Damaging Winds in Pennsylvania, July 21, 1998

A thunderstorm intensified over extreme southern portions of the county early in the afternoon. Severe downburst winds caused extensive damage in a swath from Conyngham southeastward towards West Hazleton. Several dozen homes sustained damage as the storm ripped through the region. Most suffered roof and siding damage as trees were toppled onto them. A couple of homes in Hazle Township just west of Interstate 81 had their roofs completely torn off and one also had a storage garage flattened by the strong wind gusts. Many vehicles in the parking lot of Laurel Mall in West Hazleton took on damage as large light poles were blown down. Pennsylvania Power and Light Company estimates that thousands of customers in the area were without power for a 2 to 3 hour period that afternoon. Post storm damage surveys indicate that a 3 to 4 mile long swath of straight line wind damage resulted. From the character of the damage, it is estimated that wind speeds fell within the 70 to 90 mph range.

Part of the same squall line that inflicted widespread wind damage over southern Luzerne county worked its way eastward into Lackawanna county. More isolated damage occurred in northern portions of Lackawanna county as a few trees were toppled in Clarks Summit shortly after 230 pm EDT.