Thunderstorm Wind, Delaware
- When
- August 17, 8:15 PM EST
- Where
- Delaware County, Broomall to Springfield
- Property damage
- $300,000
- Coordinates
- 39.970, -75.370
Damaging Wind in Pennsylvania, August 17, 1997
A compact, but severe thunderstorm, caused considerable wind damage in Haverford, Marple and Springfield Townships in Delaware County. Springfield Township suffered the most damage as the roof was ripped off and the windows blown out from Ferraro Cadillac.
Where it happened
Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.
- Tornadoes
- Tropical storms and surge
- Floods
- Wind
- Hail
- Winter weather
- Heat and drought
- Cold
- Fire, smoke and dust
- Marine and coastal
- Other
The toll
- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- $300,000
- Crop damage
- None recorded
- Events
- 1
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.
What happened
The episode as NWS PHI wrote it up.
A compact, but severe thunderstorm, caused considerable wind damage in Haverford, Marple and Springfield Townships in Delaware County. Springfield Township suffered the most damage as the roof was ripped off and the windows blown out from Ferraro Cadillac. The subsequent rain damaged the showroom further. The roof of St Kevin's Child Care Center was punctured by tree limbs. In residential areas the worst damage occurred on Leamy Avenue, Powell Road and Saxer Avenue where numerous trees were either snapped or uprooted. About 20 trees were also damaged on the Springfield Golf Course. In Marple Township, the worst damage occurred around Berkley Road. Every utility pole on that block was snapped in two. Trees fell on two houses, one fell through the roof of one house and punched a hole in the bedroom wall. The roof was partially torn off another home, In Haverford Township trees and wires blocked one road. No injuries were reported. Damage to the Cadillac dealership alone was estimated at $200,000.
The radar
The Philadelphia radar (KDIX), 82 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 01:14 UTC.
Event by event
1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
What these are
- Thunderstorm Wind
- Winds from a thunderstorm of 50 knots (58 mph) or more, or lower winds that caused damage or casualties. Measured gusts are marked MG, estimated EG.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
The same day elsewhere
- Flash Flood and Hail in West Virginia, August 17 to 18, 1997
- Lightning Strike in West Virginia, August 17, 1997
- Heat in Missouri, August 17, 1997
- Tornadoes and Hail in Texas, August 17, 1997
- Hail and Damaging Winds in Maryland, August 17, 1997
- Tornadoes and Flash Flooding in Ohio, August 17, 1997
- Damaging Winds and Lightning Strikes in Virginia, August 17, 1997
- Flash Flooding and Flood in Ohio, August 17 to 20, 1997
- Hail and Damaging Wind in New Mexico, August 17, 1997
- Lightning Strike in West Virginia, August 17, 1997
- Damaging Winds and Lightning Strike in Kentucky, August 17, 1997
- Hail and Damaging Winds in Georgia, August 17, 1997
More
Every storm in Pennsylvania in 1997Every state in 1997This day in weather historyWarnings in Pennsylvania, August 1997
Sources
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: 5621727.