Pennsylvania, 2000

Damaging Wind and Lightning Strikes in Pennsylvania, October 4, 2000

October 4, 2000 · NWS PHI · 3 events in 1 county or zone

A severe thunderstorm produced lightning and wind damage across the northern half of Bucks County. Hardest hit was the east end of Quakertown Borough.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 2 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
$21,000
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
3

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 severe thunderstorm produced lightning and wind damage across the northern half of Bucks County. Hardest hit was the east end of Quakertown Borough. Numerous trees were knocked down. Downed trees closed Pennsylvania State Route 313. Downed trees also blocked two other roadways within the borough. Elsewhere across northern Bucks County, trees were knocked down and roads were closed in Plumstead Township, wires and trees were torn down in Milford Township, limbs were knocked down in Haycock Township and lines were knocked down in Doylestown. Lightning also caused damage in Bucks County. In Milford Township, the attic of one home was struck by lightning and the subsequent fire severely burned it. In Quakertown, lightning damaged a chimney. Lightning also struck and knocked out the power to the Grundy House and Independent Court. One resident suffered a hip or leg injury after falling in the dark.

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

2 lightning, 1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Bucks

When
October 4, 5:50 PM EST to 6:10 PM EST
Where
Bucks County, Trumbauersville
Measured
57 kt (66 mph)
Reported by
BROADCAST MEDIA
Coordinates
40.417, -75.383

Lightning, Bucks

When
October 4, 5:50 PM EST
Where
Bucks County, Milford Square
Property damage
$20,000
Reported by
NEWSPAPER
Coordinates
40.337, -75.107 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Lightning, Bucks

When
October 4, 5:55 PM EST
Where
Bucks County, Quakertown
Property damage
$1,000
Reported by
NEWSPAPER
Coordinates
40.337, -75.107 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

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.
Lightning
A lightning strike that killed, injured or caused damage.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Pennsylvania in 2000Every state in 2000This day in weather historyWarnings in Pennsylvania, October 2000

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: 5157782, 5157783, 5157784.