 hr
Issued by
NWS Philadelphia/Mount Holly
Area
Storm-based polygon
Flood severity
None

Counties Berks County, PA, Lehigh County, PA

The radar

The Philadelphia radar (KDIX), 124 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 20:24 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.

What was reported inside it

TimeReportWhereRemark
Jul 1, 4:46 PM EDTFLASH FLOODCrackersport, PAHIGH WATER RESCUE IN HOTEL PARKING LOT ON BULLDOG DRIVE IN SOUTH WHITEHALL TOWNSHIP
Jul 1, 5:04 PM EDTFLASH FLOODEmmaus Junction, PAHIGH WATER RESCUE NEAR INTERSECTION OF LEHIGH ST AND 33RD ST
Jul 1, 5:10 PM EDTHEAVY RAIN 2.25Lower Macungie Twp, PA2.25 INCHES OF RAIN FELL IN JUST UNDER 30 MINUTES.
Jul 1, 5:15 PM EDTHEAVY RAIN 2.561 Sse New Smithville, PA2.43 INCHES OF RAIN FELL IN 30-MIN PERIOD ENDING 425 PM
Jul 1, 5:20 PM EDTFLOODMertztown, PAROAD FLOODED NEAR THE INTERSECTION OF MEADOW DRIVE AND PARK AVE IN MERTZTOWN.
Jul 1, 5:30 PM EDTFLOODLower Macungie Twp, PALOCALIZED FLOODING ALONG LITTLE LEHIGH CREEK NEAR ANCIENT OAKS. WATER REPORTED IN SOME BUSINESSES ALONG HAMILTON BLVD.

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

The nearest sounding before it

Washington/Dulle, VA (KIAD), launched 12:00Z, 8.3 hours before the alert went out and 233 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, Washington/Dulle, VA at 12:00Z on 2017-07-01Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 160 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, Washington/Dulle, VA at 12:00Z on 2017-07-01The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 95 square meters per square second.193958Sfc1 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
160 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-4 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
564 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
18 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
95 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
105 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.4

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

290 
WGUS51 KPHI 012020
FFWPHI
PAC011-077-020015-
/O.NEW.KPHI.FF.W.0007.170701T2020Z-170702T0015Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Flash Flood Warning
National Weather Service Mount Holly NJ
420 PM EDT SAT JUL 1 2017

The National Weather Service in Mount Holly NJ has issued a

* Flash Flood Warning for...
  Northeastern Berks County in eastern Pennsylvania...
  Central Lehigh County in eastern Pennsylvania...

* Until 815 PM EDT

* At 419 PM EDT...Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing 
  heavy rain across the warned area. Radar has indicated up to two 
  inches of rain have already fallen. Flash flooding is expected to 
  begin shortly.

* Some locations that will experience flooding include...
  Allentown, Emmaus, Kutztown, Fleetwood, Topton, Lyons, Neffs,
  Coffeetown, Ancient Oaks, Emerald, Schnecksville, Claussville,
  Macungie, Alburtis and Fullerton.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood
deaths occur in vehicles.

A Flash Flood Warning means that flooding is imminent or occurring.
If you are in the warned area move to higher ground immediately.
Residents living along streams and creeks should take immediate
precautions to protect life and property.

&&

LAT...LON 4056 7542 4037 7575 4052 7595 4075 7563

$$

MPS
2 follow-up statements
285 
WGUS71 KPHI 012209
FFSPHI

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Mount Holly NJ
609 PM EDT SAT JUL 1 2017

PAC011-077-020015-
/O.CON.KPHI.FF.W.0007.000000T0000Z-170702T0015Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Berks PA-Lehigh PA-
609 PM EDT SAT JUL 1 2017

...THE FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 815 PM EDT FOR
NORTHEASTERN BERKS AND CENTRAL LEHIGH COUNTIES...

At 607 PM EDT...Doppler radar indicated heavy rain has moved out of 
the warned area. However, flash flooding is occurring across the 
warned area. 

Some locations that will experience flooding include...
Allentown, Emmaus, Kutztown, Fleetwood, Topton, Lyons, Neffs,
Coffeetown, Ancient Oaks, Emerald, Schnecksville, Claussville,
Macungie, Alburtis and Fullerton.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Stay away or be swept away. River banks and culverts can become
unstable and unsafe.

Please report flooding to your local law enforcement agency when you
can do so safely.

&&

LAT...LON 4056 7542 4037 7575 4052 7595 4075 7563

$$

MPS
157 
WGUS71 KPHI 020007
FFSPHI

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Mount Holly NJ
807 PM EDT SAT JUL 1 2017

PAC011-077-020017-
/O.EXP.KPHI.FF.W.0007.000000T0000Z-170702T0015Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Berks PA-Lehigh PA-
807 PM EDT SAT JUL 1 2017

...THE FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR NORTHEASTERN BERKS AND CENTRAL LEHIGH
COUNTIES WILL EXPIRE AT 815 PM EDT...

Flood waters have receded. Flooding is no longer expected to pose a
threat. Please continue to heed any remaining road closures.

LAT...LON 4056 7542 4037 7575 4052 7595 4075 7563

$$

SFJ

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jun 30, 8:09 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementPHIMontgomery51 min
Jun 30, 8:32 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryPHIBerks, Bucks, Lehigh, Montgomery118 min
Jun 30, 9:17 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementPHIBucks43 min
Jul 1, 2:38 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementPHIBerks52 min
Jul 1, 3:22 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementPHIBerks, Carbon23 min
Jul 1, 3:24 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryPHIBerks, Lehigh3 hr
Jul 1, 3:41 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPHIBerks, Lehigh, Northampton49 min
Jul 1, 4:05 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementPHIChester40 min
Jul 1, 4:24 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPHIBerks, Bucks, Chester, Lehigh, Montgomery, Northampton51 min
Jul 1, 5:00 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryPHIBucks, Lehigh, Northampton4 hr
Jul 1, 5:01 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPHIBucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, Philadelphia44 min
Jul 1, 5:08 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPHIBucks, Lehigh, Montgomery, Northampton52 min
Jul 1, 5:30 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryPHIBucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, Philadelphia4 hr
Jul 1, 5:35 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPHIBucks, Delaware, Montgomery, Philadelphia40 min
Jul 1, 5:50 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPHIBucks40 min
Jul 1, 6:17 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryPHIMonroe, Northampton4 hr

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in Pennsylvania, 2017Every flash flood warning in 2017

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.