Alert archive / Pennsylvania / Tornado Warnings in 2018

Tornado Warning 8, NWS Pittsburgh, PA

September 21, 2018Clarion County, Forest County, Venango County, Pennsylvania

NWS Pittsburgh, PA issued this tornado warning at Sep 21, 2018, 6:53 PM EDT for Clarion County, Forest County, Venango County, Pennsylvania. It was in force for 37 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
Sep 21, 2018, 6:53 PM EDT (22:53 UTC)
Expired
Sep 21, 2018, 7:30 PM EDT
In force
37 min
Issued by
NWS Pittsburgh, PA
Area
Storm-based polygon
Tornado
Radar indicated
Hail
0.75 in

Counties Clarion County, PA, Forest County, PA, Venango County, PA

The radar

The Pittsburgh radar (KPBZ), 100 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 22:55 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
Sep 21, 6:54 PM EDTTSTM WND DMG1 Sw Twin Churchs, PAMULTIPLE TREES DOWN IN SANDYCREEK TOWNSHIP

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.

IssuedProductOfficeLasted
Sep 21, 4:32 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WatchSPC4 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Pittsburgh, PA (KAGC), launched 12:00Z, 10.9 hours before the alert went out and 109 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 12:00Z on 2018-09-21Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 391 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, Pittsburgh, PA at 12:00Z on 2018-09-21The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 142 square meters per square second.19395878Sfc1 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
391 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-67 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
999 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
40 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
142 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
129 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.2
Supercell composite
1.8

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

088 
WFUS51 KPBZ 212253
TORPBZ
PAC031-053-121-212330-
/O.NEW.KPBZ.TO.W.0008.180921T2253Z-180921T2330Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service Pittsburgh PA
653 PM EDT FRI SEP 21 2018

The National Weather Service in Pittsburgh has issued a

* Tornado Warning for...
  Central Venango County in northwestern Pennsylvania...
  Northwestern Clarion County in west central Pennsylvania...
  Southwestern Forest County in northwestern Pennsylvania...

* Until 730 PM EDT..

* At 652 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
  was located near Franklin, moving east at 50 mph.

  HAZARD...Tornado.

  SOURCE...Weather spotters reported funnel cloud.

  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
  central Venango, northwestern Clarion and southwestern Forest
  Counties, including the following locations... Fryburg, Kennerdell,
  Seneca, Woodland Heights, Cranberry Township and Hasson Heights.

Please report severe weather by calling 412-262-1988, posting to 
the NWS Pittsburgh Facebook page, or using Twitter @NWSPITTSBURGH. 

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 4125 7987 4141 7990 4150 7937 4126 7933
TIME...MOT...LOC 2252Z 261DEG 43KT 4134 7979 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
HAIL...<.75IN

$$
SKH
2 follow-up statements
676 
WWUS51 KPBZ 212300
SVSPBZ

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Pittsburgh PA
700 PM EDT FRI SEP 21 2018

PAC031-053-121-212330-
/O.CON.KPBZ.TO.W.0008.000000T0000Z-180921T2330Z/
Venango PA-Clarion PA-Forest PA-
700 PM EDT FRI SEP 21 2018

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 730 PM EDT FOR
SOUTHEASTERN VENANGO...NORTHWESTERN CLARION AND SOUTHWESTERN FOREST
COUNTIES...
        
At 700 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located near Oil City, moving east at 50 mph.

HAZARD...Tornado.

SOURCE...Weather spotter reported a funnel cloud.

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...
Oil City...                       Sugarcreek...
Tionesta...                       Seneca...
Woodland Heights...               Fryburg...
Cranberry Township...             

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.

Please report severe weather by calling 412-262-1988, posting to 
the NWS Pittsburgh Facebook page, or using Twitter @NWSPITTSBURGH. 

&&

LAT...LON 4127 7977 4140 7980 4150 7937 4126 7933
TIME...MOT...LOC 2300Z 261DEG 43KT 4136 7966 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
HAIL...<.75IN

$$
SKH
325 
WWUS51 KPBZ 212309
SVSPBZ

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Pittsburgh PA
709 PM EDT FRI SEP 21 2018

PAC031-053-121-212330-
/O.CON.KPBZ.TO.W.0008.000000T0000Z-180921T2330Z/
Venango PA-Clarion PA-Forest PA-
709 PM EDT FRI SEP 21 2018

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 730 PM EDT FOR EAST
CENTRAL VENANGO...NORTHWESTERN CLARION AND SOUTHWESTERN FOREST
COUNTIES...
        
At 709 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located near Oil City, moving east at 30 mph.

HAZARD...Tornado.

SOURCE...Weather spotter reported a funnel cloud.

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...
Oil City...                       Seneca...
Woodland Heights...               Fryburg...
Cranberry Township...             

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.

Please report severe weather by calling 412-262-1988, posting to 
the NWS Pittsburgh Facebook page, or using Twitter @NWSPITTSBURGH. 

&&

LAT...LON 4130 7968 4142 7969 4150 7937 4126 7933
TIME...MOT...LOC 2309Z 261DEG 28KT 4136 7964 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
HAIL...<.75IN

$$
SKH

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Sep 21, 5:47 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementPBZMercer43 min
Sep 21, 6:32 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPBZArmstrong, Butler, Clarion, Forest, Lawrence, Mercer and 1 more43 min
Sep 21, 6:36 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPBZBeaver, Lawrence, Washington39 min
Sep 21, 7:09 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPBZAllegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Lawrence51 min
Sep 21, 7:14 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPBZArmstrong, Butler, Clarion, Forest, Jefferson, Mercer and 1 more46 min
Sep 21, 7:44 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementPBZAllegheny31 min
Sep 21, 7:58 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPBZAllegheny, Armstrong, Indiana, Westmoreland47 min

Nearby

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