Lightning Strike in Delaware, June 17, 2004

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOUNT HOLLY NJ
330 PM EDT THU JUN 17 2004

.SYNOPSIS...
A COLD FRONT WILL SLOWLY APPROACH THE REGION TONIGHT, AND CROSS THE
AREA FRIDAY. A WARM AND VERY HUMID AIRMASS WILL REMAIN IN PLACE
ACROSS THE AREA AHEAD OF THE COLD FRONT. THIS WILL HELP TO AID IN
THE CONTINUED DEVELOPMENT OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS THIS EVENING
INTO TONIGHT. THE COLD FRONT SHOULD WEAKEN AND SLIDE NEAR OR SOUTH
OF THE AREA THROUGH FRIDAY. WHILE WIDESPREAD SHOWERS AND
THUNDERSTORMS ARE NOT EXPECTED FRIDAY, ISOLATED TO SCATTERED
ACTIVITY CANNOT BE RULED OUT. ANOTHER COLD FRONT MOVES THROUGH ON
SATURDAY, AND FINALLY COOLER AND LESS HUMID AIR SHOULD ARRIVE FOR
THE SECOND HALF OF THE WEEKEND. HIGH PRESSURE THEN MOVES ACROSS THE
AREA SUNDAY, THEN OFF THE COAST ON MONDAY. TUESDAY THROUGH THURSDAY
OF NEXT WEEK WILL FEATURE SOME BOUTS OF SHOWERS OR THUNDERSTORMS AS
A FEW WEAK COLD FRONTS OR SURFACE TROUGHS MOVE THROUGH.

&&

.SHORT TERM (TONIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY)...
...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH NUMBER 488 IN EFFECT FOR THE ENTIRE CWA
UNTIL 9 PM...
SBCAPE RISING UP BETWEEN 2000-3000 J/KG ACROSS THE WHOLE AREA AS
DEWPOINTS ARE IN THE LOWER TO MID 70S. THE VERY MOIST AND UNSTABLE
AIRMASS, ALONG WITH 20 TO 30 KNOTS OF FLOW WILL CONTINUE TO AID IN
THUNDERSTORM DEVELOPMENT RIGHT THROUGH THE EVENING. PRIMARY THREAT
WILL BE DAMAGING WINDS, ESPECIALLY WITH DEVELOPING SHORT LINES AND
BOWING SEGMENT. AS A REMINDER SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CAN AND
OCCASIONALLY DO PRODUCE TORNADOES, HOWEVER THE DIRECTIONAL SHEAR IS
NOT ALL THAT STRONG THIS EVENING. IF STORMS TRACK ALONG OUTFLOW
BOUNDARIES THOUGH, SOME ENHANCED LOW-LEVEL SHEAR WILL OCCUR. AGAIN
THE MAIN THREAT SHOULD BE MOSTLY CONFINED TO DAMAGING WIND GUSTS. ALSO,
WITH PW VALUES NEAR 2 INCHES, TORRENTIAL RAINFALL WILL BE QUITE POSSIBLE
FROM THUNDERSTORMS (SEE HYDROLOGY SECTION BELOW).

FOR TONIGHT, WE WILL HAVE HIGHEST POPS THROUGH THIS EVENING, THEN
LOWER THEM OVERNIGHT AS CONVECTIVE ACTIVITY WEAKENS AND PUSHES
EAST/SOUTHEAST. WEAKENING FRONTAL BOUNDARY WILL BE NEAR THE REGION
FRIDAY, THEREFORE HAVE INCLUDED A LOW CHC POP FOR THE REGION. ANY
CONVECTION FRIDAY SHOULD DIMINISH QUICKLY IN THE EVENING, THEN DRY
CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED LATER FRIDAY NIGHT.

&&

.LONG TERM (SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY)...
COLD FRONTAL BOUNDARY SLIDES SOUTHEASTWARD SATURDAY WITH A SLIGHT
CHC OF SOME SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS, MAINLY IN THE AFTERNOON
HOURS. A FEW DAYS AGO THIS FRONT WAS PROGGED TO MOVE THROUGH ON
SUNDAY, HOWEVER THE MODEL GUIDANCE CONTINUES TO SPEED UP THE
PROGRESSIVE NATURE OF THIS BOUNDARY. THEREFORE WE WILL JUST
ADVERTISE SLIGHT CHC OF PRECIPITATION ON SATURDAY AND KEEP SUNDAY
DRY. THE BREAK FROM THE HIGH HUMIDITY LEVELS WILL PROBABLY NOT
ARRIVE UNTIL LATE SATURDAY OR ESPECIALLY SUNDAY AFTER THE BOUNDARY
COMPLETELY PUSHES SOUTH OF THE CWA. SOME DECENT WAA GETS UNDERWAY ON
MONDAY AS HIGH PRESSURE MOVES OFF THE COAST AND WINDS TURN TO THE
SOUTHWEST. MODEL GUIDANCE NOT ALL THAT IMPRESSIVE WITH SHOWING MUCH
IF ANY LIFT MONDAY (THEREFORE NO REAL QPF), HOWEVER THERE COULD BE
AN ISOLATED SHOWER OR THUNDERSTORM MONDAY AFTERNOON AS THE WARMER
AND MORE HUMID AIR MOVES BACK IN. FOR NOW, WE WILL THROTTLE BACK TO
SLIGHT CHC (20) POPS FOR THE CWA MONDAY AFTERNOON INTO MONDAY
EVENING.

WEAK FRONTAL BOUNDARY/SURFACE TROUGH THEN LOOKS TO MOVE THROUGH AND
THEN WASHES OUT TUESDAY AFTERNOON. AT THIS POINT, IT DOES NOT LOOK ALL
THAT IMPRESSIVE, THEREFORE WE WILL CONTINUE WITH THE LOW CHC POPS.
NEW FRONTAL BOUNDARY THEN SETS UP TO OUR NORTH ON WEDNESDAY. CHC FOR
SOME POP-UP AFTERNOON SHOWERS OR THUNDERSTORMS WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON
AS THE BOUNDARY SLOWLY MOVES SOUTHEASTWARD. SOME RIDGING SHOULD BE
IN PLACE OVER THE MIDDLE ATLANTIC REGION AHEAD OF THIS FRONT,
THEREFORE NOT EXPECTING TOO MUCH PRECIPITATION ON WEDNESDAY AT THIS
TIME. WE WENT BELOW HPC POP GUIDANCE AND CARRIED A LOW CHC (30) POP
DURING WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING. HIGH PRESSURE THEN
BUILDS IN FROM THE OHIO VALLEY FOR THURSDAY OF NEXT WEEK, THEREFORE
WILL KEEP NEW DAY 7 DRY.

&&

.HYDROLOGY...
PW VALUES NEAR 2 INCHES, THEREFORE TORRENTIAL RAINFALL VERY POSSIBLE
WITH THUNDERSTORMS. MOST STORMS ARE MOVING QUICKER THAN RECENT DAYS,
HOWEVER SOME BACK-BUILDING HAS BEEN NOTED THIS AFTERNOON WITH STORMS
ACROSS NORTHWEST NEW JERSEY. A LOCALIZED FLOOD THREAT IS A CONCERN
AND RAINFALL RATES OF UP TO 2 INCHES PER HOUR CAN OCCUR THROUGH THIS
EVENING.

&&

.MARINE...
ASIDE FROM ANY TSTM ACTIVITY CONDITIONS ON OUR COASTAL
WATERS SHOULD REMAIN RATHER TRANQUIL FOR THE NEXT SEVERAL DAYS. EVEN
WITH THE FRONTAL BOUNDARIES AROUND THROUGH SATURDAY WINDS SHOULD
GENERALLY REMAIN AT 15 KTS OR LESS AND SEAS WILL RANGE FROM 2 TO 3
FT ON THE OCEAN AND 2 FT OR LESS ON THE BAY.

&&

.AVIATION...
TIMING THE CONVECTION FOR THE BALANCE OF THIS AFTERNOON
AND THIS EVENING WILL BE RATHER DIFFICULT. IT APPEARS AS THOUGH THE
MORE SUBSTANTIAL BAND OF CONVECTION IN WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA AT 300
PM SHOULD MOVE ACROSS OUR FORECAST AREA FROM ABOUT 700 TO 1000 PM.
AFTER THAT WELL INDICATE SOME REDUCED VSBYS AND LOWER CLOUDS FOR
OVERNIGHT INTO FRIDAY MORNING DUE TO ALL OF THE LINGERING LOW LEVEL
MOISTURE.

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
MPO 65 80 61 75 / 80 30 30 20
ABE 70 86 65 80 / 80 30 30 20
RDG 71 87 67 81 / 80 30 30 20
PHL 73 89 71 85 / 60 30 30 20
12N 68 84 64 80 / 80 30 30 20
SMQ 70 86 67 82 / 70 30 30 20
TTN 72 88 70 84 / 70 30 30 20
MIV 71 88 69 82 / 50 30 30 20
N55 69 81 68 77 / 50 30 30 20
ACY 71 88 68 79 / 50 30 30 20
ILG 73 89 71 85 / 60 30 30 20
DOV 72 87 70 84 / 50 30 30 20
GED 72 89 70 85 / 40 30 30 20

&&

.PHI WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
PA...NONE.
NJ...NONE.
DE...NONE.
MD...NONE.
MARINE/OCEAN...NONE.
MARINE/DEL BAY...NONE.
&&

SHORT TERM...RPW/GORSE
LONG TERM...GORSE
MARINE/AVIATION...IOVINO

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOUNT HOLLY NJ
520 AM EDT THU JUN 17 2004

DEZ001>004-MDZ008-012-015-019-020-NJZ001-007>010-012>027-PAZ054-055-
060>062-067>071-181100-
ATLANTIC NJ-ATLANTIC COASTAL CAPE MAY NJ-BERKS PA-BUCKS PA-CAMDEN NJ-
CAPE MAY NJ-CARBON PA-CAROLINE MD-CECIL MD-CHESTER PA-
COASTAL ATLANTIC NJ-COASTAL OCEAN NJ-CUMBERLAND NJ-DELAWARE PA-
DELAWARE BEACHES DE-EASTERN MONMOUTH NJ-GLOUCESTER NJ-HUNTERDON NJ-
INLAND SUSSEX DE-KENT MD-KENT DE-LEHIGH PA-MERCER NJ-MIDDLESEX NJ-
MONROE PA-MONTGOMERY PA-MORRIS NJ-NEW CASTLE DE-NORTHAMPTON PA-
NORTHWESTERN BURLINGTON NJ-OCEAN NJ-PHILADELPHIA PA-QUEEN ANNES MD-
SALEM NJ-SOMERSET NJ-SOUTHEASTERN BURLINGTON NJ-SUSSEX NJ-TALBOT MD-
WARREN NJ-WESTERN MONMOUTH NJ-
520 AM EDT THU JUN 17 2004

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR EAST CENTRAL AND
SOUTHEAST PENNSYLVANIA...DELAWARE...THE NORTHERN MARYLAND
EASTERN SHORE...AND NEW JERSEY EXCLUDING THE FIVE NORTHEAST
COUNTIES.

.DAY ONE...TODAY

THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS THIS AFTERNOON ACROSS
SOUTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA, PORTIONS OF CENTRAL NEW JERSEY AND ALL OF
SOUTHERN NEW JERSEY, ALL OF DELAWARE, AND THE MARYLAND EASTERN
SHORE. BESIDES THE POTENTIAL FOR STRONG GUSTY WINDS ASSOCIATED WITH
SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS IN THE GEOGRAPHIC AREAS MENTIONED ABOVE, HEAVY
DOWNPOURS WHICH COULD LEAD TO ISOLATED FLOODING ARE POSSIBLE
THROUGHOUT THE REGION.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER CALL TO ACTION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE REQUIRED THIS AFTERNOON.

KRUZDLO

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOUNT HOLLY NJ
507 PM EDT THU JUN 17 2004

NJZ001-007-009-PAZ054-055-060>062-172330-
BERKS PA-CARBON PA-HUNTERDON NJ-LEHIGH PA-MONROE PA-NORTHAMPTON PA-
SUSSEX NJ-WARREN NJ-
507 PM EDT THU JUN 17 2004

...VERY STRONG POSSIBLY SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ON THE WAY...

SEVERAL SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WERE CURRENTLY MOVING THROUGH COLUMBIA
AND MONTOUR COUNTIES PENNSYLVANIA. IF THEY KEEP THEIR PRESENT
MOTION...THEY WOULD ARRIVE IN CARBON COUNTY ABOUT 530 PM...MONROE
COUNTY...BERKS COUNTY AND THE LEHIGH VALLEY BETWEEN 545 PM AND 615 PM
WARREN...HUNTERDON AND SUSSEX COUNTIES NEW JERSEY BETWEEN 615 PM AND
715 PM. THE STORMS HAVE SHOWN A SOUTHWARD DRIFT AND MIGHT SPARE
SUSSEX COUNTY NEW JERSEY. AT THE VERY LEAST THESE STORMS WILL BE
ACCOMPANIED BY TORRENTIAL DOWNPOURS...NEARLY CONTINUOUS CLOUD TO
GROUND LIGHTNING AND STRONG GUSTY WINDS. THE STATE COLLEGE NATIONAL
WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE HAS ISSUED A COUPLE OF TORNADO WARNINGS FOR
THESE STORMS.

ALL PERSONS SHOULD STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO AND OR THE LOCAL
MEDIA IN THE EVENT A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM...TORNADO OR FLASH FLOOD
WARNING BECOME NECESSARY.

IF YOU SEE THREATENING WEATHER...PLEASE HEAD INDOORS IMMEDIATELY. DO
NOT ATTEMPT TO OUTDRIVE THE THUNDERSTORMS. DO NOT TAKE ROADS THAT
ARE PRONE TO FLOODING.

REMEMBER...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH MEANS CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE
FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF THUNDERSTORMS WHICH CONTAIN DAMAGING WIND IN
EXCESS OF 55 MPH AND HAIL 3/4 INCH OR GREATER IN DIAMETER IN AND
CLOSE TO THE WATCH AREA. FREQUENT LIGHTNING AND VERY HEAVY RAIN MAY
ALSO ACCOMPANY ANY THUNDERSTORMS.

TFG

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOUNT HOLLY NJ
652 PM EDT THU JUN 17 2004

DEZ001-MDZ008-NJZ009-010-012>019-PAZ067-068-070-071-180100-
CAMDEN NJ-CECIL MD-CHESTER PA-DELAWARE PA-EASTERN MONMOUTH NJ-
GLOUCESTER NJ-HUNTERDON NJ-MERCER NJ-MIDDLESEX NJ-MONTGOMERY PA-
NEW CASTLE DE-NORTHWESTERN BURLINGTON NJ-PHILADELPHIA PA-SALEM NJ-
SOMERSET NJ-WESTERN MONMOUTH NJ-
652 PM EDT THU JUN 17 2004

...VERY STRONG POSSIBLY SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ON THE WAY...

A LINE OF STRONG TO LOCALLY SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WAS ABOUT TO ENTER
WEST CENTRAL NEW JERSEY AND THE EXTREME WESTERN PORTIONS OF THE
GREATER PHILADELPHIA METROPOLITAN AREA. OVER THE COURSE OF THE NEXT
ONE TO TWO HOURS STRONGER STORMS WITHIN THIS LINE WILL BE ACCOMPANIED
BY TORRENTIAL DOWNPOURS...FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING AND
STRONG GUSTY WINDS. SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNINGS HAVE BEEN ISSUED FOR
THE STRONGEST STORMS WITHIN THIS LINE IN THE LEHIGH VALLEY AND LOWER
SUSQUEHANNA VALLEY AND MAY BECOME NECESSARY FOR LOCATIONS FARTHER
EAST IF THESE STORMS MAINTAIN THEMSELVES. THE LINE SHOULD CLEAR THE
GREATER PHILADELPHIA METROPOLITAN AREA AND CENTRAL NEW JERSEY BETWEEN
9 PM AND 10 PM.

ALL PERSONS SHOULD STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO AND OR THE LOCAL
MEDIA IN THE EVENT A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM OR FLASH FLOOD
WARNING BECOME NECESSARY.

IF YOU SEE THREATENING WEATHER...PLEASE HEAD INDOORS IMMEDIATELY. DO
NOT ATTEMPT TO OUTDRIVE THE THUNDERSTORMS. DO NOT TAKE ROADS THAT
ARE PRONE TO FLOODING.

REMEMBER...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH MEANS CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE
FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF THUNDERSTORMS WHICH CONTAIN DAMAGING WIND IN
EXCESS OF 55 MPH AND HAIL 3/4 INCH OR GREATER IN DIAMETER IN AND
CLOSE TO THE WATCH AREA. FREQUENT LIGHTNING AND VERY HEAVY RAIN MAY
ALSO ACCOMPANY ANY THUNDERSTORMS.

TFG

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOUNT HOLLY NJ
719 PM EDT THU JUN 17 2004

..TIME...   ...EVENT...     ...CITY LOCATION...      ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....     ..COUNTY LOCATION...ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0650 PM     TSTM WND DMG     BETHLEHEM               40.63N 75.37W
06/17/2004                   NORTHAMPTON        PA   EMERGENCY MNGR

            TREES AND WIRES DOWN.

0630 PM     TSTM WND DMG     5 W SLATINGTON          40.75N 75.71W
06/17/2004                   LEHIGH             PA   EMERGENCY MNGR

            TREES DOWN IN HEIDELBERG AND WASHINGTON TOWNSHIPS.

0600 PM     TSTM WND DMG     1 W WEATHERLY           40.94N 75.84W
06/17/2004                   CARBON             PA   EMERGENCY MNGR

            BARN COLLAPSED AND LARGE TREES DOWN IN PACKER TOWNSHIP.

0518 PM     TSTM WND DMG     MIDDLETOWN              39.45N 75.71W
06/17/2004                   NEW CASTLE         DE   EMERGENCY MNGR

            TREES DOWN.

0335 PM     TSTM WND DMG     NEWPORT                 39.71N 75.61W
06/17/2004                   NEW CASTLE         DE   EMERGENCY MNGR

            WIRES DOWN IN CHRISTIANA AND BRANDYWINE HUNDRED.

&&

IOVINO

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOUNT HOLLY NJ
741 PM EDT THU JUN 17 2004

DEZ001-MDZ008-PAZ067-180200-
CECIL MD-CHESTER PA-NEW CASTLE DE-
741 PM EDT THU JUN 17 2004

...THUNDERSTORMS WITH TORRENTIAL DOWNPOURS HEADING TOWARD THE
REGION...

A LARGE CLUSTER OF THUNDERSTORMS WITH TORRENTIAL DOWNPOURS IN
LANCASTER COUNTY WAS ABOUT TO ENTER THE REGION. RAINFALL RATES OF
THREE INCHES PER HOUR ARE OCCURRING IN LANCASTER COUNTY. THIS
CLUSTER WILL BE MOVING OVER THE SAME AREA THAT HAS RECEIVED HEAVY
RAIN THE LAST FEW DAYS INCLUDING EARLIER TODAY. IF THIS CLUSTER
MAINTAINS ITSELF...IT MIGHT BECOME NECESSARY TO ISSUE FLASH FLOOD
WARNINGS. IN ADDITION TO THE HEAVY RAIN FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND
LIGHTNING WILL ACCOMPANY THIS CLUSTER.

IF YOU SEE THREATENING WEATHER...PLEASE HEAD INDOORS IMMEDIATELY. DO
NOT ATTEMPT TO OUTDRIVE THE THUNDERSTORMS. DO NOT TAKE ROADS THAT
ARE PRONE TO FLOODING. RAINFALL RATES OF THREE INCHES PER HOUR WILL
CAUSE PONDING OF WATER ON ROADWAYS AND POSSIBLE LOCALIZED FLOODING IN
LOW LYING AREAS.

TFG