Alert archive / Pennsylvania / Tornado Warnings in 2018

Tornado Warning 5, NWS State College, PA

May 15, 20184 counties in Pennsylvania

NWS State College, PA issued this tornado warning at May 15, 2018, 2:45 PM EDT for 4 counties in Pennsylvania. It was in force for 24 min. 5 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: May 15, 2018, 2:45 PM EDT (18:45 UTC)
Expired: May 15, 2018, 3:09 PM EDT
In force: 24 min
Issued by: NWS State College, PA
Area: Storm-based polygon
Tornado: Radar indicated
Hail: 1.0 in

Counties Montour County, PA, Northumberland County, PA, Snyder County, PA, Union County, PA

The radar

The State College radar (KCCX), 113 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 18:45 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
May 15, 2:55 PM EDT	TSTM WND DMG	Danville, PA	NUMEROUS TREES DOWN
May 15, 2:55 PM EDT	TSTM WND DMG	Riverside, PA	NUMEROUS TREES DOWN
May 15, 2:57 PM EDT	TSTM WND DMG	1 Se South Danville, PA	LARGE TREE DOWN ON SUNBURY RD. WIND GUST ESTIMATED AT 90 MPH.
May 15, 2:59 PM EDT	TSTM WND DMG	Danville, PA	TRACTOR TRAILER OVERTURNED ON THE BRIDGE BETWEEN DANVILLE AND RIVERSIDE
May 15, 3:00 PM EDT	TSTM WND DMG	1 Nne Boyd, PA	NUMEROUS TREES DOWN AND TRUNKS SNAPPED. WIND GUST ESTIMATED AT 90 MPH.

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
May 15, 12:26 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Watch	SPC	7 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Washington/Dulle, VA (KIAD), launched 12:00Z, 6.8 hours before the alert went out and 230 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: 47 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -484 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 1259 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 21 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 117 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 79 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 0.0
Supercell composite: 0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

905 
WFUS51 KCTP 151845
TORCTP
PAC093-097-109-119-151930-
/O.NEW.KCTP.TO.W.0005.180515T1845Z-180515T1930Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service State College PA
245 PM EDT TUE MAY 15 2018

The National Weather Service in State College PA has issued a

* Tornado Warning for...
  Central Northumberland County in central Pennsylvania...
  Northeastern Snyder County in central Pennsylvania...
  Southern Montour County in central Pennsylvania...
  Southeastern Union County in central Pennsylvania...

* Until 330 PM EDT
    
* At 243 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
  was located near Vicksburg, moving east at 35 mph.

  HAZARD...Tornado and quarter size hail.

  SOURCE...Radar indicated rotation.

  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 dangerous storm will be near...
  Lewisburg, Winfield and Montandon around 250 PM EDT.
  Northumberland, Sunbury and Shamokin Dam around 300 PM EDT.
  Riverside, Mooresburg and Stonington around 310 PM EDT.
  Danville and Elysburg around 320 PM EDT.

Other locations impacted by this tornadic thunderstorm include
Snydertown, New Berlin and Bucknell.

For those driving on Interstate 80, this includes areas between the
Limestoneville and Buckhorn exits, specifically from mile markers 217
to 227.

This includes the following highways...
 Route 11 from near Shamokin Dam to east of Danville.
 Route 15 from near Shamokin Dam to Lewisburg.
 State Road 45 from Mifflinburg to Lewisburg.
 State Road 61 from Sunbury to Stonington.
 State Highway 147 from near Lewisburg to Sunbury.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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 4094 7653 4088 7653 4083 7673 4087 7708
      4093 7706 4104 7665 4102 7656 4100 7657
      4096 7652 4094 7651
TIME...MOT...LOC 1843Z 264DEG 29KT 4090 7696 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
HAIL...1.00IN

$$

Dangelo

2 follow-up statements

245 
WWUS51 KCTP 151857 RRA
SVSCTP

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service State College PA
257 PM EDT TUE MAY 15 2018

PAC119-151907-
/O.CAN.KCTP.TO.W.0005.000000T0000Z-180515T1930Z/
Union PA-
257 PM EDT TUE MAY 15 2018

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR SOUTHEASTERN UNION COUNTY IS CANCELLED...
    
The tornadic thunderstorm which prompted the warning has moved out 
of the warned area. Therefore, the warning has been cancelled.

A severe thunderstorm watch remains in effect until 800 PM EDT for
central Pennsylvania.

LAT...LON 4094 7653 4088 7653 4083 7673 4085 7696
      4087 7701 4089 7694 4088 7692 4089 7682
      4092 7686 4104 7665 4102 7657 4100 7657
      4095 7651
TIME...MOT...LOC 1857Z 271DEG 31KT 4086 7679 

$$

PAC093-097-109-151930-
/O.CON.KCTP.TO.W.0005.000000T0000Z-180515T1930Z/
Northumberland PA-Snyder PA-Montour PA-
257 PM EDT TUE MAY 15 2018

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 330 PM EDT FOR CENTRAL
NORTHUMBERLAND...NORTHEASTERN SNYDER AND SOUTHERN MONTOUR COUNTIES...

At 257 PM EDT, a severe squall line capable of producing both
tornadoes and extensive straight line wind damage was located over
Sunbury, moving east at 35 mph.

HAZARD...Tornado and quarter size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated rotation.

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.

These dangerous storms will be near...
  Danville, Stonington and Riverside around 310 PM EDT.
  Elysburg around 320 PM EDT.

Other locations impacted by this tornadic thunderstorm include
Snydertown and New Berlin.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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.

Heavy rainfall may hide this tornado. Do not wait to see or hear the
tornado. 

This cluster of thunderstorms is capable of producing tornadoes and
widespread significant wind damage. Do not wait to see or hear the
tornado. For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest
floor of a building.

&&

LAT...LON 4094 7653 4088 7653 4083 7673 4085 7696
      4087 7701 4089 7694 4088 7692 4089 7682
      4092 7686 4104 7665 4102 7657 4100 7657
      4095 7651
TIME...MOT...LOC 1857Z 271DEG 31KT 4086 7679 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
HAIL...1.00IN

$$

Dangelo

978 
WWUS51 KCTP 151909
SVSCTP

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service State College PA
309 PM EDT TUE MAY 15 2018

PAC093-097-109-151918-
/O.CAN.KCTP.TO.W.0005.000000T0000Z-180515T1930Z/
Northumberland PA-Snyder PA-Montour PA-
309 PM EDT TUE MAY 15 2018

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR CENTRAL NORTHUMBERLAND...NORTHEASTERN
SNYDER AND SOUTHERN MONTOUR COUNTIES IS CANCELLED...
    
The tornado threat has diminished and the Tornado Warning has been
cancelled. However, large hail and damaging winds remain likely and a
Severe Thunderstorm Warning remains in effect for the area.  However
gusty winds are still possible with this thunderstorm.

A severe thunderstorm watch remains in effect until 800 PM EDT for
central Pennsylvania.

Remember, a Severe Thunderstorm Warning still remains in effect for 
the area. Winds may be up to 70 MPH as the line of storms moves 
through. 

LAT...LON 4094 7653 4088 7653 4083 7673 4085 7696
      4087 7701 4089 7694 4088 7692 4089 7682
      4092 7686 4104 7665 4102 7657 4100 7657
      4095 7651
TIME...MOT...LOC 1907Z 264DEG 29KT 4087 7667 

$$

Dangelo

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
May 15, 3:47 AM EDT	Flash Flood Watch	CTP	Adams, Bedford, Cumberland, Dauphin, Franklin, Fulton and 5 more	15 hr
May 15, 8:16 AM EDT	Special Weather Statement	CTP	Tioga	44 min
May 15, 11:38 AM EDT	Special Weather Statement	CTP	Elk, McKean	52 min
May 15, 12:00 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	CTP	Cameron, Clearfield, Elk, McKean	75 min
May 15, 12:43 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	CTP	Cameron, Clinton, Elk, Potter	47 min
May 15, 12:46 PM EDT	Tornado Warning	CTP	Cameron, Clinton, Elk, Potter	44 min
May 15, 12:58 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	CTP	Cambria, Cameron, Clearfield, Clinton, Elk	57 min
May 15, 1:03 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	CTP	Tioga	42 min
May 15, 1:14 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	CTP	Tioga	61 min
May 15, 1:25 PM EDT	Tornado Warning	CTP	Clinton, Lycoming, Potter, Tioga	65 min
May 15, 1:34 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	CTP	Cambria	41 min
May 15, 1:42 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	CTP	Centre, Clearfield, Clinton, Lycoming	63 min
May 15, 1:59 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	CTP	Blair	46 min
May 15, 2:04 PM EDT	Tornado Warning	CTP	Sullivan	41 min
May 15, 2:11 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	CTP	Blair, Cambria, Centre, Huntingdon	49 min
May 15, 2:16 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	CTP	Centre, Clinton, Columbia, Huntingdon, Juniata, Lycoming and 6 more	74 min
May 15, 2:34 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	CTP	Blair, Huntingdon, Juniata, Mifflin, Perry	56 min
May 15, 2:48 PM EDT	Tornado Warning	CTP	Columbia, Montour, Northumberland	42 min
May 15, 2:51 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	CTP	Huntingdon	24 min
May 15, 3:14 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	CTP	Columbia, Dauphin, Juniata, Northumberland, Perry, Schuylkill and 1 more	46 min
May 15, 3:23 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	CTP	Fulton	37 min
May 15, 3:34 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	CTP	Cumberland, Franklin, Perry	41 min
May 15, 3:45 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	CTP	Cumberland, Dauphin, Franklin, Fulton, Lancaster, Lebanon and 3 more	60 min
May 15, 4:14 PM EDT	Tornado Warning	CTP	Cumberland, Dauphin, Perry, York	31 min
May 15, 4:31 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	CTP	Adams, Cumberland, York	59 min
May 15, 4:41 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	CTP	Dauphin, Lancaster, Lebanon, York	53 min
May 15, 5:07 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	CTP	Adams, Lancaster, York	83 min
May 15, 6:02 PM EDT	Areal Flood Advisory	CTP	Lancaster, York	118 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Pennsylvania, 2018 Every tornado warning in 2018 Tornadoes in 2018

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.