The Northeast Weather Blog...

Recap of the recent major storm...
Posted by: Zachary Labe, 12:35 PM GMT on July 22, 2008 +0
"Thoughts of Flood Threat of May 8-13"
Many areas across eastern Pennsylvania have been relatively dry lately for a few thunderstorms occuring though Sunday evening. Some of those storms produced rainfall totals near .5inch along with some wind damage in the region as the cold front passed through. Also on Monday a few rain showers and thunderstorms occured in the northern parts of Pennsylvania producing locally heavy rainfall. Rainfall has been especially plentiful over western and northern Pennsylvania where thunderstorms have been occuring almost everyday in the past 7 days during the heat wave as instibility and orographic lift produced pulse thunderstorms that produced very heavy rain. Now last night a MCV pulled of Ohio and created numerous thunderstorms again in western Pennsylvania. As these storms tracked east they organized into a large cluster producing areas of heavy rain. They got as far east as Harrisburg, Pennsylvania in which a few hundreths of an inch of rain was recorded. The ground is pretty moist from Harrisburg-Selinsgrove-Williamsport line on westward. Now a positively tilted trough will move through the Great Lakes. As it moves through in will deepen down to the Tennessee Valley and become negatively tilted as it becomes somewhat stalled over the eastern portions of the northeast and middle Atlantic states. For a more detailed setup see the section below. As training thunderstorm develop behind a MCS that moves through Tuesday night, heavy rain will break out. Widespread amounts of 1-2inches looks likely from central Pennsylvania on eastward. But locallized amounts could approach 12hr flash flood guidance (see below). The NWS is contemplating posting Flash Flood Watches and it looks likely that they will do so for eastern areas. Also severe weather may be a threat as we are in the right entrance quadrant of the jet stream containing winds to near 40knots in the mid levels. Helicity values are slightly high so even rotating storms cannot be ruled out. CAPE values get to near 2000 j/kg on Tuesday also. Wind damage looks to be the primary threat. Also for Wednesday more strong thunderstorms could form, but will be somewhat limited thanks to cloud debris from a Wednesday morning MCS over southeastern Pennsylvania. So quite a busy weather couple of days and it will be quite interesting to see how it all plays out. Stay tuned for more updates. I thought the best idea to handle this situation would be my flood threat formatted blog. Have a great day!!!

"Regional Radar"

(Courtesy of NOAA)

"Regional Satellite"

(Courtesy of Penn State Meteo.)

"Storm Setup"
A cold front is drifting southeastward followed by a steep upper level trough. The trough will be deepening and dropping to as low as the Tennessee Valley, which is quite impressive for late July standards. This puts central and eastern Pennsylvania in the right front quadrant which helps to enhance thunderstorm and severe thunderstorm formation. Upper level winds are an astonishing 100knots, but more reasonable in the mid levels from only 35-4knots which is still adequate enough for severe weather formation. A MCS is rolling currently across western Pennsylvania and this complex will be the focus of much of the activity today. There is a slight risk of severe weather over the entire region today thanks to the latest SPC outlook. The MCS last night produced a plethura of severe weather across the Mississippi and Ohio Valley and now has weakened to just heavy rain and lightning. The low level jet continues to keep the MCS together with high moisture and cold cloud temperatures. Though as it moves into a more CIN environment this morning in eastern Pennsylvania it should weaken before strengthening again this afternoon and tap into the winds aloft producing some severe weather. CAPE values increase to near 2500 j/kg in extreme southern Pennsylvania. As the front slowly moves across the state a shortwave will rotate along it bringing nondiurnal instibility aiding in the formation of another strong MCS over northern Maryland and southern Pennsylvania. This is when helicity values increase making there a potential for an isolated rotating storm. This complex will produce heavy rain and move out of the region by Wednesday morning. As moisture increases on Wednesday and PWATs rise several deviatons to potentially over 2inches several rounds of thunderstorms will form from central Pennsylvania on eastward. Tropical moisture left over from Cristobal will move into the region along with Gulf of Mexico moisture riding up the nearly stationary cold front. Training thunderstorms could lead to flash flooding on Wednesday with some locallized areas possibly receiving an amount near 5inches when everything is all said and done. Severe weather is also a slight threat on Wednesday, but there should be widespread debris clouds to keep a hold on severe weather development. Damaging winds would be the primary threat. The SPC does put eastern portions in a slight risk. Overall the event is very convective type rains in nature. Some areas may see little rain, while others see a lot of rain making quite a difficult forecast.

"Regional Advisories"

(Courtesy of NOAA)

"12hr Estimated Precipitation"

(Courtesy of NOAA)

"Forecast from Hydrometeorological Prediction Center"
...CONCERNING THE SLOWLY DIGGING GREAT LAKES UPPER TROF...
VERY DYNAMIC SITUATION EXPECTED TO SET UP FROM THE MID ATLC COAST
NWD INTO THE NE AS PIVOTING S/WV THRU THE OH VALLEY UNDER CLOSED
LOW OVER THE GT LAKES WILL ALLOW ENTIRE UPR TROF TO TAKE ON A STG
NEG TILT LATER THIS AFTN AS IT PUSHED EWD TOWARD THE MID ATLC
REGION. THIS WILL RAPIDLY INCREASE THE UPPER DIFFLUENCE OVER
ASSOCD SLOW MOVING COLD FRONT AS WAVELENGTH BETWEEN THE S/WV AND
UPR RIDGE HOLD FIRM OFF THE EAST COAST SHORTENS. LOW LEVEL SLY
JET WILL RESPOND IN KIND..WITH INCREASING SLY LOW LEVEL JET ALONG
AND AHEAD OF THE FRONT AND POOLING OF 1.75 TO 2 INCH PLUS PWS.
THE COMBINATION OF STG UPR FORCING AND VERY FAVORABLE LOW LEVEL
MSTR..INSTABILITY AND FRONTAL CONVERGENCE SHOULD RESULT IN IN A
RATHER WELL DEFINED SQLN LATER THIS AFTN AND OVERNIGHT THAT WILL
MOVE SLOWLY EWD. NAM PERHAPS LOOKS A LITTLE SLOW WITH THE EWD
PROGRESSION OF THE UPR TROF..SO LEANED A BIT TOWARD A COMPROMISE
IN SPEED BETWEEN THE GFS AND NAM. OVERALL..SHOULD SEE SOME VERY
HEAVY RAINFALL RATES GIVEN THE ABOVE WITH SOME GENL 1 TO 2 INCH
AMOUNTS PER HR WITH STORM TOTAL AMOUNTS OF 2 TO 4 INCHES WITH
ISOLD HEAVIER AMOUNTS PSBL FROM NRN VA NWD INTO ERN NY AND WRN
PORTIONS OF NEW ENGLAND.

"HPC Forecast 5-day total QPF map"


"Model Analysis"
As the models have been they are suffering from major convective feedbrack, the HPC is also mentions this. Rainfall is probably grossely overestimated in many areas, but still locallized areas may see those amounts. The GFS model is what my forecast appears similar to indicating the Tuesday morning MCS, the Tuesday night MCS, and the training thunderstorms on Wednesday. One issue I see is it might be a little far to west with the cutoff heavy rain line in central Pennsylvania. The NAM seems to be having even more convective feedback issues and sort of shows another scenerio in which there is no second MCS. Instead training thunderstorms develop over western Pennsylvania and move eastward across the state by Wednesday afternoon. Now one thing I am worriful is I have found that models greatly overestimate QPF sometimes with storms. But still they have been indicating this heavy rain threat for a long period of time. And already there forecasts and placements of MCS I think have been pretty good. Also with slow moving thunderstorms, PWATs near 2inches, and previous rainfall somewhere there will likely be flooding even if the forecasts do not come out quite according to plan. It seems the bullseye in Pennsylvania is in the northeastern part of the state in the Poconos.

"GFS model total precipitation"


"NAM model total precipitation"


"12hr Flash Flood Guidance"

(Courtesy of NOAA)

"My Flood Forecasts"
Well were are already beginning to see training thunderstorms forming over northwestern Pennsylvania. That will be similar to what will happen Wednesday except it will be much more widespread. I think the highest potential for flooding will be in the poconos. The flood map below indicates potential for flooding threats. The map does not mean flooding will occur; it shows which areas have the highest potential for some sort of flooding. Also another higher risk area is in southwestern Pennsylvania and the southern Laural Highlands. That is because some areas have already seen 2inches of rain in the last 12 hours and that orographic lift from the tall mountains will enhance rain totals. Also below is my rainfall accumulation map in which all of Pennsylvania should see over .5inches. But with convective rains there will probably somewhere that does not see that much rain. Across southern Pennsylvania and up through eastern Pennsylvania is where widespread 1-2inches should occur with isolated amounts of 4inches may occur due to training thunderstorms. I will post verification maps for both maps after the storms is over. Stay tuned for more updates throughout the day.

"My Forecast Total Rain Map"


"My Flood Risk Map"


"Conclusion on Flood Threat"
Well overall it looks mainly like a flash flood threat and not river flooding and not widespread flooding. Make sure you stay tuned to the radar screens and advisories issued by the NWS. This could be a serious threat for low-lying areas. Already this morning Erie, Pennsylvania is getting pounded with heavy rain and thunderstorms. Also there is some severe weather beginning to occur in New York State and the Delmarva region. Stay tuned also for the severe weather threat to see how it unfolds later today. Have a great day!

"Storm Recap"
Very interesting storm moved across the region from June 22-24. It all started with a series of complexes of thunderstorms that developed in the Ohio Valley and tracked eastward spelling severe weather in western Pennsylvania. This all occured several days leading up to the major storm. Even a 71mph wind gust was recorded in Pittsburgh. The MCSs would track eastward across central Pennsylvania and finally dissapate towards the Susquehanna River. I only received .03inches of rain from the MCS. Then as a deep upper level trough moved into the region, the low level jet was positioned in which the central to eastern Pennsylvania zone was in the right front quadrant. First early Wednesday morning severe thunderstorms stationed along a warm front in Virginia began to lift northward. As the storms spread across the Mason-Dixon line a very intense line of thunderstorm built up. Severe warnings went up from Fulton County all the way to Chester County as a line of thunderstorms developed and lifted northward. Intense and vivid lightning also occured with the storms, but most of the lightning was Cloud to Cloud lightning limiting the amount of loud thunder other than a steady low rumble. Winds also accompained the line with wind damage reported in York, Cumberland, and Juniata Counties. Rainfall was also heavy with the line and most places received from .4-.8inches of rain with the initial line. By later in the morning these storms moved up through the Poconos and gradually weakened. Then as the jet stream built in more low level moisture with rising PWATs near 2inches a light to moderate rain band formed in central Pennsylvania and moved from south to northnortheast at a very slow rate. Rainfall amounts in the band were generally around .3inches initially. As the band tracked eastward the trough became negatively tilted now pumping up moisture. A series of weather events took place that great resembled winter storms to cause heavy rain. Thunderstorms began to train, especially from the Middle Susquehanna Valley up through the Poconos. Rainfall totals were in excess of 5inches. Flash flooding occured. Meanwhile along the front in western Pennsylvania severe thunderstorms formed and slowly tracked eastward. Flash flooding occured with this line near Monroeville in Alleghany County and also wind damage was reported. Shear levels aloft were quite high near 40knots the closer to the trough. Helicity values were very high making tornadoes a threat. Kinematics were extremely higher than normal which made up for the weak thermodynamics and instibility. CAPE values were pretty meager in most areas, excluding Philadelphia which they were near 2000 j/kg CAPE. As the second band began to weaken in eastern Pennsylvania. The third line of severe storms took over and marched eastward, but then began to weaken. Severe pulse thunderstorms then began to form in extreme eastern Pennsylvania and resembled supercells causing damage in Lehigh and Bucks Counties with hail and high winds. Very heavy rain fell in these thunderstorms. By later in the evening as the final weather events came together a intense line of training thunderstorms formed from Maryland up through southeastern Pennsylvania in the Piedmont region. This line began to expand and dumped the last of the rains. Meanwhile back in northwestern Pennsylvania backlash rain and thunderstorms unexpectedly formed causing flash flooding in Warren and Mckean counties were mudslides were reported along with water rescues. The rains finally wrapped up by early Thursday morning with amounts in the Piedmont near 3inches, Lower Susquehanna Valley near 2inches, Middle Susquehanna Valley near 3inches, Central Pennsylvania near 1inch, northwestern and western Pennsylvania near 4inches isolated 6inches, and Poconos up to 6inches. Overall the impacts of the storm were pretty significant but flooding reports were pretty minimal. Most of the heaviest of rains occured in areas that had been recently dry. The storm very much resembled a winter storm with even backlash snows around the low pressure. Pretty amazing. Thursday afternoon also some instibility northwest thunderstorms formed causing some severe hail reports across the central Mountains near State College. And early this Friday morning lows dropped from 45degrees in Bradford to mid 50s elsewhere. What a storm!

Flood Verification Map...

My flood map fared ok during the event. The worst of the flooding was in two locations. One in the poconos which I highlighted in my outlook and the second area in the northwest mountains which I put a low risk of flooding. Still overall I am pretty pleased.

Rain Fall Verification Map...

My rainfall total map did very well throughout the event. Convective rains are hard to forecast, because thunderstorms can hit one area and completely miss another area. That is why I usually do not issue rain maps during thunderstorm outbreaks. But anyway overall the only change that I would have made is in the northwest mountains where I could have upped estimated rain fall totals. Overall I am very pleased as the worst of the rains where in the areas which I highlighted in my outlook.

"Here north of Harrisburg 2008 statistics"
(Severe Weather Stats...)
Severe Thunderstorm Watches- 5
Severe Thunderstorm Warnings- 3
Tornado Watches- 1
Tornado Warnings- 0
Total Thunderstorms- 25

(Precipitation Stats...)
Flood Watches- 4
Flood Warnings- 5
Monthly Precipitation- 3.47inches
Yearly Precipitation- 27.85inches

(Temperature Stats...)
Heat Advisories- 4
Excessive Heat Warnings- 0
90degree days- 10
Categories: Hydrology Concerns
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1. JDinWPA 1:41 PM GMT on July 22, 2008    
Hi Bliz. Once again, most of the rain is going north and south of me. So far we got .38" on Sat, .2" on Sun and .03" this morning. Personally, that's enough for this week and it can quit now.

It's beginning to be a pain to have to cut the grass weekly. This time of year, the grass should be a little crackly!
2. Zachary Labe 2:02 PM GMT on July 22, 2008    
JDinWPA- Good morning!!! Yea grass is growing wild here too. More rain looks likely for all areas.

* FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR...
ERIE COUNTY IN NORTHWEST PENNSYLVANIA...


* UNTIL 200 PM EDT

* AT 952 AM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED
ONE TO THREE INCHES OF RAIN HAS FALLEN IN THE PAST HOUR NEAR
CONNEAUT. FLOODING WAS REPORTED IN SEVERAL LOW LYING AREAS. BE
ALERT FOR CLOSED ROADWAYS.
Member Since: December 14, 2007 Posts: 253 Comments: 14293
3. lawntonlookers 2:28 PM GMT on July 22, 2008    
Good morning Bliz. Just checking in for a second. Great pictures of Mt Washington on a previous Blog. Looks like we are in for some rain today and mabe heavy. I will have to go back and check out the radar, and close the windows before to long. Have a great day.

Just checked the radar, and it looks like what looked heavy early has dried up a lot comeing over the Mts. Probably a few showers.
Member Since: March 22, 2006 Posts: 9 Comments: 1570
4. jthal57 2:37 PM GMT on July 22, 2008    
While you guys are enjoying the lush(lol) conditions, we are dry here, only about 1.5" mtd around Northampton County!
5. Zachary Labe 2:43 PM GMT on July 22, 2008    
lawntonlookers- Thanks for stopping in! I still cannot get over the trip I had to Mt. Washington, lol. Yea the rain usually dries up coming over the mountains from a western Pennsylvania MCS. Did you get some rain last night? I got .03inches here. Also be ready for some training thunderstorms in our area by Tuesday night and Wednesday.

jthal57- Good morning! Lol, the dry hole continues over the Lehigh Valley. Well at least there is a chance for heavy rain coming up. Hopefully it will not be too heavy to ruin our gardens.
Member Since: December 14, 2007 Posts: 253 Comments: 14293
6. jthal57 2:51 PM GMT on July 22, 2008    
The garden has really started producing. Several good pickings of beans, about a dozen zucchinis, cucumbers, and even several small tomatoes. Peppers getting close, but not ready yet. But it has been a lot of work. Watering every day with the lack of rain and hot temps. Our local farms have great sweet corn, potatoes, and peaches. It feels good to be able to buy fresh and local produce!
7. WeatherBobNut 2:57 PM GMT on July 22, 2008    
Hi Bliz, great update! Very impessive set-up coming the next 48 hours! I was just checking some of the latest models and they are forcasting up to 6 inches of rain in some areas. I remember the remnants from Hurricane Ivan when it rolled through my area and dumped a quick 6 inches of rain and we had serious problems here! Oh boy,.....well, ttysoon...

-Weather Bob
8. Zachary Labe 3:08 PM GMT on July 22, 2008    
jthal57- Lancaster County fresh produce is the best. My garden is doing very similar, I just ripped out the pea plant yesterday. It was beginning to die, but it surely gave me a bountiful harvest.

WeatherBobNut- Good to hear from you! Remember the late June flooding of 2006. Here is a link for summary...Link. The setup is sort of similar except the duration of that event last much longer. And I do not expect anywhere close to those numbers for this event. I am just making a sort of similar comparison. This will be nothing like the flooding of June 2006. Interesting read though. Have a great day!
Member Since: December 14, 2007 Posts: 253 Comments: 14293
9. TheRasberryPatch 4:08 PM GMT on July 22, 2008    
amazing how the rain looked so impressive and then dried up for our area. even to our south the rain stayed together.
i realize this isn't the end of it. just amazing how a system can just fall apart like that.
the barometer has dropped rapidly and the heat index is close to 90.
Member Since: January 26, 2007 Posts: 72 Comments: 5634
10. wfreeck 4:23 PM GMT on July 22, 2008    
Hrey Blizzard92 :-)

After a bright sunny morning, it has gotten convective black here, and I did see a few stray raindrops.

So how are things going in your backyard?
Member Since: August 8, 2006 Posts: 124 Comments: 3535
11. TheRasberryPatch 4:24 PM GMT on July 22, 2008    
Blizz, i didn't see a forecast for this afternoon. i have golf for late afternoon and early evening. will i be able to get it in? : )
Member Since: January 26, 2007 Posts: 72 Comments: 5634
12. Zachary Labe 4:31 PM GMT on July 22, 2008    
TheRasberryPatch- Yep, MCS over western Pennsylvania usually dissapate while heading through eastern Pennsylvania. The reason was the low level jet was more located over western Pennsylvania. The jet was helping to fuel those showers and thunderstorms and once it moved east away from the jet it began to weaken. As for this afternoon tough to say. There is an area of CAP behind the clouds, but cumulus should build leading to thunderstorm. But it looks like the majority of the storms should be in western Pennsylvania and move eastward by nightfall. At this point I would plan on having a nice afternoon. But continue to monitor radar trends.

wfreeck- There sure were impressive training thunderstorms this morning on the southshore of Lake Erie. Maybe there are some building along the northshore.
Member Since: December 14, 2007 Posts: 253 Comments: 14293
13. TheRasberryPatch 4:42 PM GMT on July 22, 2008    
thanks Blizz. i appreciate you taking the time to answer my questions
Member Since: January 26, 2007 Posts: 72 Comments: 5634
14. Zachary Labe 5:26 PM GMT on July 22, 2008    
Quoting TheRasberryPatch:
thanks Blizz. i appreciate you taking the time to answer my questions

Anytime! Good luck with your golf match!
Member Since: December 14, 2007 Posts: 253 Comments: 14293
15. wfreeck 5:28 PM GMT on July 22, 2008    
lol, after 50 minutes of the convective black clouds, I finally did get a 2 minute rain shower (fat raindrops, light to moderate rate).
Member Since: August 8, 2006 Posts: 124 Comments: 3535
16. Zachary Labe 5:31 PM GMT on July 22, 2008    
wfreeck- I see there are some thunderstorms flaring up in northern Michigan and that is gradually working southward.
Member Since: December 14, 2007 Posts: 253 Comments: 14293
17. Zachary Labe 6:23 PM GMT on July 22, 2008    
The SPC is talking about a pretty dangerous severe weather setup tomorrow. Latest outlook...

DAY 2 CONVECTIVE OUTLOOK
NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER NORMAN OK
1227 PM CDT TUE JUL 22 2008

...HUDSON VALLEY TO MID ATLANTIC COAST...

A VERY MOIST BOUNDARY LAYER WILL EXIST AHEAD OF SURFACE FRONT WITH
DEWPOINTS IN THE 60S TO LOWER 70S. WHILE MIDLEVEL LAPSE RATES ARE
EXPECTED TO REMAIN RATHER WEAK AND CLOUDS MAY TEND TO LIMIT STRONGER
INSOLATION...THIS MOISTURE COUPLED WITH MODEST DIABATIC HEATING WILL
CONTRIBUTE TO A MODERATELY UNSTABLE AIR MASS WITH MLCAPES
APPROACHING 1500-2500 J/KG. THIS INSTABILITY IN CONCERT WITH
INCREASING HEIGHT FALLS/DYNAMIC FORCING FOR ASCENT IN ADVANCE OF
SHORT WAVE TROUGH SHOULD RESULT IN AN INCREASE IN STORM COVERAGE AND
INTENSITY ALONG/AHEAD OF THE SURFACE FRONT BY AFTERNOON.

MID TO HIGH-LEVEL WIND FIELDS WILL TEND TO BACK SLIGHTLY AND
INCREASE WITH TIME WITH ARRIVAL OF SHORT WAVE TROUGH. OF
POTENTIALLY MORE SIGNIFICANCE IS THE NOTABLE BACKING AND
STRENGTHENING OF LOW-LEVEL WIND FIELDS DURING THE DAY IN RESPONSE TO
EVOLUTION OF LLJ OVER ERN PA/NJ NWD INTO THE HUDSON VALLEY/WRN NEW
ENGLAND. AS SUCH...KINEMATIC ENVIRONMENT WILL BECOME INCREASINGLY
SUPPORTIVE OF ORGANIZED STORMS INCLUDING SUPERCELLS CAPABLE OF
DAMAGING WINDS...SOME HAIL AND A FEW TORNADOES.
Member Since: December 14, 2007 Posts: 253 Comments: 14293
18. Zachary Labe 6:28 PM GMT on July 22, 2008    

MESOSCALE DISCUSSION 1857
NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER NORMAN OK
0115 PM CDT TUE JUL 22 2008

AREAS AFFECTED...PORTIONS E-CENTRAL/SERN NY...ERN PA...NJ...WRN NEW
ENGLAND.

CONCERNING...SEVERE POTENTIAL...WATCH POSSIBLE

VALID 221815Z - 222015Z

SVR POTENTIAL MAY INCREASE THROUGH AT LEAST 20Z OVER DISCUSSION
AREA...WITH DAMAGING GUSTS AND HAIL BEING MAIN CONCERNS.

MULTICELLULAR CLUSTER OF SCATTERED-NUMEROUS TSTMS SHOULD CONTINUE TO
PROPAGATE/REDEVELOP EWD INTO FAVORABLY UNSTABLE AND WEAKLY CAPPED
AIR MASS ACROSS CENTRAL/SRN NY...WHILE ADDITIONAL/WIDELY SCATTERED
DEVELOPMENT OCCURS SWD ACROSS ERN PA. LOW LEVEL LAPSE RATES WILL
REMAIN MAXIMIZED FROM DE RIVER VALLEY NNEWD OVER LOWER HUDSON
VALLEY...AS BREAKS IN CLOUDS AND ASSOCIATED SFC HEATING YIELDS
WELL-MIXED BOUNDARY LAYER SUPPORTING POTENTIAL FOR STG-SVR GUSTS.
MODIFIED ALB RAOB AND RUC SOUNDINGS INDICATE MLCAPES 1000-1500 J/KG
ARE ANTICIPATED THROUGH LATE AFTERNOON IN PRECONVECTIVE AIR MASS.
LOW LEVEL WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO REMAIN RATHER WEAK...LIMITING
HODOGRAPH SIZE. HOWEVER...DEEP-LAYER SHEAR INCREASES WITH SWD AND
SWWD EXTENT ACROSS ERN NY AND WILL BE FAVORABLE SWD OVER ERN PA AND
NJ...WITH 45-55 KT EFFECTIVE SHEAR MAGNITUDES BEING COMMON. THIS
INDICATES SOME SUPERCELL POTENTIAL AS WELL...WHICH WOULD ENHANCE
HAIL POTENTIAL. FAVORABLE SHEAR MAY EXTEND EWD WITH TIME ACROSS
PORTIONS WRN NEW ENGLAND...AS SHORTWAVE TROUGH -- NOW EVIDENT IN
MOISTURE CHANNEL IMAGERY OVER WRN PORTIONS NY/PA...PIVOTS ENEWD.
Member Since: December 14, 2007 Posts: 253 Comments: 14293
19. TheRasberryPatch 7:02 PM GMT on July 22, 2008    
wow Blizz that looks pretty ominous. maybe not pretty.
i see we are getting pop ups for this afternoon. should we be concerned for our area?
Member Since: January 26, 2007 Posts: 72 Comments: 5634
20. Zachary Labe 8:13 PM GMT on July 22, 2008    
TheRasberryPatch- Yea looks pretty bad. At this point I am slightly downplaying the severe weather threat compared to the SPC outlook. I think cloud debris will somewhat limit heating. As for this late afternoon appears pulse thunderstorms are not nearby so we should be ok going into the evening.

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 445 PM EDT
FOR LAWRENCE...MERCER...VENANGO AND BUTLER COUNTIES...

AT 406 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO
INDICATE A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING PENNY SIZE
HAIL...AND DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS OF 60 MPH. THIS STORM WAS
LOCATED NEAR MAYVILLE...MOVING EAST AT 31 MPH.
Member Since: December 14, 2007 Posts: 253 Comments: 14293
21. WeatherBobNut 8:36 PM GMT on July 22, 2008    
Hi Bliz and all, yes Bliz, i do remember that set-up back in '06 and we had major flooding. This current set-up will be something to watch, i see several inches of rain in the Poconos, points east...up to 4-5 inches.

-Weather Bob
Great to hear from you as well. ;-)
22. Zachary Labe 12:07 AM GMT on July 23, 2008    
* Tornado Warning for...
northern Beaver County in western Pennsylvania...
southern Lawrence County in western Pennsylvania...


* until 845 PM EDT

* at 801 PM EDT... National Weather Service Doppler radar indicated a
severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado 7 miles
southwest of New Castle... moving east at 35 mph.

* Other locations in the warning include but are not limited to New
Castle... Ellwood City... McConnells Mill...
Fombell...
Member Since: December 14, 2007 Posts: 253 Comments: 14293
23. wfreeck 12:28 AM GMT on July 23, 2008    
Wow, I see it's been an active day in your neck of the woods Blizzard.

Nothing amazing here, but a thunderstorm (just like yesterday missed me 2 miles to the NNE.

I could have swore the thunderstorm yesterday had rotation with it (and even a developing funnel cloud). However, look at this strange report (the weather station nearest to me).

Detroit City Airport
Lat: 42.43 Lon: -83.02 Elev: 625
Last Update on Jul 22, 7:53 pm EDT


Funnel Cloud

77°F
(25°C) Humidity: 48 %
Wind Speed: NW 10 G 17 MPH
Barometer: 29.91" (1012.6 mb)
Dewpoint: 56°F (13°C)
Heat Index: 79°F (26°C)
Visibility: 10.00 mi.
More Local Wx: 3 Day History:




Member Since: August 8, 2006 Posts: 124 Comments: 3535
24. Zachary Labe 12:34 AM GMT on July 23, 2008    
wfreeck- Active in western and eastern Pennsylvania, but not here in central Pennsylvania. As for that report, it is funny you posted that, that is the second time I have seen a funnel cloud observation from an airport across the USA in the last week. I cannot think of where I saw it before.
Member Since: December 14, 2007 Posts: 253 Comments: 14293
25. Zachary Labe 12:40 AM GMT on July 23, 2008    
* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
NORTHEASTERN BEAVER COUNTY IN WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA...
CENTRAL BUTLER COUNTY IN WEST CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA...
SOUTHEASTERN LAWRENCE COUNTY IN WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA...


* UNTIL 915 PM EDT

* AT 823 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO NEAR MCCONNELLS
MILL...MOVING EAST AT 24 MPH.
Member Since: December 14, 2007 Posts: 253 Comments: 14293
26. JDinWPA 12:44 AM GMT on July 23, 2008    
We are in the direct line of the storm. Had to come in for more batteries. Let you know how it all works out.
27. Zachary Labe 12:44 AM GMT on July 23, 2008    
Funnel Cloud has been reported near Ellwood in Lawrence County in western Pennsylvania...

Member Since: December 14, 2007 Posts: 253 Comments: 14293
28. Zachary Labe 1:21 AM GMT on July 23, 2008    
JDinWPA- Stay safe and keep me updated.


Here is something that caught my attention this evening... I checked radar archives and an impressive squall did move through the region.

07/13/2008 0520 PM

1 miles se of Jonestown, Lebanon County.

Tornado, reported by NWS storm survey.

NWS survey team confirmed an EF0 tornado.
Member Since: December 14, 2007 Posts: 253 Comments: 14293
29. cchamp6 1:22 AM GMT on July 23, 2008    
Hey Blizz,

I just posted on Sullys blog. I thought we were looking at a big rain event for wed. Now I am reading about a severe potential. Are we gonna have enough sun for this to happen?
Member Since: December 21, 2006 Posts: 5 Comments: 1543
30. Zachary Labe 1:26 AM GMT on July 23, 2008    
cchamp6- Good evening!!! We are in for a big rain event. The SPC is really hyping this severe weather potential. Kinematic dynamics are there for supercell development. If we get the MCS expected early Wednesday morning then there will be lots of debris clouds. At this point I do not think this is a too serious of a severe weather threat. But I may have to change my thoughts tomorrow morning. I have seen a lot of crash and burned forecasts because of debris clouds. Strong thunderstorms can be expected though, but as for widespread severe at this point I do not think so. Check back tomorrow morning though. I saw how volitle the atmosphere is tonight with the tornado warning in western Pennsylvania. Have a great evening!
Member Since: December 14, 2007 Posts: 253 Comments: 14293
31. JDinWPA 1:30 AM GMT on July 23, 2008    
Hey Bliz. The worst is over. There was a moderate amount of lightning, mostly cloud to cloud. Only a few hit ground. Some .5" hail, but not a lot, thank goodness. The wind was wicked. I have nothing to measure wind speed, but 50/70 year old oak trees were engaged. The rain was torrential. We got about .6" in 15/20 minutes.

Watching radar, the strongest part of the storm passed a mile or two south of us. I think we also lucked out that this came right after sunset.

I can't see what happened to the garden, but I'll let you know.
32. JDinWPA 1:32 AM GMT on July 23, 2008    
I heard on the local news that there was a funnel sighted at Portersville too. It's not far from Ellwood City.
33. cchamp6 1:59 AM GMT on July 23, 2008    
Thanks, Ill check in tomm.
Member Since: December 21, 2006 Posts: 5 Comments: 1543
34. sullivanweather 7:22 AM GMT on July 23, 2008    
Any of those storms wake you, Blizz?
Member Since: March 8, 2007 Posts: 269 Comments: 12490
35. Zachary Labe 11:25 AM GMT on July 23, 2008    
Well early this morning around 2-3am a line of very strong thunderstorms moved through the lower Susquehanna Valley. The storm produced pretty vivid CTC lightning. I got .64inches of rain making a storm total so far .67inches of rain. Some wind damage was reported in Cumberland, York, and Juniata Counties. Honestyly overall I saw the impressive radar signatures for the line and the storms were much more bark than bite. Anyway there are also some flood watches are out...

* FLOOD WATCH FOR PORTIONS OF NEW YORK AND NORTHEAST
PENNSYLVANIA...INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES...IN NEW
YORK...DELAWARE...OTSEGO AND SULLIVAN. IN NORTHEAST
PENNSYLVANIA...LACKAWANNA...LUZERNE...NORTHERN WAYNE...PIKE
AND SOUTHERN WAYNE.


* FLASH FLOOD WATCH FOR NEW JERSEY...EASTERN
PENNSYLVANIA
...DELAWARE AND EASTERN MARYLAND.
Member Since: December 14, 2007 Posts: 253 Comments: 14293
36. TheRasberryPatch 11:59 AM GMT on July 23, 2008    
Well said Blizz. i saw the lightning for over an hour and actually got up to put on the tv to see if there were any warnings. just my luck twc had on one of those stupid shows 'it could happen...' and the local networks just had the signal at the top. i didn't feel like putting on the weather radio or turning on the computer. i will know better next time. anyway, the thunder wasn't that bad. some of the lightning was incredible for constantly lighting up the sky.
0.33" of rain with a wind gust of 20mph during the storm.
the last 8 days have gotten 0.43" of rain.
Member Since: January 26, 2007 Posts: 72 Comments: 5634
37. Zachary Labe 1:16 PM GMT on July 23, 2008    
TheRasberryPatch- Lol, TWC. Well the entire lower Susquehanna Valley was basically under a severe thunderstorm warning. Has been raining off and on here today with a lot more to come.
Member Since: December 14, 2007 Posts: 253 Comments: 14293
38. TheRasberryPatch 1:31 PM GMT on July 23, 2008    
well Blizz. i figured it would be easier to just turn on the tv. i was really surprised how bright and constant the lightning was that we hardly had much thunders claps. i just figured the storm stayed to my south and east. i also figured the storm was not moving.
like you said more bark than bite.
could use more rain for the grass
Member Since: January 26, 2007 Posts: 72 Comments: 5634
39. jthal57 1:32 PM GMT on July 23, 2008    
Blizzard- that mass of rain seems like it's taking its time moving eastward. What's your expectations about when I'll see the heavy stuff?
40. Zachary Labe 1:41 PM GMT on July 23, 2008    
TheRasberryPatch- I was quite impressed also with the lightning. But it was cloud to cloud lightning. The loud thunder claps come from cloud to ground lightning. The storms were actually moving at 47mph northward. The line began to weaken at the Harrisburg-Lebanon line as it moved north. I was lightning from the distance starting at 1:15am till 3:30am.

jthal57- Well that is the thing today. A large rain shield will intensify with thunderstorms as the day progresses and just barely move eastward. I would say late afternoon through evening is going to be the heaviest rain.
Member Since: December 14, 2007 Posts: 253 Comments: 14293
41. Zachary Labe 1:46 PM GMT on July 23, 2008    
Latest SPC outlook highlights a pretty decent threat of tornadoes today. Here is the latest...

DAY 1 CONVECTIVE OUTLOOK
NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER NORMAN OK
0755 AM CDT WED JUL 23 2008

...PA/NY/MID ATLANTIC/NEW ENG...
UNUSUAL SETUP FOR JULY WILL EVOLVE OVER THE MID ATLANTIC AND NERN
STATES...ON DOWNSTREAM SIDE OF AMPLIFYING GRT LKS TROUGH. TRAILING
CONFLUENCE BAND EXTENDING SW ACROSS PA AND MD/WV FROM ERN NY MCS
SHOULD CONTINUE SLOWLY SEWD BUT EVENTUALLY BECOME NEARLY STNRY LATER
TODAY FROM ROUGHLY THE LWR HUDSON VLY TO THE CHESAPEAKE BAY. THIS
FEATURE SHOULD SERVE AS A FOCUS FOR DIURNALLY-DRIVEN STORM
DEVELOPMENT TODAY...AND ADDITIONAL MORE DYNAMICALLY-DRIVEN STORMS
TONIGHT...AS STRENGTHENING UPR TROUGH AND ASSOCIATED JET TAKE ON
MORE OF A NEUTRAL OR NEGATIVE TILT.

LOW LVL LAPSE RATES LIKELY WILL REMAIN WEAK THROUGH THE PERIOD. BUT
WITH EVEN MODEST SFC HEATING...CONVERGENCE ALONG
PREVIOUSLY-MENTIONED CONFLUENCE ZONE...RICH MOISTURE INFLOW...AND
GRADUALLY INCREASING UVV SHOULD SUPPORT FAIRLY WIDESPREAD STORM
COVERAGE AS SBCAPE IN SUNNIER CORRIDORS INCREASES TO AROUND 2000
J/KG.

CONFLUENCE ZONE SHOULD ASSUME A NNE/SSW ORIENTATION LATER TODAY
/FROM NEAR THE I-95 CORRIDOR IN MD INTO THE LWR HUDSON VLY IN
NY/...AND THEN PROGRESS ONLY VERY SLOWLY EWD WITH MAIN UPR TROUGH.
AT THE SAME TIME...DEEP TROPOSPHERIC FLOW OVER REGION WILL BACK AND
BECOME PARALLEL TO CONFLUENCE ZONE. THIS WILL YIELD AN IDEAL SETUP
FOR EXTENSIVE BACK-BUILDING/TRAINING CONVECTION. COUPLED WITH
INCREASING DEEP UNIDIRECTIONAL SSWLY FLOW...PATTERN COULD SUPPORT
EMBEDDED SUPERCELLS WITH BOWING SEGMENTS AND TORNADOES.

THE SVR THREAT...INCLUDING TORNADOES...MAY CONTINUE AND EVEN
INCREASE THIS EVENING THROUGH EARLY THURSDAY FROM NJ AND THE LWR
HUDSON VLY INTO WRN/SRN NEW ENG AS LLJ MARKEDLY INCREASES WITH THE
APPROACH OF MAIN UPR TROUGH.
Member Since: December 14, 2007 Posts: 253 Comments: 14293
42. crowe1 1:52 PM GMT on July 23, 2008    
Just keeps getting better and better. Or should that be, wetter and wetter?:)
Member Since: January 26, 2007 Posts: 15 Comments: 914
43. Zachary Labe 1:56 PM GMT on July 23, 2008    
crowe1- Yea that band in central Pennsylvania is already beginning to fill in with embedded thunderstorms and gradually lift northward.
Member Since: December 14, 2007 Posts: 253 Comments: 14293
44. crowe1 2:10 PM GMT on July 23, 2008    
Blizz- I noticed that. Thought we were going to have a little break so I could go look around but it just keeps back building.
Member Since: January 26, 2007 Posts: 15 Comments: 914
45. TheRasberryPatch 2:15 PM GMT on July 23, 2008    
no rain here yet this late morning. do you expect the rain line to push east?

i noticed the lightning for those hours as well Blizz. that is why i wanted to check it out on tv and that since it never got intense i thought someone was getting pounded.
Member Since: January 26, 2007 Posts: 72 Comments: 5634
46. Zachary Labe 2:44 PM GMT on July 23, 2008    
crowe1- The band seems to be slowly maturing from stratiform rain to convective rains.

TheRasberryPatch- Yep it will move east. The farther east you are today the more rain you will probably get. Also did you notice below that tornado report out of Jonestown in Lebanon County on July 13? Look below at comment #28 for more information.
Member Since: December 14, 2007 Posts: 253 Comments: 14293
47. Zachary Labe 3:16 PM GMT on July 23, 2008    
* FLOOD ADVISORY FOR...
MONTOUR COUNTY...
NORTHEASTERN SNYDER COUNTY...
NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY...
COLUMBIA COUNTY...
SULLIVAN COUNTY...
UNION COUNTY...
EASTERN LYCOMING COUNTY...
Member Since: December 14, 2007 Posts: 253 Comments: 14293
48. Zachary Labe 3:40 PM GMT on July 23, 2008    
* URBAN AND SMALL STREAM FLOOD ADVISORY FOR...
WESTERN SUSQUEHANNA COUNTY IN NORTHEAST PENNSYLVANIA...
EASTERN BRADFORD COUNTY IN NORTHEAST PENNSYLVANIA...
NORTHWESTERN WYOMING COUNTY IN NORTHEAST PENNSYLVANIA...


By the way Hurricane Dolly is just about to make landfall in an hour or two as it swirls off the Texas coastline. It is now a category 2 hurricane...
Member Since: December 14, 2007 Posts: 253 Comments: 14293
49. Zachary Labe 4:27 PM GMT on July 23, 2008    
* URBAN AND SMALL STREAM FLOOD ADVISORY FOR...
YORK COUNTY...
FRANKLIN COUNTY...
LANCASTER COUNTY...
CUMBERLAND COUNTY...
LEBANON COUNTY...
DAUPHIN COUNTY...
PERRY COUNTY...
SCHUYLKILL COUNTY...
SOUTHERN NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY...
ADAMS COUNTY...
Member Since: December 14, 2007 Posts: 253 Comments: 14293
50. Zachary Labe 4:48 PM GMT on July 23, 2008    

MESOSCALE DISCUSSION 1875
NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER NORMAN OK
1133 AM CDT WED JUL 23 2008

AREAS AFFECTED...PARTS OF THE MID-ATLANTIC / LONG ISLAND

CONCERNING...SEVERE POTENTIAL...WATCH POSSIBLE

VALID 231633Z - 231730Z

SEVERE POTENTIAL IS INCREASING ACROSS PARTS OF THE MID-ATLANTIC
EXTENDING NEWD TO LONG ISLAND. WEAKENING CONVECTIVE INHIBITION WILL
ENABLE RAPID TSTM DEVELOPMENT IN THE NEXT HOUR OR TWO.

BUILDING CU FIELD OVER PARTS OF NJ/DE PER LATEST VISIBLE SATELLITE
IMAGERY SUGGESTS THE AREA IS DESTABILIZING AHEAD OF LOW LEVEL
CONFLUENCE ZONE. RECENT PHL ACARS /16Z/ SHOWED A WEAKENING CAP
ACROSS THE REGION. MORNING AREA RAOBS AND LATEST VWP DATA SUGGEST
SUFFICIENT DEEP LAYER SHEAR EXISTS ACROSS THE REGION /30-40 KTS 0-6
KM SHEAR/. RECENT SURFACE ANALYSIS SHOWS TEMPS WARMING INTO THE
80S-LOWER 90S WITH UPPER 60/LOWER 70 DEWPOINTS. THIS WILL LEAD TO
MODERATE INSTABILITY DEVELOPING ACROSS THE REGION. THE PRIMARY
THREATS WITH THE STRONGER STORMS WILL BE DMGG WINDS/LARGE HAIL.
Member Since: December 14, 2007 Posts: 253 Comments: 14293
51. Zachary Labe 5:19 PM GMT on July 23, 2008    
* FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR...
ALLEGHENY COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST PENNSYLVANIA...
WESTMORELAND COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST PENNSYLVANIA...


* UNTIL 415 PM EDT

* AT 112 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED
RAINFALL CAPABLE OF PRODUCING FLASH FLOODING REPORTED OVER THE
WARNED AREA. FLOODING HAS BEEN REPORTED IN THE MONROEVILLE AREA.
Member Since: December 14, 2007 Posts: 253 Comments: 14293

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About Blizzard92
Cornell University- Atmospheric Sciences Student; Central PA SKYWARN Storm Spotter; American Meteorological Society Member; PA CoCoRaHS Branch Member

Personal Weather Stations
Linglestown, PA
Elevation: 520 ft
Temperature: 64.6 °F
Dew Point: 51.3 °F
Humidity: 62%
Wind: Calm
Wind Gust: 0.0 mph
Updated: 10:01 PM EDT on May 17, 2013
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