Alert archive / Pennsylvania / Flash Flood Warnings in 2020

Flash Flood Warning 30, NWS Philadelphia/Mount Holly

August 2, 2020Berks County, Pennsylvania

NWS Philadelphia/Mount Holly issued this flash flood warning at Aug 2, 2020, 4:42 AM EDT for Berks County, Pennsylvania. It was in force for 4 hr. 25 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 2, 2020, 4:42 AM EDT (08:42 UTC)
Expired: Aug 2, 2020, 8:45 AM EDT
In force: 4 hr
Issued by: NWS Philadelphia/Mount Holly
Area: Storm-based polygon
Flood severity: None

County Berks County, PA

The radar

The Philadelphia radar (KDIX), 161 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 08:44 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 2, 5:45 AM EDT	FLASH FLOOD	1 Ssw Bernville, PA	TWO VEHICLES STRANDED NEAR THE INTERSECTION OF N HEIDLEBERG RD AND FAIRWAY DR. WATER RESCUE IN PROGRESS WITH AT LEAST 2 PEOPLE TRAPPED AND ONE OF THE VEHICLES FLOATING.
Aug 2, 6:54 AM EDT	FLASH FLOOD	Kutztown, PA	FAIRVIEW DR UNDER MOVING WATER FROM VIDEO ON SOCIAL MEDIA IN KUTZTOWN.
Aug 2, 6:59 AM EDT	FLASH FLOOD	1 Wnw Temple, PA	WATER RESCUE WITH WATER UP TO THE WINDSHIELD OF TRUCK IN ONTELAUNEE TWP.
Aug 2, 7:04 AM EDT	FLASH FLOOD	1 W Fleetwood, PA	3 FEET OF WATER IN BASEMENT OF STRUCTURE NEAR RICHMOND TOWNSHIP.
Aug 2, 7:09 AM EDT	FLASH FLOOD	Fleetwood, PA	WATER OVER THE ROAD ON MAIN ST IN FLEETWOOD FROM PICTURE ON SOCIAL MEDIA.
Aug 2, 7:13 AM EDT	FLASH FLOOD	1 Wnw Fleetwood, PA	WATER RESCUE AT INTERSECTION OF FOREST AND SPRING ST IN FLEETWOOD.
Aug 2, 7:17 AM EDT	FLASH FLOOD	2 Wsw Richmond Twp, PA	BASEMENT FLOODED UP TO THE FIRST FLOOR IN MAIDENCREEK TWP.
Aug 2, 7:23 AM EDT	FLASH FLOOD	1 Nnw Blandon, PA	WATER OUT OF THE BANKS OF CREEK AND OVER THE BRIDGE ON CORNERSTONE DR IN BLANDON FROM PICTURE ON SOCIAL MEDIA.
Aug 2, 7:23 AM EDT	FLASH FLOOD	Muhlenberg Twp, PA	MOVING WATER OVER THE ROAD AT THE INTERSECTION OF HAIN AVE AND LAUREL RUN AVE IN READING FROM SOCIAL MEDIA.
Aug 2, 7:30 AM EDT	FLASH FLOOD	1 Sse Muhlenberg Twp, PA	RT 12 CLOSED DUE TO WATER OVER THE ROAD BETWEEN 61 AND 5TH STREET.
Aug 2, 7:36 AM EDT	FLASH FLOOD	Blandon, PA	WATER CAME OUT OF THE BANKS OF WILLOW CREEK AND FLOODED NUMEROUS BACKYARDS ALONG BLANDON MEADOWS IN BLANDON. PICTURE FROM SOCIAL MEDIA.
Aug 2, 7:40 AM EDT	FLASH FLOOD	1 Sw Maiden Creek, PA	HIGHWAY 222 FLOODED ACROSS THE ROAD AT THE DRIES RD INTERSECTION IN MAIDENCREEK.
Aug 2, 7:50 AM EDT	FLASH FLOOD	Laureldale, PA	TRAINED SPOTTER REPORTS MULTIPLE AREAS OF SEVERE FLASH FLOODING IN LAURELDALE AND MUHLENBERG TWP. SEVERAL WATER RESCUES REPORTED AND TREE LIMBS DOWN AS WELL.
Aug 2, 7:53 AM EDT	FLASH FLOOD	1 Ssw Temple, PA	WATER OVER THE ROAD AT THE INTERSECTION OF 6TH AND DARBY IN MUHLENBERG TWP. VIDEO FROM SOCIAL MEDIA.
Aug 2, 7:55 AM EDT	FLASH FLOOD	Blandon, PA	SOCIAL MEDIA PHOTOS SHOW A LARGE SECTION OF A NEIGHBORHOOD ROADWAY FLOODED IN BLANDON.
Aug 2, 8:00 AM EDT	HEAVY RAIN 4.2	Sinking Spring, PA
Aug 2, 8:00 AM EDT	HEAVY RAIN 5.69	Reading Regional Airpor, PA	A TOTAL OF 5.69 INCHES SO FAR, OF WHICH 3.44 INCHES FELL WITHIN AN HOUR.
Aug 2, 8:03 AM EDT	HEAVY RAIN 2.19	1 Ssw Spring Twp, PA	MESONET STATION CW4113 SINKING SPRING.
Aug 2, 8:06 AM EDT	FLASH FLOOD	1 N Temple, PA	WILLOW CREEK FLOWING OUT OF ITS BANKS AND CAUSING MOVING WATER OVER ROADS NEAR BERKS TRANSFER IN READING. VIDEO FROM SOCIAL MEDIA.
Aug 2, 8:08 AM EDT	FLASH FLOOD	Blandon, PA	ROUTE 73 CLOSED AT THE RAILROAD TRACKS DUE TO WATER OVER THE ROAD IN BRANDON. REPORT FROM SOCIAL MEDIA.
Aug 2, 8:15 AM EDT	FLASH FLOOD	Wyomissing, PA	RETENTION BASIN AT THE CLOVER LEAF IS FLOODED AT SR 222 AND STATE HILL RD WITH MULTIPLE VEHICLES UNDER WATER.
Aug 2, 8:30 AM EDT	FLASH FLOOD	1 W Temple, PA	A SINKHOLE APPROXIMATELY 20 FEET IN DIAMETER AND AT LEAST 8 FEET DEEP DEVELOPED AT US 222 AND SR 61.
Aug 2, 8:34 AM EDT	HEAVY RAIN 3.1	1 W Maiden Creek, PA	MESONET STATION LSPRT LEESPORT.
Aug 2, 8:34 AM EDT	HEAVY RAIN 3.63	1 Wnw West Lawn, PA	MESONET STATION WSTLW WEST LAWN.
Aug 2, 8:35 AM EDT	HEAVY RAIN 2.45	2 Nw Sinking Spring, PA	MESONET STATION SNKNG SINKING SPRING (WILSON W).

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, 8.7 hours before the alert went out and 202 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: 878 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -13 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 1054 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 31 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 73 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 146 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 0.3
Supercell composite: 2.7

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

870 
WGUS51 KPHI 020842
FFWPHI
PAC011-021245-
/O.NEW.KPHI.FF.W.0030.200802T0842Z-200802T1245Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Flash Flood Warning
National Weather Service Mount Holly NJ
442 AM EDT Sun Aug 2 2020

The National Weather Service in Mount Holly NJ has issued a

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

* Until 845 AM EDT.

* At 442 AM EDT, Doppler radar and automated gauges indicated
  thunderstorms producing heavy rain across the warned area. Up to
  two inches of rain have already fallen. Flash flooding is ongoing
  or expected to begin shortly.

  HAZARD...Flash flooding caused by thunderstorms.

  SOURCE...Radar and automated gauges.

  IMPACT...Flooding of small creeks and streams, urban areas, 
           highways, streets and underpasses as well as other 
           drainage and low lying areas.

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

Additional rainfall amounts of 1 to 2 inches are possible in the 
warned area.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Protecting yourself from immediate threats to life and safety shall
take priority.  Whenever possible, as long as it does not cause
greater harm, all COVID-19 protective action guidance should be
followed.

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

&&

LAT...LON 4052 7634 4052 7625 4054 7618 4054 7617
      4058 7605 4057 7602 4063 7599 4052 7572
      4024 7603 4036 7621 4045 7637 4049 7643

FLASH FLOOD...RADAR AND GAUGE INDICATED

$$

JEO

1 follow-up statement

719 
WGUS71 KPHI 020957
FFSPHI

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Mount Holly NJ
557 AM EDT Sun Aug 2 2020

PAC011-021245-
/O.CON.KPHI.FF.W.0030.000000T0000Z-200802T1245Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Berks PA-
557 AM EDT Sun Aug 2 2020

...THE FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 845 AM EDT FOR
CENTRAL BERKS COUNTY...

At 554 AM EDT, emergency management reported thunderstorms producing 
heavy rain in portions of Berks County. Water rescues with multiple 
vehicles stranded have been reported near Bernville. Up to 4 inches 
of rain have now fallen with heavy rain still ongoing. Flash 
flooding is occurring and will continue this morning.

HAZARD...Life threatening flash flooding. Heavy rain producing flash 
         flooding.

SOURCE...Emergency management.

IMPACT...Life threatening flash flooding of creeks and streams, 
         urban areas, highways, streets and underpasses.

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

Additional rainfall amounts of 1 to 2 inches are possible in the 
warned area.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Protecting yourself from immediate threats to life and safety shall
take priority.  Whenever possible, as long as it does not cause
greater harm, all COVID-19 protective action guidance should be
followed.

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

&&

LAT...LON 4052 7634 4052 7625 4054 7618 4054 7617
      4058 7605 4057 7602 4063 7599 4052 7572
      4024 7603 4036 7621 4045 7637 4049 7643

FLASH FLOOD...OBSERVED
FLASH FLOOD DAMAGE THREAT...CONSIDERABLE

$$

JEO

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Aug 2, 3:32 AM EDT	Areal Flood Advisory	PHI	Berks	4 hr
Aug 2, 6:30 AM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	PHI	Berks, Lehigh	45 min
Aug 2, 6:37 AM EDT	Tornado Warning	PHI	Berks, Lehigh	23 min
Aug 2, 6:56 AM EDT	Tornado Warning	PHI	Berks, Lehigh	34 min
Aug 2, 7:13 AM EDT	Areal Flood Advisory	PHI	Berks, Lehigh, Northampton	3 hr
Aug 2, 7:29 AM EDT	Special Weather Statement	PHI	Lehigh	31 min
Aug 2, 7:34 AM EDT	Areal Flood Advisory	PHI	Bucks, Lehigh, Northampton	3 hr
Aug 2, 7:39 AM EDT	Tornado Warning	PHI	Bucks, Lehigh, Northampton	36 min
Aug 2, 7:49 AM EDT	Areal Flood Advisory	PHI	Berks, Carbon, Lehigh, Monroe, Northampton	84 min
Aug 2, 7:54 AM EDT	Special Weather Statement	PHI	Lehigh	36 min
Aug 2, 8:24 AM EDT	Special Weather Statement	PHI	Lehigh	36 min
Aug 2, 8:28 AM EDT	Areal Flood Warning	PHI	Berks	3 hr
Aug 2, 8:46 AM EDT	Areal Flood Advisory	PHI	Northampton	3 hr
Aug 2, 3:33 PM EDT	Flash Flood Watch	PHI	Berks, Bucks, Carbon, Chester, Delaware, Lehigh and 4 more	48 hr
Aug 2, 5:04 PM EDT	Tropical Storm Watch	PHI	Bucks, Delaware, Montgomery, Philadelphia	18 hr
Aug 2, 5:14 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	PHI	Carbon, Monroe	31 min
Aug 2, 5:51 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	PHI	Lehigh, Northampton	39 min
Aug 2, 6:29 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	PHI	Northampton	31 min

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in Pennsylvania, 2020 Every flash flood 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; local storm reports from the same archive; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.