Pennsylvania, 1998

Damaging Wind in Pennsylvania, September 7, 1998

September 7, 1998 · NWS PHI · 1 event in 1 county or zone

A squall line of severe thunderstorms knocked down some large limbs and a few trees in Thornbury Township. Frequent lightning also contributed to power outages in the county.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.

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  • Hail
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  • Heat and drought
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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
None recorded
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 squall line of severe thunderstorms knocked down some large limbs and a few trees in Thornbury Township. Frequent lightning also contributed to power outages in the county. About 50,000 PECO Energy customers lost power in Southeast Pennsylvania. There were 5,000 outages in Delaware County. All power was restored the night of the 7th.

The radar

The Philadelphia radar (KDIX), 93 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 17:46 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Delaware

When
September 7, 12:45 PM EST
Where
Delaware County, 3 mi NW of Chester Hgts
Measured
50 kt (58 mph)
Reported by
EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates
39.920, -75.500

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 1998Every state in 1998This day in weather historyWarnings in Pennsylvania, September 1998

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: 5673149.