Damaging Wind in Pennsylvania, June 30, 1998

A squall line of severe thunderstorms hit Montgomery County the hardest in the local Philadelphia area. Numerous trees and power lines were knocked down and three persons driving in vehicles were injured by fallen trees. PECO energy reported about 185,000 homes and businesses in their service area lost power, 40,000 of them within and especially in Eastern Montgomery County. Power was restored to everyone midday on Thursday July 2nd. In Whitpain Township a driver was injured when a large tree split about 20 feet above the ground and one of its limbs pierced a window. In Abington, two persons were injured when a large tree limb trapped them within their Blazer. Another driver in Horsham was uninjured, but trapped inside his vehicle. The hardest hit municipalities included Abington, Bryn Athyn, Lower Merion, Lower Moreland, Plymouth Meeting, Pottstown, Skippack, Springfield and Upper Salford Townships. For the second time within about a month, trees were down all over the place in Lower Moreland Township. Trees fell onto houses in Abington, Bryn Athyn, Horsham, Perkiomenville and Upper Dublin Townships. Numerous vehicles were also damaged by fallen trees. Four streets were closed in Upper Moreland Township. Four streets were still blocked the next day in Lower Merion Township. Traffic was also slowed on the Schuylkill Expressway because of downed limbs. About a half dozen trees were also uprooted on the Meadowlands Country Club in Whitpain Township.