Alert archive / Pennsylvania / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2020

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 104, NWS State College, PA

July 16, 2020Cambria County, Somerset County, Pennsylvania

NWS State College, PA issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Jul 16, 2020, 3:02 PM EDT for Cambria County, Somerset County, Pennsylvania. It was in force for 43 min. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Jul 16, 2020, 3:02 PM EDT (19:02 UTC)
Expired
Jul 16, 2020, 3:45 PM EDT
In force
43 min
Issued by
NWS State College, PA
Area
Storm-based polygon
Hail
1.0 in
Wind
60.0 mph

Counties Cambria County, PA, Somerset County, PA

The radar

The State College radar (KCCX), 106 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 19:05 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.

The watch it was issued in

The SPC watch in force over the same counties when this warning went out.

IssuedProductOfficeLasted
Jul 16, 1:20 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WatchSPC8 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Buffalo Intl Airport, NY (KBUF), launched 12:00Z, 7.0 hours before the alert went out and 300 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, Buffalo Intl Airport, NY at 12:00Z on 2020-07-16Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 12 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°0°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Buffalo Intl Airport, NY at 12:00Z on 2020-07-16The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 171 square meters per square second.193958Sfc1 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
12 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-260 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1469 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
37 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
171 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
161 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this severe thunderstorm warning went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS State College, PA wrote its last area forecast discussion before this severe thunderstorm warning went out at Jul 16, 1:56 PM EDT, 1 hour 6 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jul 16, 1:56 PM EDT, 1 hour 6 minutes before
<!doctype html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
  <meta charset="utf-8">
  <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1">
  <title>Service Notice</title>
  <link rel="stylesheet" href="index.css">
</head>
<body>
  <main class="wrap">
    <section class="card" role="status" aria-live="polite">
      <div class="status" id="status">Temporary Notice</div>
      <h1 id="headline">This service is currently unavailable.</h1>
      <p id="message1">
        The site you requested is temporarily down for maintenance or an unexpected outage.
      </p>
      <p id="message2">
        Please try again in a few minutes.
      </p>
      <p class="small" id="detail">
        If you are an administrator, restore upstream service and remove the redirect/fallback rule when normal operations resume.
      </p>
    </section>
  </main>
  <script src="index.js"></script>
</body>
</html>
Hazardous weather outlook, Jul 16, 1:26 PM EDT, 1 hour 36 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service State College PA
126 PM EDT Thu Jul 16 2020

PAZ004>006-010-011-017-024-033-171730-
Warren-McKean-Potter-Elk-Cameron-Clearfield-Cambria-Somerset-
126 PM EDT Thu Jul 16 2020

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 378 IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM EDT THIS
EVENING...

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for central Pennsylvania.

.DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight.

Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to
weather.gov/StateCollege on the internet for more
information about the following hazards.

   Severe Thunderstorm Watch.

Localized flooding is also possible primarily in areas that can
experience rapid runoff from heavy rainfall.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday.

The probability for widespread hazardous weather is low.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotters are encouraged to report significant hazardous weather.

PAZ012-018-019-025>027-034-035-037-041-045-046-171730-
Northern Clinton-Northern Centre-Southern Centre-Blair-Huntingdon-
Mifflin-Bedford-Fulton-Tioga-Northern Lycoming-Southern Clinton-
Southern Lycoming-
126 PM EDT Thu Jul 16 2020

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for central Pennsylvania.

.DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight.

Isolated strong thunderstorms with gusty winds are possible this
afternoon and early this evening. Localized flooding is also
possible primarily in areas that can experience rapid runoff from
heavy rainfall.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday.

The probability for widespread hazardous weather is low.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotters are encouraged to report significant hazardous weather.

PAZ042-171730-
Sullivan-
126 PM EDT Thu Jul 16 2020

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for central Pennsylvania.

.DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight.

The probability for widespread hazardous weather is low.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday.

The probability for widespread hazardous weather is low.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation is not expected at this time.

PAZ028-036-049>053-056>059-063>066-171730-
Juniata-Franklin-Union-Snyder-Montour-Northumberland-Columbia-Perry-
Dauphin-Schuylkill-Lebanon-Cumberland-Adams-York-Lancaster-
126 PM EDT Thu Jul 16 2020

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for central Pennsylvania.

.DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight.

No hazardous weather is expected at this time.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday.

There will be an increased risk of heat-related illnesses across the
middle and lower Susquehanna Valley region Saturday through Tuesday.
Heat indices in excess of 100 degrees are possible and could prompt
heat advisories for portions of the region.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotters are encouraged to report significant hazardous weather.

MRS

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Jul 16, 2:34 PM EDT, 28 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service State College PA
234 PM EDT Thu Jul 16 2020

PAZ033-161900-
Somerset PA-
234 PM EDT Thu Jul 16 2020

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT PARTS OF SOMERSET COUNTY UNTIL
300 PM EDT...

At 233 PM EDT, Doppler radar indicated a strong thunderstorm near New
Centerville, moving northeast at 35 mph.

Wind gusts of up to 55 mph and half inch hail are possible.

Locations impacted include...
Somerset, Friedens, Boswell, Acosta, New Centerville, Seven Springs,
Rockwood, Jennerstown, Stoystown, Casselman and Laurel Mountain State
Park.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Torrential rainfall is also occurring ahead of this storm, and may
lead to localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through
flooded roadways.

This storm may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio
stations and available television stations for additional information
and possible warnings from the National Weather Service.

&&

LAT...LON 4009 7926 4010 7923 4012 7921 4011 7919
      4012 7917 4016 7916 4018 7913 4020 7912
      4021 7911 4009 7889 3986 7920 3993 7938
TIME...MOT...LOC 1833Z 221DEG 31KT 4000 7921

Colbert
Special weather statement, Jul 16, 2:50 PM EDT, 12 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service State College PA
250 PM EDT Thu Jul 16 2020

PAZ024-033-161915-
Somerset PA-Cambria PA-
250 PM EDT Thu Jul 16 2020

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT PARTS OF SOMERSET AND CAMBRIA
COUNTIES UNTIL 315 PM EDT...

At 250 PM EDT, Doppler radar indicated a strong thunderstorm over
Davidsville, moving northeast at 40 mph.

Wind gusts of up to 55 mph and half inch hail are possible.

Locations impacted include...
Johnstown, Westmont, Windber, Belmont, Nanty-Glo, Portage, Geistown,
Southmont, Vinco, Boswell, Dale, East Conemaugh, Salix-Beauty Line
Park, Davidsville, Beaverdale-Lloydell, Paint, Jerome, South Fork,
Scalp Level and Sidman.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

This storm may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio
stations and available television stations for additional information
and possible warnings from the National Weather Service.

&&

LAT...LON 4036 7900 4052 7891 4037 7856 4035 7860
      4033 7862 4012 7893 4019 7913
TIME...MOT...LOC 1850Z 224DEG 36KT 4025 7895

Colbert

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jul 16, 2:34 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCTPSomerset26 min
Jul 16, 2:50 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCTPCambria25 min
Jul 16, 3:15 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCTPSomerset45 min
Jul 16, 3:58 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCTPBedford32 min
Jul 16, 4:52 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCTPBedford23 min
Jul 16, 6:16 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCTPWarren44 min
Jul 16, 6:58 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCTPWarren47 min
Jul 16, 7:57 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCTPFayette18 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Pennsylvania, 2020Every severe thunderstorm warning in 2020

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.