Pennsylvania, 1999

Flood and Damaging Winds in Pennsylvania, August 13, 1999

August 13, 1999 · NWS BGM · 6 events in 5 counties and zones

Scattered thunderstorms were spawned over northeast Pennsylvania by an upper level disturbance that moved out of the Ohio Valley earlier in the evening. Several trees and some powerlines were downed over parts of the area as a results of strong wind gusts interacting with full canopy trees.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 1 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. 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
$50,000
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
6

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 BGM wrote it up.

Scattered thunderstorms were spawned over northeast Pennsylvania by an upper level disturbance that moved out of the Ohio Valley earlier in the evening. Several trees and some powerlines were downed over parts of the area as a results of strong wind gusts interacting with full canopy trees. Torrential rains also caused minor ponding of water in many locations and street flooding in the city of Wilkes--Barre.

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

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Event by event

5 thunderstorm wind, 1 flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Flood, Luzerne

When
August 13, 6:00 PM EST to 8:30 PM EST
Where
Luzerne County, Wilkes Barre
Property damage
$35,000
Reported by
NEWSPAPER
Coordinates
41.177, -75.989 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Runoff from torrential thunderstorm rains blocked storm drains resulting in flooded and closed roads throughout the city. In some areas, the water depth was estimated to be as high as three feet.

Thunderstorm Wind, Wyoming

When
August 13, 6:41 PM EST
Where
Wyoming County, Tunkhannock to Factoryville
Measured
50 kt (58 mph)
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
41.530, -75.950

Thunderstorm Wind, Susquehanna

When
August 13, 7:10 PM EST
Where
Susquehanna County, Lanesboro
Measured
50 kt (58 mph)
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
41.950, -75.600

Scattered trees were also downed in the towns of Clifford and Lennox and also parts of state roads 247and 347 in the southeastern part of the county.

Thunderstorm Wind, Wayne

When
August 13, 7:20 PM EST
Where
Wayne County, Pleasant Mt to Waymart
Measured
50 kt (58 mph)
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
41.730, -75.420

Thunderstorm Wind, Lackawanna

When
August 13, 7:25 PM EST
Where
Lackawanna County, Countywide
Measured
50 kt (58 mph)
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
41.430, -75.620

Thunderstorm Wind, Luzerne

When
August 13, 7:30 PM EST
Where
Luzerne County, Mtn Top to Kingston
Property damage
$15,000
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
41.170, -75.900

Trees and powerlines were downed by severe thunderstorm wind gusts around the Wilkes-Barre metro area

What these are

Flood
Flooding that develops more slowly than a flash flood: rivers leaving their banks, or water standing over land for an extended time.
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 1999Every state in 1999This day in weather historyWarnings in Pennsylvania, August 1999

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: 5713239, 5713142, 5713143, 5713237, 5713238, 5713141.