Pennsylvania, 2013

Damaging Winds and Strong Wind in Pennsylvania, October 7, 2013

October 7, 2013 · NWS PHI · 8 events in 4 counties and zones

A squall line of strong to severe thunderstorms preceded a cold frontal passage during the late morning and first half of the afternoon in Eastern Pennsylvania. The strong southerly flow preceding the squall line knocked down a tree in Reading (Berks County).

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.

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
$35,000
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
8

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 strong to severe thunderstorms preceded a cold frontal passage during the late morning and first half of the afternoon in Eastern Pennsylvania. The strong southerly flow preceding the squall line knocked down a tree in Reading (Berks County). The tree fell along North Fourth Street and damaged a home and a non functioning streetlight. About 25 Metropolitan Edison customers lost power because of the downed tree. The same strong southerly flow preceding this front coincided with the spring tides associated with the new moon to produce some minor tidal flooding along the tidal Delaware River during the afternoon high tide cycle on the 7th. High tide reached 8.40 feet above mean lower low water in Philadelphia, minor tidal flooding starts at 8.20 feet above mean lower low water.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Philadelphia/Mount Holly wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Oct 7, 3:30 AM EST, 4 hours 30 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Oct 7, 3:30 AM EST, 4 hours 30 minutes before
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Hazardous weather outlook, Oct 7, 3:38 AM EST, 4 hours 22 minutes before
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The radar

The Philadelphia radar (KDIX), 139 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 15:47 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

7 thunderstorm wind, 1 strong wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Strong Wind, Berks

When
October 7, 8:00 AM EST to 10:00 AM EST
Where
Berks forecast zone
Measured
43 kt (49 mph) estimated gust
Property damage
$10,000
Reported by
Newspaper
Coordinates
40.416, -75.926 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Thunderstorm Wind, Berks

When
October 7, 10:50 AM EST
Where
Berks County, 1.32 mi ENE of Shartlesville
Measured
52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
40.528, -76.097

A squall line of severe thunderstorms knocked down a few trees in the western part of Berks County centered around Upper Bern Township.

Thunderstorm Wind, Berks

When
October 7, 11:15 AM EST
Where
Berks County, Reading
Measured
52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
40.350, -75.920

A squall line of severe thunderstorms knocked down a few trees in and around Reading.

Thunderstorm Wind, Berks

When
October 7, 12:08 PM EST
Where
Berks County, 1.81 mi WNW of Gabelsville
Measured
52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
40.339, -75.702

A squall line of severe thunderstorms knocked down a few trees in and around Earl Township.

Thunderstorm Wind, Northampton

When
October 7, 12:10 PM EST
Where
Northampton County, 0.21 mi NW of Lerchs
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by
Emergency Manager
Coordinates
40.702, -75.423

A squall line of strong to severe thunderstorms knocked down a couple of trees in East Allen Township.

Thunderstorm Wind, Northampton

When
October 7, 12:15 PM EST
Where
Northampton County, 1.15 mi SE of Newburg
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by
Emergency Manager
Coordinates
40.707, -75.306

A squall line of strong to severe thunderstorms knocked down a couple of large tree limbs and wires in Lower Nazareth Township.

Thunderstorm Wind, Lehigh

When
October 7, 12:30 PM EST
Where
Lehigh County, Allentown
Measured
51 kt (59 mph) measured gust
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
40.620, -75.480

A severe thunderstorm produced a wind gust of 59 mph within the city of Allentown.

Thunderstorm Wind, Bucks

When
October 7, 1:15 PM EST
Where
Bucks County, 0.79 mi S of Solebury
Measured
65 kt (75 mph) estimated gust
Property damage
$25,000
Reported by
Emergency Manager
Coordinates
40.369, -75.003

A squall line of strong to severe thunderstorms uprooted whole trees in Solebury Township and a couple of downed trees damaged homes. No serious injuries were reported.

What these are

Strong Wind
Non-thunderstorm winds below high wind criteria that nonetheless caused damage or casualties.
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 2013Every state in 2013This day in weather historyWarnings in Pennsylvania, October 2013

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 2026-09-30. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 480625, 480149, 480150, 480151, 480152, 480153, 480156, 480155.