Alert archive / Pennsylvania / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2017

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 161, NWS Philadelphia/Mount Holly

August 18, 2017Berks County, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania

NWS Philadelphia/Mount Holly issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Aug 18, 2017, 2:33 PM EDT for Berks County, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania. It was in force for 42 min. 1 report 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: Aug 18, 2017, 2:33 PM EDT (18:33 UTC)
Expired: Aug 18, 2017, 3:15 PM EDT
In force: 42 min
Issued by: NWS Philadelphia/Mount Holly
Area: Storm-based polygon
Tornado: Possible
Hail: 0.75 in
Wind: 60.0 mph

Counties Berks County, PA, Lehigh County, PA

The radar

The Philadelphia radar (KDIX), 158 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 18:36 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
Aug 18, 3:12 PM EDT	TSTM WND DMG	1 E Lenhartsville, PA	TREE DOWN AT THE 1400 BLOCK OF OLD US ROUTE 22 IN GREENWICH TOWNSHIP. TIME ESTIMATED FROM RADAR.

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.

Issued	Product	Office	Lasted
Aug 18, 2:27 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Watch	SPC	9 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Washington/Dulle, VA (KIAD), launched 12:00Z, 6.6 hours before the alert went out and 204 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-p

Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.

Hodograph

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: 746 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -72 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 651 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 26 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 12 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 76 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 0.0
Supercell composite: 0.3

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

415 
WUUS51 KPHI 181833
SVRPHI
PAC011-077-181915-
/O.NEW.KPHI.SV.W.0161.170818T1833Z-170818T1915Z/

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
National Weather Service Mount Holly NJ
233 PM EDT FRI AUG 18 2017

The National Weather Service in Mount Holly NJ has issued a

* Severe Thunderstorm Warning for...
  Central Berks County in eastern Pennsylvania...
  West central Lehigh County in eastern Pennsylvania...

* Until 315 PM EDT

* At 232 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm was located near Womelsdorf,
  or near Myerstown, moving east at 30 mph.

  HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts and penny size hail. 

  SOURCE...Radar indicated. 

  IMPACT...Expect damage to trees and power lines. 

* Locations impacted include...
  Kutztown, Hamburg, Fleetwood, Laureldale, Womelsdorf, Newmanstown,
  Topton, Leesport, Shoemakersville, Bernville, Lyons, Strausstown,
  Lenhartsville, Fairview Hgts, Wanamakers, Spring Ridge and
  Centerport.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Remain alert for a possible tornado! Tornadoes can develop quickly
from severe thunderstorms. If you spot a tornado go at once into the
basement or small central room in a sturdy structure.

For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a
building.

&&

LAT...LON 4052 7634 4052 7625 4058 7605 4057 7602
      4063 7600 4070 7577 4044 7564 4032 7617
      4036 7621 4037 7623 4049 7643
TIME...MOT...LOC 1832Z 248DEG 25KT 4043 7620 

TORNADO...POSSIBLE
HAIL...0.75IN
WIND...60MPH
 
$$

SFJ

3 follow-up statements

101 
WWUS51 KPHI 181845
SVSPHI

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Mount Holly NJ
245 PM EDT FRI AUG 18 2017

PAC011-077-181915-
/O.CON.KPHI.SV.W.0161.000000T0000Z-170818T1915Z/
Berks PA-Lehigh PA-
245 PM EDT FRI AUG 18 2017

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 315 PM EDT
FOR CENTRAL BERKS AND WEST CENTRAL LEHIGH COUNTIES...

At 245 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm was located over Bernville, or
12 miles south of Schuylkill Haven, moving east at 30 mph.

HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts and quarter size hail. 

SOURCE...Radar indicated. 

IMPACT...Minor damage to vehicles is possible. Expect damage to 
         trees and power lines. 

Locations impacted include...
Kutztown, Hamburg, Fleetwood, Laureldale, Womelsdorf, Newmanstown,
Topton, Leesport, Shoemakersville, Bernville, Lyons, Strausstown,
Lenhartsville, Fairview Hgts, Wanamakers, Spring Ridge and
Centerport.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Remain alert for a possible tornado! Tornadoes can develop quickly
from severe thunderstorms. If you spot a tornado go at once into the
basement or small central room in a sturdy structure.

For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a
building.

&&

LAT...LON 4052 7634 4052 7625 4058 7605 4057 7602
      4063 7600 4070 7577 4044 7564 4032 7617
      4036 7621 4037 7623 4049 7643
TIME...MOT...LOC 1845Z 248DEG 25KT 4046 7609 

TORNADO...POSSIBLE
HAIL...1.00IN
WIND...60MPH
 
$$

SFJ

717 
WWUS51 KPHI 181902
SVSPHI

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Mount Holly NJ
302 PM EDT FRI AUG 18 2017

PAC011-077-181915-
/O.CON.KPHI.SV.W.0161.000000T0000Z-170818T1915Z/
Berks PA-Lehigh PA-
302 PM EDT FRI AUG 18 2017

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 315 PM EDT
FOR CENTRAL BERKS AND WEST CENTRAL LEHIGH COUNTIES...

At 302 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm was located over
Shoemakersville, or 12 miles north of Reading, moving east at 30 mph.

HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts and nickel size hail. 

SOURCE...Radar indicated. 

IMPACT...Expect damage to trees and power lines. 

Locations impacted include...
Kutztown, Hamburg, Fleetwood, Laureldale, Womelsdorf, Newmanstown,
Topton, Leesport, Shoemakersville, Bernville, Lyons, Strausstown,
Lenhartsville, Fairview Hgts, Wanamakers, Spring Ridge and
Centerport.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Remain alert for a possible tornado! Tornadoes can develop quickly
from severe thunderstorms. If you spot a tornado go at once into the
basement or small central room in a sturdy structure.

In addition to large hail and damaging winds...frequent cloud to
ground lightning is occurring with this storm. Move indoors
immediately. Remember...if you can hear thunder...you are close
enough to be struck by lightning.

&&

LAT...LON 4052 7634 4052 7625 4058 7605 4057 7602
      4063 7600 4070 7577 4044 7564 4032 7617
      4036 7621 4037 7623 4043 7632
TIME...MOT...LOC 1902Z 248DEG 25KT 4050 7594 

TORNADO...POSSIBLE
HAIL...0.88IN
WIND...60MPH
 
$$

SFJ

360 
WWUS51 KPHI 181912
SVSPHI

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Mount Holly NJ
312 PM EDT FRI AUG 18 2017

PAC011-077-181922-
/O.EXP.KPHI.SV.W.0161.000000T0000Z-170818T1915Z/
Berks PA-Lehigh PA-
312 PM EDT FRI AUG 18 2017

...THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR CENTRAL BERKS AND WEST CENTRAL
LEHIGH COUNTIES WILL EXPIRE AT 315 PM EDT...
                
The storm which prompted the warning has weakened below severe
limits, and no longer poses an immediate threat to life or property.
Therefore the warning will be allowed to expire.  However gusty winds
and heavy rain are still possible with this thunderstorm.

A severe thunderstorm watch remains in effect until 900 PM EDT for
eastern Pennsylvania.

LAT...LON 4052 7634 4052 7625 4058 7605 4057 7602
      4063 7600 4070 7577 4044 7564 4032 7617
      4036 7621 4037 7623 4043 7632
TIME...MOT...LOC 1912Z 248DEG 25KT 4052 7587 

$$

SFJ

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Aug 18, 3:39 AM EDT	Flash Flood Watch	PHI	Berks, Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Lehigh, Montgomery and 2 more	18 hr
Aug 18, 4:48 AM EDT	Areal Flood Advisory	PHI	Berks, Lehigh, Northampton	4 hr
Aug 18, 2:10 PM EDT	Areal Flood Advisory	PHI	Berks, Carbon, Lehigh	4 hr
Aug 18, 2:21 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	PHI	Berks	24 min
Aug 18, 3:14 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	PHI	Berks, Lehigh	31 min
Aug 18, 3:15 PM EDT	Areal Flood Advisory	PHI	Berks	4 hr
Aug 18, 3:19 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	PHI	Northampton	26 min
Aug 18, 3:37 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	PHI	Carbon	38 min
Aug 18, 3:43 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	PHI	Berks	32 min
Aug 18, 3:45 PM EDT	Areal Flood Advisory	PHI	Carbon, Lehigh, Monroe, Northampton	4 hr
Aug 18, 3:46 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	PHI	Berks, Lehigh, Montgomery, Northampton	44 min
Aug 18, 4:02 PM EDT	Flash Flood Warning	PHI	Berks	4 hr
Aug 18, 4:24 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	PHI	Berks, Bucks, Montgomery	51 min
Aug 18, 4:29 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	PHI	Berks, Chester, Montgomery	61 min
Aug 18, 4:57 PM EDT	Areal Flood Advisory	PHI	Bucks, Chester, Montgomery	3 hr
Aug 18, 5:03 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	PHI	Chester	42 min
Aug 18, 5:11 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	PHI	Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, Philadelphia	49 min
Aug 18, 5:20 PM EDT	Areal Flood Advisory	PHI	Bucks, Delaware, Montgomery, Philadelphia	3 hr
Aug 18, 5:39 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	PHI	Chester, Delaware, Philadelphia	66 min
Aug 18, 5:54 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	PHI	Bucks, Montgomery, Philadelphia	66 min
Aug 18, 6:38 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	PHI	Delaware, Philadelphia	37 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Pennsylvania, 2017 Every severe thunderstorm 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.