Tornadoes and Damaging Winds in Pennsylvania, July 27, 1994

A rare (with respect to both time of day and intensity) tornado outbreak affected eastern Chester County the evening of the 27th. Tornadic thunderstorms affected portions of the Middle Atlantic States south of Pennsylvania earlier that evening. As the first thunderstorm moved into southeast Chester County, it dropped its first tornado in London Britain Township near New London Road about 9:55 pm EST. The tornado reached its maximum intensity (F3 on the Fujita Scale) and destruction in the Hunter's Run Development on Crestwood Road. Six homes were destroyed and twenty-three were damaged. Eleven persons were injured. A 40-year-old man was critically injured when he was blown through his 2nd story window. Two teenagers were injured when a tree landed on their Ford Ranger Pickup. The rest of the injuries were mainly from flying glass. A gentleman's credit cards from London Britain were found 30 miles away. Heavy damage was reported along Chesterville Road as the tornado passed into New Garden Township. The worst damage in New Garden Township occurred to mushroom houses on Penn Green and Starr Roads. Eleven mushroom houses were damaged, three had their roofs torn off, eight had collapsed walls. Although the tornado lifted close to Starr Road in New Garden Township, downburst wind damage continued father north into neighboring townships. Even to the east of the tornado in London Britain Township, damaging wind gusts did massive damage in the White Clay Preserve and trees and wires were down on half the roads within the township. Farther north thunderstorm downburst winds ripped the roof off a hanger in the New Garden Airport and damaged the roof of the Unionville Elementary School in East Marlborough Township. Downed trees forced the closures of U.S. Routes 1 and 322 and Pennsylvania State Routes 41 and 162. Thunderstorm wind related damage continued north into Newlin Township and as the thunderstorm moved north into West Bradford, it dropped its second Chester County tornado of the evening. The weaker (F1 on the Fujita Scale) tornado touched down about 10:20 pm EST near the intersection of Telegraph and Sugarbridge Roads and uprooted trees. A mobile home on Sugar Bridge Road suffered severe damage to its porch and roof as a tree fell on it. The tornado followed a discontinuous path through West Bradford and northern East Bradford Township before lifting near the intersection of Boot and Valley Creek Roads. Most of the damage was uprooted trees and downed chimneys. Thunderstorm related wind damage was then reported in Downingtown with two foot diameter trees uprooted. As the thunderstorm headed north, wind related damage diminished. Just before it left Chester County, the thunderstorm split in two and the westward one entered Montgomery County near Limerick. The Chester County Office of Emergency Management estimated total damage in the county at $3.5 million with 9 houses or buildings totally destroyed and 49 other sustaining slight or moderate damage.

A rare (with respect to both time of day and intensity) tornado outbreak affected eastern Chester County the evening of the 27th. Tornadic thunderstorms affected portions of the Middle Atlantic States south of Pennsylvania earlier that evening. As the first thunderstorm moved into southeast Chester County, it dropped its first tornado in London Britain Township near New London Road about 9:55 pm EST. The tornado reached its maximum intensity (F3 on the Fujita Scale) and destruction in the Hunter's Run Development on Crestwood Road. Six homes were destroyed and twenty-three were damaged. Eleven persons were injured. A 40-year-old man was critically injured when he was blown through his 2nd story window. Two teenagers were injured when a tree landed on their Ford Ranger Pickup. The rest of the injuries were mainly from flying glass. A gentleman's credit cards from London Britain were found 30 miles away. Heavy damage was reported along Chesterville Road as the tornado passed into New Garden Township. The worst damage in New Garden Township occurred to mushroom houses on Penn Green and Starr Roads. Eleven mushroom houses were damaged, three had their roofs torn off, eight had collapsed walls. Although the tornado lifted close to Starr Road in New Garden Township, downburst wind damage continued father north into neighboring townships. Even to the east of the tornado in London Britain Township, damaging wind gusts did massive damage in the White Clay Preserve and trees and wires were down on half the roads within the township. Farther north thunderstorm downburst winds ripped the roof off a hanger in the New Garden Airport and damaged the roof of the Unionville Elementary School in East Marlborough Township. Downed trees forced the closures of U.S. Routes 1 and 322 and Pennsylvania State Routes 41 and 162. Thunderstorm wind related damage continued north into Newlin Township and as the thunderstorm moved north into West Bradford, it dropped its second Chester County tornado of the evening. The weaker (F1 on the Fujita Scale) tornado touched down about 10:20 pm EST near the intersection of Telegraph and Sugarbridge Roads and uprooted trees. A mobile home on Sugar Bridge Road suffered severe damage to its porch and roof as a tree fell on it. The tornado followed a discontinuous path through West Bradford and northern East Bradford Township before lifting near the intersection of Boot and Valley Creek Roads. Most of the damage was uprooted trees and downed chimneys. Thunderstorm related wind damage was then reported in Downingtown with two foot diameter trees uprooted. As the thunderstorm headed north, wind related damage diminished. Just before it left Chester County, the thunderstorm split in two and the westward one entered Montgomery County near Limerick. The Chester County Office of Emergency Management estimated total damage in the county at $3.5 million with 9 houses or buildings totally destroyed and 49 other sustaining slight or moderate damage.

A rare (with respect to both time of day and intensity) tornado outbreak affected eastern Chester County the evening of the 27th. Tornadic thunderstorms affected portions of the Middle Atlantic States south of Pennsylvania earlier that evening. As the first thunderstorm moved into southeast Chester County, it dropped its first tornado in London Britain Township near New London Road about 9:55 pm EST. The tornado reached its maximum intensity (F3 on the Fujita Scale) and destruction in the Hunter's Run Development on Crestwood Road. Six homes were destroyed and twenty-three were damaged. Eleven persons were injured. A 40-year-old man was critically injured when he was blown through his 2nd story window. Two teenagers were injured when a tree landed on their Ford Ranger Pickup. The rest of the injuries were mainly from flying glass. A gentleman's credit cards from London Britain were found 30 miles away. Heavy damage was reported along Chesterville Road as the tornado passed into New Garden Township. The worst damage in New Garden Township occurred to mushroom houses on Penn Green and Starr Roads. Eleven mushroom houses were damaged, three had their roofs torn off, eight had collapsed walls. Although the tornado lifted close to Starr Road in New Garden Township, downburst wind damage continued father north into neighboring townships. Even to the east of the tornado in London Britain Township, damaging wind gusts did massive damage in the White Clay Preserve and trees and wires were down on half the roads within the township. Farther north thunderstorm downburst winds ripped the roof off a hanger in the New Garden Airport and damaged the roof of the Unionville Elementary School in East Marlborough Township. Downed trees forced the closures of U.S. Routes 1 and 322 and Pennsylvania State Routes 41 and 162. Thunderstorm wind related damage continued north into Newlin Township and as the thunderstorm moved north into West Bradford, it dropped its second Chester County tornado of the evening. The weaker (F1 on the Fujita Scale) tornado touched down about 10:20 pm EST near the intersection of Telegraph and Sugarbridge Roads and uprooted trees. A mobile home on Sugar Bridge Road suffered severe damage to its porch and roof as a tree fell on it. The tornado followed a discontinuous path through West Bradford and northern East Bradford Township before lifting near the intersection of Boot and Valley Creek Roads. Most of the damage was uprooted trees and downed chimneys. Thunderstorm related wind damage was then reported in Downingtown with two foot diameter trees uprooted. As the thunderstorm headed north, wind related damage diminished. Just before it left Chester County, the thunderstorm split in two and the westward one entered Montgomery County near Limerick. The Chester County Office of Emergency Management estimated total damage in the county at $3.5 million with 9 houses or buildings totally destroyed and 49 other sustaining slight or moderate damage.

The parent thunderstorm that produced two tornadoes and downburst wind damage in eastern Chester County split in two near Spring City in Chester County. The left or western thunderstorm entered Montgomery County in Royersford and wind related damage intensified as the thunderstorm moved northeast through Royersford. Most of the damage (collapsed porches and downed trees) in Royerstown occurred from Fifth Avenue to Lewis Road and from Main to Chestnut Streets Several homes were damaged by falling trees. Lewis Road was closed for two days because of tree removal. From police and eyewitness reports apparently a funnel cloud was working its way toward the ground over Royersford and became a tornado in Limerick just to the northeast of Linfield Road at 10:45 pm EST. The tornado intensified into a strong (F3 on the Fujita Scale) one as it paralleled Limerick Road on its western side. A development called "The Hamlet" was in the direct path of this tornado. The Hamlet was a new development started within the past 2 years and about 30 of the planned 430 units were occupied or under construction. The development took a direct hit from the tornado. This resulted in 3 deaths (the same family) and 25 injuries. Of the 27 inhabited houses, 4 were leveled, 16 were damaged beyond repair, 1 under construction was destroyed and only 7 remained liveable. Damage in this development alone was $2 million. The family of three which lost their lives lived on Victory Way. They were asleep and blown out of their house. The father was found on the front lawn. The mother and her 10-month-old daughter were found over a sewer grate. A United States Savings Bond in the child's name was found the next day in Bath, Pennsylvania. Bath is located about 50 miles northeast in Northampton County. Another man was blown through the second story window of his house about 50 feet into the family room of his neighbor's house and survived. Equally miraculous a 5-month-old infant sailed out of his crib onto the front lawn of his home and survived. As tragic as the devastation was at "The Hamlet", it was not the only place in Limerick to sustain damage. As the tornado traveled through the business area of the town, it leveled most of the Hide and Seek Storage Sheds (damage estimated at $1 million). It peeled part of the roof off the Limerick Diner. None of the 30 patrons inside were injured. The Atlantic and Sunoco Gas Stations sustained major damage. Gasoline pumps at the Sunoco Station were wrenched from their cement foundation. An overturned beige truck lay about 200 yards from where it was parked. Even the Limerick Fire House sustained about $25,000 in wind damage. In addition to "The Hamlet", 14 other homes in Limerick sustained major damage. About 90 persons in Limerick had to find temporary shelter. Total damage in Limerick alone was estimated between $5 and $5.5 million. The tornado lifted in the Limerick Garden of Memories Cemetery, but its parent thunderstorm continued to produce wind related damage in upper (northwestern) Montgomery County. Downed trees were reported in Zieglersville. In Marlboro Township about 50 to 60 trees were uprooted on Swamp Creek and Miller Roads. About 10 properties were damaged by the falling trees, including one house that had six trees on top of it. A lightning ignited fire extensively damaged a West Marlborough home. It took six fire companies to get it under control. (M28P), (F28P), (F1P)

The parent thunderstorm that produced two tornadoes and downburst wind damage in eastern Chester County split in two near Spring City in Chester County. The left or western thunderstorm entered Montgomery County in Royersford and wind related damage intensified as the thunderstorm moved northeast through Royersford. Most of the damage (collapsed porches and downed trees) in Royerstown occurred from Fifth Avenue to Lewis Road and from Main to Chestnut Streets Several homes were damaged by falling trees. Lewis Road was closed for two days because of tree removal. From police and eyewitness reports apparently a funnel cloud was working its way toward the ground over Royersford and became a tornado in Limerick just to the northeast of Linfield Road at 10:45 pm EST. The tornado intensified into a strong (F3 on the Fujita Scale) one as it paralleled Limerick Road on its western side. A development called "The Hamlet" was in the direct path of this tornado. The Hamlet was a new development started within the past 2 years and about 30 of the planned 430 units were occupied or under construction. The development took a direct hit from the tornado. This resulted in 3 deaths (the same family) and 25 injuries. Of the 27 inhabited houses, 4 were leveled, 16 were damaged beyond repair, 1 under construction was destroyed and only 7 remained liveable. Damage in this development alone was $2 million. The family of three which lost their lives lived on Victory Way. They were asleep and blown out of their house. The father was found on the front lawn. The mother and her 10-month-old daughter were found over a sewer grate. A United States Savings Bond in the child's name was found the next day in Bath, Pennsylvania. Bath is located about 50 miles northeast in Northampton County. Another man was blown through the second story window of his house about 50 feet into the family room of his neighbor's house and survived. Equally miraculous a 5-month-old infant sailed out of his crib onto the front lawn of his home and survived. As tragic as the devastation was at "The Hamlet", it was not the only place in Limerick to sustain damage. As the tornado traveled through the business area of the town, it leveled most of the Hide and Seek Storage Sheds (damage estimated at $1 million). It peeled part of the roof off the Limerick Diner. None of the 30 patrons inside were injured. The Atlantic and Sunoco Gas Stations sustained major damage. Gasoline pumps at the Sunoco Station were wrenched from their cement foundation. An overturned beige truck lay about 200 yards from where it was parked. Even the Limerick Fire House sustained about $25,000 in wind damage. In addition to "The Hamlet", 14 other homes in Limerick sustained major damage. About 90 persons in Limerick had to find temporary shelter. Total damage in Limerick alone was estimated between $5 and $5.5 million. The tornado lifted in the Limerick Garden of Memories Cemetery, but its parent thunderstorm continued to produce wind related damage in upper (northwestern) Montgomery County. Downed trees were reported in Zieglersville. In Marlboro Township about 50 to 60 trees were uprooted on Swamp Creek and Miller Roads. About 10 properties were damaged by the falling trees, including one house that had six trees on top of it. A lightning ignited fire extensively damaged a West Marlborough home. It took six fire companies to get it under control. (M28P), (F28P), (F1P)

The parent thunderstorm that produced two tornadoes and downburst wind damage in eastern Chester County split in two near Spring City in Chester County. The left or western thunderstorm entered Montgomery County in Royersford and wind related damage intensified as the thunderstorm moved northeast through Royersford. Most of the damage (collapsed porches and downed trees) in Royerstown occurred from Fifth Avenue to Lewis Road and from Main to Chestnut Streets Several homes were damaged by falling trees. Lewis Road was closed for two days because of tree removal. From police and eyewitness reports apparently a funnel cloud was working its way toward the ground over Royersford and became a tornado in Limerick just to the northeast of Linfield Road at 10:45 pm EST. The tornado intensified into a strong (F3 on the Fujita Scale) one as it paralleled Limerick Road on its western side. A development called "The Hamlet" was in the direct path of this tornado. The Hamlet was a new development started within the past 2 years and about 30 of the planned 430 units were occupied or under construction. The development took a direct hit from the tornado. This resulted in 3 deaths (the same family) and 25 injuries. Of the 27 inhabited houses, 4 were leveled, 16 were damaged beyond repair, 1 under construction was destroyed and only 7 remained liveable. Damage in this development alone was $2 million. The family of three which lost their lives lived on Victory Way. They were asleep and blown out of their house. The father was found on the front lawn. The mother and her 10-month-old daughter were found over a sewer grate. A United States Savings Bond in the child's name was found the next day in Bath, Pennsylvania. Bath is located about 50 miles northeast in Northampton County. Another man was blown through the second story window of his house about 50 feet into the family room of his neighbor's house and survived. Equally miraculous a 5-month-old infant sailed out of his crib onto the front lawn of his home and survived. As tragic as the devastation was at "The Hamlet", it was not the only place in Limerick to sustain damage. As the tornado traveled through the business area of the town, it leveled most of the Hide and Seek Storage Sheds (damage estimated at $1 million). It peeled part of the roof off the Limerick Diner. None of the 30 patrons inside were injured. The Atlantic and Sunoco Gas Stations sustained major damage. Gasoline pumps at the Sunoco Station were wrenched from their cement foundation. An overturned beige truck lay about 200 yards from where it was parked. Even the Limerick Fire House sustained about $25,000 in wind damage. In addition to "The Hamlet", 14 other homes in Limerick sustained major damage. About 90 persons in Limerick had to find temporary shelter. Total damage in Limerick alone was estimated between $5 and $5.5 million. The tornado lifted in the Limerick Garden of Memories Cemetery, but its parent thunderstorm continued to produce wind related damage in upper (northwestern) Montgomery County. Downed trees were reported in Zieglersville. In Marlboro Township about 50 to 60 trees were uprooted on Swamp Creek and Miller Roads. About 10 properties were damaged by the falling trees, including one house that had six trees on top of it. A lightning ignited fire extensively damaged a West Marlborough home. It took six fire companies to get it under control. (M28P), (F28P), (F1P)

The parent thunderstorm that produced two tornadoes and downburst wind damage in eastern Chester County split in two near Spring City in Chester County. The left or western thunderstorm entered Montgomery County in Royersford and wind related damage intensified as the thunderstorm moved northeast through Royersford. Most of the damage (collapsed porches and downed trees) in Royerstown occurred from Fifth Avenue to Lewis Road and from Main to Chestnut Streets Several homes were damaged by falling trees. Lewis Road was closed for two days because of tree removal. From police and eyewitness reports apparently a funnel cloud was working its way toward the ground over Royersford and became a tornado in Limerick just to the northeast of Linfield Road at 10:45 pm EST. The tornado intensified into a strong (F3 on the Fujita Scale) one as it paralleled Limerick Road on its western side. A development called "The Hamlet" was in the direct path of this tornado. The Hamlet was a new development started within the past 2 years and about 30 of the planned 430 units were occupied or under construction. The development took a direct hit from the tornado. This resulted in 3 deaths (the same family) and 25 injuries. Of the 27 inhabited houses, 4 were leveled, 16 were damaged beyond repair, 1 under construction was destroyed and only 7 remained liveable. Damage in this development alone was $2 million. The family of three which lost their lives lived on Victory Way. They were asleep and blown out of their house. The father was found on the front lawn. The mother and her 10-month-old daughter were found over a sewer grate. A United States Savings Bond in the child's name was found the next day in Bath, Pennsylvania. Bath is located about 50 miles northeast in Northampton County. Another man was blown through the second story window of his house about 50 feet into the family room of his neighbor's house and survived. Equally miraculous a 5-month-old infant sailed out of his crib onto the front lawn of his home and survived. As tragic as the devastation was at "The Hamlet", it was not the only place in Limerick to sustain damage. As the tornado traveled through the business area of the town, it leveled most of the Hide and Seek Storage Sheds (damage estimated at $1 million). It peeled part of the roof off the Limerick Diner. None of the 30 patrons inside were injured. The Atlantic and Sunoco Gas Stations sustained major damage. Gasoline pumps at the Sunoco Station were wrenched from their cement foundation. An overturned beige truck lay about 200 yards from where it was parked. Even the Limerick Fire House sustained about $25,000 in wind damage. In addition to "The Hamlet", 14 other homes in Limerick sustained major damage. About 90 persons in Limerick had to find temporary shelter. Total damage in Limerick alone was estimated between $5 and $5.5 million. The tornado lifted in the Limerick Garden of Memories Cemetery, but its parent thunderstorm continued to produce wind related damage in upper (northwestern) Montgomery County. Downed trees were reported in Zieglersville. In Marlboro Township about 50 to 60 trees were uprooted on Swamp Creek and Miller Roads. About 10 properties were damaged by the falling trees, including one house that had six trees on top of it. A lightning ignited fire extensively damaged a West Marlborough home. It took six fire companies to get it under control. (M28P), (F28P), (F1P)

Large trees were knocked down in Trumbauersville. This was the same parent thunderstorm that produced three tornadoes and other wind related damage earlier this night in Chester and Montgomery Counties.