Alert archive / Pennsylvania / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2022

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 39, NWS Philadelphia/Mount Holly

May 20, 2022Berks County, Lehigh County, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania

NWS Philadelphia/Mount Holly issued this severe thunderstorm warning at May 20, 2022, 2:53 PM EDT for Berks County, Lehigh County, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. It was in force for 52 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: May 20, 2022, 2:53 PM EDT (18:53 UTC)
Expired: May 20, 2022, 3:45 PM EDT
In force: 52 min
Issued by: NWS Philadelphia/Mount Holly
Area: Storm-based polygon
Hail: 1.25 in
Wind: 60.0 mph

Counties Berks County, PA, Lehigh County, PA, Montgomery County, PA

The radar

The Philadelphia radar (KDIX), 129 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 18:54 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

Time	Report	Where	Remark
May 20, 2:57 PM EDT	TSTM WND DMG	2 S Ruscombmanor Twp, PA	TREES DOWN ON LINK ROAD IN FLEETWOOD FROM A POSSIBLE MICROBURST. PING PONG BALL SIZED HAIL ALSO REPORTED. TIME ESTIMATED FROM RADAR.
May 20, 2:57 PM EDT	HAIL 1.5	2 S Ruscombmanor Twp, PA	HAIL SLIGHTLY LESS THAN GOLF BALL SIZED. WIND DAMAGE ALSO REPORTED. TIME ESTIMATED FROM RADAR.
May 20, 3:03 PM EDT	TSTM WND DMG	Oley, PA	NUMEROUS TREES DOWN IN PICTURES VIA SOCIAL MEDIA. TIME ESTIMATED VIA RADAR.

Local storm reports filed while the alert was in force, from inside its polygon or its counties.

The watch it was issued in

The SPC watch in force over the same counties when this warning went out.

Issued	Product	Office	Lasted
May 20, 11:35 AM EDT	Tornado Watch	SPC	7 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Washington/Dulle, VA (KIAD), launched 12:00Z, 6.9 hours before the alert went out and 209 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-p

Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.

Hodograph

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: 1 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -226 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 1469 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 34 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 106 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 169 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 0.0
Supercell composite: -0.2

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

845 
WUUS51 KPHI 201853
SVRPHI
PAC011-077-091-201945-
/O.NEW.KPHI.SV.W.0039.220520T1853Z-220520T1945Z/

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
National Weather Service Mount Holly NJ
253 PM EDT Fri May 20 2022

The National Weather Service in Mount Holly NJ has issued a

* Severe Thunderstorm Warning for...
  East central Berks County in eastern Pennsylvania...
  South central Lehigh County in eastern Pennsylvania...
  Northwestern Montgomery County in southeastern Pennsylvania...

* Until 345 PM EDT.

* At 253 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm was located over Laureldale,
  or near Reading, moving east at 25 mph.

  HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts and half dollar size hail.

  SOURCE...Radar indicated.

  IMPACT...Minor damage to vehicles is possible. Wind damage to 
           roofs, siding, trees, and power lines is possible.

* Locations impacted include...
  Reading, Pottstown, Wyomissing, Kutztown, Fleetwood, Laureldale,
  Topton, Bally, Bechtelsville, Lyons, Ancient Oaks, Gilbertsville,
  Stowe, Shillington, West Reading, Boyertown, Mount Penn, Kenhorst,
  Alburtis and St. Lawrence.

This includes Interstate 176 in Pennsylvania between mile markers 10
and 11.
 
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 700 PM EDT for eastern and
southeastern Pennsylvania.

Prepare immediately for large hail and damaging winds. People outside
should move immediately to shelter inside a strong building. Stay
away from windows.

A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 700 PM EDT for eastern and
southeastern Pennsylvania.

&&

LAT...LON 4029 7596 4039 7598 4048 7592 4057 7559
      4025 7551
TIME...MOT...LOC 1853Z 257DEG 20KT 4039 7587 

HAIL THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.25 IN
WIND THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX WIND GUST...60 MPH

$$

Staarmann

3 follow-up statements

631 
WWUS51 KPHI 201904
SVSPHI

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Mount Holly NJ
304 PM EDT Fri May 20 2022

PAC011-077-091-201945-
/O.CON.KPHI.SV.W.0039.000000T0000Z-220520T1945Z/
Berks PA-Lehigh PA-Montgomery PA-
304 PM EDT Fri May 20 2022

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 345 PM EDT
FOR EAST CENTRAL BERKS...SOUTH CENTRAL LEHIGH AND NORTHWESTERN
MONTGOMERY COUNTIES...

At 304 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm was located near Fleetwood, or 8
miles east of Reading, moving east at 25 mph.

HAZARD...Ping pong ball size hail and 60 mph wind gusts.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...People and animals outdoors will be injured. Expect hail 
         damage to roofs, siding, windows, and vehicles. Wind damage 
         to roofs, siding, trees, and power lines is possible.

Locations impacted include...
Reading, Pottstown, Wyomissing, Kutztown, Fleetwood, Laureldale,
Topton, Bally, Bechtelsville, Lyons, Ancient Oaks, Gilbertsville,
Stowe, Shillington, West Reading, Boyertown, Mount Penn, Kenhorst,
Alburtis and St. Lawrence.

This includes Interstate 176 in Pennsylvania between mile markers 10
and 11.
 
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 700 PM EDT for eastern and
southeastern Pennsylvania.

Prepare immediately for large hail and damaging winds. People outside
should seek shelter inside a well-built structure and away from
windows.

&&

LAT...LON 4029 7596 4039 7598 4048 7592 4057 7559
      4025 7551
TIME...MOT...LOC 1904Z 264DEG 20KT 4039 7578 

HAIL THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.50 IN
WIND THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX WIND GUST...60 MPH

$$

Staarmann

826 
WWUS51 KPHI 201926
SVSPHI

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Mount Holly NJ
326 PM EDT Fri May 20 2022

PAC011-077-091-201945-
/O.CON.KPHI.SV.W.0039.000000T0000Z-220520T1945Z/
Berks PA-Lehigh PA-Montgomery PA-
326 PM EDT Fri May 20 2022

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 345 PM EDT
FOR EAST CENTRAL BERKS...SOUTH CENTRAL LEHIGH AND NORTHWESTERN
MONTGOMERY COUNTIES...

At 326 PM EDT, severe thunderstorms were located along a line
extending from near Topton to Bally to near Pottstown, moving east at
25 mph.

HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts and quarter size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Minor damage to vehicles is possible. Wind damage to roofs, 
         siding, trees, and power lines is possible.

Locations impacted include...
Pottstown, Kutztown, Topton, Bally, Bechtelsville, Lyons, Ancient
Oaks, Gilbertsville, Stowe, Boyertown, Alburtis, Pottsgrove, Lorane,
Amity Gardens, Halfway House, Sanatoga and Reiffton.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 700 PM EDT for eastern and
southeastern Pennsylvania.

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

Torrential rainfall is occurring with these storms, and may lead to
flash flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways.

&&

LAT...LON 4028 7586 4041 7581 4051 7579 4057 7559
      4025 7551
TIME...MOT...LOC 1926Z 263DEG 22KT 4047 7564 4037 7558 4027 7562 

HAIL THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.00 IN
WIND THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX WIND GUST...60 MPH

$$

Staarmann

534 
WWUS51 KPHI 201944
SVSPHI

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Mount Holly NJ
344 PM EDT Fri May 20 2022

PAC011-077-091-201954-
/O.EXP.KPHI.SV.W.0039.000000T0000Z-220520T1945Z/
Berks PA-Lehigh PA-Montgomery PA-
344 PM EDT Fri May 20 2022

...THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR EAST CENTRAL BERKS...SOUTH
CENTRAL LEHIGH AND NORTHWESTERN MONTGOMERY COUNTIES WILL EXPIRE AT
345 PM EDT...
    
The storms which prompted the warning have moved out of the area.
Therefore, the warning will be allowed to expire.

A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 700 PM EDT for eastern and
southeastern Pennsylvania.

LAT...LON 4028 7586 4041 7581 4051 7579 4057 7559
      4025 7551
TIME...MOT...LOC 1944Z 257DEG 20KT 4049 7552 4039 7546 4029 7550 

$$

Staarmann

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
May 20, 3:15 AM EDT	Heat Advisory	PHI	Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, Philadelphia	59 hr
May 20, 1:45 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	PHI	Berks, Chester, Montgomery	45 min
May 20, 2:22 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	PHI	Berks, Bucks, Chester, Lehigh, Montgomery	53 min
May 20, 2:27 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	PHI	Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, Philadelphia	48 min
May 20, 2:30 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	PHI	Berks	45 min
May 20, 3:00 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	PHI	Delaware, Philadelphia	31 min
May 20, 3:05 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	PHI	Bucks, Montgomery	29 min
May 20, 3:10 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	PHI	Berks, Bucks, Chester, Lehigh, Montgomery	50 min
May 20, 3:25 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	PHI	Berks, Carbon, Lehigh, Monroe, Northampton	50 min
May 20, 3:28 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	PHI	Philadelphia	32 min
May 20, 3:37 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	PHI	Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, Philadelphia	53 min
May 20, 3:41 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threat	PHI	Bucks, Lehigh, Montgomery, Northampton	49 min
May 20, 3:52 PM EDT	Areal Flood Advisory	PHI	Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Lehigh, Montgomery, Philadelphia	3 hr
May 20, 3:55 PM EDT	Areal Flood Advisory	PHI	Berks, Bucks, Carbon, Chester, Lehigh, Monroe and 2 more	3 hr
May 20, 4:26 PM EDT	Areal Flood Advisory	PHI	Bucks, Philadelphia	3 hr
May 20, 5:37 PM EDT	Areal Flood Warning	PHI	Bucks, Montgomery	68 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Pennsylvania, 2022 Every severe thunderstorm warning in 2022

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.