Alert archive / Pennsylvania / Snow Squall Warnings in 2020

Snow Squall Warning 4, NWS Philadelphia/Mount Holly

January 8, 20204 states

NWS Philadelphia/Mount Holly issued this snow squall warning at Jan 8, 2020, 8:28 AM EST for 4 states. It was in force for 47 min. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The outline as issued.

The facts

Issued
Jan 8, 2020, 8:28 AM EST (13:28 UTC)
Expired
Jan 8, 2020, 9:15 AM EST
In force
47 min
Issued by
NWS Philadelphia/Mount Holly
Area
Storm-based polygon

Counties New Castle County, DE, Cecil County, MD, Kent County, MD, Cumberland County, NJ, Gloucester County, NJ, Salem County, NJ, Chester County, PA, Delaware County, PA, Montgomery County, PA, Philadelphia County, PA

The radar

The Dover AFB radar (KDOX), 104 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 13:30 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

Washington/Dulle, VA (KIAD), launched 12:00Z, 1.5 hours before the alert went out and 149 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 2020-01-08Temperature 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°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Washington/Dulle, VA at 12:00Z on 2020-01-08The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 348 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
1404 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
103 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
348 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
424 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

736 
WWUS51 KPHI 081328
SQWPHI

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
Snow Squall Warning
National Weather Service Mount Holly NJ
828 AM EST Wed Jan 8 2020

PAC011-017-029-045-091-081415-
/O.NEW.KPHI.SQ.W.0003.200108T1328Z-200108T1415Z/
Berks PA-Montgomery PA-Bucks PA-Chester PA-Delaware PA-
828 AM EST Wed Jan 8 2020

The National Weather Service in Mount Holly NJ has issued a

* Snow Squall Warning for...
  Southeastern Berks County in eastern Pennsylvania...
  Montgomery County in southeastern Pennsylvania...
  Southwestern Bucks County in southeastern Pennsylvania...
  Northeastern Chester County in southeastern Pennsylvania...
  Northeastern Delaware County in southeastern Pennsylvania...

* Until 915 AM EST.

* At 828 AM EST, a dangerous snow squall was located near Elverson,
  or 11 miles southeast of Reading, moving east at 45 mph.

  HAZARD...Extremely poor visibility in heavy snow and blowing snow. 
           Wind gusts up to 30 mph.

  SOURCE...Radar indicated.

  IMPACT...Dangerous life-threatening travel.

* This includes the following highways...
   Interstate 476 in Pennsylvania between mile markers 10 and 19.
   Pennsylvania Turnpike between exits 298 and 333.
   Northeast Extension between exits A20 and A31.
   Interstate 176 in Pennsylvania between mile markers 1 and 11.
   Interstate 76 in Pennsylvania between mile markers 327 and 335.

Locations impacted include...
Reading, Norristown, Pottstown, Phoenixville, Lansdale, West
Norriton, East Norriton, Wyomissing, Conshohocken, Souderton,
Birdsboro, Collegeville, Royersford, Chalfont, Sinking Spring,
Trappe, Hatfield, Wernersville, Schwenksville and Elverson.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Consider avoiding or delaying travel until the snow squall passes
your location. If you must travel, use extra caution and allow extra
time. Rapid changes in visibility and slick road conditions may lead
to accidents.

&&

LAT...LON 4033 7520 3998 7528 4012 7592 4014 7588
      4034 7617
TIME...MOT...LOC 1328Z 274DEG 37KT 4020 7578 

$$

Staarmann
2 follow-up statements
782 
WWUS51 KPHI 081352
SQWPHI

Snow Squall Warning
National Weather Service Mount Holly NJ
850 AM EST Wed Jan 8 2020

DEC003-MDC015-029-NJC011-015-033-PAC029-045-091-101-081415-
/O.CON.KPHI.SQ.W.0004.000000T0000Z-200108T1415Z/
New Castle DE-Kent MD-Cecil MD-Cumberland NJ-Salem NJ-Gloucester NJ-
Montgomery PA-Chester PA-Philadelphia PA-Delaware PA-
850 AM EST Wed Jan 8 2020

...A SNOW SQUALL WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 915 AM EST FOR NEW
CASTLE...NORTHEASTERN KENT...CECIL...NORTHWESTERN CUMBERLAND...
SALEM...NORTHWESTERN GLOUCESTER...SOUTHEASTERN MONTGOMERY...SOUTHERN
CHESTER...SOUTHWESTERN PHILADELPHIA AND DELAWARE COUNTIES...

At 850 AM EST, a dangerous snow squall was located along a line
extending from near Kennett Square to near Middletown, moving east 
at 55 mph. Roads will rapidly become snow covered when this squall 
passes.

HAZARD...Extremely poor visibility in heavy snow.

SOURCE...Radar and webcams.

IMPACT...Dangerous life-threatening travel.

This includes the following highways...
 Interstate 295 in New Jersey between mile markers 0 and 20.
 Interstate 95 in Pennsylvania between mile markers 0 and 14.
 Interstate 95 in Maryland between mile markers 91 and 109.
 New Jersey Turnpike between exits 1 and 2.
 Interstate 95 in Delaware between mile markers 0 and 23.
 Interstate 476 in Pennsylvania between mile markers 0 and 9.

Locations impacted include...
Philadelphia, Wilmington, Newark, Bridgeton, Middletown, Elkton,
Havre De Grace, Calvert, Chester, Pennsville, Yeadon, Westtown,
Carneys Point, Folcroft, Swarthmore, Elsmere, Paulsboro, Kennett
Square, New Castle and Penns Grove.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Consider avoiding or delaying travel until the snow squall passes
your location. If you must travel, use extra caution and allow extra
time. Rapid changes in visibility and slick road conditions may lead
to accidents.

There is no safe place on a highway when a snow squall hits.
Visibility and traction are immediately lost in whiteout conditions,
making it difficult or impossible to slow down and avoid stopped
vehicles. Delay travel or safely exit the highway before the snow
squall arrives.

&&

LAT...LON 3973 7610 3986 7590 4002 7522 3936 7516
      3937 7606 3943 7600 3946 7601 3952 7598
      3955 7603 3955 7609 3959 7611 3966 7618
      3972 7620
TIME...MOT...LOC 1350Z 272DEG 48KT 3989 7566 3938 7570 

$$

JEO
675 
WWUS51 KPHI 081410
SQWPHI

Snow Squall Warning
National Weather Service Mount Holly NJ
909 AM EST Wed Jan 8 2020

DEC003-MDC015-029-NJC011-015-033-PAC029-045-091-101-081419-
/O.EXP.KPHI.SQ.W.0004.000000T0000Z-200108T1415Z/
New Castle DE-Kent MD-Cecil MD-Cumberland NJ-Salem NJ-Gloucester NJ-
Montgomery PA-Chester PA-Philadelphia PA-Delaware PA-
909 AM EST Wed Jan 8 2020

...THE SNOW SQUALL WARNING FOR NEW CASTLE...NORTHEASTERN KENT...
CECIL...NORTHWESTERN CUMBERLAND...SALEM...NORTHWESTERN GLOUCESTER...
SOUTHEASTERN MONTGOMERY...SOUTHERN CHESTER...SOUTHWESTERN
PHILADELPHIA AND DELAWARE COUNTIES WILL EXPIRE AT 915 AM EST...

The snow squall which prompted the warning has exited the area.
Therefore, the snow squall warning will be allowed to expire. Roads
will remain snow covered.

LAT...LON 3973 7610 3986 7590 4002 7522 3936 7516
      3937 7606 3943 7600 3946 7601 3952 7598
      3955 7603 3955 7609 3959 7611 3966 7618
      3972 7620
TIME...MOT...LOC 1409Z 272DEG 48KT 3988 7541 3937 7545 

$$

JEO

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jan 8, 7:44 AM ESTSnow Squall WarningPHICecil46 min
Jan 8, 7:49 AM ESTSnow Squall WarningPHICarbon, Monroe, Northampton41 min
Jan 8, 8:28 AM ESTSnow Squall WarningPHIBerks, Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery47 min
Jan 8, 8:30 AM ESTSnow Squall WarningPHIMonroe45 min
Jan 8, 11:25 AM ESTSnow Squall WarningPHIBerks35 min
Jan 8, 12:07 PM ESTSpecial Weather StatementPHIMontgomery23 min
Jan 8, 12:38 PM ESTSpecial Weather StatementPHIMontgomery, Philadelphia37 min
Jan 8, 12:49 PM ESTSnow Squall WarningPHIChester, Delaware, Montgomery, Philadelphia26 min
Jan 8, 1:48 PM ESTSnow Squall WarningPHICarbon, Monroe42 min
Jan 8, 2:05 PM ESTSpecial Weather StatementPHIMontgomery25 min
Jan 8, 2:32 PM ESTSpecial Weather StatementPHICarbon, Northampton28 min
Jan 8, 2:33 PM ESTSpecial Weather StatementPHIPhiladelphia27 min
Jan 8, 2:46 PM ESTSpecial Weather StatementPHIBerks44 min
Jan 8, 3:05 PM ESTSpecial Weather StatementPHINorthampton40 min
Jan 8, 8:48 AM ESTSnow Squall WarningPHIHunterdon, Middlesex, Morris, Somerset, Warren42 min
Jan 8, 9:14 AM ESTSnow Squall WarningPHIAtlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cumberland, Gloucester, Salem46 min
Jan 8, 9:57 AM ESTSpecial Weather StatementPHIAtlantic33 min
Jan 8, 1:08 PM ESTSnow Squall WarningPHIBurlington, Camden37 min
Jan 8, 2:10 PM ESTSpecial Weather StatementPHISussex35 min
Jan 8, 2:18 PM ESTSnow Squall WarningPHIMorris, Sussex42 min
Jan 8, 4:24 PM ESTSpecial Weather StatementPHIWarren36 min
Jan 8, 6:10 PM ESTSmall Craft AdvisoryPHI13 hr
Jan 8, 9:19 AM ESTSpecial Weather StatementPHINew Castle26 min

Nearby

Snow Squall Warnings in Pennsylvania, 2020Snow Squall Warnings in New Jersey, 2020Snow Squall Warnings in Maryland, 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.