Alert archive / Pennsylvania / Flash Flood Warnings in 2021

Flash Flood Warning 42, NWS Philadelphia/Mount Holly

August 18, 2021Bucks County, Chester County, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania

NWS Philadelphia/Mount Holly issued this flash flood warning at Aug 18, 2021, 10:50 PM EDT for Bucks County, Chester County, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. It was in force for 4 hr. 11 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, 10:50 PM EDT (02:50 UTC)
Expired
Aug 19, 2021, 3:00 AM EDT
In force
4 hr
Issued by
NWS Philadelphia/Mount Holly
Area
Storm-based polygon
Flood severity
None

Counties Bucks County, PA, Chester County, PA, Montgomery County, PA

The radar

The Philadelphia radar (KDIX), 102 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 02:49 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, 11:34 PM EDTHEAVY RAIN 3.65Exton, PA3 INCHES HAS FALLEN SINCE 10 PM.
Aug 19, 12:06 AM EDTFLASH FLOOD1 Sw Phoenixville, PATWO VEHICLES STRANDED IN FLOOD WATERS NEAR THE INTERSECTION OF MADISON AVE AND TYLER AVE.
Aug 19, 12:08 AM EDTFLASH FLOOD2 Sw East Whiteland Twp, PAWATER RESCUE IN THE AREA OF ROUTE 202 AT ROUTE 30 BYPASS.
Aug 19, 12:24 AM EDTFLASH FLOODExton, PADELAYED REPORT. SEVERAL VEHICLES STUCK ON LINCOLN HIGHWAY NEAR POTTSTOWN PIKE FROM WATER AND DEBRIS. TIME BASED ON DISPATCH REPORT.
Aug 19, 12:27 AM EDTFLASH FLOODWest Chester, PAWATER RESCUE NEAR THE INTERSECTION OF MONTGOMERY AVE AND E GAY ST.
Aug 19, 12:55 AM EDTFLASH FLOOD1 Sw East Whiteland Twp, PASEVERAL ROADS FLOODED IN THE AREA INCLUDING PLANEBROOK, VALLEY, BACTON HILL, AND ROUTE 401.
Aug 19, 1:00 AM EDTFLASH FLOOD1 Ese West Whiteland Tw, PADELAYED REPORT. ROCKS AND DEBRIS COVERING COCKERHAM LANE FROM FLOODING. TIME BASED ON NEARBY REPORTS.
Aug 19, 1:14 AM EDTFLASH FLOODRoyersford, PAWATER RESCUE ON 1ST AVE.
Aug 19, 1:30 AM EDTFLASH FLOOD2 Sw East Whiteland Twp, PAROUTE 202 CLOSED IN THE AREA OF ROUTE 30.
Aug 19, 1:41 AM EDTFLASH FLOOD3 Sse East Nantmeal Twp, PADELAYED REPORT. WATER RESCUE ON PENNSYLVANIA TURNPIKE NEAR LITTLE CONESTOGA ROAD. TIME BASED ON DISPATCH REPORT.
Aug 19, 2:05 AM EDTFLASH FLOODWest Chester, PADELAYED REPORT. WATER RESCUE NEAR THE INTERSECTION OF UNION STREET AND FRANKLIN STREET. TIME BASED ON DISPATCH REPORT.

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, 2.8 hours before the alert went out and 216 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 00:00Z on 2021-08-19Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 1288 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 00:00Z on 2021-08-19The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 126 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
1288 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-8 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1100 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
30 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
126 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
171 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.6
Supercell composite
5.9

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

689 
WGUS51 KPHI 190250
FFWPHI
PAC017-029-091-190700-
/O.NEW.KPHI.FF.W.0042.210819T0250Z-210819T0700Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Flash Flood Warning
National Weather Service Mount Holly NJ
1050 PM EDT Wed Aug 18 2021

The National Weather Service in Mount Holly has issued a

* Flash Flood Warning for...
  West Central Bucks County in southeastern Pennsylvania...
  Northeastern Chester County in southeastern Pennsylvania...
  Northwestern Montgomery County in southeastern Pennsylvania...

* Until 300 AM EDT.

* At 1050 PM EDT, Doppler radar and automated rain gauges indicated 
  thunderstorms producing heavy rain across the warned area. Between 
  1.5 and 2.5 inches of rain have fallen. Additional rainfall 
  amounts of 1 to 1.5 inches are possible in the warned area. 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 will experience flash flooding include...
  West Chester, Pottstown, Phoenixville, Perkasie, Downingtown, 
  Souderton, Collegeville, Royersford, Trappe, East Greenville, 
  Schwenksville, and Green Lane.

This includes the following highways...
	Pennsylvania Turnpike between mile markers 309 and 321.
	Northeast Extension between mile markers 30 and 42.

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 4002 7577 4044 7552 4043 7550 4042 7548
      4043 7547 4037 7524 3995 7560

FLASH FLOOD...RADAR AND GAUGE INDICATED

$$

JEO
2 follow-up statements
003 
WGUS71 KPHI 190517
FFSPHI

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Mount Holly NJ
117 AM EDT Thu Aug 19 2021

PAC017-029-091-190700-
/O.CON.KPHI.FF.W.0042.000000T0000Z-210819T0700Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Bucks PA-Chester PA-Montgomery PA-
117 AM EDT Thu Aug 19 2021

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 3 AM EDT EARLY THIS 
MORNING FOR WEST CENTRAL BUCKS, NORTHEASTERN CHESTER, AND 
NORTHWESTERN MONTGOMERY COUNTIES...

At 117 AM EDT, emergency management reported thunderstorms producing 
heavy rain across the warned area. Between 3 and 5 inches of rain 
have fallen. Several road closures and water rescues have been 
reported in portions of Chester County. Flash flooding is already 
occurring. The heavy rain has ended, but the flash flood threat will 
continue due to the amount of rain that fell and continued runoff.

HAZARD...Flash flooding caused by thunderstorms.

SOURCE...Emergency management reported.

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 will experience flash flooding include...
  West Chester, Pottstown, Phoenixville, Perkasie, Downingtown, 
  Souderton, Collegeville, Royersford, Trappe, East Greenville, 
  Schwenksville, and Green Lane.

This includes the following highways...
	Pennsylvania Turnpike between mile markers 309 and 321.
	Northeast Extension between mile markers 30 and 42.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

&&

LAT...LON 4002 7577 4044 7552 4043 7550 4042 7548
      4043 7547 4037 7524 3995 7560

FLASH FLOOD...OBSERVED

$$

JEO
528 
WGUS71 KPHI 190657
FFSPHI

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Mount Holly NJ
257 AM EDT Thu Aug 19 2021

PAC017-029-091-190707-
/O.EXP.KPHI.FF.W.0042.000000T0000Z-210819T0700Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Bucks PA-Chester PA-Montgomery PA-
257 AM EDT Thu Aug 19 2021

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 3 AM EDT EARLY THIS MORNING 
FOR WEST CENTRAL BUCKS, NORTHEASTERN CHESTER, AND NORTHWESTERN 
MONTGOMERY COUNTIES...

Flood waters have receded. The heavy rain has ended. Flooding is no 
longer expected to pose a threat. Please continue to heed remaining 
road closures.

LAT...LON 4002 7577 4044 7552 4043 7550 4042 7548
      4043 7547 4037 7524 3995 7560

$$

JEO

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Aug 18, 8:53 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryPHIBerks3 hr
Aug 18, 9:10 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryPHILehigh, Monroe, Northampton3 hr
Aug 18, 9:30 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningPHIBerks2 hr
Aug 18, 9:35 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryPHIBerks, Lehigh3 hr
Aug 18, 9:45 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryPHIBerks3 hr
Aug 18, 9:47 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementPHIBerks58 min
Aug 18, 10:16 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningPHIBerks, Lehigh3 hr
Aug 18, 10:44 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningPHILehigh, Monroe, Northampton4 hr
Aug 18, 11:19 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryPHIBucks, Lehigh, Northampton3 hr
Aug 18, 11:19 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementPHIBucks, Chester, Montgomery41 min
Aug 18, 11:47 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningPHIChester2 hr
Aug 19, 12:04 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementPHIBucks, Delaware, Montgomery71 min
Aug 19, 12:26 AM EDTTornado WarningPHIBucks, Montgomery34 min
Aug 19, 12:31 AM EDTFlash Flood WarningPHIBucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery4 hr
Aug 19, 12:44 AM EDTRiver Flood WarningPHIChester5 hr
Aug 19, 12:47 AM EDTTornado WarningPHIChester, Delaware, Montgomery, Philadelphia28 min
Aug 19, 12:48 AM EDTTornado WarningPHIBucks27 min
Aug 19, 1:14 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementPHIBucks, Delaware, Philadelphia91 min
Aug 19, 1:30 AM EDTFlash Flood WarningPHIBucks, Delaware, Montgomery, Philadelphia4 hr
Aug 19, 2:05 AM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryPHIBucks3 hr
Aug 19, 2:13 AM EDTFlash Flood WarningPHIBucks, Philadelphia4 hr
Aug 19, 4:33 AM EDTAreal Flood WarningPHIChester, Delaware4 hr
Aug 19, 6:09 AM EDTAreal Flood WarningPHIBucks, Philadelphia3 hr
Aug 19, 8:50 AM EDTAreal Flood WarningPHIMontgomery, Philadelphia3 hr
Aug 19, 10:40 AM EDTAreal Flood WarningPHIDelaware3 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.