Alert archive / Pennsylvania / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2020

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 238, NWS Philadelphia/Mount Holly

August 12, 2020Cecil County, Maryland; Chester County, Delaware County, Pennsylvania; New Castle County, Delaware

NWS Philadelphia/Mount Holly issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Aug 12, 2020, 3:20 PM EDT for Cecil County, Maryland; Chester County, Delaware County, Pennsylvania; New Castle County, Delaware. It was in force for 29 min. 3 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 12, 2020, 3:20 PM EDT (19:20 UTC)
Expired
Aug 12, 2020, 3:49 PM EDT
In force
29 min
Issued by
NWS Philadelphia/Mount Holly
Area
Storm-based polygon
Hail
0.75 in
Wind
60.0 mph

Counties New Castle County, DE, Cecil County, MD, Chester County, PA, Delaware County, PA

The radar

The Dover AFB radar (KDOX), 93 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 19:20 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

TimeReportWhereRemark
Aug 12, 3:24 PM EDTTSTM WND DMG1 Nw Toughkenamon, PADOWNED TREE IN WIRES NEAR CHURCH ROAD AND THIRD STREET. TIME ESTIMATED FROM RADAR.
Aug 12, 3:29 PM EDTTSTM WND DMGAvondale, PATREE DOWN BLOCKING BALTIMORE PIKE. TIME ESTIMATED FROM RADAR.
Aug 12, 3:33 PM EDTTSTM WND DMG1 Nw Toughkenamon, PATREE AND WIRES DOWN BLOCKING CHURCH RD AT POLO RD NEAR LOCH NAIRN GOLF LINKS. TIME ESTIMATED FROM RADAR.

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, 7.3 hours before the alert went out and 165 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, Washington/Dulle, VA at 12:00Z on 2020-08-12Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 127 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Washington/Dulle, VA at 12:00Z on 2020-08-12The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 0 square meters per square second.1939Sfc1 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
127 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-149 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1202 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
15 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
0 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
48 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

321 
WUUS51 KPHI 121920
SVRPHI
DEC003-MDC015-PAC029-045-122000-
/O.NEW.KPHI.SV.W.0238.200812T1920Z-200812T2000Z/

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
National Weather Service Mount Holly NJ
320 PM EDT Wed Aug 12 2020

The National Weather Service in Mount Holly NJ has issued a

* Severe Thunderstorm Warning for...
  Northern New Castle County in northern Delaware...
  Northeastern Cecil County in northeastern Maryland...
  Southern Chester County in southeastern Pennsylvania...
  Southwestern Delaware County in southeastern Pennsylvania...

* Until 400 PM EDT.

* At 320 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm was located over Kemblesville,
  or 8 miles northwest of Newark, moving east at 20 mph.

  HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts.

  SOURCE...Radar indicated.

  IMPACT...Damage to roofs, siding, trees, and power lines is 
           possible.

* Locations impacted include...
  Wilmington, Newark, West Chester, Elkton, Calvert, Pennsville,
  Westtown, Elsmere, Kennett Square, New Castle, Penns Grove, Oxford,
  North East, West Grove, Rising Sun, Delaware City, Charlestown,
  Newport, Arden and Glen Roy.

This includes the following highways...
 Interstate 95 in Delaware between mile markers 0 and 20.
 Interstate 95 in Maryland between mile markers 91 and 109.
 Interstate 295 in New Jersey near mile marker 0.

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.

For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a
building.

In addition to damaging winds, frequent cloud to ground lightning is 
occurring with this storm. Move indoors immediately. Remember, if 
you can hear thunder, you are close enough to be struck by lightning.

&&

LAT...LON 3980 7604 3999 7549 3973 7547 3969 7551
      3962 7547 3962 7549 3964 7549 3966 7552
      3963 7556 3960 7556 3960 7552 3959 7554
      3957 7550 3954 7553 3951 7598 3952 7598
      3955 7602 3955 7609 3960 7613
TIME...MOT...LOC 1920Z 248DEG 18KT 3978 7583 

HAIL...<.75IN
WIND...60MPH
 
$$

Gorse
2 follow-up statements
260 
WWUS51 KPHI 121940
SVSPHI

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Mount Holly NJ
340 PM EDT Wed Aug 12 2020

DEC003-MDC015-PAC029-045-122000-
/O.CON.KPHI.SV.W.0238.000000T0000Z-200812T2000Z/
New Castle DE-Cecil MD-Chester PA-Delaware PA-
340 PM EDT Wed Aug 12 2020

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 400 PM EDT
FOR NORTHERN NEW CASTLE...NORTHEASTERN CECIL...SOUTHERN CHESTER AND
SOUTHWESTERN DELAWARE COUNTIES...

At 339 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm was located over Hockessin, or 7
miles north of Newark, moving east at 20 mph.

HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Damage to roofs, siding, trees, and power lines is 
         possible.

Locations impacted include...
Wilmington, Newark, West Chester, Elkton, Calvert, Pennsville,
Westtown, Elsmere, Kennett Square, New Castle, Penns Grove, Oxford,
North East, West Grove, Rising Sun, Delaware City, Charlestown,
Newport, Arden and Glen Roy.

This includes the following highways...
 Interstate 95 in Delaware between mile markers 0 and 20.
 Interstate 95 in Maryland between mile markers 91 and 109.
 Interstate 295 in New Jersey near mile marker 0.

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.

For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a
building.

Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with this storm. Move
indoors immediately. Lightning is one of nature's leading killers.
Remember, if you can hear thunder, you are close enough to be struck
by lightning.

&&

LAT...LON 3980 7604 3999 7549 3973 7547 3969 7551
      3962 7547 3962 7549 3964 7549 3966 7552
      3963 7556 3960 7556 3960 7552 3959 7554
      3957 7550 3954 7553 3951 7598 3952 7598
      3955 7602 3955 7609 3960 7613
TIME...MOT...LOC 1939Z 262DEG 17KT 3978 7571 

HAIL...<.75IN
WIND...60MPH
 
$$

Gorse
780 
WWUS51 KPHI 121949
SVSPHI

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Mount Holly NJ
349 PM EDT Wed Aug 12 2020

DEC003-MDC015-PAC029-045-121958-
/O.CAN.KPHI.SV.W.0238.000000T0000Z-200812T2000Z/
New Castle DE-Cecil MD-Chester PA-Delaware PA-
349 PM EDT Wed Aug 12 2020

...THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR NORTHERN NEW CASTLE...
NORTHEASTERN CECIL...SOUTHERN CHESTER AND SOUTHWESTERN DELAWARE
COUNTIES IS CANCELLED...
                
The storms which prompted the warning has weakened below severe 
limits, and no longer poses an immediate threat to life or property.
Therefore, the warning has been cancelled.  However gusty winds and
heavy rain are still possible with these thunderstorms.

LAT...LON 3980 7604 3999 7549 3973 7547 3969 7551
      3962 7547 3962 7549 3964 7549 3966 7552
      3963 7556 3960 7556 3960 7552 3959 7554
      3957 7550 3954 7553 3951 7598 3952 7598
      3955 7602 3955 7609 3960 7613
TIME...MOT...LOC 1947Z 248DEG 18KT 3980 7565 

$$

Gorse

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Aug 12, 12:43 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryPHICecil3 hr
Aug 12, 12:55 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryPHICecil, Kent3 hr
Aug 12, 3:06 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryPHICaroline, Queen Anne's3 hr
Aug 12, 3:36 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningPHICecil108 min
Aug 12, 3:46 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningPHICaroline3 hr
Aug 12, 4:02 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementPHICaroline28 min
Aug 12, 4:11 PM EDTAreal Flood WarningPHICaroline, Talbot3 hr
Aug 12, 4:43 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryPHICecil, Kent54 min
Aug 12, 11:48 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementPHIPhiladelphia27 min
Aug 12, 1:12 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPHIChester, Delaware, Montgomery, Philadelphia48 min
Aug 12, 1:47 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningPHIChester, Delaware2 hr
Aug 12, 1:54 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPHIChester, Delaware, Montgomery, Philadelphia51 min
Aug 12, 2:04 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPHIBucks, Montgomery, Philadelphia21 min
Aug 12, 2:40 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningPHIChester, Delaware, Montgomery, Philadelphia3 hr
Aug 12, 2:44 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPHIDelaware, Philadelphia46 min
Aug 12, 5:04 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryPHILehigh, Northampton56 min
Aug 12, 5:09 PM EDTAreal Flood WarningPHIBerks51 min
Aug 12, 12:55 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementPHIKent35 min
Aug 12, 1:06 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningPHIKent, New Castle3 hr
Aug 12, 1:37 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryPHINew Castle3 hr
Aug 12, 2:38 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPHIKent52 min
Aug 12, 3:15 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPHIKent, Sussex45 min
Aug 12, 3:31 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningPHIKent3 hr
Aug 12, 4:00 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementPHIKent30 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Pennsylvania, 2020Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Maryland, 2020Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Delaware, 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; local storm reports from the same archive; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.