High Wind in Pennsylvania, January 18, 1999

Damaging wind gusts accompanied a cold front as it moved through Montgomery County between 4 p.m. and 445 p.m. EST on the 18th. Winds gusted to around 65 mph and knocked down numerous limbs and wires as well as several trees in the county. The worst damage occurred in Franconia Township and at the Willow Grove Naval Station. In Franconia Township, several barns and roofs were damaged. The high winds pushed in the doors and then tore off the roof of the Genco Federated Warehouse. One hundred persons were inside, but there were no serious injuries. Sheets of metal roofing became unhinged from storage barns on the MOPAC property. One barn was completely destroyed. The roof was partially torn off a Leidy Road house and the winds blew out the back of the barn on the property. Numerous trees were knocked down on Cowpath Road, one fell on and damaged a home. At the Willow Grove Naval Station, part of the roof and the side panel of one building blew off. The flying debris damaged six helicopters. Downed trees and limbs blocked roads in Lower Gwynedd, Lower Pottsgrove and Whitpain Townships. About 5,500 Pennsylvania Power and Light and PECO customers lost power in the county. All power was restored by the morning of the 19th.