Severe Weather of May 31st, 1998

31 May 1998 Severe Weather and Tornado Outbreak

 Based on a DRAFT document from 1998 

by

Richard H. Grumm, Ernie Ostuno, and Dave Ondrejik National Weather Service Office State College PA

and Thomas Owens (Pennsylvania State University),

 

Overview

On 31 May 1998, a widespread severe weather event occurred across the northeastern United States. Tornadoes were reported in many locations, including New York  and Pennsylvania. A total of 9 tornadoes occurred that evening in Central Pennsylvania. The most devastating tornado in Pennsylvania occurred in Somerset County. This document is a preliminary summary to show the radar echoes and some of the damage of the day across Central PA.

 

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Radar Images

Early Storm in Warren County (around 1:00 PM EDT) produced minor damage

Warren Co Supercell KCCX 31 May 1998 1649Z

Warren County Pulsing Supercell (cross section) 31 May 1998 1714Z

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Most-Damaging Storm of the Day (8:30 - 9:00 PM EDT) Somerset County F3 Tornado moved from Mount Davis to Salisbury, PA

Somerset County KCCX Reflectivity 1 June 1998 0037Z (31 May 8:37 PM EDT)

Somerset County (Salisbury, PA) Radar Cross Section 1 June 1998 0052Z (8:52 PM 31 May 1998)

 

Damage pictures from F3 Tornado in southern Somerset County:

Tornadic winds... killed a cow,	leveled a factory, and	toppled headstones.
House damage	House damage 2	Church damage
Roof off building	Debris-peppered home	Brick house
Minivan	Trees sheared off	Old house on top of hill collapsed. House was over 100 yrs old, disassembled at a different location, then reassembled at this location less then a year before.

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Warren County Storm (6:00 - 6:30 PM EDT) Caused downburst and straight line wind damage
The first damaging thunderstorms in Warren County occurred around 6 PM EDT (2200 UTC).This storm had a distinct bean shape to it.  Most of the storm was in southern New York State.
Shortly after 6 PM EDT (2201 UTC) the storm had intensified with the distinct bean shape appendage of extreme northern Warren County.
By 2206 UTC, the storm was in the extreme northern portion of the County. A National Weather Service storm survey revealed that this storm produced strong straight-line wind damage along Old State road just north of Lander in northeast Warren County. Just north of old State Line road, a microbusrt obliterated a barn. Estimated damage time by local residents along old State Line road put the damage around 600 PM.
The 0.5 degree storm relative velocity data at 2146 UTC showed strong mid-level convergence in the storm as it moved across the northern portions of central Warren County. The inbound velocity on the southern flank of this feature suggested some cyclonic convergence in the storm.

 

 

Elk & Cameron Counties Storm (7:30 - 8:00 PM EDT) associated with 4 Tornadoes (three F1s, one F0)
Around 7:30 PM EDT ( 2326 UTC ) the strong bow-echo like radar signature was located near Ridgway in Elk County. At about this time that damage (see survey map) was reported in and around Ridgway. Strong winds downed trees in and around the town of Ridgway. Most of the damage was in the F0 range. A short-lived F0-F1 tornado was observed about 4 miles north of Ridgway. Damage included downed and twisted trees and roof blown off several barns and silos. Additional Damage from a short-lived gustnado was observed approximately 1 mile north of town.
By 2336 UTC the bow-echo had eastward to near St Marys. Trees were downed in and around St. Marys.
At 2341 UTC a strong mini bow-echo is clearly visible over Elk County.
Around 2346 UTC a bulge developed in the bow echo as it entered Cameron County.
By 2351 UTC the storm entered Cameron County.
By 0007 UTC the storm crossed Cameron County downing numerous trees as it crossed the County.
The bow-echo began to move over Clinton County shortly after 0017 UTC. At 0017 UTC the bow-echo merged with smaller thunderstorm cell near Renovo. This may have contributed to the extensive damage in and around Renovo.
At 0032 UTC a well defined meso low was observed in the radar reflectivity data over extreme Northern Clinton County. This feature suggested that a very strong mesoscale circulation had developed.
By 0042 UTC the bow-echo covered most of western Lycoming County. The persistent meso low was now located over northwestern Lycoming County. The southern flank of the bow echo downed trees in Lock Haven, Pennsylvania in southern Clinton County. Strong winds caused damage all along the path of this bow echo.

 

 

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A summary of all Pennsylvania tornadoes of 1998, shows the F-scale rating , times, location, and damage.

Rating	Number of Tornadoes
F0	8
F1	12
F2	2
F3	2

 

Adams County

1. April 1, 1998 -- 12:30 - 12:35 PM EST -- Table Rock Tornado

1/2 SE Table Rock to 1 NE Table Rock

Rating -- F1. Path Length 1.5 miles. Path Width 100 yards. No deaths or injuries.

 

Montour County

2. April 1, 1998 -- 12:40 - 12:45 PM EST -- Anthony Township Tornado

3 E Turbotville to 5 E Turbotville

Rating -- F0. Path Length 2 miles. Path Width 1200 yards. No deaths or injuries.

 

Centre County

3. May 29, 1998 -- 5PM - 503PM EDT -- Bellefonte Tornado

1N Bellefonte - 1SE Bellefonte

Rating -- F0. Path Length 2 miles. Path Width 1/4 mile. No deaths or injuries.

 

Lycoming County

4. May 31, 1998 -- 5:20 - 5:25 PM EDT -- Buttonwood Tornado

2W Buttonwood to Buttonwood

Rating -- F1. Path Length 2 miles. Path Width 1/4 mile. No deaths or injuries.

 

Elk County

5. May 31, 1998 -- 7:30 - 7:35 PM EDT -- Kings Airfield Tornado

5SW Johnsonburg to 2SW Johnsonburg

Rating -- F1. Path Length 3 miles. Path Width 100 yards. No deaths or injuries.

 

Elk County

6. May 31, 1998 -- 7:30 - 7:31 PM EDT -- Moon Creek Tornado

2N Ridgway to 2N Ridgway

Rating -- F0. Path Length 100 Yards. Path Width 100 yards. No deaths or injuries.

 

Cameron County

7. May 31, 1998 -- 8:10 - 8:15 PM EDT -- Wyside Tornado

1S Sinnemahoning to 4S Sinnemahoning

Rating -- F1. Path Length 3 miles. Path Width 50 yards. No deaths or injuries.

 

Clinton County -- County line Crosser

8. May 31, 1998 -- 8:10 - 8:15 PM EDT -- Wyside Tornado

1S Sinnemahoning to 4S Sinnemahoning

Rating -- F1. Path Length 3 miles. Path Width 50 yards. No deaths or injuries.

 

Lycoming County

9. May 31, 1998 -- 8:45 - 8:55 PM EDT -- Salladasburg Tornado

3SW Salladasburg - 4NE Salladasburg

Rating -- F1. Path Length 7 miles. Path Width 75 yards. No deaths or injuries.

 

Somerset County

10. May 31, 1998 -- 8:50 - 9:10 PM EDT -- Salisbury - Pocahontas Tornado

7WS Salisbury to 2E Pocahontas

Rating -- F3. Path Length 15 miles. Path Width 1/2 mile. 1 Death, 13 year old female in Auto. 15 injuries.

 

Lycoming County

11. May 31, 1998 -- 9:02 - 9:05 PM EDT -- Lycoming County Airport Tornado

1/2W Lycoming County Airport - Lycoming County Airport

Rating -- F0. Path Length 1/2 mile. Path Width 50 yards. No deaths or injuries.

 

12. May 31, 1998 -- 9:15 - 9:18 PM EDT -- Hughesville Tornado

1SW Hughesville - 1S Hughesville

Rating -- F0. Path Length 1/4 mile. Path Width 40 yards. No deaths or injuries.

 

Lancaster County

 

13. June 1, 1998 -- 12:30 - 12:35 AM EDT -- Quaryville - Nine Points Tornado

1S Quarryville to Nine Points

Rating -- F2. Path Length 7 miles. Path Width 1/2 mile. No deaths or injuries.

 

McKean County

14. June 2, 1998 -- 5:45 - 5:55 PM EDT -- Custer City - Tibbets Hollow Tornado

4W Custer City to 4E Custer City

Rating -- F1. Path Length 8 miles. Path Width 1/4 mile. No deaths or injuries.

 

Somerset County

15. June 2, 1998 -- 7:00 - 7:30 PM EDT -- Casselman -- Pocahontas Tornado

1SW Casselman - 2SE Pocahontas

Rating -- F2. Path Length 18 miles. Path Width 200 yards. No deaths or injuries.

 

Clearfield County

16. June 2, 1998 -- 7:30 - 7:32 PM EDT -- Irvona Tornado

2 1/4 NW Irvona to 2NWW Irvona

Rating -- F0. Path Length 1/4 miles Path Width 50 yards. No deaths or injuries.

 

Blair County

17. June 2, 1998 -- 7:50 - 7:55 PM EDT -- Sink Run Tornado

5NW Tyrone to 1NW Tyrone

Rating -- F1. Path Length 4 miles. Path Width 150 yards. No deaths or injuries.

 

York County

18. June 2, 1998 -- 7:50 - 7:55 PM EDT -- Red Lion Tornado

1S Red Lion - 3/4S Red Lion

Rating -- F0. Path Length 1/8 mile. Path Width 25 yards. No deaths or injuries.

 

Somerset County

19. June 2, 1998 -- 9:00 - 9:30 PM EDT -- Seven Springs - Pocahontas Tornado

1S of Seven Springs to 2SE Pocahontas

Rating -- F3. Path Length 25 miles. Path Width 1/2 mile. No deaths or injuries.

 

Centre County

20. June 2, 1998 -- 9:35 - 9:40 PM EDT -- Dunkel Run Tornado

9S Philipsburg to 9.5S Philipsburg

Rating -- F0. Path Length 1/2 mile. Path Width 200 feet. No deaths or injuries.

 

Northumberland County

21. June 2, 1998 -- 9:40 - 9:55 PM EDT -- Irish Valley - Kulpmont - Mount Carmel Tornado

6NW Shamokin to Mt Carmel

Rating -- F1. Path Length 15 miles. Path Width 1/4 mile. No deaths or injuries.

 

Cambria County

22. June 16, 1998 -- 6:05 - 6:10 PM EDT -- Coopersdale Tornado

1/4SW Coopersdale - Coopersdale

Rating -- F1. Path Length 1/4 mile. Path Width 100 yards. No deaths or injuries.

 

Lycoming County

23. June 16, 1998 -- 6:50 - 6:55 PM EDT -- Beaver Marsh Run Tornado

6.5E Picture Rocks - 8.5E Picture Rocks

Rating -- F1. Path Length 2 mile. Path Width 250 yards. No deaths or injuries.

 

24. June 16, 1998 -- 6:50 - 6:55 PM EDT -- Beaver Marsh Run Anticyclonic Tornado

6.5E Picture Rocks - 6.75E Picture Rocks

Rating -- F1. Path Length 1/4 mile. Path Width 30 yards. No deaths or injuries.