Alert archive / Pennsylvania / Flash Flood Warnings in 2021

Flash Flood Warning 45, NWS Philadelphia/Mount Holly

August 19, 20214 counties in Pennsylvania

NWS Philadelphia/Mount Holly issued this flash flood warning at Aug 19, 2021, 1:30 AM EDT for 4 counties in Pennsylvania. It was in force for 4 hr. 12 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 19, 2021, 1:30 AM EDT (05:30 UTC)
Expired
Aug 19, 2021, 5:30 AM EDT
In force
4 hr
Issued by
NWS Philadelphia/Mount Holly
Area
Storm-based polygon
Flood severity
None

Counties Bucks County, PA, Delaware County, PA, Montgomery County, PA, Philadelphia County, PA

The radar

The Philadelphia radar (KDIX), 63 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 05:30 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.

What was reported inside it

TimeReportWhereRemark
Aug 19, 1:48 AM EDTFLASH FLOOD1 Sse Flourtown, PAWATER RESCUE IN THE AREA OF PAPER MILL RD AT HARSTON LN.
Aug 19, 2:09 AM EDTFLASH FLOODAbington, PAWATER RESCUE ON HIGHLAND AVE.
Aug 19, 2:11 AM EDTFLASH FLOOD1 Nnw Abington, PADELAYED REPORT. WATER RESCUE NEAR THE INTERSECTION OF EASTON ROAD AND WOODLAND ROAD. TIME BASED ON DISPATCH REPORT.
Aug 19, 2:30 AM EDTFLASH FLOOD1 E Lower Moreland Twp, PADELAYED REPORT OF FLOODING ON PHILMONT AVENUE, FORCING ITS CLOSURE NEAR PINE ROAD. TIME BASED ON NEARBY REPORTS.
Aug 19, 2:45 AM EDTFLASH FLOOD1 Se Manayunk, PATHE GAUGE ON THE WISSAHICKON CREEK NEAR WISSAHICKON CRESTED AT MINOR FLOOD STAGE OF 6.30 FEET.
Aug 19, 2:45 AM EDTFLASH FLOOD1 S Penn Wynne, PACOBBS CREEK CRESTED AT MODERATE FLOOD STAGE OF 8.35 FT.
Aug 19, 2:45 AM EDTFLASH FLOODCheltenham, PAWATER RESCUE ON ASHMEADE RD.
Aug 19, 2:47 AM EDTFLOODJenkintown, PADELAYED REPORT. FLOODING ON SHOEMAKER AVENUE AND CEDAR STREET. TIME BASED ON DISPATCH REPORT.
Aug 19, 2:51 AM EDTFLASH FLOOD1 Ssw Summerdale, PAFRANKFORD CREEK CRESTED AT MODERATE FLOOD STAGE OF 9.62 FT.
Aug 19, 2:55 AM EDTFLASH FLOOD1 Sse Abington, PAWATER RESCUE ON BROOK RD.
Aug 19, 3:19 AM EDTHEAVY RAIN 3.73Wynnewood, PASTORM TOTAL.
Aug 19, 3:26 AM EDTFLASH FLOOD1 Sw Shawmont, PADELAYED REPORT. WATER RESCUE ON THE RAMP TO SCHUYLKILL EXPRESSWAY VIA HOLLOW ROAD. 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

Brookhaven, NY (KOKX), launched 00:00Z, 5.5 hours before the alert went out and 210 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, Brookhaven, NY at 00:00Z on 2021-08-19Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 491 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, Brookhaven, NY at 00:00Z on 2021-08-19The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 62 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
491 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-11 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
580 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
21 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
62 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
103 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

608 
WGUS51 KPHI 190530
FFWPHI
PAC017-045-091-101-190930-
/O.NEW.KPHI.FF.W.0045.210819T0530Z-210819T0930Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Flash Flood Warning
National Weather Service Mount Holly NJ
130 AM EDT Thu Aug 19 2021

The National Weather Service in Mount Holly has issued a

* Flash Flood Warning for...
  South Central Bucks County in southeastern Pennsylvania...
  East Central Delaware County in southeastern Pennsylvania...
  Southeastern Montgomery County in southeastern Pennsylvania...
  Northwestern Philadelphia County in southeastern Pennsylvania...

* Until 530 AM EDT.

* At 130 AM EDT, Doppler radar and automated rain gauges indicated 
  thunderstorms producing heavy rain across the warned area. Between 
  0.5 and 1.5 inches of rain have fallen. Heavier rain is 
  approaching the area, and additional rainfall amounts of 1 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 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...
  Philadelphia, Yeadon, Hatboro, Folcroft, Swarthmore, Jenkintown, 
  Narberth, East Lansdowne, Rockledge, Abington, Langhorne, and Bryn 
  Athyn.

This includes the following highways...
	Pennsylvania Turnpike between mile markers 339 and 351.
	Interstate 76 in Pennsylvania between mile markers 336 and 346.
	Interstate 676 in Pennsylvania near mile marker 0.
	Interstate 476 in Pennsylvania between mile markers 2 and 3.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

&&

LAT...LON 4027 7509 4021 7489 4017 7493 3989 7524
      3989 7526 3990 7538

FLASH FLOOD...RADAR AND GAUGE INDICATED

$$

JEO
2 follow-up statements
080 
WGUS71 KPHI 190552
FFSPHI

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

PAC017-045-091-101-190930-
/O.CON.KPHI.FF.W.0045.000000T0000Z-210819T0930Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Bucks PA-Delaware PA-Montgomery PA-Philadelphia PA-
152 AM EDT Thu Aug 19 2021

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 530 AM EDT EARLY THIS 
MORNING FOR SOUTH CENTRAL BUCKS, EAST CENTRAL DELAWARE, SOUTHEASTERN 
MONTGOMERY, AND NORTHWESTERN PHILADELPHIA COUNTIES...

At 152 AM EDT, Doppler radar and automated rain gauges indicated 
thunderstorms producing heavy rain across the warned area. Between 2 
and 3 inches of rain have fallen. Additional rainfall amounts of 1 
to 2 inches are possible in the warned area. This will likely lead 
to significant flash flooding in the warned area, much of which is 
highly urbanized and especially susceptible to flooding. Flash 
flooding is ongoing or expected to begin shortly.

HAZARD...Life threatening flash flooding caused by thunderstorms.

SOURCE...Radar and automated gauges.

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

Some locations that will experience flash flooding include...
  Philadelphia, Yeadon, Hatboro, Folcroft, Swarthmore, Jenkintown, 
  Narberth, East Lansdowne, Rockledge, Abington, Langhorne, and Bryn 
  Athyn.

This includes the following highways...
	Pennsylvania Turnpike between mile markers 339 and 351.
	Interstate 76 in Pennsylvania between mile markers 336 and 346.
	Interstate 676 in Pennsylvania near mile marker 0.
	Interstate 476 in Pennsylvania near mile marker 3...and
	near mile marker 7.

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 4027 7509 4021 7489 4017 7493 3989 7524
      3989 7526 3990 7538

FLASH FLOOD...RADAR AND GAUGE INDICATED
FLASH FLOOD DAMAGE THREAT...CONSIDERABLE

$$

JEO
807 
WGUS71 KPHI 190925
FFSPHI

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

PAC017-045-091-101-190935-
/O.EXP.KPHI.FF.W.0045.000000T0000Z-210819T0930Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Bucks PA-Delaware PA-Montgomery PA-Philadelphia PA-
525 AM EDT Thu Aug 19 2021

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 530 AM EDT EARLY THIS MORNING 
FOR SOUTH CENTRAL BUCKS, EAST CENTRAL DELAWARE, SOUTHEASTERN 
MONTGOMERY, AND NORTHWESTERN PHILADELPHIA COUNTIES...

Flood waters are receding. The heavy rain has ended. Please continue 
to heed remaining road closures.

LAT...LON 4027 7509 4021 7489 4017 7493 3989 7524
      3989 7526 3990 7538

$$

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, 10:50 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningPHIBucks, Chester, Montgomery4 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, 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.