Alert archive / Pennsylvania / Flash Flood Warnings in 2018
Flash Flood Warning 85, NWS Philadelphia/Mount Holly
NWS Philadelphia/Mount Holly issued this flash flood warning at Aug 31, 2018, 3:59 PM EDT for Berks County, Chester County, Pennsylvania. It was in force for 4 hr. 7 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 31, 2018, 3:59 PM EDT (19:59 UTC)
- Expired
- Aug 31, 2018, 8:00 PM EDT
- In force
- 4 hr
- Issued by
- NWS Philadelphia/Mount Holly
- Area
- Storm-based polygon
- Flood severity
- None
Counties Berks County, PA, Chester County, PA
The radar
The Philadelphia radar (KDIX), 127 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 19:59 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 31, 4:50 PM EDT | FLASH FLOOD | 1 Ssw Wyomissing, PA | APPROXIMATELY 12 APARTMENT UNITS IN CAMBRIDGE COMMONS WERE DAMAGED DUE TO SIGNIFICANT FLOODING ALONG A TRIBUTARY OF THE WYOMISSING CREEK. RESIDENTS IN THE APARTMENT COMPLEX WERE EVACUATED BEFOREHAND. |
| Aug 31, 4:50 PM EDT | FLASH FLOOD | 1 Ssw Wyomissing, PA | RESIDENTS IN AN APARTMENT BUILDING IN CAMBRIDGE COMMONS HAD TO BE EVACUATED DUE FLOODWATERS FROM A NEARBY CREEK. |
| Aug 31, 5:00 PM EDT | FLASH FLOOD | Sinking Spring, PA | AT LEAST 10 WATER RESCUES REPORTED BETWEEN 4 AND 5 PM IN THE TOWNS OF SPRING TWP, SINKING SPRING AND WYOMISSING. |
| Aug 31, 5:09 PM EDT | FLASH FLOOD | 1 Ese Sinking Spring, PA | PHOTO SHOWS TWO CARS STUCK IN A FLOODED INTERSECTION AT PA 724 (SHILLINGTON ROAD) AND SPOHN ROAD. |
| Aug 31, 6:27 PM EDT | FLASH FLOOD | Wernersville, PA | WIDESPREAD ROADWAY AND STREAM FLOODING THROUGHOUT THE AREA. |
| Aug 31, 6:27 PM EDT | HEAVY RAIN 5 | Wernersville, PA | |
| Aug 31, 7:03 PM EDT | FLOOD | 2 Nne Mount Vernon, PA | FLOODING ON SCROGGY AND CREAM ROADS ALONG THE OCTORARO CREEK. ALL LANES COVERED. |
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, 8.0 hours before the alert went out and 173 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.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 425 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -35 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 930 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 16 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 20 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 68 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 0.0
The text
As transmitted.
763
WGUS51 KPHI 311959
FFWPHI
PAC011-029-010000-
/O.NEW.KPHI.FF.W.0085.180831T1959Z-180901T0000Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Flash Flood Warning
National Weather Service Mount Holly NJ
359 PM EDT FRI AUG 31 2018
The National Weather Service in Mount Holly NJ has issued a
* Flash Flood Warning for...
South central Berks County in eastern Pennsylvania...
Chester County in southeastern Pennsylvania...
* Until 800 PM EDT.
* At 357 PM EDT, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing
heavy rain across the warned area. Up to two to three inches of
rain have already fallen with additional rainfall occuring. Flash
flooding is expected to begin shortly in the areas of heaviest
rain.
* Some locations that could experience flooding include...
Reading, Coatesville, Wyomissing, Downingtown, Kennett Square,
Birdsboro, Oxford, Sinking Spring, Laureldale, Parkesburg, West
Grove, Wernersville, Leesport, Honey Brook, Elverson, New Morgan,
Homeville, Glen Roy, Spring Ridge and Cochranville.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Turn around...don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood
deaths occur in vehicles.
In hilly terrain there are hundreds of low water crossings which are
potentially dangerous in heavy rain. Do not attempt to cross flooded
roads. Find an alternate route.
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 4051 7593 3988 7558 3986 7560 3984 7558
3982 7568 3972 7577 3972 7614 3976 7606
3983 7604 3983 7602 3987 7599 3995 7600
4004 7593 4011 7594 4014 7588 4034 7618
$$
Robertson2 follow-up statements
704
WGUS71 KPHI 312218
FFSPHI
Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Mount Holly NJ
618 PM EDT FRI AUG 31 2018
PAC011-029-010000-
/O.CON.KPHI.FF.W.0085.000000T0000Z-180901T0000Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Berks PA-Chester PA-
618 PM EDT FRI AUG 31 2018
...THE FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 800 PM EDT FOR
SOUTH CENTRAL BERKS AND CHESTER COUNTIES...
At 615 PM EDT, the public reported flooding across the warned area,
in particular near Sinking Spring with flooded roadways due to 3 to
5 inches of rainfall from earlier storms. Several creeks and streams
continue to rise, in particular the West Branch Brandywine Creek
near Honey Brook which may exceed flood stage. Rainfall continues
across the area and is expected to continue to lead to Flash
flooding.
Some locations that could experience flooding include...
Reading, Coatesville, Wyomissing, Downingtown, Kennett Square,
Birdsboro, Oxford, Sinking Spring, Laureldale, Parkesburg, West
Grove, Wernersville, Leesport, Honey Brook, Elverson, New Morgan,
Homeville, Glen Roy, Spring Ridge and Cochranville.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Turn around...don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood
deaths occur in vehicles.
In hilly terrain there are hundreds of low water crossings which are
potentially dangerous in heavy rain. Do not attempt to cross flooded
roads. Find an alternate route.
&&
LAT...LON 4051 7593 3988 7558 3986 7560 3984 7558
3982 7568 3972 7577 3972 7614 3976 7606
3983 7604 3983 7602 3987 7599 3995 7600
4004 7593 4011 7594 4014 7588 4034 7618
$$
Robertson048
WGUS71 KPHI 312352
FFSPHI
Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Mount Holly NJ
752 PM EDT FRI AUG 31 2018
PAC011-029-010000-
/O.EXP.KPHI.FF.W.0085.000000T0000Z-180901T0000Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Berks PA-Chester PA-
752 PM EDT FRI AUG 31 2018
...THE FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR SOUTH CENTRAL BERKS AND CHESTER
COUNTIES WILL EXPIRE AT 800 PM EDT...
The heavy rain has ended. Flash Flooding is no longer expected to
pose a threat, however, many local creeks and stream continue to run
high and there continues to be some roadway flooding. An Areal Flood
Warning will be issued for any residual flooding. There will
continue to be light to moderate rain through this evening as well
which many exacerbate any flooding. Please continue to heed any
remaining road closures.
LAT...LON 4051 7593 3988 7558 3986 7560 3984 7558
3982 7568 3972 7577 3972 7614 3976 7606
3983 7604 3983 7602 3987 7599 3995 7600
4004 7593 4011 7594 4014 7588 4034 7618
$$
RobertsonThe office that day
Everything else NWS Philadelphia/Mount Holly issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 31, 6:52 AM EDT | Areal Flood Advisory | PHI | Philadelphia | 4 hr |
| Aug 31, 7:55 AM EDT | Areal Flood Advisory | PHI | Delaware | 3 hr |
| Aug 31, 10:09 AM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | PHI | Berks | 7 hr |
| Aug 31, 10:14 AM EDT | Areal Flood Advisory | PHI | Chester | 3 hr |
| Aug 31, 1:22 PM EDT | Areal Flood Advisory | PHI | Berks, Carbon, Lehigh, Monroe, Northampton | 4 hr |
| Aug 31, 1:54 PM EDT | Areal Flood Advisory | PHI | Berks, Chester, Lehigh, Montgomery | 4 hr |
| Aug 31, 5:13 PM EDT | Areal Flood Warning | PHI | Berks | 7 hr |
Nearby
Flash Flood Warnings in Pennsylvania, 2018Every 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.