Alert archive / Pennsylvania / Flash Flood Warnings in 2021

Flash Flood Warning 18, NWS State College, PA

August 18, 2021Dauphin County, Lancaster County, York County, Pennsylvania

NWS State College, PA issued this flash flood warning at Aug 18, 2021, 7:40 PM EDT for Dauphin County, Lancaster County, York County, Pennsylvania. It was in force for 3 hr. 2 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 18, 2021, 7:40 PM EDT (23:40 UTC)
Expired
Aug 18, 2021, 10:34 PM EDT
In force
3 hr
Issued by
NWS State College, PA
Area
Storm-based polygon
Flood severity
None

Counties Dauphin County, PA, Lancaster County, PA, York County, PA

The radar

The State College radar (KCCX), 136 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 23:39 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 18, 8:00 PM EDTFLASH FLOODYork, PANUMEROUS SUBMERGED CARS WITH RESCUES AROUND YORK.
Aug 18, 9:41 PM EDTFLOOD3 Se Landisville, PABASEMENT WALL COLLAPSE.

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, 11.7 hours before the alert went out and 139 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 2021-08-18Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 1011 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 2021-08-18The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 151 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
1011 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-1 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
592 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
30 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
151 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
175 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.6
Supercell composite
4.6

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

807 
WGUS51 KCTP 182340
FFWCTP
PAC043-071-133-190245-
/O.NEW.KCTP.FF.W.0018.210818T2340Z-210819T0245Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Flash Flood Warning
National Weather Service State College PA
740 PM EDT Wed Aug 18 2021

The National Weather Service in State College has issued a

* Flash Flood Warning for...
  Southeastern Dauphin County in south central Pennsylvania...
  Western Lancaster County in south central Pennsylvania...
  York County in south central Pennsylvania...

* Until 1045 PM EDT.

* At 740 PM EDT, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing 
  heavy rain across the warned area. Between 1 and 3 inches of rain 
  have fallen. Additional rainfall amounts up to 2 inches are 
  possible in the warned area. Flash flooding is ongoing or expected 
  to begin shortly.

  HAZARD...Flash flooding caused by thunderstorms.

  SOURCE...Radar.

  IMPACT...Flash flooding of small creeks and streams, urban
           areas, highways, streets and underpasses as well as
           other poor drainage and low-lying areas.

* Some locations that will experience flash flooding include...
  Lancaster, York, Weigelstown, Elizabethtown, Columbia, Middletown, 
  Millersville, Mount Joy, Parkville, Red Lion, Steelton, Spry, 
  Manheim, East Petersburg, Dallastown, Shiloh, East York, 
  Stonybrook-Wilshire, West York and Salunga-Landisville.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

Be aware of your surroundings and do not drive on flooded roads.

&&

LAT...LON 4016 7694 4016 7693 4017 7691 4018 7692
      4019 7693 4018 7691 4019 7691 4020 7692
      4020 7693 4021 7692 4021 7662 4020 7657
      4020 7656 4018 7633 3972 7638 3972 7675
      3977 7696

FLASH FLOOD...RADAR INDICATED

$$

CR
3 follow-up statements
325 
WGUS71 KCTP 190043
FFSCTP

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service State College PA
843 PM EDT Wed Aug 18 2021

PAC043-071-133-190245-
/O.CON.KCTP.FF.W.0018.000000T0000Z-210819T0245Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Dauphin PA-Lancaster PA-York PA-
843 PM EDT Wed Aug 18 2021

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1045 PM EDT THIS 
EVENING FOR SOUTHEASTERN DAUPHIN, WESTERN LANCASTER AND YORK 
COUNTIES...

At 843 PM EDT, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing heavy 
rain across the warned area. Flash flooding has been reported across 
the area with water rescues occurring. Additional rainfall amounts 
up to 1 inch are possible in the warned area.

HAZARD...Flash flooding caused by thunderstorms.

SOURCE...Radar.

IMPACT...Flash flooding of small creeks and streams, urban areas,
         highways, streets and underpasses as well as other poor
         drainage and low-lying areas.

Some locations that will experience flash flooding include...
  Lancaster, York, Weigelstown, Elizabethtown, Columbia, Middletown, 
  Millersville, Mount Joy, Parkville, Red Lion, Steelton, Spry, 
  Manheim, East Petersburg, Dallastown, Shiloh, East York, 
  Stonybrook-Wilshire, West York and Salunga-Landisville.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

Be especially cautious at night when it is harder to recognize the 
dangers of flooding.

&&

LAT...LON 4016 7694 4016 7693 4017 7691 4018 7692
      4019 7693 4018 7691 4019 7691 4020 7692
      4020 7693 4021 7692 4021 7662 4020 7657
      4020 7656 4018 7633 3972 7638 3972 7675
      3977 7696

FLASH FLOOD...RADAR INDICATED

$$

CR
150 
WGUS71 KCTP 190213
FFSCTP

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service State College PA
1013 PM EDT Wed Aug 18 2021

PAC043-190223-
/O.CAN.KCTP.FF.W.0018.000000T0000Z-210819T0245Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Dauphin PA-
1013 PM EDT Wed Aug 18 2021

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING IS CANCELLED FOR SOUTHEASTERN DAUPHIN 
COUNTY...

Flooding is no longer expected to pose a threat. Please continue to 
heed remaining road closures.

A Flash Flood Watch remains in effect until 200 AM EDT for a portion 
of central Pennsylvania.

LAT...LON 4006 7663 4014 7643 4016 7641 4018 7640
      4018 7633 3972 7638 3972 7675 3973 7679
      3984 7678 3994 7679 3997 7679 3998 7677
      4001 7675 4003 7671 4004 7668

$$

PAC071-133-190245-
/O.CON.KCTP.FF.W.0018.000000T0000Z-210819T0245Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Lancaster PA-York PA-
1013 PM EDT Wed Aug 18 2021

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1045 PM EDT THIS 
EVENING FOR SOUTHWESTERN LANCASTER AND SOUTHEASTERN YORK COUNTIES...

At 1013 PM EDT, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing 
heavy rain across the warned area. Between 1 and 3 inches of rain 
have fallen. Additional rainfall amounts up to 1 inch are possible 
in the warned area. Flash flooding is ongoing or expected to begin 
shortly.

HAZARD...Flash flooding caused by thunderstorms.

SOURCE...Radar.

IMPACT...Flash flooding of small creeks and streams, urban areas,
         highways, streets and underpasses as well as other poor
         drainage and low-lying areas.

Some locations that will experience flash flooding include...
  Lancaster, York, Columbia, Millersville, Mount Joy, Red Lion, 
  Spry, Manheim, East Petersburg, Dallastown, Shiloh, East York, 
  Stonybrook-Wilshire, West York, Salunga-Landisville, Maytown, 
  Shrewsbury, Grantley, Tyler Run-Queens Gate and Valley View.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

Be especially cautious at night when it is harder to recognize the 
dangers of flooding.

&&

LAT...LON 4006 7663 4014 7643 4016 7641 4018 7640
      4018 7633 3972 7638 3972 7675 3973 7679
      3984 7678 3994 7679 3997 7679 3998 7677
      4001 7675 4003 7671 4004 7668

FLASH FLOOD...RADAR INDICATED

$$

CR
461 
WGUS71 KCTP 190234
FFSCTP

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service State College PA
1034 PM EDT Wed Aug 18 2021

PAC071-133-190244-
/O.CAN.KCTP.FF.W.0018.000000T0000Z-210819T0245Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Lancaster PA-York PA-
1034 PM EDT Wed Aug 18 2021

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR SOUTHWESTERN LANCASTER AND SOUTHEASTERN 
YORK COUNTIES HAS BEEN REPLACED WITH A FLOOD WARNING...

LAT...LON 4006 7663 4014 7643 4016 7641 4018 7640
      4018 7633 3972 7638 3972 7675 3973 7679
      3984 7678 3994 7679 3997 7679 3998 7677
      4001 7675 4003 7671 4004 7668

$$

CR

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Aug 18, 9:50 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCTPBedford55 min
Aug 18, 10:25 AM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryCTPBedford3 hr
Aug 18, 10:32 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPBedford, Blair43 min
Aug 18, 10:53 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCTPCambria37 min
Aug 18, 10:57 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCTPBedford18 min
Aug 18, 11:15 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCTPBlair, Cambria30 min
Aug 18, 11:33 AM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryCTPBlair, Cambria3 hr
Aug 18, 12:04 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryCTPBedford2 hr
Aug 18, 12:11 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCTPBlair34 min
Aug 18, 12:26 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCTPSchuylkill34 min
Aug 18, 12:35 PM EDTFlash Flood Warning Considerable damage threatCTPBedford, Blair, Huntingdon3 hr
Aug 18, 12:39 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCTPCumberland36 min
Aug 18, 12:54 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPCumberland, Perry36 min
Aug 18, 1:01 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCTPHuntingdon44 min
Aug 18, 1:15 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCTPJuniata, Mifflin30 min
Aug 18, 1:31 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPJuniata, Perry44 min
Aug 18, 1:37 PM EDTFlash Flood Warning Considerable damage threatCTPBlair, Centre, Huntingdon82 min
Aug 18, 2:00 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCTPSnyder30 min
Aug 18, 2:02 PM EDTTornado WarningCTPCentre, Huntingdon28 min
Aug 18, 2:12 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPCentre, Clinton33 min
Aug 18, 2:26 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCTPCumberland, Perry34 min
Aug 18, 2:29 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCTPCentre31 min
Aug 18, 2:36 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPCumberland, Perry39 min
Aug 18, 3:03 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCTPCumberland42 min
Aug 18, 3:10 PM EDTTornado WarningCTPAdams, York40 min
Aug 18, 3:17 PM EDTAreal Flood WarningCTPBedford, Blair, Huntingdon118 min
Aug 18, 3:36 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPCumberland, Dauphin, Lancaster, York24 min
Aug 18, 3:56 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPDauphin, Juniata, Northumberland, Perry, Snyder34 min
Aug 18, 4:03 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCTPDauphin42 min
Aug 18, 4:05 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPFranklin, Fulton40 min
Aug 18, 4:30 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryCTPJuniata, Perry, Snyder4 hr
Aug 18, 4:30 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCTPSnyder30 min
Aug 18, 4:39 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPFranklin36 min
Aug 18, 4:42 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryCTPFulton, Huntingdon2 hr
Aug 18, 4:48 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryCTPCameron, Clinton, Lycoming, Potter, Tioga5 hr
Aug 18, 5:10 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPAdams, Cumberland, Franklin, Perry, York35 min
Aug 18, 5:18 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPJuniata, Mifflin45 min
Aug 18, 5:31 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPDauphin74 min
Aug 18, 5:35 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCTPLancaster25 min
Aug 18, 5:35 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPAdams40 min
Aug 18, 5:38 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPAdams, Cumberland, York37 min
Aug 18, 6:13 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPAdams, Cumberland, Dauphin, Lancaster, Perry, York47 min
Aug 18, 6:37 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryCTPAdams, Cumberland, Franklin, York2 hr
Aug 18, 6:47 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPAdams, Dauphin, Lancaster, Lebanon, Schuylkill, York43 min
Aug 18, 6:56 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCTPSchuylkill19 min
Aug 18, 7:23 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryCTPColumbia, Sullivan2 hr
Aug 18, 7:30 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCTPLancaster, York45 min
Aug 18, 7:37 PM EDTFlash Flood Warning Considerable damage threatCTPSchuylkill2 hr

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in Pennsylvania, 2021Every flash flood warning in 2021

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.