PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT - FLOOD EVENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOUNT HOLLY NJ
300 PM EDT MON SEP 20 2004
...MAJOR FLOODING ON THE DELAWARE RIVER...
...SEPTEMBER 18-20, 2004...
THE REMNANTS OF HURRICANE "IVAN" INTERACTED WITH A COLD FRONT,
WHICH DROPPED INTO THE NORTHEASTERN UNITED STATES LATE FRIDAY,
SEPTEMBER 17TH, 2004. THIS MOISTURE MOVED INTO EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA,
PRODUCING TREMENDOUS RAINFALL AMOUNTS, PRIMARILY ACROSS NORTHEAST
PENNSYLVANIA AND SOUTHERN NEW YORK. TOTAL RAINFALL AMOUNTS ACROSS
THESE AREAS RANGED FROM 3 INCHES TO AS MUCH AS 8 INCHES. FARTHER
TO THE SOUTH, THE RAIN WAS NOT AS HEAVY. HOWEVER, THE VERY HEAVY RAIN
THAT FELL ACROSS THE TRIBUTARIES, WHICH ULTIMATELY DRAINS INTO THE
DELAWARE RIVER, RESULTED IN MAJOR FLOODING IN SEVERAL LOCATIONS.
THIS FLOODING SURPASSED THE JANUARY 1996 EVENT, AND IS THE WORST
FLOODING IN SOME 50 YEARS (SINCE 1955)!
THE FOLLOWING TABLE IS A LISTING OF THE CRESTS THAT WERE MEASURED
ALONG THE DELAWARE RIVER, FROM NORTH TO SOUTH. ALL CRESTS OCCURRED
ON SEPTEMBER 19TH, UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED.
LOCATION CREST (FEET)/TIME (EDT) FLOOD STAGE (FEET)
-------- ------------------------ ------------------
PORT JERVIS/MATAMORAS, NY 19.52 / 545 PM (9/18) 18.0
MONTAGUE, NJ 28.39 / 1115 PM 25.0
TOCKS ISLAND, NJ 30.32 / 845 AM 21.0
BELVIDERE, NJ 24.83 / 915 AM 22.0
EASTON-PHILLIPSBURG BRIDGE 33.45 / 800 AM 22.0
RIEGELSVILLE, NJ 30.78 / 800 AM 22.0
FRENCHTOWN, NJ 20.70 / 900 AM 16.0
STOCKTON, NJ 22.50 / 1100 AM 18.0
WASHINGTON CROSSING, NJ 20.12 / 500 PM 20.0
TRENTON, NJ 23.39 / 730 PM 20.0
$$
GORSE
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT...CORRECTED FOR CREST AT LEWISBURG...
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA
1132 PM EDT SEP 20 2004
...FLOOD COMPARISON - SEPTEMBER 2004 AND JANUARY 1996...
THE RECENT HEAVY RAINFALL ASSOCIATED WITH THE REMNANTS OF HURRICANE
IVAN BROUGHT FLOODING ACROSS PENNSYLVANIA THIS WEEKEND. THE FLOODING
WAS COMPARABLE TO THAT OF JANUARY 1996. THE FOLLOWING IS A LIST OF
SOME LOCATIONS IN CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA BY RIVER BASINS COMPARING THE
TWO EVENTS.
...THE MAIN STEM SUSQUEHANNA AND TRIBUTARIES...
FLOOD CREST CREST
LOCATION STREAM STAGE JAN 96 SEP 04
BLOOMSBURG SUSQUEHANNA R. 19 FT 26.9 27.0
DANVILLE SUSQUEHANNA R. 20 FT 26.0 26.2
SUNBURY SUSQUEHANNA R. 24 FT 30.3 30.4
HARRISBURG SUSQUEHANNA R. 17 FT 25.1 24.4
MARIETTA SUSQUEHANNA R. 49 FT 56.8 (56.3)
PENNS CREEK PENNS CREEK 8 FT 13.7 12.2
SHERMANDALE SHERMANS CREEK 9 FT 11.6 16.3
HOGESTOWN CONODOGUINET CREEK 8 FT 10.3 11.3
CAMP HILL YELLOW BREECHES CK. 7 FT 10.4 8.7
HARPERS TAVERN SWATARA CREEK 9 FT 15.7 17.4
HERSHEY SWATARA CREEK 7 FT 10.2 14.3
...CHEMUNG BASIN...
MANSFIELD TIOGA RIVER 9 FT 18.9 14.2
TIOGA JUNCTION TIOGA RIVER 15 FT 14.7 13.2
...WEST BRANCH SUSQUEHANNA RIVER BASIN...
KARTHAUS WEST BRANCH SUSQ. 19 FT 13.4 15.3
RENOVO WEST BRANCH SUSQ. 16 FT 20.7 21.0
LOCK HAVEN WEST BRANCH SUSQ. 21 FT 25.8 28.1
JERSEY SHORE WEST BRANCH SUSQ. 26 FT 29.5 30.7
WILLIAMSPORT WEST BRANCH SUSQ. 20 FT 26.7 27.8
MILTON WEST BRANCH SUSQ. 19 FT 27.5 27.9
LEWISBURG WEST BRANCH SUSQ. 18 FT 25.9 26.0
DIMELING CLEARFIELD CREEK 13 FT 13.1 14.4
SINNEMAHONING SINNEMAHONING CK. 17 FT 19.0 17.8
BEECH CREEK STN. BALD EAGLE CREEK 11 FT 15.6 15.9
CEDAR RUN PINE CREEK 12 FT 11.5 12.0
...JUNIATA RIVER BASIN...
HUNTINGDON JUNIATA RIVER 12 FT 15.9 17.8
MAPLETON DEPOT JUNIATA RIVER 20 FT 22.5 23.8
LEWISTOWN JUNIATA RIVER 23 FT 31.6 31.7
NEWPORT JUNIATA RIVER 22 FT 24.7 23.6
SHIRLEYSBURG AUGHWICK CREEK 10 FT 11.5 18.5
WILLIAMSBURG FRANKSTOWN BRANCH 12 FT 19.2 19.5
SPRUCE CREEK LITTLE JUNIATA R. 8 FT 13.0 15.5
SAXTON RAYSTOWN BRANCH 17 FT 19.2 20.0
...ALLEGHENY RIVER BASIN...
ELDRED ALLEGHENY RIVER 23 FT 21.9 16.7
JOHNSONBURG CLARION RIVER 7 FT 12.6 7.4
RIDGEWAY CLARION RIVER 16 FT 20.3 16.9
CONFLUENCE YOUGHIOHENY RIVER 12 FT 17.6 12.0
FERNDALE STONYCREEK RIVER 19 FT 17.8 11.6
RUSSELL CONEWANGO CREEK 9 FT 9.0 7.5
NOTE: THE CREST FOR THE MAIN STEM SUSQUEHANNA AT MARIETTA IS
ESTIMATED. THE GAGE AT THIS LOCATION REACHES ITS LIMIT AT 55.7 FEET.
$$
MACH
NOUS41 KCTP 212200
PNSCTP
PAZ027-028-050-212305-
PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA
556 PM EDT TUE SEP 21 2004
...TWO TORNADOES CONFIRMED IN JUNIATA COUNTY...
A SURVEY TEAM FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CONFIRMED TWO
SEPARATE TORNADOES IN JUNIATA COUNTY TODAY. THE TORNADOES OCCURRED
FRIDAY NIGHT IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE REMNANTS OF TROPICAL DEPRESSION
IVAN.
THE FIRST TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN NEAR THE TOWN OF DENHOLM AND WAS
LIKELY INFLUENCED BY THE STEEP TERRAIN OF THE AREA. THE DAMAGE...IN
THE FORM OF DOWNED TREES...COULD BE EASILY SEEN FROM ROUTE 333. ABOUT
100 TREES WERE KNOCKED DOWN WITH THIS TORNADO. THE PATH WAS
APPROXIMATELY 1 MILE LONG AND ABOUT 75 YARDS WIDE. THE TORNADO
OCCURRED AROUND 905 PM FRIDAY AND LASTED ONLY A MINUTE OR TWO. THIS
TORNADO WAS RATED F1 ON THE FUJITA SCALE WITH WINDS APPROACHING 85
MPH.
THE SECOND TORNADO WAS NEAR THE TOWN OF ARCH ROCK AND DOWNED TREES
WERE VISIBLE ALONG TOWNSHIP ROAD 527. THE LENGTH OF THIS TORNADO WAS
APPROXIMATELY 4.5 MILES LONG AND WAS ABOUT 100 YARDS WIDE. IN
ADDITION TO THE TORNADO...DOWNBURST WINDS WERE ALSO OBSERVED IN A
MUCH WIDER SWATH. DAMAGE WAS MAINLY CONFINED TO TREES BEING KNOCKED
DOWN...HOWEVER SEVERAL STRUCTURES HAD MINOR DAMAGE AND SEVERAL CORN
FIELDS WERE FLATTENED. THE TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN AT APPROXIMATELY 910
PM FRIDAY NIGHT AND LASTED UNTIL APPROXIMATELY 913 PM. THIS TORNADO
WAS ALSO RATED F1 ON THE FUJITA SCALE WITH WINDS ESTIMATED AT 85 MPH.
THE SURVEY TEAM ALSO FOUND WIDESPREAD WIND DAMAGE ASSOCIATED WITH
STRAIGHT LINE WINDS FURTHER EAST ON TOWNSHIP ROUTE 527 NEAR THE
INTERSECTION OF ROUTE 235 NORTH OF MCALISTERVILLE. IN THIS AREA WELL
OVER 300 TREES WERE KNOCKED DOWN AND SEVERAL HOMES SUSTAINED DAMAGE
FROM FALLING TREES. WIND SPEEDS WERE ESTIMATED TO BE NEAR 90 MPH IN
THIS AREA.
THERE WERE NO KNOWN INJURIES OR DEATHS.
$$
ONDREJIK
NOUS41 KCTP 212046
PNSCTP
PAZ035-2201800-
PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA
450 PM EDT TUE SEP 21 2004
...TORNADO CONFIRMED IN FULTON COUNTY...
A SURVEY TEAM FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CONFIRMED A TORNADO
IN FULTON COUNTY PENNSYLVANIA FROM THE STORMS OF 17 SEPTEMBER 2004.
THE TORNADO OCCURRED 3.5 MILES EAST OF MCKEES GAP ALONG ROUTE 731
(MCKEES GAP ROAD). WIND SPEEDS WERE ESTIMATED TO BE AROUND 75 MPH.
THE TORNADO TOUCHED ABOUT 0.25 MILES SOUTH OF MCKEES GAP ROAD DOWNING
SEVERAL TREES...DAMAGING THE ROOF OF A HOUSE...DAMAGING PART OF A
BARN AND LEVELING A TRACTOR BARN. THE TORNADO ALSO FLATTENED
TALL GRASS AND CORN. THE TORNADO TRAVELED TOWARD THE NORTH-NORTHWEST
FOR ABOUT HALF A MILE. IT TOPPED AND UPROOTED TREES AS IT CROSSED
MCKEES GAP ROUND BEFORE LIFTING UP. THE WIDTH OF THE TORNADO WAS
ABOUT 30-40 YARDS AND DAMAGE COULD BE FOLLOWED FOR ABOUT HALF A MILE.
THE TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN AT APPROXIMATELY 530 PM AND WAS ON THE
GROUND FOR ABOUT 1 TO 2 MINUTES. THE TORNADO WAS A WEAK F1 TORNADO
ON THE FUJITA SCALE.
THERE WERE NO INJURIES OR DEATHS.
$$
GRUMM/LACORTE
NOUS41 KCTP 202025
PNSCTP
PAZ004>006-010>012-017>019-024>028-033>037-041-042-045-046-049>053-
056>059-063>066-202125-
PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA
425 PM EDT MON SEP 20 2004
...TWO TORNADOES CONFIRMED IN FRANKLIN COUNTY...
A SURVEY TEAM FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CONFIRMED TWO
TORNADOES IN FRANKLIN COUNTY FROM THE STORMS LAST FRIDAY.
THE FIRST TORNADO OCCURRED NEAR THE TOWN OF GREENCASTLE WHERE AN F1
TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN. WIND SPEEDS WERE ESTIMATED TO BE NEAR 80 MPH.
THE TORNADO FIRST HIT THE GROUND ABOUT 2 MILES TO THE SOUTHWEST OF
GREENCASTLE AND MOVED TO THE NORTH-NORTHWEST FOR ABOUT 2 MILES. THE
WIDTH OF THE STORM WAS APPROXIMATELY 30 YARDS WIDE. THE TORNADO
TOUCHED DOWN AT APPROXIMATELY 715 PM AND LIFTED AT APPROXIMATELY 718
PM. THE TORNADO CAUSED MANY TREES TO FALL AND DAMAGED SEVERAL
STRUCTURES.
THE SECOND TORNADO OCCURRED NEAR THE TOWN OF SAINT THOMAS WHERE AN F1
TORNADO OCCURRED AND HAD WIND SPEEDS OF ABOUT 85 MPH. THE PATH WAS
2.5 MILES LONG AND BEGAN 3 MILES SOUTH-SOUTHWEST OF SAINT THOMAS. THE
WIDTH OF THIS TORNADO WAS ALSO 30 YARDS. THE TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN
APPROXIMATELY AT 728 PM AND LIFTED AT 732 PM. THIS TORNADO ALSO
CAUSED MANY TREES TO FALL AND DAMAGED SEVERAL STRUCTURES.
MORE TORNADO SURVEYS ARE BEING CONDUCTED IN PARTS OF SOUTH CENTRAL
AND SOUTHEAST PENNSYLVANIA. ANOTHER STATEMENT WILL BE ISSUED WHEN
THAT DATA IS AVAILABLE.
$$
ONDREJIK/BUDD
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
NOUS41 KCTP 211727
PNSCTP
PAZ036-PAZ064-220400-
PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA
120 PM EDT TUE SEP 21 2004
...THIRD F1 TORNADO CONFIRMED IN FRANKLIN COUNTY FOR SEPTEMBER 17...
A SURVEY FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CONFIRMED THAT A TORNADO
OCCURRED IN CALEDONIA STATE PARK IN EASTERNMOST FRANKLIN COUNTY
PENNSYLVANIA DURING THE EVENING OF SEPTEMBER 17.
THE TORNADO BEGAN LESS THAN A MILE SOUTH OF THE PARK THEN MOVED
NORTHWARD ACROSS ROUTE 30 AND THROUGH THE PARK TOPPLING NUMEROUS
TREES IN ITS PATH. THE TORNADO WAS ABOUT ONE AND HALF MILES IN
LENGTH WITH A WIDTH OF 50 TO 100 YARDS AND A TOP WIND SPEED
ESTIMATED AROUND 85 MPH. THE TORNADO WAS RATED AS AN F1 ON THE
FUJITA SCALE. THE TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN ABOUT 820 PM AND LASTED A
COUPLE OF MINUTES. THERE WERE NO INJURIES OR DEATHS.
$$
BUDD
NOUS41 KCTP 210008
PNSCTP
PAZ034-210152-
PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA
808 PM EDT MON SEP 20 2004
...TORNADO CONFIRMED IN BEDFORD COUNTY...
A SURVEY TEAM FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CONFIRMED A TORNADO
IN BEDFORD COUNTY FROM THE STORMS LAST FRIDAY.
THE TORNADO OCCURRED NORTH OF THE TOWN OF EVERETT AND WAS RATED AN F1
ON THE FUJITA SCALE. WIND SPEEDS WERE ESTIMATED TO BE AROUND 80 MPH.
THE TORNADO FIRST TOUCHED DOWN 3 MILES NORTHWEST OF THE TOWN OF
EVERETT ON LOWER SNAKE SPRING ROAD. THE TORNADO TRAVELED NORTH ALONG
SNAKE SPRING ROAD FOR THREE AND ONE HALF MILES BEFORE LIFTING UP. THE
WIDTH OF THE TORNADO WAS ABOUT 50 TO 100 YARDS.
THE TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN AT APPROXIMATELY 830 PM AND LIFTED AT
APPROXIMATELY 835 PM ON THE 17TH. THE TORNADO CAUSED MANY TREES TO
FALL...AND DAMAGED ONE HOUSE AND SEVERAL FARM BUILDINGS. EXTENSIVE
DAMAGE WAS DONE TO CORN CROPS ON SIX DIFFERENT FARMS.
THERE WERE NO INJURIES OR DEATHS.
$$
JUNG
NOUS41 KCTP 202351
PNSCTP
PAZ063-210141-
PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA
751 PM EDT MON SEP 20 2004
...TORNADO CONFIRMED IN CUMBERLAND COUNTY...
A SURVEY TEAM FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CONFIRMED A TORNADO
IN CUMBERLAND COUNTY FROM THE STORMS LAST FRIDAY.
THE TORNADO OCCURRED NEAR THE TOWN OF OAKVILLE AND WAS RATED AN F1 ON
THE FUJITA SCALE. WIND SPEEDS WERE ESTIMATED TO BE NEAR 90 MPH.
THE TORNADO FIRST TOUCHED DOWN 1 MILE SOUTH OF OAKVILLE...AND MOVED
NORTH FOR ABOUT 2 MILES BEFORE LIFTING UP. THE WIDTH OF THE TORNADO
WAS ABOUT 50 YARDS.
THE TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN AT APPROXIMATELY 850 PM AND LIFTED AT
APPROXIMATELY 854 PM ON THE 17TH. THE TORNADO CAUSED MANY TREES TO
FALL...AND DAMAGED SEVERAL FARM HOUSES AND FARM BUILDINGS.
THERE WERE NO INJURIES OR DEATHS.
$$