Damaging Wind in Pennsylvania, August 4, 2004

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA
335 PM EDT WED AUG 4 2004

.SHORT TERM (REST OF TONIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT)...

UPATED TO INCLUDE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH FOR MOST OF CENTRAL PA
UNTIL 6PM.

&&

.PREVIOUS DISCUSSION...
THE FOLLOWING WAS ORIGINALLY ISSUED AT 1240 PM EDT WED AUG 4 2004

SHORT TERM (REST OF TONIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT)...

AFTER CONSIDERING NEW RUN OF GFS DATA AND COLLABORATING WITH
SURROUNDING OFFICES...HAVE EXPANDED FLASH FLOOD WATCH TO ALL OF
CWA/CENTRAL PA. HAVE UPPED POPS TO LIKELY FOR THIS EVENING ACROSS
AREAS ACROSS THE SOUTHEAST WHERE THEY HAD BEEN JUST CHANCE.

GARTNER/DEVOIR

THE FOLLOWING WAS ORIGINALLY ISSUED AT 1136 AM EDT WED AUG 4 2004

SHORT TERM (REST OF TODAY THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT)...

CURRENT FCST LOOKS GOOD. UPDATE TO REMOVE MORNING/AFTN WORDING
REFERENCES. NO CHANGES BEYOND FIRST PD. WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR
LATEST FCST GUIDANCE CONCERNING HEAVY RAINFALL POTENTIAL. FLASH FLOOD WATCH
MAY NEED TO BE EXPANDED SOUTHWARD LATER THIS AFTN.

THE FOLLOWING WAS ORIGINALLY ISSUED AT 240 AM EDT WED AUG 4 2004

SYNOPSIS...
MASSIVE MESOSCALE CONVECTIVE COMPLEXES ROLLING THROUGH THE MIDWEST
ATTM...JUST AS PROGGED BY THE GUIDANCE (IN DIFFERENT WAYS) LAST
NIGHT. MULTIPLE SHORTWAVES TO STREAM IN FROM THE WEST DURING THE DAY
AND TONIGHT. SFC BOUNDARY SOMEWHERE OVER WESTERN NY STATE WITH 70
DPTS ALL THE WAY TO KTOL. SFC LOW IS PROGGED TO GO RIGHT
OVERHEAD...SO HEAVY RAIN POSSIBLE AS THE BOUNDARY WILL BE IN THE
VICINITY.

AVIATION...
TNT...WIDESPREAD MVFR AND IFR WITH FOG/BR/HZ AND MAINLY CLEAR SKIES.
SOME LOW CLOUDS HAVE LOWERED CIGS...MAINLY ALONG THE NORTHERN TIER.
EXPECT PREDOMINANTLY MVFR OVERNIGHT WITH ISOL IFR IN 2SM VISBYS AND
LOW CIGS. FOG ERODES BY 15 UTC...ALLOWING FOR A PERIOD OF VFR.
HOWEVER...THIS WILL BE SHORT-LIVED AS CLOUDS BEGIN TO INCREASE FROM
WEST TO EAST IN ADVANCE OF APPROACHING ANOMALOUS SFC LOW PRESSURE
CENTER/PRECLUDING MCS FEATURE NOW VISIBLE IN THE WV OVER THE
NORTHERN PLAINS. EXPECT MVFR CONDITIONS IN AFTERNOON
SHWRS/TSTORMS...DEVELOPING BY EARLY AFTERNOON IN WESTERN TERMINALS.
STILL SOME UNCERTAINTY WITH TRACK/QPF OF AREAS OF
PRECIPITATION/CONVECTION FOR TOM EVE INTO OVERNIGHT...BUT EXPECT A
SHIELD OF -RA TO DEVELOP JUST BEFORE SUNSET. THIS IS LIKELY TO BE
FOLLOWED BY AREAS OF HEAVY RAIN IN THUNDERSTORMS...YIELDING LCL 1SM
VISBYS AND CBS AROUND 2500FT.

SHORT TERM (TODAY THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT)...
THE DEVIL IS IN THE DEATILS...BUT THE MOST LIKELY OUTCOME WILL
FOLLOW CLOSEST TO THE CURRENT VERSION OF THE ETA. FIRST MCS OV NRN
IN IS DYING RIGHT ON SCHEDULE...BUT REMNANTS MAY MAKE SOME PRECIP IN
WRN COUNTIES THIS MORNING.  THEN...SEVERE WEATHER (MAINLY WIND
DAMAGE THREAT BUT TORNADOES POSSIBLE WITH FAVORABLE HODOGRAPH/SHEAR)
POSSIBLE LATER TODAY AND THIS EVENING...BUT THEN IT TURNS INTO
MAINLY A HEAVY RAIN THREAT FOR TONIGHT...SO WILL ISSUE FLASH FLOOD
WATCH FOR NRN HALF OF CWA FOR TONIGHT INTO THURSDAY MORNING.

DEPARTING SYSTEM IS AT THE BASE OF A LONG-WAVE TROF AND PULLS IN
LOTS OF COLD AIR...WHICH PUTS US INTO AN ALMOST WINTER TIME SCENARIO
WITH LAKE EFFECT RAIN SHOWERS A GIVEN FROM THE +4 TO +6 8H AIR
MOVING ACROSS THE +21C LAKE ERIE.  WHEN DOES THE SNOW START?  FETCH
IS SHORT...SO MOST OF THE SHOWERS SHOULD NOT STRAY FAR FROM THE
LAKESHORE...BUT WITH THE COLD POOL OVERHEAD...IT WILL MAKE FOR AN
UNSTABLE ATMOSPHERE IN GENERAL AND GRAUPEL SHOULD BE PLENTIFUL. WL
THEREFORE CONTINUE MENTION OF THUNDER ON FRI AFTN/EVE FOR MOST OF
THE AREA.

LONG TERM (SATURDAY THROUGH TUESDAY)...
ONLY SOME MINOR TWEAKS TO THE EXTENDED GRIDS AT THIS TIME...MAINLY
TO ADD/EXPAND SOME POPS FOR THE TUE-WED TIME FRAME. LOOKS LIKE NEXT
TROUGH DIGGING FURTHER W THAN ONE FOR LATE THIS WEEK...IMPLYING A
LONGER PERIOD OF WETTER WX FOR THE MIDDLE OF NEXT WEEK. ALSO
INCREASED DEWPOINTS DURING THIS TIME FRAME...AS SW FLOW SHOULD
TRANSPORT HIGHER MOISTURE LEVELS/PWATS INTO REGION.

HYDROLOGY...
FFG LOCALLY LOWEST IN THE NORTHERN TIER. QPF NEAR 1.5 INCHES FOR THE
NRN TIER...WHICH SEEMS FAIR (OR EVEN A BIT LOW) WITH 1.5 TO 2 INCH
PWATS OVERHEAD FOR MUCH OF THE EVENT AND STRONG DYNAMICS TO
BOOT...WL POST A FLASH FLOOD WATCH FOR THE NRN HALF OF THE CWA.
&&

.CTP WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
PA...FLASH FLOOD WATCH FOR ZONES PAZ004>006-010>012-017>019-
     024>028-033>037-041-042-045-046-049>053-056>059-063>066 THROUGH
     THURSDAY.
  ...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH FOR ZONES PAZ011-012-017>019-
     024>028-033>036-041-042-045-046-049>053-056>059-063>066 UNTIL 7
     PM EDT.
&&

SHORT TERM (UPDATE)...GARTNER

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA
356 AM EDT WED AUG 4 2004

PAZ004>006-010>012-017>019-024>028-033>037-041-042-045-046-049>053-
056>059-063>066-050746-
ADAMS PA-BEDFORD PA-BLAIR PA-CAMBRIA PA-CAMERON PA-CLEARFIELD PA-
COLUMBIA PA-CUMBERLAND PA-DAUPHIN PA-ELK PA-FRANKLIN PA-FULTON PA-
HUNTINGDON PA-JUNIATA PA-LANCASTER PA-LEBANON PA-MCKEAN PA-
MIFFLIN PA-MONTOUR PA-NORTHERN CENTRE PA-NORTHERN CLINTON PA-
NORTHERN LYCOMING PA-NORTHUMBERLAND PA-PERRY PA-POTTER PA-
SCHUYLKILL PA-SNYDER PA-SOMERSET PA-SOUTHERN CENTRE PA-
SOUTHERN CLINTON PA-SOUTHERN LYCOMING PA-SULLIVAN PA-TIOGA PA-
UNION PA-WARREN PA-YORK PA-
356 AM EDT WED AUG 4 2004

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA.

.DAY ONE...TODAY:

AN APPROACHING LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM WILL RIDE ALONG AN EAST-WEST
FRONTAL BOUNDARY THAT WILL LAY ACROSS THE FAR NORTHERN TIER OF THE
STATE TONIGHT. THE STORM SYSTEM WILL DEEPEN AND INTENSIFY AS IT MOVES
IN FROM THE WEST LATER TODAY...AND SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE
OVER WEST-CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING.  THE MAIN
THREAT FROM THE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE DAMAGING WIND GUSTS...BUT AN
ISOLATED TORNADO IS ALSO POSSIBLE.

ABUNDANT MOISTURE WILL BE AVAILABLE TO THE STORMS LATER TODAY AND
TONIGHT. THE STALLED FRONTAL BOUNDARY IN THE NORTH WILL MAKE HEAVY
RAINFALL ALMOST A CERTAINTY THERE...AND A FLASH FLOOD WATCH HAS BEEN
POSTED FOR NORTH CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA (MAINLY NORTH OF INTERSTATE 80)
FROM THIS EVENING INTO THURSDAY MORNING. AN INCH AND A HALF TO TWO
INCHES OF RAIN IN AN HOUR OR LESS WILL CREATE FLASH FLOODING IN THAT
AREA.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY:

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

SPOTTER CALL TO ACTION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE REQUIRED.

DANGELO

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA
1058 AM EDT WED AUG 4 2004

PAZ004-005-010-041630-
ELK-MCKEAN-WARREN-
1058 AM EDT WED AUG 4 2004

...SHOWERS WITH LOCALLY HEAVY RAIN WILL AFFECT MCKEAN...WARREN AND
ELK COUNTIES...

AT 1054 AM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
FEW CLUSTERS OF SHOWERS MOVING ACROSS NORTHWEST PENNSYLVANIA. NO
LIGHTNING WAS INDICATED WITH THESE CELLS...BUT RADAR INDICATED
LOCALLY HEAVY RAIN WAS FALLING. THESE DOWNPOURS MAY CAUSE WATER TO
POND ON ROADWAYS...ALONG WITH WIND GUSTS TO 40 MPH.

ADDITIONAL SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED ACROSS THE AREA AS
THE DAY WEARS ON...SOME OF WHICH MAY BECOME SEVERE WITH DAMAGING
WIND GUSTS POSSIBLE THIS AFTERNOON.

DEVOIR

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA
223 PM EDT WED AUG 4 2004

PAZ010-017-041930-
CLEARFIELD-ELK-
223 PM EDT WED AUG 4 2004

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT CLEARFIELD AND ELK COUNTIES...

AT 217 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM 5 MILES NORTH OF DUBOIS...MOVING EAST AT 35 MPH.
THE THUNDERSTORM WILL BE NEAR PENFIELD AROUND 230 PM...S.B. ELLIOT
STATE PARK AROUND 235 PM AND PARKER DAM STATE PARK AROUND 240 PM.

VERY HEAVY RAIN WILL FALL...AND WILL CAUSE WATER TO POND ON ROADS AND
QUICKLY FILL ROADSIDE DITCHES AND SMALL STREAMS. WIND GUSTS TO 40
MPH AND SMALL HAIL ARE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM.

DEVOIR

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA
300 PM EDT WED AUG 4 2004

PAZ011-012-017>019-024>028-033>036-041-042-045-046-049>053-056>059-
063>066-050100-
ADAMS PA-BEDFORD PA-BLAIR PA-CAMBRIA PA-CAMERON PA-CLEARFIELD
PA-COLUMBIA PA-CUMBERLAND PA-DAUPHIN PA-FRANKLIN PA-FULTON
PA-HUNTINGDON PA-JUNIATA PA-LANCASTER PA-LEBANON PA-MIFFLIN
PA-MONTOUR PA-NORTHERN CENTRE PA-NORTHERN CLINTON PA-NORTHERN
LYCOMING PA-NORTHUMBERLAND PA-PERRY PA-SCHUYLKILL PA-SNYDER
PA-SOMERSET PA-SOUTHERN CENTRE PA-SOUTHERN CLINTON PA-SOUTHERN
LYCOMING PA-SULLIVAN PA-UNION PA-YORK PA-
300 PM EDT WED AUG 4 2004

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 900 PM EDT
WEDNESDAY EVENING FOR THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES IN CENTRAL
PENNSYLVANIA...

ADAMS...BEDFORD...BLAIR...CAMBRIA...CAMERON...CENTRE...CLEARFIELD...
CLINTON...COLUMBIA...CUMBERLAND...DAUPHIN...FRANKLIN...FULTON...
HUNTINGDON...JUNIATA...LANCASTER...LEBANON...LYCOMING...MIFFLIN...
MONTOUR...NORTHUMBERLAND...PERRY...SCHUYLKILL...SNYDER...SOMERSET...
SULLIVAN...UNION AND YORK.

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH MEANS THAT SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE
POSSIBLE IN AND CLOSE TO THE WATCH AREA...PRODUCING DAMAGING WINDS...
LARGE HAIL AND FREQUENT LIGHTNING.

SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCE DAMAGING WIND IN EXCESS OF 55 MPH...
DESTRUCTIVE HAIL...FREQUENT LIGHTNING AND VERY HEAVY RAIN. FOR YOUR
PROTECTION...MOVE TO AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF YOUR
HOME OR BUSINESS. HEAVY RAIN FLOODS ROADS QUICKLY SO DONT DRIVE INTO
AREAS WHERE WATER COVERS THE ROAD.

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA
335 PM EDT WED AUG 4 2004

PAZ012-018-019-042015-
NORTHERN CENTRE-NORTHERN CLINTON-SOUTHERN CENTRE-
335 PM EDT WED AUG 4 2004

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT CENTRE AND CLINTON COUNTIES
THROUGH 415 PM...

AT 330 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED
STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 19 MILES NORTHWEST
OF BELLEFONTE TO 13 MILES EAST OF CLEARFIELD...MOVING EAST AT 45
MPH. THE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE NEAR SNOW SHOE AROUND 340 PM...SANDY
RIDGE...BLACK MOSHANNON STATE PARK AROUND 345 PM...HYNER AROUND 350
PM...UNIONVILLE...PORT MATILDA...BALD EAGLE STATE PARK AROUND 355
PM...MILESBURG...HOWARD AND BELLEFONTE AROUND 400 PM.

VERY HEAVY RAIN WILL FALL...AND WILL CAUSE WATER TO POND ON ROADS AND
QUICKLY FILL ROADSIDE DITCHES AND SMALL STREAMS.

WIND GUSTS TO 40 MPH AND SMALL HAIL ARE POSSIBLE WITH THESE STORMS.

EXPECT INTENSE LIGHTNING FROM THESE STORMS. DO NOT SEEK SHELTER UNDER
TREES OR STAY IN THE OPEN WHEN LIGHTNING THREATENS.

JV

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA
349 PM EDT WED AUG 4 2004

PAZ026-027-042030-
HUNTINGDON-MIFFLIN-
349 PM EDT WED AUG 4 2004

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT HUNTINGDON AND MIFFLIN COUNTIES
THROUGH 430 PM...

AT 343 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM 4 MILES EAST OF HUNTINGDON...MOVING EAST AT 20
MPH. THE THUNDERSTORM WILL BE NEAR ALLENSVILLE AROUND 400 PM...
MCVEYTOWN AROUND 410 PM...BELLEVILLE AROUND 415 PM AND STRODES MILLS
AROUND 425 PM.

VERY HEAVY RAIN WILL FALL...AND WILL CAUSE WATER TO POND ON ROADS AND
QUICKLY FILL ROADSIDE DITCHES AND SMALL STREAMS.

WIND GUSTS TO 40 MPH AND SMALL HAIL ARE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM.

JV