Alert archive / Pennsylvania / Flash Flood Warnings in 2018

Flash Flood Warning 49, NWS Philadelphia/Mount Holly

August 3, 2018Berks County, Pennsylvania

NWS Philadelphia/Mount Holly issued this flash flood warning at Aug 3, 2018, 9:03 PM EDT for Berks County, Pennsylvania. It was in force for 8 hr. 10 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: Aug 3, 2018, 9:03 PM EDT (01:03 UTC)
Expired: Aug 4, 2018, 5:00 AM EDT
In force: 8 hr
Issued by: NWS Philadelphia/Mount Holly
Area: Storm-based polygon
Flood severity: None

County Berks County, PA

The radar

The Philadelphia radar (KDIX), 151 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 01:05 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 3, 9:20 PM EDT	FLASH FLOOD	1 S Country Ridge Estat, PA	WATER RESCUE ON BRICKPLANT ROAD IN HEIDELBERG TWP.
Aug 3, 9:24 PM EDT	FLASH FLOOD	1 S Country Ridge Estat, PA	WATER RESCUE ON BRICKPLANT ROAD IN HEIDELBERG TWP.
Aug 3, 10:00 PM EDT	FLASH FLOOD	1 Ne Oley Furnace, PA	BASEMENT FLOODING AND SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO A RESIDENCE IN ROCKLAND TWP.
Aug 3, 10:18 PM EDT	FLOOD	Fritztown, PA	BASEMENT FLOODING AT A RESIDENCE ON FRITZTOWN ROAD.
Aug 3, 10:32 PM EDT	FLOOD	Fritztown, PA	FRITZTOWN ROAD IS FLOODED IN SOUTH HEIDELBERG TWP.
Aug 3, 10:38 PM EDT	FLOOD	Topton, PA	INTERSECTION OF WEST WEIS STREET AND SOUTH CALLOWHILL STREET IN TOPTON IS FLOODED.
Aug 3, 10:55 PM EDT	FLOOD	1 Ne Oley Furnace, PA	BASEMENT FLOODING AND POTENTIAL FLOOD DAMAGE TO A RESIDENCE IN ROCKLAND TWP.
Aug 4, 1:25 AM EDT	FLASH FLOOD	1 E South Heidelberg Tw, PA	A PARTIAL COLLAPSE OF A STRUCTURE OCCURRED AS A RESULT OF A BASEMENT WALL COLLAPSE FROM FLOOD WATERS.
Aug 4, 1:38 AM EDT	FLASH FLOOD	1 E South Heidelberg Tw, PA	A PARTIAL COLLAPSE OF A STRUCTURE OCCURRED AS A RESULT OF A BASEMENT WALL COLLAPSE FROM FLOOD WATERS.
Aug 4, 2:50 AM EDT	FLOOD	1 N Cherokee Ranch, PA	REPORT OF A VEHICLE STUCK IN FLOOD WATERS ON LEESPORT AVENUE IN READING.

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 00:00Z, 1.1 hours before the alert went out and 209 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: 1063 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -1 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 575 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 14 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 24 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 51 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 0.0
Supercell composite: 0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

209 
WGUS51 KPHI 040103
FFWPHI
PAC011-040500-
/O.NEW.KPHI.FF.W.0049.180804T0103Z-180804T0500Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Flash Flood Warning
National Weather Service Mount Holly NJ
903 PM EDT FRI AUG 3 2018

The National Weather Service in Mount Holly NJ has issued a

* Flash Flood Warning for...
  Berks County in eastern Pennsylvania...

* Until 100 AM EDT.

* At 903 PM EDT, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing
  heavy rain across the warned area. Up to two inches of rain have
  already fallen. Flash flooding is expected to begin shortly in the
  areas of heaviest rain.

* Some locations that could experience flooding include...
  Reading, Wyomissing, Kutztown, Hamburg, Fleetwood, Sinking Spring,
  Laureldale, Womelsdorf, Wernersville, Newmanstown, Topton,
  Leesport, Shoemakersville, Bernville, Lyons, Strausstown,
  Lenhartsville, Spring Ridge, Fairview Hgts and Shillington.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

Be especially cautious at night when it is harder to recognize the
dangers of flooding.

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

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 4057 7610 4058 7605 4057 7602 4063 7600
      4065 7598 4068 7589 4052 7565 4020 7597
      4031 7614 4036 7621 4040 7628

$$

Meola

4 follow-up statements

279 
WGUS71 KPHI 040326
FFSPHI

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Mount Holly NJ
1126 PM EDT FRI AUG 3 2018

PAC011-040500-
/O.CON.KPHI.FF.W.0049.000000T0000Z-180804T0500Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Berks PA-
1126 PM EDT FRI AUG 3 2018

...THE FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 100 AM EDT FOR
BERKS COUNTY...

At 1125 PM EDT, Doppler radar indicated heavy rain across the warned
area. Up to three inches of rain have already fallen. Flash flooding
is already occurring.

Some locations that could experience flooding include...
Reading, Wyomissing, Kutztown, Hamburg, Fleetwood, Sinking Spring,
Laureldale, Womelsdorf, Wernersville, Newmanstown, Topton, Leesport,
Shoemakersville, Bernville, Lyons, Strausstown, Lenhartsville, Spring
Ridge, Fairview Hgts and Shillington.

Additional rainfall amounts of around one inch are possible in the 
warned area.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

Be especially cautious at night when it is harder to recognize the
dangers of flooding.

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

&&

LAT...LON 4057 7610 4058 7605 4057 7602 4063 7600
      4065 7598 4068 7589 4052 7565 4020 7597
      4031 7614 4036 7621 4040 7628

$$

Meola

508 
WGUS51 KPHI 040444
FFWPHI
PAC011-040900-
/O.EXT.KPHI.FF.W.0049.000000T0000Z-180804T0900Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Flash Flood Warning
National Weather Service Mount Holly NJ
1244 AM EDT SAT AUG 4 2018

The National Weather Service in Mount Holly NJ has extended the

* Flash Flood Warning for...
  Berks County in eastern Pennsylvania...

* Until 500 AM EDT.

* At 1241 AM EDT, flash flooding continued across much of Berks 
  County, with several road closures in place. More heavy rainfall 
  will be moving into the warned area during the next several hours. 
  With up to three inches of rain having already fallen earlier 
  tonight, flash flooding is expected to continue.

* Some locations that could experience flooding include...
  Reading, Wyomissing, Kutztown, Hamburg, Fleetwood, Sinking Spring,
  Laureldale, Womelsdorf, Wernersville, Newmanstown, Topton,
  Leesport, Shoemakersville, Bernville, Lyons, Strausstown,
  Lenhartsville, Spring Ridge, Fairview Hgts and Shillington.

Additional rainfall amounts up to two inches are possible in the 
warned area.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

Be especially cautious at night when it is harder to recognize the
dangers of flooding.

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

&&

LAT...LON 4057 7610 4058 7605 4057 7602 4063 7600
      4065 7598 4068 7589 4052 7565 4020 7597
      4031 7614 4036 7621 4040 7628

$$

CMS

582 
WGUS71 KPHI 040554
FFSPHI

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Mount Holly NJ
154 AM EDT SAT AUG 4 2018

PAC011-040900-
/O.CON.KPHI.FF.W.0049.000000T0000Z-180804T0900Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Berks PA-
154 AM EDT SAT AUG 4 2018

...THE FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 500 AM EDT FOR
BERKS COUNTY...

At 151 AM EDT, local law enforcement reported flash flooding in 
South Heidelberg Township, with several reports of closed roads and 
a building collapse owing to basement flooding. This is a dangerous 
situation. Flash flooding is occurring and will likely continue for 
the next several hours. Travel is strongly discouraged in the 
warning area.

Some locations that could experience flooding include...
Reading, Wyomissing, Kutztown, Hamburg, Fleetwood, Sinking Spring,
Laureldale, Womelsdorf, Wernersville, Newmanstown, Topton, Leesport,
Shoemakersville, Bernville, Lyons, Strausstown, Lenhartsville, Spring
Ridge, Fairview Hgts and Shillington.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

Be especially cautious at night when it is harder to recognize the
dangers of flooding.

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

&&

LAT...LON 4057 7610 4058 7605 4057 7602 4063 7600
      4065 7598 4068 7589 4052 7565 4020 7597
      4031 7614 4036 7621 4040 7628

$$

CMS

340 
WGUS71 KPHI 040811
FFSPHI

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Mount Holly NJ
411 AM EDT SAT AUG 4 2018

PAC011-040900-
/O.CON.KPHI.FF.W.0049.000000T0000Z-180804T0900Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Berks PA-
411 AM EDT SAT AUG 4 2018

...THE FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 500 AM EDT FOR
BERKS COUNTY...

At 409 AM EDT, local law enforcement reported flash flooding 
continuing in South Heidelberg Township and in Reading. Moderate to 
locally heavy rain continues in Berks County at this time. 
Widespread two to four inches of rainfall have occurred in the 
warned area. Flash flooding is expected to continue.

Some locations that could experience flooding include...
Reading, Wyomissing, Kutztown, Hamburg, Fleetwood, Sinking Spring,
Laureldale, Womelsdorf, Wernersville, Newmanstown, Topton, Leesport,
Shoemakersville, Bernville, Lyons, Strausstown, Lenhartsville, Spring
Ridge, Fairview Hgts and Shillington.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

Be especially cautious at night when it is harder to recognize the
dangers of flooding.

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

&&

LAT...LON 4057 7610 4058 7605 4057 7602 4063 7600
      4065 7598 4068 7589 4052 7565 4020 7597
      4031 7614 4036 7621 4040 7628

$$

CMS

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Aug 3, 8:35 PM EDT	Areal Flood Advisory	PHI	Carbon	4 hr
Aug 3, 9:10 PM EDT	Areal Flood Advisory	PHI	Monroe, Northampton	4 hr
Aug 3, 10:07 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	PHI	Lehigh, Northampton	53 min
Aug 3, 10:23 PM EDT	Flash Flood Warning	PHI	Lehigh, Northampton	4 hr
Aug 3, 11:24 PM EDT	Areal Flood Advisory	PHI	Berks, Lehigh	6 hr
Aug 4, 12:24 AM EDT	Areal Flood Advisory	PHI	Carbon	4 hr
Aug 4, 1:08 AM EDT	Areal Flood Advisory	PHI	Monroe	4 hr
Aug 4, 1:15 AM EDT	Special Weather Statement	PHI	Berks	30 min
Aug 4, 1:47 AM EDT	Special Weather Statement	PHI	Berks, Lehigh	43 min
Aug 4, 1:59 AM EDT	Areal Flood Advisory	PHI	Chester	4 hr
Aug 4, 2:22 AM EDT	Areal Flood Warning	PHI	Lehigh, Northampton	21 hr
Aug 4, 2:27 AM EDT	Special Weather Statement	PHI	Lehigh, Northampton	63 min
Aug 4, 4:54 AM EDT	Areal Flood Warning	PHI	Berks	7 hr
Aug 4, 5:09 AM EDT	Areal Flood Advisory	PHI	Monroe	2 hr
Aug 4, 5:45 AM EDT	Areal Flood Advisory	PHI	Bucks, Chester, Montgomery	7 hr
Aug 4, 6:45 AM EDT	River Flood Warning	PHI	Chester	4 hr
Aug 4, 6:55 AM EDT	Areal Flood Advisory	PHI	Bucks, Montgomery	4 hr
Aug 4, 8:48 AM EDT	Areal Flood Warning	PHI	Chester, Montgomery	4 hr
Aug 4, 9:20 AM EDT	River Flood Warning	PHI	Montgomery	3 hr
Aug 4, 11:55 AM EDT	River Flood Warning	PHI	Chester, Montgomery, Philadelphia	12 hr
Aug 4, 4:41 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	PHI	Northampton	34 min

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in Pennsylvania, 2018 Every flash flood warning 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.