Pennsylvania, 1997

Damaging Wind in Pennsylvania, May 14, 1997

May 14, 1997 · NWS PBZ · 1 event in 1 county or zone

1 thunderstorm wind, as filed by the National Weather Service.

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

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
$40,000
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.

The radar

The Pittsburgh radar (KPBZ), 80 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 03:02 UTC.

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Event by event

1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Westmoreland

When
May 14, 10:00 PM EST
Where
Westmoreland County, Acme
Measured
78 kt (90 mph)
Property damage
$40,000
Coordinates
40.130, -79.430

A microburst, with wind speeds between 80 and 90 mph. Seven homes and a grocery store were damaged. A barn was destroyed and some of its debris was strewn several hundred yards. Some of the debris landed on the Pennsylvania Turnpike. A mobile home was moved several hundred feet. The damage was confined to a 1500 foot by 2000 foot area. Much of the damage to the homes were broken windows, roof damage, and porch canopies torn away. Numerous tree branches were downed and some trees were uprooted.

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

More

Every storm in Pennsylvania in 1997Every state in 1997This day in weather historyWarnings in Pennsylvania, May 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: 5615196.