Alert archive / Pennsylvania / Snow Squall Warnings in 2020

Snow Squall Warning 15, NWS State College, PA

January 8, 2020Blair County, Centre County, Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania

NWS State College, PA issued this snow squall warning at Jan 8, 2020, 9:28 AM EST for Blair County, Centre County, Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania. It was in force for 22 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
Jan 8, 2020, 9:28 AM EST (14:28 UTC)
Expired
Jan 8, 2020, 9:50 AM EST
In force
22 min
Issued by
NWS State College, PA
Area
Storm-based polygon

Counties Blair County, PA, Centre County, PA, Huntingdon County, PA

The radar

The State College radar (KCCX), 36 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 14:29 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 nearest sounding before it

Pittsburgh, PA (KPIT), launched 12:00Z, 2.5 hours before the alert went out and 175 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 2020-01-08Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 0 joules per kilogram.LCL10008507005003002001001 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, Pittsburgh, PA at 12:00Z on 2020-01-08The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 192 square meters per square second.1939587897117Sfc1 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
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
No buoyant parcel
Mixed-layer LCL
1232 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
92 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
192 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
264 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 snow squall 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 snow squall warning went out at Jan 8, 7:05 AM EST, 2 hours 23 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jan 8, 7:05 AM EST, 2 hours 23 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service State College PA
705 AM EST Wed Jan 8 2020

.SYNOPSIS...
Gusty northwest winds and a few snow squalls are likely across
much of the region this morning into this afternoon, along with
steadily falling temperatures in the afternoon.

High pressure moving over the area will bring dry and tranquil
conditions for Wednesday night and Thursday. A warm up will
occur by late in the week, followed by several bouts of rain for
the Friday through Sunday period as waves of low pressure ride
northeast along a nearly stationary frontal boundary just to our
west.

&&

.NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 PM THIS EVENING/...
Heavy snow showers and squalls came to fruition in the pre dawn
hours. Focus for the daytime remains snow squall potential as
vigorous cold front crosses the I80 region, accompanied by CAPE
to 150 J/kg and isallobaric couplet. During the daylight hours,
sfc temperatures will be conducive to flash freezes over the
Alleghenies, but marginal to produce flash freezes over the
east/southeast. Heavy snow bursts and wind gusts will be
sufficient to produce scattered whiteout conditions thanks to
ribbon of CAPE and isallobaric couplet. Instability and forcing
decrease by mid to late this afternoon with a more stable NW
flow bringing typical post- frontal lake effect regime into
western and northern PA.

&&

.SHORT TERM /6 PM THIS EVENING THROUGH 6 PM THURSDAY/...
Lake-enhanced, orographic snow showers over the northwest
mountains will cut off tonight as high pressure builds into
Central PA by morning. South and east will be dry with clearing
skies.

&&

.LONG TERM /THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY/...
High pressure will drift over central PA Thursday bringing dry
and chilly weather. As the high moves offshore later Thursday,
warm warm advection and southwesterly flow will develop. Precip
looks to move into northwest zones early Friday morning and then
spread east. A few pockets may be cold enough for a wintry mix
to fall for a short time, but temperatures in most places will
rise quickly above freezing. Light rain can be expected Friday,
especially across the north while temperatures rise well above
normal. Rain will continue through Saturday and Saturday night
as temperatures rise well into the 50s and even lower 60s. It
will cool off Sunday and Monday as a cold front moves through
but temps will remain above normal. Next system may bring some
clouds and chance of rain later Monday into Tuesday.

&&

.AVIATION /12Z WEDNESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/...
Expect snow showers and squalls to continue to impact CPA
airspace this morning. Localized squalls will produce quick vis
reductions down to or below airfield minimums through midday.
Sfc wind gusts increasing 25-35kts from the northwest (280-320
degrees) before subsiding by tonight. Low cigs should persist
across the northwest airspace early tonight before trending VFR
into Thursday.

.Outlook...

Thu...VFR and dry during the day. Mixed precipitation possible
Thursday night.

Fri...AM mixed precipitation possible changing to rain.

Sat...Rain with MVFR and IFR conditions possible.

Sun...Chance of rain and snow showers.

&&

.CTP WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
None.

&&

SYNOPSIS...DeVoir/Lambert/Martin
NEAR TERM...DeVoir/Lambert
SHORT TERM...DeVoir/Lambert/Martin
LONG TERM...Watson/Travis
AVIATION...Steinbugl
Hazardous weather outlook, Jan 8, 4:21 AM EST, 5 hours 7 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service State College PA
421 AM EST Wed Jan 8 2020

PAZ004>006-010-011-017-090930-
Warren-McKean-Potter-Elk-Cameron-Clearfield-
421 AM EST Wed Jan 8 2020

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for central Pennsylvania.

.DAY ONE...Today and tonight.

Locally heavy snow showers and brief squalls are possible this
morning into this afternoon. Some squalls could reduce visibility to
near zero for brief periods of time.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday.

The probability for widespread hazardous weather is low.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation is not expected at this time.

PAZ028-036-042-049>053-056>059-063>066-090930-
Juniata-Franklin-Sullivan-Union-Snyder-Montour-Northumberland-
Columbia-Perry-Dauphin-Schuylkill-Lebanon-Cumberland-Adams-York-
Lancaster-
421 AM EST Wed Jan 8 2020

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for central Pennsylvania.

.DAY ONE...Today and tonight.

Locally heavy snow showers and a brief squall is possible late this
morning and afternoon. Visibility could be reduced below one quarter
mile for brief periods of time this afternoon.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday.

No hazardous weather is expected at this time.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation is not expected at this time.

PAZ024-033-090930-
Cambria-Somerset-
421 AM EST Wed Jan 8 2020

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for central Pennsylvania.

.DAY ONE...Today and tonight.

Locally heavy snow showers and brief squalls are possible this
morning into this afternoon. Some squalls could reduce visibility to
near zero for brief periods of time.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday.

The probability for widespread hazardous weather is low.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation is not expected at this time.

PAZ012-018-019-025>027-034-035-037-041-045-046-090930-
Northern Clinton-Northern Centre-Southern Centre-Blair-Huntingdon-
Mifflin-Bedford-Fulton-Tioga-Northern Lycoming-Southern Clinton-
Southern Lycoming-
421 AM EST Wed Jan 8 2020

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for central Pennsylvania.

.DAY ONE...Today and tonight.

Locally heavy snow showers and brief squalls are possible this
morning into this afternoon. Some squalls could reduce visibility to
near zero for brief periods of time.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday.

No hazardous weather is expected at this time.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation is not expected at this time.

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Jan 8, 6:53 AM EST, 2 hours 35 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service State College PA
653 AM EST Wed Jan 8 2020

PAZ017-024>028-056-057-059-081300-
Perry PA-Clearfield PA-Blair PA-Cambria PA-Juniata PA-Lebanon PA-
Huntingdon PA-Mifflin PA-Dauphin PA-
653 AM EST Wed Jan 8 2020

...AN AREA OF HEAVY SNOW SHOWERS WILL AFFECT PARTS OF PERRY...
CLEARFIELD...BLAIR...CAMBRIA...JUNIATA...LEBANON...HUNTINGDON
...MIFFLIN...AND DAUPHIN COUNTIES...

HAZARDS...An area of heavy snow showers which can rapidly reduce
visibility to less than a quarter of a mile.

LOCATION AND MOVEMENT...At 652 AM EST, an area of heavy snow
showers was along a line extending from near Walnut to near Whipple
Dam State Park to near Ford City and moving east at 70 MPH.

THIS AREA OF HEAVY SNOW SHOWERS WILL BE NEAR...
  Mexico, Mcalevys Fort and Belleville around 700 AM EST.
  Strodes Mills around 705 AM EST.
  Lewistown, Burnham and Highland Park around 710 AM EST.
  Alfarata, New Buffalo and Walnut around 715 AM EST.
  Dehart Dam and Mcalisterville around 725 AM EST.
  Northern Cambria, Fort Indiantown Gap and Hastings around 730 AM
  EST.

This includes the following Interstates...
 Interstate 81 from mile markers 92 to 95.
 Interstate 99 from mile markers 34 to 55.

SAFETY INFO...
Conditions can deteriorate rapidly in winter weather situations. Be
prepared for snow or ice covered roads. Slow down and allow extra
time to reach your destination.

&&

LAT...LON 4049 7643 4043 7670 4051 7847 4052 7859
      4058 7888 4072 7880 4077 7881 4073 7836
      4074 7809 4069 7794 4073 7787 4068 7735
TIME...MOT...LOC 1152Z 278DEG 60KT 4058 7749 4066 7793 4073 7958

DeVoir
Special weather statement, Jan 8, 8:06 AM EST, 1 hour 22 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service State College PA
806 AM EST Wed Jan 8 2020

PAZ018-019-025>027-049-050-052-081400-
Northern Centre PA-Union PA-Northumberland PA-Blair PA-Huntingdon PA-
Mifflin PA-Snyder PA-Southern Centre PA-
806 AM EST Wed Jan 8 2020

...SNOW SQUALL...

HAZARDS...A snow squall which can rapidly reduce visibility to less
than a quarter of a mile.

LOCATION AND MOVEMENT...At 804 AM EST, a snow squall was along a
line extending from near Loganton to Philipsburg and moving
southeast at 30 MPH.

THIS SQUALL WILL BE NEAR...
  Woodward and Weikert around 810 AM EST.
  Laurelton Center around 815 AM EST.
  Troxelville around 820 AM EST.
  Stormstown, Forest Hill and Sand Bridge State Park around 825 AM
  EST.
  Mifflinburg, Penns Creek and Julian around 830 AM EST.
  Park Forest Village, Ramblewood and Vicksburg around 835 AM EST.

This includes Interstate 99 from mile markers 50 to 84 and Route 322
from Philipsburg to Reedsville.

SAFETY INFO...
Use extra caution if you must travel into or through this squall.
Rapid changes in visibility and potentially slick roads are likely to
lead to accidents. Consider delaying travel until this squall passes
your location.

Conditions can deteriorate rapidly in winter weather situations. Be
prepared for snow or ice covered roads. Slow down and allow extra
time to reach your destination.

&&

LAT...LON 4063 7809 4071 7826 4084 7830 4086 7825
      4088 7824 4099 7716 4104 7688 4095 7679
      4095 7678 4075 7656
TIME...MOT...LOC 1304Z 296DEG 26KT 4096 7728 4089 7818

Dangelo
Special weather statement, Jan 8, 8:40 AM EST, 48 minutes before
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Special weather statement, Jan 8, 8:41 AM EST, 47 minutes before
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Special weather statement, Jan 8, 8:51 AM EST, 37 minutes before
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Special weather statement, Jan 8, 9:04 AM EST, 24 minutes before
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The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jan 8, 12:48 AM ESTSpecial Weather StatementCTPHuntingdon57 min
Jan 8, 2:49 AM ESTSpecial Weather StatementCTPClearfield56 min
Jan 8, 3:57 AM ESTSpecial Weather StatementCTPMcKean, Warren63 min
Jan 8, 4:24 AM ESTSpecial Weather StatementCTPClearfield66 min
Jan 8, 5:02 AM ESTSpecial Weather StatementCTPLycoming43 min
Jan 8, 5:07 AM ESTSpecial Weather StatementCTPCameron, Elk, McKean, Potter68 min
Jan 8, 5:13 AM ESTSpecial Weather StatementCTPBedford, Fulton, Somerset62 min
Jan 8, 5:23 AM ESTSnow Squall WarningCTPCentre, Clearfield, Clinton, Lycoming67 min
Jan 8, 5:41 AM ESTSnow Squall WarningCTPClearfield, Elk49 min
Jan 8, 5:50 AM ESTSpecial Weather StatementCTPMifflin55 min
Jan 8, 5:52 AM ESTSnow Squall WarningCTPCentre, Clinton, Columbia, Lycoming, Montour, Northumberland and 1 more53 min
Jan 8, 6:25 AM ESTSnow Squall WarningCTPCameron, Centre, Clearfield, Clinton50 min
Jan 8, 6:40 AM ESTSpecial Weather StatementCTPAdams, Bedford, Franklin, Fulton, Somerset65 min
Jan 8, 6:44 AM ESTSnow Squall WarningCTPColumbia, Lycoming, Montour, Northumberland, Union46 min
Jan 8, 6:48 AM ESTSnow Squall WarningCTPClinton, Lycoming, Northumberland, Union42 min
Jan 8, 6:53 AM ESTSpecial Weather StatementCTPJuniata, Mifflin67 min
Jan 8, 7:07 AM ESTSnow Squall WarningCTPBedford, Franklin, Fulton, Somerset23 min
Jan 8, 7:12 AM ESTSnow Squall WarningCTPCentre, Clearfield, Clinton48 min
Jan 8, 7:24 AM ESTSnow Squall WarningCTPYork51 min
Jan 8, 7:31 AM ESTSnow Squall WarningCTPAdams, Cumberland, Franklin44 min
Jan 8, 7:41 AM ESTSnow Squall WarningCTPCentre, Clearfield, Clinton, Union34 min
Jan 8, 8:06 AM ESTSpecial Weather StatementCTPCentre, Northumberland, Snyder, Union54 min
Jan 8, 8:11 AM ESTSnow Squall WarningCTPBedford, Franklin, Fulton49 min
Jan 8, 8:14 AM ESTSnow Squall WarningCTPAdams, York46 min
Jan 8, 8:27 AM ESTSnow Squall WarningCTPCentre, Mifflin48 min
Jan 8, 8:40 AM ESTSpecial Weather StatementCTPHuntingdon65 min
Jan 8, 8:41 AM ESTSpecial Weather StatementCTPClearfield34 min
Jan 8, 8:51 AM ESTSpecial Weather StatementCTPAdams, Bedford, Franklin, Fulton24 min
Jan 8, 9:04 AM ESTSpecial Weather StatementCTPCentre41 min
Jan 8, 9:34 AM ESTSpecial Weather StatementCTPMcKean56 min
Jan 8, 9:39 AM ESTSpecial Weather StatementCTPTioga51 min
Jan 8, 9:46 AM ESTSpecial Weather StatementCTPClearfield29 min
Jan 8, 9:55 AM ESTSnow Squall WarningCTPHuntingdon, Juniata, Mifflin, Perry35 min
Jan 8, 10:09 AM ESTSpecial Weather StatementCTPCentre36 min
Jan 8, 10:15 AM ESTSpecial Weather StatementCTPHuntingdon60 min
Jan 8, 10:26 AM ESTSpecial Weather StatementCTPCentre49 min
Jan 8, 10:35 AM ESTSpecial Weather StatementCTPJuniata40 min
Jan 8, 10:58 AM ESTSpecial Weather StatementCTPBlair62 min
Jan 8, 11:02 AM ESTSpecial Weather StatementCTPDauphin, Lebanon58 min
Jan 8, 11:38 AM ESTSpecial Weather StatementCTPJuniata, Mifflin22 min
Jan 8, 11:45 AM ESTSpecial Weather StatementCTPLancaster60 min
Jan 8, 11:56 AM ESTSpecial Weather StatementCTPLebanon19 min
Jan 8, 12:00 PM ESTSpecial Weather StatementCTPJuniata, Mifflin45 min
Jan 8, 1:22 PM ESTSpecial Weather StatementCTPClearfield23 min
Jan 8, 1:32 PM ESTSpecial Weather StatementCTPPerry28 min
Jan 8, 1:51 PM ESTSpecial Weather StatementCTPClearfield24 min
Jan 8, 2:53 PM ESTSpecial Weather StatementCTPFranklin22 min

Nearby

Snow Squall Warnings in Pennsylvania, 2020Every snow squall 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.