Damaging Wind and Lightning Strike in Pennsylvania, May 13, 2000

A severe thunderstorm left a swath of wind damage across southern Lehigh County from Upper Macungie Township east through Allentown. A wind gust of 69 mph was measured at the Lehigh Valley international Airport. GPU Energy reported about 36,000 homes and businesses lost power in the Lehigh Valley. Pennsylvania Power and Light reported about 25,000 homes and businesses lost power in the Lehigh Valley, 14,000 of the outages were in Lehigh County. Hardest hit were locations along the U.S. Route 22 corridor. Power was not completely restored until Monday evening the 15th. The severe thunderstorm entered Upper Macungie near Windswept Road and tore down several large trees. The thunderstorm produced several funnel clouds, but none of them touched down in the township. In Lower Macungie Township, the thunderstorm tore down trees along Beech Lane. Interstate 78 was closed until 4 a.m. EDT on the 14th because of downed wires between the Hamilton Boulevard and Lehigh Street exits. At the Lehigh Valley International Airport, the high winds tore pieces of roofing from several hangers, damaged one general aviation plane and one DC9. In Allentown, the thunderstorm tore down a 250-year-old tree that fell on and damaged a home. Lightning struck the roof of the Bethany Evangelical Congregational Church in Allentown. The ensuing fire spread under the roof and burned a 50 foot hole. Damage was estimated at $50,000. The high winds and lightning caused the five local television and radio stations to lose power. No serious injuries were reported.