A frontal boundary which had been positioned over the mid-Atlantic for several days finally pushed offshore on June 20. As it did so, a final round of showers and thunderstorms developed.
Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.
Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.
The episode as NWS PHI wrote it up.
A frontal boundary which had been positioned over the mid-Atlantic for several days finally pushed offshore on June 20. As it did so, a final round of showers and thunderstorms developed. A few of these storms became severe with damaging winds in addition to very heavy rainfall.
The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.
NWS Philadelphia/Mount Holly wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jun 20, 9:33 AM EST, 3 hours 50 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Mount Holly NJ
1033 AM EDT Thu Jun 20 2019
.SYNOPSIS...
An area of low pressure will pass north of the region today. A cold
front will move through tonight. High pressure will gradually build
in Friday night and remain nearby through Sunday. A warm front is
expected to move through Sunday night. A frontal system will likely
affect the area Monday and Tuesday.
&&
.NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 PM THIS EVENING/...
The frontal boundary that has been stalled out across the area
continue to lift across the area. As of this morning, it was
located basically across I-95/NJ Turnpike southward into
Delaware then turning into western Pennsylvania. It will
continue to slowly lift through the remainder of the morning and
into the afternoon, although it may get hung up across northern
New Jersey and northeast Pennsylvania later this afternoon.
Clouds will continue to scatter out some south of the front and
temperatures will continue to rise as the sun pokes out. As the
temperatures warm, instability will develop and showers and
thunderstorms will begin to develop later this afternoon into
this evening. There could be some scattered showers through the
morning hours, but the main activity is expected to develop this
afternoon as a pre-frontal trough develops across the area
today.
Our area remains under a Slight Risk for severe weather. CAPE
values are forecast to build to 2,000-2,500 J/kg by this
afternoon whle shear increases to 35-45 knots as the mid level
flow increases to 30-40 knots. This should be sufficient enough
for some storms to produce damaging winds, and there could even
be some hail.
PW values remain around 1.75- 2 inches across the area, so there
remains a threat for areas of very heavy rainfall, including
those areas that received heavy last night. There is the
potential for an additional 1-3 inches of rainfall which would
lead to additional flash flooding. Therefore the Flash Flood
Watch remains in effect. Given areas where there is already
flooding occurring, it will not take much rainfall to result in
additional flooding.
&&
.SHORT TERM /6 PM THIS EVENING THROUGH 6 AM FRIDAY/...
Flash Flood Watch remains in effect until 1 am.
Cold front slowly works its way into the western portions of the
forecast area this evening, and then crosses the region during the
overnight.
Showers and thunderstorms will continue through much of the evening
hours, and then storms lose their intensity as the evening
progresses with the loss of diurnal heating. PWATs drop to around
1.75 inches, and heavy rain remains a threat for most of tonight.
Showers and storms taper off after midnight, and some dryer air
begins to work its way in from the north and west. Surface dewpoints
begin to drop, but with abundant moisture on the ground, can expect
fog to develop once again.
&&
.LONG TERM /FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/...
Overview...
We will finally see some changes in the long term, as the mid-
Atlantic will for a few days find itself downstream of a ridge over
the Great Lakes and upstream a departing trough associated with a
departing surface low. This will mean a well-deserved multi-day
break in rainfall across our area, as high pressure builds in to the
northwest and guides any ridge-riding convective disturbances to our
south. And such disturbances will exist, as the ridging to our west
is not very long in wavelength, and ample troughing continues to
exist further west, which will keep the pattern active over the
Plains and Midwest. That then raises questions for our weather going
further into next week. It appears likely the ridge to our west will
start to flatten out, with renewed troughing pushing into the Great
Lakes. Thus, it is likely we will be dealing with another frontal
system by early next week. Early indications are that we will not
deal with such a prolonged and impactful stretch of unsettled
weather. However, the one constant in the hemispheric pattern
remains a seemingly unbreakable block over Greenland, which should
briefly relax over the weekend but then looks to build right back in
next week. Because of this, even as longwave ridging attempts to
build over the CONUS, we continue to see frequent troughing over
southern Canada with the trough unable to lift out. This leaves us
vulnerable to additional frontal disturbances even in a pattern
which is trying to trend warmer and drier overall. We may get there
eventually, but for now after the break over the weekend it appears
next week will be on the unsettled side with a return of higher
humidity and occasional shower and storm chances.
Dailies...
Friday... Deepening low pressure will be pulling away from the
region. Gusty northwesterly flow is likely given the pressure
gradient of this unseasonably strong low. Gusts to 30mph are
possible. Lingering showers are also possible especially in the
morning, but should depart from west to east with all areas likely
dry by early to mid afternoon. Highs running a few to several
degrees below normal with cooler air to the northwest being advected
in and the trough axis moving overhead then swinging gradually to
the east.
Saturday-Sunday... A pleasant and quiet weekend awaits us as high
pressure moves overhead. The trough from Friday will still not have
fully pulled away by Saturday, and flow will remain northerly or
northwesterly, so this will keep temperatures a little below normal
even with sunshine. By Sunday, winds turn out of the west as the
trough pushes further off to the east, and we start to advect in
warmer air. So Sunday looks several degrees warmer than Saturday,
with highs mostly in the mid 80s and dew points creeping up a little
but still comfortable.
Monday-Tuesday... A warm frontal passage is expected Sunday night or
early Monday as low pressure tracks into the Great Lakes. Time
constraints prevented any detailed analysis for this period, but the
chance for showers and thunderstorms looks to return. In addition,
behind the warm front, higher dew points and warmer temperatures are
expected, and some areas may see highs approach 90 by Monday.
Mid-week/beyond... Low confidence. Guidance is widely spread on
whether the early week system or an additional frontal system may
continue to impact the region, or if high pressure and hotter
weather will build in. No strong preference at this time.
&&
.AVIATION /14Z THURSDAY THROUGH MONDAY/...
The following discussion is for KPHL, KPNE, KTTN, KABE, KRDG, KILG,
KMIV, KACY and surrounding areas.
Today...The frontal boundary that has been draped across the
area continues to lift north this morning. As it lifts north,
conditions will improve from IFR, to MVFR, to VFR as they have
already for some areas. ABE, RDG, PNE, and TTN may hold on to
the lower conditions longest as the front will take longer to
reach those areas.
Showers and thunderstorms are again expected for this afternoon
into this evening. Where thunderstorms occur, at least MVFR,
possible even IFR conditions can be expected. Some storms may
also produce strong to strong to severe with gusty winds.
Winds north of the boundary will generally southeast 5 knots or
less and south of the front winds will become south to
southwesterly around 5-10 knots.
Tonight...A period of MVFR or IFR ceilings is possible. By late
tonight, a cold frontal passage will turn winds more northwesterly,
which should start to scour out the lower ceilings towards daybreak
Friday. Showers possible with a lingering tstm also possible early
southeast of PHL.
Outlook...
Friday-Friday night... MVFR possible in the morning, but improving
to VFR. Northwest winds 15 to 20 kt with gusts as high as 30 kt,
diminishing to 10 kt overnight.
Saturday-Sunday... VFR. High confidence. Northwest winds of 10 kt
gusting to 20 kt on Saturday becoming westerly or southwesterly at 5
to 10 kt Sunday.
Sunday night-Monday... Periods of cig and vsby restrictions
possible along with scattered showers and tstms. Southwest winds
of 5 to 10 kt.
&&
.MARINE...
Visibilities have dropped to under one mile along the coast, so
will go ahead and issue a Marine Dense Fog Advisory that will
run until 10 am. VSBYs should improve then, but it is possible
that the Marine Dense Fog Advisory may have to be extended for
the rest of the day, depending on how bad the fog is and if it
lifts or not.
Otherwise, sub-Small Craft Advisory conditions on tap for
today.
Showers and thunderstorms with frequent lightning, heavy rain
resulting in lowered VSBY, and wind gusts in excess of 34 kt will
affect the waters later today and tonight.
SCA conditions develop on the waters after midnight tonight. Fog is
possible again.
Outlook...
Friday-Friday night... SCA conditions expected and a period of
northwesterly gales is possible especially over the southern marine
zones. Seas 3 to 5 ft. Conditions may drop below SCA Friday night as
seas fall to 2 to 4 ft but gusts will likely linger close to 25 kt.
Saturday-Monday... SCA conditions may linger into early Saturday but
sub-SCA conditions expected for most of the weekend into early next
week.
Rip Currents...
There is a low risk for the development of dangerous rip currents at
the NJ and DE ocean beaches today. Winds become south with waves in
the surf zone about 3 feet.
&&
.PHI WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
PA...Flash Flood Watch through late tonight for PAZ054-055-060>062-
070-071-101>106.
NJ...Flash Flood Watch through late tonight for NJZ001-007>010-
012>027.
DE...Flash Flood Watch through late tonight for DEZ001.
MD...Flash Flood Watch through late tonight for MDZ008-012.
MARINE...Small Craft Advisory from 8 PM this evening to 6 PM EDT Friday
for ANZ430-431-451>455.
Small Craft Advisory from 8 AM to 6 PM EDT Friday for ANZ450.
&&
Synopsis...O'Brien
Near Term...Robertson/MPS
Short Term...MPS
Long Term...O'Brien
Aviation...Robertson/O'Brien
Marine...MPS/O'BrienHazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Mount Holly NJ 1223 AM EDT Thu Jun 20 2019 DEZ001-MDZ008-012-NJZ001-007>010-012-013-015>023-027-PAZ054-055- 060>062-070-071-101>106-210500- New Castle-Cecil-Kent MD-Sussex-Warren-Morris-Hunterdon-Somerset- Middlesex-Western Monmouth-Mercer-Salem-Gloucester-Camden- Northwestern Burlington-Ocean-Cumberland-Atlantic-Cape May- Southeastern Burlington-Carbon-Monroe-Berks-Lehigh-Northampton- Delaware-Philadelphia-Western Chester-Eastern Chester- Western Montgomery-Eastern Montgomery-Upper Bucks-Lower Bucks- 1223 AM EDT Thu Jun 20 2019 ...FLASH FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT THROUGH LATE TONIGHT... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for northern Delaware, northeast Maryland, central New Jersey, northern New Jersey, northwest New Jersey, southern New Jersey, east central Pennsylvania, northeast Pennsylvania and southeast Pennsylvania. .DAY ONE...Tonight. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the Internet for more information about the following hazards. Flash Flood Watch. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the Internet for more information about the following hazards. Flash Flood Watch. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Weather spotters are encouraged to report significant weather conditions according to standard operating procedures. DEZ002-003-MDZ015-019-020-210500- Kent-Inland Sussex-Queen Annes-Talbot-Caroline- 1223 AM EDT Thu Jun 20 2019 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for central Delaware, southern Delaware and northeast Maryland. .DAY ONE...Tonight. The probability of widespread hazardous weather is low. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday. Some thunderstorms later Thursday afternoon and evening may be severe with locally damaging winds the main threat. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Weather spotters are encouraged to report significant weather conditions according to standard operating procedures. NJZ014-025-026-210500- Eastern Monmouth-Coastal Atlantic-Coastal Ocean- 1223 AM EDT Thu Jun 20 2019 ...FLASH FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT THROUGH LATE TONIGHT... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for central New Jersey and southern New Jersey. .DAY ONE...Tonight. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the Internet for more information about the following hazards. Flash Flood Watch. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the Internet for more information about the following hazards. Flash Flood Watch. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Weather spotters are encouraged to report significant weather conditions according to standard operating procedures. DEZ004-210500- Delaware Beaches- 1223 AM EDT Thu Jun 20 2019 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for southern Delaware. .DAY ONE...Tonight. The probability of widespread hazardous weather is low. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday. Some thunderstorms later this afternoon and evening may be severe with locally damaging winds the main threat. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Weather spotters are encouraged to report significant weather conditions according to standard operating procedures. ANZ430-431-450>455-210500- Delaware Bay waters north of East Point NJ to Slaughter Beach DE- Delaware Bay waters south of East Point NJ to Slaughter Beach DE- Coastal waters from Sandy Hook to Manasquan Inlet NJ out 20 nm- Coastal waters from Manasquan Inlet to Little Egg Inlet NJ out 20 nm- Coastal waters from Little Egg Inlet to Great Egg Inlet NJ out 20 nm- Coastal waters from Great Egg Inlet to Cape May NJ out 20 nm- Coastal waters from Cape May NJ to Cape Henlopen DE out 20 nm- Coastal waters from Cape Henlopen to Fenwick Island DE out 20 nm- 1223 AM EDT Thu Jun 20 2019 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for Atlantic coastal waters and Delaware Bay Waters. .DAY ONE...Tonight. The probability of widespread hazardous weather is low. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday. Some thunderstorms Thursday afternoon and evening may produce local wind gusts to 34 knots or greater. Some gale force wind gusts may occur Friday. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Weather spotters are encouraged to report significant weather conditions according to standard operating procedures. NJZ024-210500- Atlantic Coastal Cape May- 1223 AM EDT Thu Jun 20 2019 ...FLASH FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT THROUGH LATE TONIGHT... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for southern New Jersey. .DAY ONE...Tonight. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the Internet for more information about the following hazards. Flash Flood Watch. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the Internet for more information about the following hazards. Flash Flood Watch. Some thunderstorms later this afternoon and evening may be severe with locally damaging winds the main threat. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Weather spotters are encouraged to report significant weather conditions according to standard operating procedures. MPS
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOUNT HOLLY NJ
1121 AM EDT THU JUN 20 2019
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1100 AM HEAVY RAIN WAYNE 40.04N 75.37W
06/20/2019 M4.35 INCH DELAWARE PA PUBLIC
&&
MEOLAPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOUNT HOLLY NJ
1140 AM EDT THU JUN 20 2019
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0330 AM HEAVY RAIN 2 SSW MEDFORD 39.86N 74.84W
06/20/2019 M6.59 INCH BURLINGTON NJ TRAINED SPOTTER
3.5 INCHES OF RAIN FELL BETWEEN 7:30 PM AND
10 PM ON 6/19 WITH AN ADDITIONAL 2.59 INCHES
BETWEEN 2 AM AND 3 AM ON 6/20.
&&
MEOLAPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOUNT HOLLY NJ
1159 AM EDT THU JUN 20 2019
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1145 AM HEAVY RAIN THORNTON 39.91N 75.48W
06/20/2019 M2.01 INCH DELAWARE PA TRAINED SPOTTER
&&
MEOLAPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOUNT HOLLY NJ
1206 PM EDT THU JUN 20 2019
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1206 PM HEAVY RAIN GIBBSTOWN 39.83N 75.28W
06/20/2019 M4.30 INCH GLOUCESTER NJ PUBLIC
&&
MEOLASpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Mount Holly NJ
124 PM EDT Thu Jun 20 2019
DEZ001-MDZ008-PAZ060-061-070-101>105-201815-
New Castle-Cecil-Upper Bucks-Lehigh-Eastern Montgomery-Western
Montgomery-Delaware-Western Chester-Eastern Chester-Berks-
124 PM EDT Thu Jun 20 2019
...A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT NORTHWESTERN NEW
CASTLE...CECIL...BERKS...MONTGOMERY...SOUTHEASTERN LEHIGH...
NORTHWESTERN BUCKS...CHESTER AND WESTERN DELAWARE COUNTIES...
At 121 PM EDT, radar indicated strong thunderstorms were located
along a line extending from near Adamstown to Strasburg to near
Jarrettsville. Movement was east at 35 mph.
Wind gusts up to 40 mph and pea size hail are possible with these
storms.
Torrential rainfall is also occurring with these storms, and may
cause localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.
These storms are headed into areas that have ongoing flooding from
heavy rains overnight.
Locations impacted include...
Allentown, Reading, Newark, West Chester, Elkton, Havre De Grace,
Calvert, Bethlehem, Norristown, Pottstown, Phoenixville, Lansdale,
West Norriton, East Norriton, Coatesville, Emmaus, Westtown,
Wyomissing, Quakertown and Perkasie.
LAT...LON 3973 7610 3976 7606 3987 7599 3995 7600
4004 7593 4011 7594 4014 7588 4032 7616
4052 7611 4064 7539 4062 7538 4058 7541
4053 7533 4016 7528 3949 7579 3950 7599
3953 7598 3955 7609 3972 7623
TIME...MOT...LOC 1721Z 251DEG 32KT 4027 7609 3997 7617 3962 7644
MeolaPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOUNT HOLLY NJ
216 PM EDT THU JUN 20 2019
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0145 PM HEAVY RAIN BROOKLAWN 39.88N 75.12W
06/20/2019 E4.50 INCH CAMDEN NJ PUBLIC
&&
TCDThe Philadelphia radar (KDIX), 115 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 18:21 UTC.
3 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
A tree fell into wires on Strasburg Rd. All lanes were closed. Time estimated from radar.
A tree fell into wires on Parkersville Rd. Time estimated from radar.
A fallen tree blocked Matsonford Rd in both directions between I-76 and I-476. Time estimated from radar.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Pennsylvania in 2019Every state in 2019This day in weather historyWarnings in Pennsylvania, June 2019
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 829763, 829764, 829765.