Tornado in Pennsylvania, August 15, 1997

A severe thunderstorm produced a tornado that produced substantial damage in a residential area east-northeast of Latrobe along the foothills of the Chestnut Ridge. The tornado first touched down 1 mile west of Derry. The tornado completely destroyed a large tier of metal stadium bleachers at a high school football field and wrapped them against a utility pole. A nearby roof of a business was damaged and a mobile home was completely destroyed and a few mobile homes sustained damage. The tornado then tracked through a rural area, damaging some farm buildings and downing field corn. The tornado continued its rapid (estimated forward speed 50-60 miles per hour) northeast track and caused significant damage in a mobile home park in Derry. The tornado crossed Route 217 and downed trees across railroad tracks and then entered a residential area in Millwood. One frame house in Millwood was severely damaged and part of a room addition collapsed and trapped a resident, who was treated at the scene. A resident of a mobile home sustained minor injuries as well. Numerous trees were uprooted and large branches and power lines were downed along the track of the storm. One home along Route 217 had a branch embedded into the house siding. The tornado was estimated to have wind speeds of between 90 and 120 miles per hour, briefly attaining an F-2 rating on the Fujita Tornado Scale. All tolled, 7-8 mobile homes were destroyed (3 totally decimated), 10-12 sustained major damage, 15-18 sustained minor damage. One frame house was heavily damaged and about 10 sustained minor damage. One car was destroyed when a tree fell on it. Parked next to the auto was another car with two occupants that were not injured. About 10 other cars were damaged. An open-air church in Millwood was also heavily damaged. The tornado appeared to have dissipated as it entered the heavily wooded slopes of the Chestnut Ridge.