High Wind in Pennsylvania, February 17, 1998

An intensifying storm system moved from the middle Mississippi Valley northeastward to Michigan. The combined circulation around this storm and a high pressure system off the New England coast produced strong gusty winds across northeastern Pennsylvania from late afternoon well into the evening hours. Locally, winds gusted to 60 mph during the early evening from the Wilkes-Barre Scranton metropolitan area eastward through sections of the Poconos. In Olyphant, just north of Scranton, a large sign at a local restaurant was blown down onto a new vehicle. Both the sign and the automobile sustained heavy damage. Also, several trees and large tree limbs were blown down onto utility poles and power lines. This resulted in scattered power outages, particularly over ridge top areas of southern Wayne, eastern Lackawanna, and Pike counties.