1998 Eastern tornado outbreak
Encyclopedia
The 1998 Eastern Tornado Outbreak of June 2, 1998 was one of the most significant tornado
outbreaks in recent history over the east-central United States
. This severe weather event spawned a total of 50 tornadoes from New York
to South Carolina
and caused an estimated $42 million in damage, 80 injuries and 2 fatalities. For portions of New York, New Jersey
and Pennsylvania
, it was the second historic severe weather outbreak in three days, as it immediately followed the Late-May 1998 Tornado Outbreak and Derecho on May 30–31, 1998, which spawned 41 tornadoes over NY, NJ, PA and Vermont
, caused an estimated $83 million in damage, 109 injuries and 1 fatality.
Hardest hit areas from the June 2 tornado outbreak included Pennsylvania, which reported 22 tornadoes on June 2 (and a total of 45 tornadoes from May 31 - June 2), western Maryland
, where 5 tornadoes occurred, and West Virginia
, where some counties in the Potomac Highlands
reported their first tornado in recent history. Tornadoes were also observed in New York, Virginia
, Ohio
, Tennessee
, North Carolina
and South Carolina. The most damaging tornado hit Carnegie
, part of the Pittsburgh metropolitan area
in Allegheny County
, PA, at 5:55 PM EDT. There, 50 injuries and $13 million in damage were reported. The deadliest tornado, an F3 on the Fujita Scale
, hit near Meshoppen
, PA, in Wyoming County
, around 10:30 PM EDT. This tornado caused 2 fatalities, 15 injuries and $2.2 million in damage. The most violent tornado hit Frostburg
, MD, in Allegany County
, at 9:43 PM EDT. 5 persons were injured, and $5 million in property damage was reported. With winds up to 210 mph, it was the first ever F4 tornado in recorded Maryland history. The Frostburg Tornado had moved southeast from Somerset County
, where it was rated F3.
The 1998 Eastern Tornado Outbreak stands out, because it spawned an unusually high number of supercell thunderstorms, occurrences of damaging winds and hail, and tornadoes, in the central Appalachian Mountain area, where most residents were unaccustomed to experiencing such violent thunderstorms that are commonly believed to only occur in Tornado Alley
in the central part of the United States.
were in the 30s and 40s. However, a potent upstream disturbance approaching the region quickly destabilized the atmosphere, placing the region in a moderate risk for severe weather. A moderate risk is unusual for this portion of the U.S. Significant surface heating (temperatures quickly reached the 80s and even 90s in some areas), a significant influx of moisture (pushing dewpoints well into the 60s in many areas), a rapid increase in atmospheric shear
, steep adiabatic lapse rates, rapidly lowering lifted indices
, and a major surge in CAPE
set the stage for a major severe weather outbreak during the afternoon and evening hours of June 2.
Skew-T log-P diagram plot of atmospheric profile at 00z, June 3, 1998 at IAD (Dulles Airport). Courtesy of the National Weather Service
(NWS) Sterling, Virginia
.
The above atmospheric profile indicates several unusually favorable factors for development of severe weather, including tornadoes. One is these is significant vertical wind shear. The wind barbs on the right indicate significant speed and directional shear with height in the lower 500 mb of the atmosphere. Winds veer significantly, from SW at the surface to NW at 500 mb, and also increase from 8 kts at the surface to 46 kts at 500 mb, leading to a vertical shear value of 44 s −1. This exceeds the "high potential" severe weather threshold of 40 s −1. Veering winds with height indicate warm air advection; this, coupled with strong surface heating, contribute significantly to destabilization of the atmosphere. The second favorable feature on the plot is the steep vertical temperature gradient in the lower atmosphere up to the Lifted condensation level
(LCL) - from 26.4 C at the surface (989 mb) to about −5 C at the LCL, which is about 600 mb. While the 600 mb height is unknown, it is likely that the atmospheric lapse rate is close to or exceeds the threshold for absolute instability, strongly driving convection
. Air is therefore forced to rise rapidly, leading to a significant latent heat
release (LHR), providing further energy for severe thunderstorms.
Other strongly favorable conditions for severe weather are a highly negative (-6.1) lifted index (which exceeds the threshold of −6 for "high potential" of severe weather) and a CAPE value that peaked at 3.8 kJ, well over the threshold of 2.5 kJ for a high potential of severe weather. Vertical velocity at the surface is 13.6 m s −1, indicating strong rising motion.
Severe supercell
thunderstorms developed rapidly during the afternoon and evening hours. The first tornadic supercell developed over southeastern Ohio and spawned the first tornado at 2:50 EDT near Gallipolis
, where many trees were downed and large hail accumulated. This supercell crossed the Ohio River
into West Virginia, where tornado damage continued. The second tornadic supercell dropped its first tornado in extreme western Pennsylvania near Shippingport
. This storm later caused major damage and 50 injuries in the Pittsburgh metro area before moving southeast through Somerset County, where many residents were still without power after the deadly May 31 Salisbury tornado. The majority of the June 2 tornadoes formed between 5:30 pm and 11 pm EDT. All of Pennsylvania's 22 tornadoes occurred between 5:30 and 10:40 local time, 14 of them from 7 to 10 pm.
Beaver, Allegheny and Westmoreland Counties
The first tornado in PA developed in the town of Shippingport in Beaver County
, where significant structural damage occurred. The supercell moved southeast into the Pittsburgh Metro Area, where $13 million in structural damage and 50 injuries were reported. The tornado was first sighted 5 miles northwest of Carnegie and tracked 2 miles southeast of downtown Pittsburgh before tracking from Allegheny County into Westmoreland Co
. There, major tornado damage was reported in and around the towns of Irwin
and Donegal
, where the twister overturned a mobile home and a tractor trailer along the PA Turnpike
, injuring the driver. The Carnegie-to-Irwin twister was on the ground for at least 26 miles.
Another supercell thunderstorm developed over extreme eastern Ohio and spawned tornadoes and other severe weather (damaging winds and hail) over virtually the same areas that were hit only two hours prior. Tornadoes touched down yet again near Shippingport and Irwin. Because of the nearly identical tracks of the supercells, very heavy rain fell over a narrow northwest-to-southeast swath, prompting flash flood
warnings over Allegheny and Westmoreland Counties. A SKYWARN
spotter reported an inch of rain in only 12 minutes, and Mt. Pleasant
recorded 2.07" of total rainfall.
Fayette and Somerset County F2 and F3 Tornadoes
Two major tornadoes passed through already hard-hit Somerset County, PA, within about two hours of each other, and taking almost identical tracks. An F2 tornado touched down near Markleton at 7pm EDT, crossed the path of the Salisbury
tornado 6 miles east of Salisbury (where a fatality occurred from the F3 tornado two evenings prior), hit Boynton and ended in Pocahontas, tracking a total of 15 miles in the county. Damage was mainly limited to forested areas, and no deaths or injuries were reported.
The second, and stronger, tornado touched down in extreme eastern Fayette Co
., about 4 miles southeast of Indian Head. The tornado rapidly intensified to F3 status near Bakersville in Somerset County, and maintained F2 to F3 intensity as it tracked southeast, virtually parallelling the path of the F2 tornado that struck the county just two hours prior. This storm also crossed the path of the May 31 Salisbury tornado, 3 miles east of town, and continued through extreme northeastern Garrett Co
. MD and Allegany Co. MD, where it intensified to a violent multi-vortex
F4 tornado in and around Frostburg (see more details in the Maryland section). This tornado tracked for an amazing 48 miles, with a path width up to 1 mile in Somerset Co., PA, before finally dissipating 2 miles north of Creasaptown
, MD.
Shortly prior to the F4 tornado striking Frostburg, MD, another F2 tornado formed in southern Fayette County, PA, just southwest of the town of Elliotsville. The tornado first touched down at 9:35 pm and tracked 12 miles through Fayette Co. PA, Preston Co. WV
and Garrett Co. MD
. The same supercell also spawned destructive tornadoes in Mineral
and Hampshire
Counties in the eastern panhandle
of WV. Major property damage occurred in southeastern Fayette County. A dairy barn and two mobile homes were completely destroyed. 21 other structures were heavily damaged. Herds of cattle were killed, including one that was thrown through the air over 100 yards. Approximately $3 million in structural damage and $2 million in timber and crop damage was reported in Fayette County alone. See below for subsequent details on this F2 tornado as it tracked southeast through Preston Co., WV and into Garrett Co., MD.
Wyoming County - F3 Tornado - 2 Deaths, 15 Injuries
Perhaps the most significant, and the only fatal, tornado from the June 2 outbreak occurred in north-central Wyoming County, PA
. A supercell thunderstorm rapidly intensified over Bradford County
, first spawning a tornado in Terry Township between 10:15 and 10:20 pm, in the southeastern part of the county. Several buildings were heavily damaged as the tornado reached F1 intensity.
The tornado lifted briefly, before touching down again in northern Wyoming County, on the east side of Valentine Hill, and generally moved east-southeast. The twister intensified as it continued across the northern portion of Stevens Lake, over a hill and towards Lake Carey. A narrow strip of land and road (State Route 1003), which formed a causeway
across Lake Carey, was in the path of the twister. This is where complete destruction and death occurred around 10:30 pm. Every building on this narrow strip of land crossing the lake was virtually leveled. Two people, an elderly woman and her grandson, were ejected from their home and thrown into an adjacent house, killing both of them upon impact. Every tree in the path of the tornado was uprooted, snapped, or leveled in a chaotic pattern. Docks along the eastern shore of the lake were destroyed, and many boats were tossed inland. As the tornado continued east-southeast, massive damage continued, with more leveled homes and a swath of tree destruction averaging 500 yards wide. In addition to the 2 deaths, the tornado caused 15 further injuries. 42 homes in the Lake Carey vicinity were heavily damaged or destroyed, with dozens more buildings severely damaged in the tornado's path, which exceeded 1/3 of a mile in some areas and was 35 miles long.
The tornado continued 3 miles into northern Lackawanna County
, weakening to an F1 and finally lifted just west of Abington Road. Portions of the Keystone College
sustained significant tree damage and damage to classroom buildings. Windows were blown out, and gutters were twisted. The tornado crossed routes 6 and 11 and caused major tree damage in the Lackawanna State Forest
. The total structural damage from this tornado was estimated at $2.2 million.
Pennsylvania Tornado Summary
Many other areas of Pennsylvania were severely affected by tornadoes on June 2, 1998. Below is a table summarizing the 22 tornadoes that occurred. There were also 27 reports of severe wind damage and 66 reports of severe hail in the state. Hail up to 2 inches in diameter was reported in Lawrence County
at Bessemer and just southwest of New Castle
, and also in extreme northeastern Fayette County at Seven Springs Resort / Champion
, all around 6:40 pm EDT.
and Allegany
), including the strongest Maryland tornado to date, an F4 in the town of Frostburg in extreme western Allegany County. There were also 6 reports of damaging winds, and 21 reports of severe hail throughout the state. Golf ball sized (1.75" diameter) hail and larger was common in many areas, with the largest hail of 2.25" in diameter in the Laytonsville
area of Montgomery County
and 2.00" in diameter in Crofton
, Anne Arundel County
. Unofficially, hail reached 2.50" in diameter at some locations. Hardest hit areas from large, damaging hail were in central MD and included northern Montgomery, Howard
, southern Carroll
, southern Baltimore
, and northern Prince George's
and Anne Arundel Counties, between 7 and 8:45 pm.
Allegany County Tornadoes and the F4 Frostburg Tornado
Three severe supercell thunderstorms that tracked southeast from the Pittsburgh, PA area and through Somerset Co., PA, tracked through northwest and central Allegany County, MD, all taking an almost identical track to one another. A total of 3 tornadoes were spawned from two of the cells, the final cell producing the strongest tornado to date in the entire state of Maryland - in a county that statistically is least likely in the state to even have tornadoes.
The first tornado, an F1, hit the Mt. Savage
Junction area just north of Frostburg at 7:56 pm EDT. The tornado lifted as it passed over Frostburg and nearby areas. Funnel cloud
s were sighted over Frostburg, La Vale
, Haystack Mountain
, South Cumberland
and Mexico Farms. The second tornado touched down on Irons Mountain, 3 miles southeast of Cumberland, at 8:21 pm. Damage from both tornadoes were limited to forested areas and did not cause any injuries. However, large hail (0.75" to 1.0") fell in Mount Savage, La Vale, Cumberland and Oldtown
, where property and crop damage was reported. The storm continued producing damage, including F1 tornadoes, as it tracked southeast into Mineral and Hampshire Counties in northeastern West Virginia.
A second severe thunderstorm within the hour tracked slightly northeast of the first severe cell, producing penny-sized hail in Flintstone
(which had been hit hard with damaging winds two evenings prior from the same supercell that had produced a deadly F3 tornado in Salisbury, PA) at 7:53pm.
The third supercell in less than 2 hours took a virtually identical track to the first tornadic storm. The storm, which first produced a tornado in eastern Fayette Co., PA, tracked southeast through Somerset Co., PA, the tornado wavering between F2 and F3 intensity, clipped the northeast corner of Garrett County, producing F2 damage in Finzel
at 9:38 pm EDT. Several buildings were destroyed in the twister's path, though no one was injured. The tornado roared down Big Savage Mountain, intensifying to a violent, multi-vortex F4 as it demolished the northwestern, northern and eastern sections of Frostburg, beginning at 9:43 pm. The tornado tore a massive swath of destruction in Zihlman
, Eckhart Mines
and Clarysville
, where it crossed US Route 40 (Alternate)
and I-68
, and continued up Dans Mountain
. The tornado finally lifted on the east side of Dan's mountain 2 miles north of Creasaptown, after having been on the ground for an amazing 48 miles.
29 homes in the tornado's path were destroyed, and another 125 were heavily damaged. Homes along Armstrong Avenue were hardest hit, as they were in the direct path of the twister. Roofs were blown off, and some houses were stripped down to their bare foundations. One family who rode out the storm in their basement looked up after the twister passed and were amazed to see stars - the entire house was obliterated. Frost Elementary School also sustained significant damage. Dozens of cars were damaged, many totaled. Some vehicles and other large objects were tossed large distances through the air. Every tree in the tornado's path was destroyed. Property damage was estimated at $5.0 million. Winds were estimated at 210 mph, the strongest tornado to date in Maryland history and the first ever F4. Prompt NWS warnings, tornado sirens and appropriate actions by area residents limited casualties. In fact, no fatalaties were reported, and only 5 people were injured.
The Frostburg Tornado was so powerful that debris from Frostburg, including a high school diploma, personal checks and a bill that had been in a basement file cabinet, was found nearly 100 miles downstream, near Sterling, VA
. According to Vortex Times, The Frostburg Tornado was the fifth most intense tornado in the entire United States in 1998.
Another severe supercell clipped the extreme southwest portion of Allegany County about a little less than an hour later. See below for details on this severe thunderstorm, which spawned significant tornadoes in Fayette (PA), Preston
(WV), Garrett (MD), Mineral
(WV) and Hampshire
(WV) Counties to the south and west.
F2 Friendsville Tornado, Garrett County
Around the same time of the Frostburg Tornado, a separate supercell, spawning an F2 tornado, passed through southern Fayette Co., PA, the northeastern corner of Preston Co., WV, then tracked southeast into Garrett County, MD. A 300-yard wide swath of total tree destruction was seen as the tornado crossed I-68 in Maryland, just west of Friendsville
, near mile marker 1. Between 9:50 and 10:00 pm EDT, several residences near and just SW of Friendsville were heavily damaged or destroyed by the twister, with property damage estimated at $1.0 million. No fatalities or injuries were reported. The tornado was on the ground for at least 3 miles. The damage was consistent with F2 intensity. While the tornado lifted as the parent supercell tracked over eastern Garrett Co., numerous funnel clouds were sighted in the Bloomington
area, and the storm produced another F2 tornado that ravaged portions of Mineral and Hampshire Counties in eastern WV (see below for more details).
Western Maryland Tornado Summary
Below is a table summarizing the tornadoes that hit Garrett and Allegany Counties in western Maryland on the evening of June 2, 1998.
Charleston, WV Tornado and Severe Thunderstorm
A severe, rotating supercell thunderstorm formed in southeastern Ohio, near the town of Gallipolis. This was the first supercell to spawn a tornado during the June 2 severe weather episode. Tornadoes touched down multiple times on the storm's southeastward track through three states, and the supercell produced large, destructive hail and damaging winds virtually everywhere in its path. The tornado first touched down near Gallipolis at 2:50 pm EDT, then the storm crossed the Ohio River into Mason County
. F1 tornado damage was reported 5 miles southeast of Apple Grove at 3:15 pm. A man was injured when a tree fell on his van during the twister. The F1 tornado continued into Putnam County
, uprooting or snapping hundreds of trees just west of Pliny
at 3:16 PM. The supercell tracked southeastward along the Kanawha River
Valley and made a direct hit on the state's capitol city of Charleston
. Most of the storm's damage resulted from large hail, up to 2 inches in diameter, which demolished vehicles and damaged sidings and windows of many buildings. $8 million in hail damage was reported, along with $3 million in wind damage and $1,000 in tornado damage in the Charleston area, over $11 million in total damage. The hardest hit area of the city was the Kanawha City
area. The tornado moved up Chappell Hollow in Kanawha City at 3:58 pm, knocking trees onto homes, while hail up to 2 inches in diameter and widespread wind damage ravaged the area. A fourth tornado touched down just southwest of Leewood in Kanawha County at 4:19 PM. While the monetary damage was tremendous, no injuries or fatalities occurred. The supercell continued through Fayette
, Raleigh
, Summers
and Monroe
counties, primarily producing large hail. The hail reached 2.25" in diameter in Red Sulphur Springs
in Monroe County at 5:15 PM. The supercell thunderstorm continued producing significant damage into southwestern Virginia.
Glade Farms Tornado, northeast Preston County
The same tornadic supercell that began in southern Fayette Co., PA, tracked southeastward and clipped the northeast section of Preston County, causing extensive property and crop damage in the Glade Farms area, near Bruceton Mills
at 9:45 pm EDT. $5 million in property damage was reported in Preston County, with an additional $2 million in crop damage, as the F2 tornado passed over numerous farms, killing livestock and damaging or destroying virtually everything in its path. A clearly visible 300-yard wide, 1-mile long swath of trees which were completely sheared or uprooted was present near the Pennsylvania/West Virginia state border. Despite the heavy damage, no injuries occurred from this strong tornado. The tornado continued its southeastward track into Garrett Co., MD, as an F2.
Mineral and Hampshire County Tornadoes
Two of the severe supercells that produced tornadoes in southwestern PA and western MD continued into portions of Mineral and Hampshire Counties in Potomac Highlands of West Virginia. The first storm, which had produced multiple tornadoes in Somerset Co., PA and Allegany Co., MD, dropped another tornado, along with large (1.75" diameter) hail and damaging winds, as it passed through the northeastern tip of Mineral Co. near Wagoner
at 8:36 pm, and crossed into northern Hampshire Co. This was the first tornado in recent history to touch down in Hampshire County. There, the F1 tornado caused significant damage just north of Donaldson
, including a destroyed gazebo, damaged siding to homes, and severe tree damage. The tornado passed over River Mountain and continued across the South Branch Potomac River
, before dissipating near Levels
at 8:46 pm.
The second tornado, also an F2, was associated by the same supercell that had ravaged Fayette Co., PA, Preston Co., WV, and Garrett Co., MD. While the tornado lifted over eastern Garrett County, numerous funnel clouds were sighted over Bloomington in Garrett Co., and one of the funnel clouds touched down on the east side of Green Mountain (along the Alleghany Front) in Mineral County, 5 miles southwest of Keyser
, at 10:33 pm EDT. A car was blown over and many trees were uprooted, some thrown onto houses. The twister crossed New Creek Mountain
before destroying a mobile home, crossing US Route 220
, and causing major damage to forested areas and more structural damage. Another mobile home was rolled near Ridgeville
near US Route 50
, and a barn was destroyed near Mill Creek Country Club, just west of Burlington
.
The tornado rose up and over Patterson Creek Mountain
, crossing into Hampshire County again at 10:47 pm EDT. Several mobile homes were severely damaged, some rolled Davy Road. Five persons in one of the overturned mobile homes were injured. A station wagon was completely turned around. The twister finally dissipated 3 miles south of Junction
at 10:51 pm. Large hail from the supercell caused significant damage to trees and crops, and completely destroyed one farmer's orchard of fruit trees.
The two tornadoes that hit Mineral and Hampshire Counties were unprecedented in recent history and caught many area residents, who believed supercell thunderstorms and tornadoes only occurred in the Midwest and the Great Planes, completely by surprise. As with the Frostburg Tornado, however, swift actions by area residents and prompt NWS warnings likely saved many lives.
West Virginia Tornado Summary
Below is a table summarizing the 9 tornadoes that occurred throughout the state of West Virginia on June 2, 1998.
Tornado
A tornado is a violent, dangerous, rotating column of air that is in contact with both the surface of the earth and a cumulonimbus cloud or, in rare cases, the base of a cumulus cloud. They are often referred to as a twister or a cyclone, although the word cyclone is used in meteorology in a wider...
outbreaks in recent history over the east-central United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. This severe weather event spawned a total of 50 tornadoes from New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
to South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
and caused an estimated $42 million in damage, 80 injuries and 2 fatalities. For portions of New York, New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
and Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
, it was the second historic severe weather outbreak in three days, as it immediately followed the Late-May 1998 Tornado Outbreak and Derecho on May 30–31, 1998, which spawned 41 tornadoes over NY, NJ, PA and Vermont
Vermont
Vermont is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state ranks 43rd in land area, , and 45th in total area. Its population according to the 2010 census, 630,337, is the second smallest in the country, larger only than Wyoming. It is the only New England...
, caused an estimated $83 million in damage, 109 injuries and 1 fatality.
Hardest hit areas from the June 2 tornado outbreak included Pennsylvania, which reported 22 tornadoes on June 2 (and a total of 45 tornadoes from May 31 - June 2), western Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
, where 5 tornadoes occurred, and West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
, where some counties in the Potomac Highlands
Potomac Highlands of West Virginia
The Potomac Highlands of West Virginia centers on five counties in the upper Potomac River watershed in the western portion of the state's Eastern Panhandle, bordering Maryland and Virginia...
reported their first tornado in recent history. Tornadoes were also observed in New York, Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
, Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
, North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
and South Carolina. The most damaging tornado hit Carnegie
Carnegie, Pennsylvania
Carnegie is a borough in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States and is part of the Pittsburgh Metro Area. The population was 7,972 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Carnegie is located at . It is approximately southwest of Pittsburgh...
, part of the Pittsburgh metropolitan area
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States...
in Allegheny County
Allegheny County, Pennsylvania
Allegheny County is a county in the southwestern part of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 census, the population was 1,223,348; making it the second most populous county in Pennsylvania, following Philadelphia County. The county seat is Pittsburgh...
, PA, at 5:55 PM EDT. There, 50 injuries and $13 million in damage were reported. The deadliest tornado, an F3 on the Fujita Scale
Fujita scale
The Fujita scale , or Fujita-Pearson scale, is a scale for rating tornado intensity, based primarily on the damage tornadoes inflict on human-built structures and vegetation...
, hit near Meshoppen
Meshoppen, Pennsylvania
Meshoppen is a borough in Wyoming County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 459 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Meshoppen is located at ....
, PA, in Wyoming County
Wyoming County, Pennsylvania
Wyoming County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. It was created in 1842 from part of Luzerne County. Its county seat is Tunkhannock.-Geography:According to the U.S...
, around 10:30 PM EDT. This tornado caused 2 fatalities, 15 injuries and $2.2 million in damage. The most violent tornado hit Frostburg
Frostburg, Maryland
Frostburg is a city in Allegany County, Maryland, United States located at the head of the Georges Creek Valley. It is part of the Cumberland, MD-WV Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 7,873 at the 2000 census...
, MD, in Allegany County
Allegany County, Maryland
Allegany County is a county located in the northwestern part of the US state of Maryland. It is part of the Cumberland, MD-WV Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of 2010, the population was 75,087. Its county seat is Cumberland...
, at 9:43 PM EDT. 5 persons were injured, and $5 million in property damage was reported. With winds up to 210 mph, it was the first ever F4 tornado in recorded Maryland history. The Frostburg Tornado had moved southeast from Somerset County
Somerset County, Pennsylvania
Somerset County is a county located in the state of Pennsylvania. As of 2010, the population was 77,742. Somerset County was created on April 17, 1795, from part of Bedford County and named for Somerset, United Kingdom. Its county seat is Somerset. It is part of the Johnstown, Pennsylvania,...
, where it was rated F3.
The 1998 Eastern Tornado Outbreak stands out, because it spawned an unusually high number of supercell thunderstorms, occurrences of damaging winds and hail, and tornadoes, in the central Appalachian Mountain area, where most residents were unaccustomed to experiencing such violent thunderstorms that are commonly believed to only occur in Tornado Alley
Tornado Alley
Tornado Alley is a colloquial and popular media term that most often refers to the area of the United States where tornadoes are most frequent. Although an official location is not defined, the area between the Rocky Mountains and Appalachian Mountains is usually associated with it.The areas...
in the central part of the United States.
Meteorological synopsis
June 2, 1998 began with very stable atmospheric conditions in the areas later affected by severe weather. Fair skies and near-record low temperatures were noted in the east-central U.S., with minimum temperatures reaching the 40s in many areas, and upper 30s in portions of northern Pennsylvania and New York State. Dew pointsDew point
The dew point is the temperature to which a given parcel of humid air must be cooled, at constant barometric pressure, for water vapor to condense into liquid water. The condensed water is called dew when it forms on a solid surface. The dew point is a saturation temperature.The dew point is...
were in the 30s and 40s. However, a potent upstream disturbance approaching the region quickly destabilized the atmosphere, placing the region in a moderate risk for severe weather. A moderate risk is unusual for this portion of the U.S. Significant surface heating (temperatures quickly reached the 80s and even 90s in some areas), a significant influx of moisture (pushing dewpoints well into the 60s in many areas), a rapid increase in atmospheric shear
Wind shear
Wind shear, sometimes referred to as windshear or wind gradient, is a difference in wind speed and direction over a relatively short distance in the atmosphere...
, steep adiabatic lapse rates, rapidly lowering lifted indices
Lifted index
The lifted index is the temperature difference between an air parcel lifted adiabatically Tp and the temperature of the environment Te at a given pressure height in the troposphere of the atmosphere, usually 500 hPa...
, and a major surge in CAPE
Convective available potential energy
In meteorology, convective available potential energy , sometimes, simply, available potential energy , is the amount of energy a parcel of air would have if lifted a certain distance vertically through the atmosphere...
set the stage for a major severe weather outbreak during the afternoon and evening hours of June 2.
Skew-T log-P diagram plot of atmospheric profile at 00z, June 3, 1998 at IAD (Dulles Airport). Courtesy of the National Weather Service
National Weather Service
The National Weather Service , once known as the Weather Bureau, is one of the six scientific agencies that make up the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration of the United States government...
(NWS) Sterling, Virginia
Sterling, Virginia
Sterling, Virginia is a census-designated place in Loudoun County, Virginia. The population as of the 2010 Census was 27,822.It is located northwest of Herndon, east of Ashburn, and west of Great Falls, and includes part of Dulles International Airport and the former AOL corporate headquarters...
.
The above atmospheric profile indicates several unusually favorable factors for development of severe weather, including tornadoes. One is these is significant vertical wind shear. The wind barbs on the right indicate significant speed and directional shear with height in the lower 500 mb of the atmosphere. Winds veer significantly, from SW at the surface to NW at 500 mb, and also increase from 8 kts at the surface to 46 kts at 500 mb, leading to a vertical shear value of 44 s −1. This exceeds the "high potential" severe weather threshold of 40 s −1. Veering winds with height indicate warm air advection; this, coupled with strong surface heating, contribute significantly to destabilization of the atmosphere. The second favorable feature on the plot is the steep vertical temperature gradient in the lower atmosphere up to the Lifted condensation level
Lifted condensation level
The lifted condensation level or lifting condensation level is formally defined as the height at which the relative humidity of an air parcel will reach 100% when it is cooled by dry adiabatic lifting...
(LCL) - from 26.4 C at the surface (989 mb) to about −5 C at the LCL, which is about 600 mb. While the 600 mb height is unknown, it is likely that the atmospheric lapse rate is close to or exceeds the threshold for absolute instability, strongly driving convection
Convection
Convection is the movement of molecules within fluids and rheids. It cannot take place in solids, since neither bulk current flows nor significant diffusion can take place in solids....
. Air is therefore forced to rise rapidly, leading to a significant latent heat
Latent heat
Latent heat is the heat released or absorbed by a chemical substance or a thermodynamic system during a process that occurs without a change in temperature. A typical example is a change of state of matter, meaning a phase transition such as the melting of ice or the boiling of water. The term was...
release (LHR), providing further energy for severe thunderstorms.
Other strongly favorable conditions for severe weather are a highly negative (-6.1) lifted index (which exceeds the threshold of −6 for "high potential" of severe weather) and a CAPE value that peaked at 3.8 kJ, well over the threshold of 2.5 kJ for a high potential of severe weather. Vertical velocity at the surface is 13.6 m s −1, indicating strong rising motion.
Severe supercell
Supercell
A supercell is a thunderstorm that is characterized by the presence of a mesocyclone: a deep, continuously-rotating updraft. For this reason, these storms are sometimes referred to as rotating thunderstorms...
thunderstorms developed rapidly during the afternoon and evening hours. The first tornadic supercell developed over southeastern Ohio and spawned the first tornado at 2:50 EDT near Gallipolis
Gallipolis, Ohio
As of the census of 2000, there were 4,180 people, 1,847 households, and 1,004 families residing in the village. The population density was 1,156.2 people per square mile . There were 2,056 housing units at an average density of 568.7 per square mile...
, where many trees were downed and large hail accumulated. This supercell crossed the Ohio River
Ohio River
The Ohio River is the largest tributary, by volume, of the Mississippi River. At the confluence, the Ohio is even bigger than the Mississippi and, thus, is hydrologically the main stream of the whole river system, including the Allegheny River further upstream...
into West Virginia, where tornado damage continued. The second tornadic supercell dropped its first tornado in extreme western Pennsylvania near Shippingport
Shippingport, Pennsylvania
Shippingport is a borough in Beaver County, Pennsylvania, along the Ohio River. The population was 237 at the 2000 census.-Nuclear power plant:...
. This storm later caused major damage and 50 injuries in the Pittsburgh metro area before moving southeast through Somerset County, where many residents were still without power after the deadly May 31 Salisbury tornado. The majority of the June 2 tornadoes formed between 5:30 pm and 11 pm EDT. All of Pennsylvania's 22 tornadoes occurred between 5:30 and 10:40 local time, 14 of them from 7 to 10 pm.
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania was by far hardest hit by the 1998 Eastern Tornado Outbreak. The state experienced an unprecedented 45 tornadoes in a three-day period between May 31 and June 2, 1998, along with hundreds of total severe weather reports. Many residents were still cleaning up from the violent May 31 storms when the June 2 severe storms struck. 22 tornadoes touched down in the state. Both deaths from the June 2nd outbreak, and all three total deaths from the May 31 and June 2 outbreaks, occurred in PA. 66 of the 80 injuries also occurred in PA.Beaver, Allegheny and Westmoreland Counties
The first tornado in PA developed in the town of Shippingport in Beaver County
Beaver County, Pennsylvania
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 181,412 people, 72,576 households, and 50,512 families residing in the county. The population density was 418 people per square mile . There were 77,765 housing units at an average density of 179 per square mile...
, where significant structural damage occurred. The supercell moved southeast into the Pittsburgh Metro Area, where $13 million in structural damage and 50 injuries were reported. The tornado was first sighted 5 miles northwest of Carnegie and tracked 2 miles southeast of downtown Pittsburgh before tracking from Allegheny County into Westmoreland Co
Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 369,993 people, 149,813 households, and 104,569 families residing in the county. The population density was 361 people per square mile . There were 161,058 housing units at an average density of 157 per square mile...
. There, major tornado damage was reported in and around the towns of Irwin
Irwin, Pennsylvania
Irwin is a borough in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, southeast of Pittsburgh. Some of the most extensive bituminous coal deposits in the State are located here. In the past, iron foundries, flour mills, car shops, facing and planing mills, electrical goods, and mirror factories provided...
and Donegal
Donegal, Pennsylvania
Donegal is a borough in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is a distinct municipality from the adjacent Donegal Township. The population was 165 at the 2000 census...
, where the twister overturned a mobile home and a tractor trailer along the PA Turnpike
Pennsylvania Turnpike
The Pennsylvania Turnpike is a toll highway system operated by the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, United States. The three sections of the turnpike system total . The main section extends from Ohio to New Jersey and is long...
, injuring the driver. The Carnegie-to-Irwin twister was on the ground for at least 26 miles.
Another supercell thunderstorm developed over extreme eastern Ohio and spawned tornadoes and other severe weather (damaging winds and hail) over virtually the same areas that were hit only two hours prior. Tornadoes touched down yet again near Shippingport and Irwin. Because of the nearly identical tracks of the supercells, very heavy rain fell over a narrow northwest-to-southeast swath, prompting flash flood
Flash flood
A flash flood is a rapid flooding of geomorphic low-lying areas—washes, rivers, dry lakes and basins. It may be caused by heavy rain associated with a storm, hurricane, or tropical storm or meltwater from ice or snow flowing over ice sheets or snowfields...
warnings over Allegheny and Westmoreland Counties. A SKYWARN
Skywarn
SKYWARN is a program of the United States' National Weather Service . Its mission is to collect reports of localized severe weather. These reports are used to aid forecasters in issuing and verifying severe weather watches and warnings and to improve the forecasting and warning processes and the...
spotter reported an inch of rain in only 12 minutes, and Mt. Pleasant
Mount Pleasant, Pennsylvania
Mount Pleasant is a borough in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It stands 45 miles southeast of Pittsburgh. Population in 1900, 4,745 people; in 1910, 5,812 people; and in 1940, 5,824 people...
recorded 2.07" of total rainfall.
Fayette and Somerset County F2 and F3 Tornadoes
Two major tornadoes passed through already hard-hit Somerset County, PA, within about two hours of each other, and taking almost identical tracks. An F2 tornado touched down near Markleton at 7pm EDT, crossed the path of the Salisbury
Salisbury, Pennsylvania
Salisbury is a borough in Somerset County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 878 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Johnstown, Pennsylvania Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
tornado 6 miles east of Salisbury (where a fatality occurred from the F3 tornado two evenings prior), hit Boynton and ended in Pocahontas, tracking a total of 15 miles in the county. Damage was mainly limited to forested areas, and no deaths or injuries were reported.
The second, and stronger, tornado touched down in extreme eastern Fayette Co
Fayette County, Pennsylvania
Fayette County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of the2010 census, the population was 136,606. The county is part of the Pittsburgh Metropolitan Statistical Area....
., about 4 miles southeast of Indian Head. The tornado rapidly intensified to F3 status near Bakersville in Somerset County, and maintained F2 to F3 intensity as it tracked southeast, virtually parallelling the path of the F2 tornado that struck the county just two hours prior. This storm also crossed the path of the May 31 Salisbury tornado, 3 miles east of town, and continued through extreme northeastern Garrett Co
Garrett County, Maryland
Garrett County is the westernmost county of the U.S. state of Maryland. Created from Allegany County, Maryland in 1872 it was the last Maryland county to be formed. It was named for John Work Garrett , railroad executive, industrialist, and financier. Garrett served as president of the Baltimore...
. MD and Allegany Co. MD, where it intensified to a violent multi-vortex
Multiple vortex tornado
A multiple-vortex tornado is a tornado that contains several vortices rotating around, inside of, and as part of the main vortex. These multiple vortices are somewhat similar to eyewall mesovortices found in intense tropical cyclones...
F4 tornado in and around Frostburg (see more details in the Maryland section). This tornado tracked for an amazing 48 miles, with a path width up to 1 mile in Somerset Co., PA, before finally dissipating 2 miles north of Creasaptown
Cresaptown, Maryland
Cresaptown is a community located in Allegany County, Maryland, United States of America. It is an unincorporated community which, for United States Census Bureau purposes, is united with Bel Air to form the census-designated place of Cresaptown-Bel Air. Cresaptown's post office was established...
, MD.
Shortly prior to the F4 tornado striking Frostburg, MD, another F2 tornado formed in southern Fayette County, PA, just southwest of the town of Elliotsville. The tornado first touched down at 9:35 pm and tracked 12 miles through Fayette Co. PA, Preston Co. WV
Preston County, West Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 29,334 people, 11,544 households, and 8,357 families residing in the county. The population density was 45 people per square mile . There were 13,444 housing units at an average density of 21 per square mile...
and Garrett Co. MD
Garrett County, Maryland
Garrett County is the westernmost county of the U.S. state of Maryland. Created from Allegany County, Maryland in 1872 it was the last Maryland county to be formed. It was named for John Work Garrett , railroad executive, industrialist, and financier. Garrett served as president of the Baltimore...
. The same supercell also spawned destructive tornadoes in Mineral
Mineral County, West Virginia
Mineral County is a county located in the U.S. state of West Virginia. It is part of the Cumberland, MD-WV Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of 2010, the population was 28,212. Its county seat is Keyser.-Ancient history:...
and Hampshire
Hampshire County, West Virginia
Hampshire County is a county located in the U.S. state of West Virginia. As of 2010, the population was 23,964. Its county seat is Romney, West Virginia's oldest town . Hampshire County was created by the Virginia General Assembly on December 13, 1753, from parts of Frederick and Augusta counties ...
Counties in the eastern panhandle
Panhandle
A panhandle is an informal geographic term for an elongated arm-like protrusion of a geo-political entity, such as a subnational entity or a sovereign state.-Term:...
of WV. Major property damage occurred in southeastern Fayette County. A dairy barn and two mobile homes were completely destroyed. 21 other structures were heavily damaged. Herds of cattle were killed, including one that was thrown through the air over 100 yards. Approximately $3 million in structural damage and $2 million in timber and crop damage was reported in Fayette County alone. See below for subsequent details on this F2 tornado as it tracked southeast through Preston Co., WV and into Garrett Co., MD.
Wyoming County - F3 Tornado - 2 Deaths, 15 Injuries
Perhaps the most significant, and the only fatal, tornado from the June 2 outbreak occurred in north-central Wyoming County, PA
Wyoming County, Pennsylvania
Wyoming County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. It was created in 1842 from part of Luzerne County. Its county seat is Tunkhannock.-Geography:According to the U.S...
. A supercell thunderstorm rapidly intensified over Bradford County
Bradford County, Pennsylvania
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 62,761 people, 24,453 households, and 17,312 families residing in the county. The population density was 54 people per square mile . There were 28,664 housing units at an average density of 25 per square mile...
, first spawning a tornado in Terry Township between 10:15 and 10:20 pm, in the southeastern part of the county. Several buildings were heavily damaged as the tornado reached F1 intensity.
The tornado lifted briefly, before touching down again in northern Wyoming County, on the east side of Valentine Hill, and generally moved east-southeast. The twister intensified as it continued across the northern portion of Stevens Lake, over a hill and towards Lake Carey. A narrow strip of land and road (State Route 1003), which formed a causeway
Causeway
In modern usage, a causeway is a road or railway elevated, usually across a broad body of water or wetland.- Etymology :When first used, the word appeared in a form such as “causey way” making clear its derivation from the earlier form “causey”. This word seems to have come from the same source by...
across Lake Carey, was in the path of the twister. This is where complete destruction and death occurred around 10:30 pm. Every building on this narrow strip of land crossing the lake was virtually leveled. Two people, an elderly woman and her grandson, were ejected from their home and thrown into an adjacent house, killing both of them upon impact. Every tree in the path of the tornado was uprooted, snapped, or leveled in a chaotic pattern. Docks along the eastern shore of the lake were destroyed, and many boats were tossed inland. As the tornado continued east-southeast, massive damage continued, with more leveled homes and a swath of tree destruction averaging 500 yards wide. In addition to the 2 deaths, the tornado caused 15 further injuries. 42 homes in the Lake Carey vicinity were heavily damaged or destroyed, with dozens more buildings severely damaged in the tornado's path, which exceeded 1/3 of a mile in some areas and was 35 miles long.
The tornado continued 3 miles into northern Lackawanna County
Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania
As of the census of 2000, there were 213,295 people, 86,218 households, and 55,783 families residing in the county. The population density was 465 people per square mile . There were 95,362 housing units at an average density of 208 per square mile...
, weakening to an F1 and finally lifted just west of Abington Road. Portions of the Keystone College
Keystone College
Keystone College is a small private college located in Northeastern Pennsylvania. Its official mailing address is La Plume, Pennsylvania in Lackawanna County; however, much of the campus is in Factoryville, Pennsylvania in Wyoming County. The school was founded in 1868.-History:Keystone Academy was...
sustained significant tree damage and damage to classroom buildings. Windows were blown out, and gutters were twisted. The tornado crossed routes 6 and 11 and caused major tree damage in the Lackawanna State Forest
Lackawanna State Forest
Lackawanna State Forest is a Pennsylvania State Forest in Pennsylvania Bureau of Forestry District #11. The main offices are located in Lackawanna State Park in North Abington Township in Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania in the United States....
. The total structural damage from this tornado was estimated at $2.2 million.
Pennsylvania Tornado Summary
Many other areas of Pennsylvania were severely affected by tornadoes on June 2, 1998. Below is a table summarizing the 22 tornadoes that occurred. There were also 27 reports of severe wind damage and 66 reports of severe hail in the state. Hail up to 2 inches in diameter was reported in Lawrence County
Lawrence County, Pennsylvania
Lawrence County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. In 2010, its population was 91,108. The county was added to the Pittsburgh Metropolitan Statistical Area in 2003. The county seat is New Castle....
at Bessemer and just southwest of New Castle
New Castle, Pennsylvania
New Castle is a city in Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, United States, northwest of Pittsburgh and near the Pennsylvania-Ohio border just east of Youngstown, Ohio; in 1910, the total population was 36,280; in 1920, 44,938; and in 1940, 47,638. The population has fallen to 26,309 according to the...
, and also in extreme northeastern Fayette County at Seven Springs Resort / Champion
Seven Springs, Pennsylvania
Seven Springs is a borough in Somerset and Fayette Counties, Pennsylvania. The Somerset County portion of the borough is part of the Johnstown Metropolitan Statistical Area, while the Fayette County portion is part of the Pittsburgh Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 127 at the 2000...
, all around 6:40 pm EDT.
| Time (EDT) | County | Begin Location | End Location | Magnitude | Path Length | Path Width | Deaths | Injuries | Property Damage | Crop Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5:30 PM – 5:40 PM | Beaver | Shippingport | 1 mi WNW Aliquippa | F1 | 7 mi | 300 yds | 0 | 0 | $400 K | $0 |
| 5:45 PM – 5:50 PM | McKean | Custer City | Custer City | F1 | 8 mi | 440 yds | 0 | 0 | $0 | $0 |
| 5:55 PM – 6:20 PM | Allegheny | 5 mi NW Carnegie | 2 mi SE East McKeesport | F1 | 26 mi | 800 yds | 0 | 50 | $13.0 M | $0 |
| 6:20 PM – 6:28 PM | Westmoreland | 3 mi NW Irwin | 3 mi SE Manor | F1 | 6 mi | 300 yds | 0 | 0 | $0 | $0 |
| 6:45 PM – 6:50 PM | Jefferson | 2 mi W Ringgold | 1 mi WNW Ringgold | F1 | 1 mi | 100 yds | 0 | 0 | $250 K | $0 |
| 6:50 PM – 7:10 PM | Westmoreland (2) | 1 mi NW Donagle | 8 mi SE Donagle | F1 | 8 mi | 200 yds | 0 | 1 | $200 K | $0 |
| 7:00 PM – 7:30 PM | Somerset | Markleton | Boynton | F2 | 15 mi | 880 yds | 0 | 0 | $0 | $0 |
| 7:30 PM – 7:32 PM | Clearfield | Irvona | Irvona | F0 | 0 mi | 50 yds | 0 | 0 | $0 | $0 |
| 7:30 PM – 7:30 PM | Beaver (2) | 1 mi S Shippingport | 1 mi SW Shippingport | F0 | 0 mi | 25 yds | 0 | 0 | $10 K | $40 K |
| 7:40 PM – 7:55 PM | York | Loganville | Red Lion | F0 | 4 mi | 25 yds | 0 | 0 | $0 | $0 |
| 7:50 PM – 7:55 PM | Blair | Tyrone | Tyrone | F1 | 4 mi | 150 yds | 0 | 0 | $0 | $0 |
| 8:20 PM – 8:22 PM | Allegheny (2) | Greencock | 0 mi NW Greencock | F0 | 0 mi | 50 yds | 0 | 0 | $5 K | $0 |
| 8:22 PM – 8:25 PM | Westmoreland (3) | 3 mi SW Irwin | 3 mi SW Irwin | F0 | 1 mi | 50 yds | 0 | 0 | $15 K | $0 |
| 9:00 PM – 9:02 PM | Fayette | 4 mi SE Indian Head | 4 mi SE Indian Head | F0 | 0 mi | 50 yds | 0 | 0 | $10 K | $0 |
| 9:02 PM – 9:38 PM | Somerset (2) | Bakersville | Salisbury | F3 | 26 mi | 1,760 yds | 0 | 0 | $0 | $0 |
| 9:05 PM – 9:15 PM | Susquehanna | Auburn Center | 4 mi ESE Springville | F1 | 12 mi | 100 yds | 0 | 0 | $300 K | $0 |
| 9:35 PM – 9:45 PM | Fayette (2) | 1 mi SW Elliottsville | Five Forks | F2 | 5 mi | 300 yds | 0 | 0 | $3.0 M | $2.0 M |
| 9:35 PM – 9:40 PM | Centre | Philipsburg | Philipsburg | F0 | 1 mi | 67 yds | 0 | 0 | $0 | $0 |
| 9:40 PM – 9:55 PM | Northumberland | Shamokin | Mt. Carmel | F1 | 15 mi | 440 yds | 0 | 0 | $0 | $0 |
| 9:45 PM – 10:00 PM | Bradford | Terrytown | 3 mi ESE Wyalusing | F1 | 6 mi | 400 yds | 0 | 0 | $400 K | $0 |
| 10:00 PM – 10:45 PM | Wyoming | Meshoppen | Factoryville | F3 | 26 mi | 500 yds | 2 | 15 | $2.2 M | $0 |
| 10:40 PM – 10:50 PM | Lackawanna | La Plume | 4 mi SW Tompkinsville | F1 | 3 mi | 200 yds | 0 | 0 | $300 K | $0 |
Maryland
The state of Maryland was also hit hard by the June 2, 1998 severe weather and tornado outbreak. There were 5 tornadoes in the two westernmost counties (GarrettGarrett County, Maryland
Garrett County is the westernmost county of the U.S. state of Maryland. Created from Allegany County, Maryland in 1872 it was the last Maryland county to be formed. It was named for John Work Garrett , railroad executive, industrialist, and financier. Garrett served as president of the Baltimore...
and Allegany
Allegany County, Maryland
Allegany County is a county located in the northwestern part of the US state of Maryland. It is part of the Cumberland, MD-WV Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of 2010, the population was 75,087. Its county seat is Cumberland...
), including the strongest Maryland tornado to date, an F4 in the town of Frostburg in extreme western Allegany County. There were also 6 reports of damaging winds, and 21 reports of severe hail throughout the state. Golf ball sized (1.75" diameter) hail and larger was common in many areas, with the largest hail of 2.25" in diameter in the Laytonsville
Laytonsville, Maryland
Laytonsville is a town in Montgomery County, Maryland, United States. The population was 277 at the 2000 census. Laytonsville was originally known as Cracklintown. This name originated from the popular cracklin bread, which was baked in the locale. This recipe, essentially a bacon corn bread, also...
area of Montgomery County
Montgomery County, Maryland
Montgomery County is a county in the U.S. state of Maryland, situated just to the north of Washington, D.C., and southwest of the city of Baltimore. It is one of the most affluent counties in the United States, and has the highest percentage of residents over 25 years of age who hold post-graduate...
and 2.00" in diameter in Crofton
Crofton, Maryland
Crofton is a census-designated place and planned community in Anne Arundel County, Maryland, United States. Established in 1964, Crofton held its 40th birthday celebration in 2004....
, Anne Arundel County
Anne Arundel County, Maryland
Anne Arundel County is a county located in the U.S. state of Maryland. It is named for Anne Arundell , a member of the ancient family of Arundells in Cornwall, England and the wife of Cæcilius Calvert, 2nd Baron Baltimore. Its county seat is Annapolis, which is also the capital of the state...
. Unofficially, hail reached 2.50" in diameter at some locations. Hardest hit areas from large, damaging hail were in central MD and included northern Montgomery, Howard
Howard County, Maryland
-2010:Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:*62.2% White*17.5% Black*0.3% Native American*14.4% Asian*0.0% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander*3.6% Two or more races*2.0% Other races*5.8% Hispanic or Latino -2000:...
, southern Carroll
Carroll County, Maryland
Carroll County is a county located in the U.S. state of Maryland. In 2010, its population was 167,134. It was named for Charles Carroll of Carrollton , signer of the American Declaration of Independence. Its county seat is Westminster....
, southern Baltimore
Baltimore County, Maryland
Baltimore County is a county located in the northern part of the US state of Maryland. In 2010, its population was 805,029. It is part of the Baltimore-Washington Metropolitan Area. Its county seat is Towson. The name of the county was derived from the barony of the Proprietor of the Maryland...
, and northern Prince George's
Prince George's County, Maryland
Prince George's County is a county located in the U.S. state of Maryland, immediately north, east, and south of Washington, DC. As of 2010, it has a population of 863,420 and is the wealthiest African-American majority county in the nation....
and Anne Arundel Counties, between 7 and 8:45 pm.
Allegany County Tornadoes and the F4 Frostburg Tornado
Three severe supercell thunderstorms that tracked southeast from the Pittsburgh, PA area and through Somerset Co., PA, tracked through northwest and central Allegany County, MD, all taking an almost identical track to one another. A total of 3 tornadoes were spawned from two of the cells, the final cell producing the strongest tornado to date in the entire state of Maryland - in a county that statistically is least likely in the state to even have tornadoes.
The first tornado, an F1, hit the Mt. Savage
Mount Savage, Maryland
Mount Savage is an unincorporated community in Allegany County, Maryland, United States. A small blue-collar community, Mount Savage lies at the base of Big Savage Mountain in the Allegheny Mountains, between the cities of Frostburg and Cumberland...
Junction area just north of Frostburg at 7:56 pm EDT. The tornado lifted as it passed over Frostburg and nearby areas. Funnel cloud
Funnel cloud
A funnel cloud is a funnel-shaped cloud of condensed water droplets, associated with a rotating column of wind and extending from the base of a cloud but not reaching the ground or a water surface. A funnel cloud is usually visible as a cone-shaped or needle like protuberance from the main cloud...
s were sighted over Frostburg, La Vale
La Vale, Maryland
La Vale is a census-designated place in Allegany County, Maryland, United States. It is part of the 'Cumberland, MD-WV Metropolitan Statistical Area'...
, Haystack Mountain
Haystack Mountain (Maryland)
Haystack Mountain is a mountain ridge in the Ridge and Valley region of the Appalachian Mountains, located in western Maryland just west of the city of Cumberland...
, South Cumberland
Cumberland, Maryland
Cumberland is a city in the far western, Appalachian portion of Maryland, United States. It is the county seat of Allegany County, and the primary city of the Cumberland, MD-WV Metropolitan Statistical Area. At the 2010 census, the city had a population of 20,859, and the metropolitan area had a...
and Mexico Farms. The second tornado touched down on Irons Mountain, 3 miles southeast of Cumberland, at 8:21 pm. Damage from both tornadoes were limited to forested areas and did not cause any injuries. However, large hail (0.75" to 1.0") fell in Mount Savage, La Vale, Cumberland and Oldtown
Oldtown, Maryland
Oldtown is an unincorporated community in Allegany County, Maryland along the North Branch Potomac River founded in 18th century colonial times. The settlement was initially called "Shawanese Old Town" because it was the site of a Shawnee Amerindian village abandoned about a decade earlier...
, where property and crop damage was reported. The storm continued producing damage, including F1 tornadoes, as it tracked southeast into Mineral and Hampshire Counties in northeastern West Virginia.
A second severe thunderstorm within the hour tracked slightly northeast of the first severe cell, producing penny-sized hail in Flintstone
Flintstone, Maryland
Flintstone is a small unincorporated town in Allegany County, Maryland, USA. Flintstone lies between the southern foot of Tussey Mountain and a water gap in the Warrior Mountain formed by Flintstone Creek, north of the North Branch Potomac River and south of the Mason-Dixon Line. Rocky Gap State...
(which had been hit hard with damaging winds two evenings prior from the same supercell that had produced a deadly F3 tornado in Salisbury, PA) at 7:53pm.
The third supercell in less than 2 hours took a virtually identical track to the first tornadic storm. The storm, which first produced a tornado in eastern Fayette Co., PA, tracked southeast through Somerset Co., PA, the tornado wavering between F2 and F3 intensity, clipped the northeast corner of Garrett County, producing F2 damage in Finzel
Finzel, Maryland
Finzel is an unincorporated community in Garrett County, Maryland, United States. Finzel is located on Maryland Route 546 near the Pennsylvania border....
at 9:38 pm EDT. Several buildings were destroyed in the twister's path, though no one was injured. The tornado roared down Big Savage Mountain, intensifying to a violent, multi-vortex F4 as it demolished the northwestern, northern and eastern sections of Frostburg, beginning at 9:43 pm. The tornado tore a massive swath of destruction in Zihlman
Zihlman, Maryland
Zihlman is an unincorporated community in Allegany County, Maryland, United States....
, Eckhart Mines
Eckhart Mines, Maryland
Eckhart Mines is an unincorporated town in Allegany County, Maryland, USA. Eckhart Mines lies at the southwestern base of Federal Hill, 2.9 km east of Frostburg and 1.3 km northwest of Clarysville. The town was originally founded as a company town for the nearby Eckhart Mines. The...
and Clarysville
Clarysville, Maryland
Clarysville is an unincorporated town in Allegany County, Maryland, USA. It is located along U.S. Route 40 Alternate, at its intersection with Maryland Route 55. Clarysville was known around the region for the Clarysville Inn, a historic building which stood in Clarysville from 1807 until it burned...
, where it crossed US Route 40 (Alternate)
U.S. Route 40 Alternate (Keysers Ridge – Cumberland, Maryland)
U.S. Route 40 Alternate is the United States highway designation for a former segment of U.S. Route 40 through Garrett and Allegany Counties in Maryland. The highway begins at US 40 near exit 14 on Interstate 68 and runs eastward to Cumberland, where it ends at exit 44 on Interstate 68...
and I-68
Interstate 68
Interstate 68 is a Interstate highway in the U.S. states of West Virginia and Maryland, connecting in Morgantown to in Hancock. is also Corridor E of the Appalachian Development Highway System. From 1965 until the freeway's construction was completed in 1991, it was designated as...
, and continued up Dans Mountain
Dans Mountain
Dans Mountain is located in Allegany County, Maryland, USA between Georges Creek and the North Branch Potomac River. The highest point on Dans Mountain is called Dan's Rock which has an elevation of . The mountain rises above the town of LaVale and the summit is the highest point in Allegany County...
. The tornado finally lifted on the east side of Dan's mountain 2 miles north of Creasaptown, after having been on the ground for an amazing 48 miles.
29 homes in the tornado's path were destroyed, and another 125 were heavily damaged. Homes along Armstrong Avenue were hardest hit, as they were in the direct path of the twister. Roofs were blown off, and some houses were stripped down to their bare foundations. One family who rode out the storm in their basement looked up after the twister passed and were amazed to see stars - the entire house was obliterated. Frost Elementary School also sustained significant damage. Dozens of cars were damaged, many totaled. Some vehicles and other large objects were tossed large distances through the air. Every tree in the tornado's path was destroyed. Property damage was estimated at $5.0 million. Winds were estimated at 210 mph, the strongest tornado to date in Maryland history and the first ever F4. Prompt NWS warnings, tornado sirens and appropriate actions by area residents limited casualties. In fact, no fatalaties were reported, and only 5 people were injured.
The Frostburg Tornado was so powerful that debris from Frostburg, including a high school diploma, personal checks and a bill that had been in a basement file cabinet, was found nearly 100 miles downstream, near Sterling, VA
Sterling, Virginia
Sterling, Virginia is a census-designated place in Loudoun County, Virginia. The population as of the 2010 Census was 27,822.It is located northwest of Herndon, east of Ashburn, and west of Great Falls, and includes part of Dulles International Airport and the former AOL corporate headquarters...
. According to Vortex Times, The Frostburg Tornado was the fifth most intense tornado in the entire United States in 1998.
Another severe supercell clipped the extreme southwest portion of Allegany County about a little less than an hour later. See below for details on this severe thunderstorm, which spawned significant tornadoes in Fayette (PA), Preston
Preston County, West Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 29,334 people, 11,544 households, and 8,357 families residing in the county. The population density was 45 people per square mile . There were 13,444 housing units at an average density of 21 per square mile...
(WV), Garrett (MD), Mineral
Mineral County, West Virginia
Mineral County is a county located in the U.S. state of West Virginia. It is part of the Cumberland, MD-WV Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of 2010, the population was 28,212. Its county seat is Keyser.-Ancient history:...
(WV) and Hampshire
Hampshire County, West Virginia
Hampshire County is a county located in the U.S. state of West Virginia. As of 2010, the population was 23,964. Its county seat is Romney, West Virginia's oldest town . Hampshire County was created by the Virginia General Assembly on December 13, 1753, from parts of Frederick and Augusta counties ...
(WV) Counties to the south and west.
F2 Friendsville Tornado, Garrett County
Around the same time of the Frostburg Tornado, a separate supercell, spawning an F2 tornado, passed through southern Fayette Co., PA, the northeastern corner of Preston Co., WV, then tracked southeast into Garrett County, MD. A 300-yard wide swath of total tree destruction was seen as the tornado crossed I-68 in Maryland, just west of Friendsville
Friendsville, Maryland
Friendsville is a town in Garrett County, Maryland, United States. The population was 539 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Friendsville is located at ....
, near mile marker 1. Between 9:50 and 10:00 pm EDT, several residences near and just SW of Friendsville were heavily damaged or destroyed by the twister, with property damage estimated at $1.0 million. No fatalities or injuries were reported. The tornado was on the ground for at least 3 miles. The damage was consistent with F2 intensity. While the tornado lifted as the parent supercell tracked over eastern Garrett Co., numerous funnel clouds were sighted in the Bloomington
Bloomington, Maryland
Bloomington is an unincorporated town at the confluence of the North Branch Potomac River and Savage River in southeastern Garrett County, Maryland...
area, and the storm produced another F2 tornado that ravaged portions of Mineral and Hampshire Counties in eastern WV (see below for more details).
Western Maryland Tornado Summary
Below is a table summarizing the tornadoes that hit Garrett and Allegany Counties in western Maryland on the evening of June 2, 1998.
| Time (EDT) | County (total) | Begin Location | End Location | Magnitude | Path Length | Path Width | Deaths | Injuries | Property Damage | Crop Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7:56 PM – 7:58 PM | Allegany | 3 mi NW Mt. Savage Jct. | 2 mi NW Mt. Savage Jct. | F1 | 1 mi | 50 yds | 0 | 0 | $0 | $30 K |
| 8:21 PM – 8:23 PM | Allegany (2) | 3 mi SE Cumberland | 4 mi SE Cumberland | F0 | 1 mi | 50 yds | 0 | 0 | $0 | $15 K |
| 9:38 PM – 9:42 PM | Garrett | 2 mi NW Finzel | 1 mi SE Finzel | F2 | 3 mi | 700 yds | 0 | 0 | $500 K | $0 |
| 9:43 PM – 9:50 PM | Allegany (3) | 2 mi NW Frostburg | 2 mi N Creasaptown | F4 | 8 mi | 800 yds | 0 | 5 | $5.0 M | $250 K |
| 9:50 PM – 10:00 PM | Garrett (2) | 4 mi W Friendsville | 3 mi SW Friendsville | F2 | 3 mi | 300 yds | 0 | 0 | $1.0 M | $0 |
West Virginia
The June 2, 1998 severe weather outbreak also heavily affected portions of West Virginia, particularly the northern and eastern sections. West Virginia experienced 9 tornadoes, along with 4 severe wind damage reports and 14 reports of severe hail. While most of the severe storms passed through northern West Virginia and its eastern panhandle, the worst monetary damage occurred from an isolated but very intense supercell that tracked southeastward across the southern portion of the state all the way from the Ohio River to the Virginia border.Charleston, WV Tornado and Severe Thunderstorm
A severe, rotating supercell thunderstorm formed in southeastern Ohio, near the town of Gallipolis. This was the first supercell to spawn a tornado during the June 2 severe weather episode. Tornadoes touched down multiple times on the storm's southeastward track through three states, and the supercell produced large, destructive hail and damaging winds virtually everywhere in its path. The tornado first touched down near Gallipolis at 2:50 pm EDT, then the storm crossed the Ohio River into Mason County
Mason County, West Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 25,957 people, 10,587 households, and 7,569 families residing in the county. The population density was 60 people per square mile . There were 12,056 housing units at an average density of 28 per square mile...
. F1 tornado damage was reported 5 miles southeast of Apple Grove at 3:15 pm. A man was injured when a tree fell on his van during the twister. The F1 tornado continued into Putnam County
Putnam County, West Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 51,589 people, 20,028 households, and 15,281 families residing in the county. The population density was 149 people per square mile . There were 21,621 housing units at an average density of 62 per square mile...
, uprooting or snapping hundreds of trees just west of Pliny
Pliny, West Virginia
Pliny is an unincorporated community in Putnam County, West Virginia, United States. It was named for M. Pliny Brown, a large landowner in the area. The ZIP code is 25158....
at 3:16 PM. The supercell tracked southeastward along the Kanawha River
Kanawha River
The Kanawha River is a tributary of the Ohio River, approximately 97 mi long, in the U.S. state of West Virginia. The largest inland waterway in West Virginia, it has formed a significant industrial region of the state since the middle of the 19th century.It is formed at the town of Gauley...
Valley and made a direct hit on the state's capitol city of Charleston
Charleston, West Virginia
Charleston is the capital and largest city of the U.S. state of West Virginia. It is located at the confluence of the Elk and Kanawha Rivers in Kanawha County. As of the 2010 census, it has a population of 51,400, and its metropolitan area 304,214. It is the county seat of Kanawha County.Early...
. Most of the storm's damage resulted from large hail, up to 2 inches in diameter, which demolished vehicles and damaged sidings and windows of many buildings. $8 million in hail damage was reported, along with $3 million in wind damage and $1,000 in tornado damage in the Charleston area, over $11 million in total damage. The hardest hit area of the city was the Kanawha City
Kanawha City, West Virginia
Kanawha City is a neighborhood of the city of Charleston in Kanawha County, West Virginia, United States. It is in the southeastern part of the city, and located along WV 61 It officially starts at the 35th Street bridge, where there is a sign welcoming visitors. It comprises mostly small stores...
area. The tornado moved up Chappell Hollow in Kanawha City at 3:58 pm, knocking trees onto homes, while hail up to 2 inches in diameter and widespread wind damage ravaged the area. A fourth tornado touched down just southwest of Leewood in Kanawha County at 4:19 PM. While the monetary damage was tremendous, no injuries or fatalities occurred. The supercell continued through Fayette
Fayette County, West Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 47,579 people, 18,945 households, and 13,128 families residing in the county. The population density was 72 people per square mile . There were 21,616 housing units at an average density of 33 per square mile...
, Raleigh
Raleigh County, West Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 79,220 people, 31,793 households, and 22,096 families residing in the county. The population density was 130 people per square mile . There were 35,678 housing units at an average density of 59 per square mile...
, Summers
Summers County, West Virginia
Summers County is a county located in the U.S. state of West Virginia. As of the 2010 census, the population was 13,927. Its county seat is Hinton. Summers County was created by an act of the West Virginia General Assembly on February 27, 1871 from parts of Fayette, Greenbrier, Mercer and Monroe...
and Monroe
Monroe County, West Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 14,583 people, 5,447 households, and 3,883 families residing in the county. The population density was 31 people per square mile . There were 7,267 housing units at an average density of 15 per square mile...
counties, primarily producing large hail. The hail reached 2.25" in diameter in Red Sulphur Springs
Red Sulphur Springs, West Virginia
Red Sulphur Springs is a small unincorporated community in Monroe County, West Virginia, USA. It once boasted the Red Sulphur Springs Hotel. It is located on West Virginia Route 12, close to Indian Creek.-History:...
in Monroe County at 5:15 PM. The supercell thunderstorm continued producing significant damage into southwestern Virginia.
Glade Farms Tornado, northeast Preston County
The same tornadic supercell that began in southern Fayette Co., PA, tracked southeastward and clipped the northeast section of Preston County, causing extensive property and crop damage in the Glade Farms area, near Bruceton Mills
Bruceton Mills, West Virginia
Bruceton Mills is a town in Preston County, West Virginia, United States along Big Sandy Creek. The population was 74 at the 2000 census. An early settler, John M. Hoffman, named this community for his stepfather, George Bruce, who claimed direct descendance from Robert the Bruce, King of Scotland....
at 9:45 pm EDT. $5 million in property damage was reported in Preston County, with an additional $2 million in crop damage, as the F2 tornado passed over numerous farms, killing livestock and damaging or destroying virtually everything in its path. A clearly visible 300-yard wide, 1-mile long swath of trees which were completely sheared or uprooted was present near the Pennsylvania/West Virginia state border. Despite the heavy damage, no injuries occurred from this strong tornado. The tornado continued its southeastward track into Garrett Co., MD, as an F2.
Mineral and Hampshire County Tornadoes
Two of the severe supercells that produced tornadoes in southwestern PA and western MD continued into portions of Mineral and Hampshire Counties in Potomac Highlands of West Virginia. The first storm, which had produced multiple tornadoes in Somerset Co., PA and Allegany Co., MD, dropped another tornado, along with large (1.75" diameter) hail and damaging winds, as it passed through the northeastern tip of Mineral Co. near Wagoner
Wagoner, West Virginia
Wagoner is an unincorporated community in Mineral County, West Virginia. Wagoner lies along the North Branch Potomac River at Round Bottom Hollow between the communities of Dans Run and Green Spring. Wagoner is located at the northern terminus of West Virginia Secondary Route 15/2....
at 8:36 pm, and crossed into northern Hampshire Co. This was the first tornado in recent history to touch down in Hampshire County. There, the F1 tornado caused significant damage just north of Donaldson
Donaldson, West Virginia
Donaldson is an unincorporated community in Hampshire County in the U.S. state of West Virginia. It is located in Green Spring Valley on Green Spring Road between Green Spring and Springfield. Donaldson was once a thriving railroad community along the South Branch Valley Railroad with its own...
, including a destroyed gazebo, damaged siding to homes, and severe tree damage. The tornado passed over River Mountain and continued across the South Branch Potomac River
Potomac River
The Potomac River flows into the Chesapeake Bay, located along the mid-Atlantic coast of the United States. The river is approximately long, with a drainage area of about 14,700 square miles...
, before dissipating near Levels
Levels, West Virginia
Levels is an unincorporated community in Hampshire County in the U.S. state of West Virginia. According to the 2000 census, the Levels community has a population of 147. It is home to John J...
at 8:46 pm.
The second tornado, also an F2, was associated by the same supercell that had ravaged Fayette Co., PA, Preston Co., WV, and Garrett Co., MD. While the tornado lifted over eastern Garrett County, numerous funnel clouds were sighted over Bloomington in Garrett Co., and one of the funnel clouds touched down on the east side of Green Mountain (along the Alleghany Front) in Mineral County, 5 miles southwest of Keyser
Keyser, West Virginia
Keyser is a city in and the county seat of Mineral County, West Virginia, United States. It is part of the Cumberland, MD-WV Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 5,303 at the 2000 census.- History :...
, at 10:33 pm EDT. A car was blown over and many trees were uprooted, some thrown onto houses. The twister crossed New Creek Mountain
New Creek Mountain
New Creek Mountain is a mountain ridge of the Ridge-and-Valley Appalachians in Grant and Mineral counties in the U.S. state of West Virginia. The mountain is named for New Creek which rises and flows along its western flanks. It is part of the Wills Mountain Anticline, with Knobly Mountain along...
before destroying a mobile home, crossing US Route 220
U.S. Route 220
U.S. Route 220 is a long U.S. Route in the eastern United States.US 220 is a spur route of U.S. Route 20 but at present, the two routes do not intersect nor do they connect via other spurs of US 20. The former U. S. Route 120, which was signed in Pennsylvania between 1926 and 1967, intersected...
, and causing major damage to forested areas and more structural damage. Another mobile home was rolled near Ridgeville
Ridgeville, West Virginia
Ridgeville is an unincorporated community in Mineral County, West Virginia, United States. It lies along U.S. Routes 50 and 220 in the Mill Creek Valley, west of Markwood.The zip code for Ridgeville is 26710...
near US Route 50
U.S. Route 50
U.S. Route 50 is a major east–west route of the U.S. Highway system, stretching just over from Ocean City, Maryland on the Atlantic Ocean to West Sacramento, California. Until 1972, when it was replaced by Interstate Highways west of the Sacramento area, it extended to San Francisco, near...
, and a barn was destroyed near Mill Creek Country Club, just west of Burlington
Burlington, West Virginia
Burlington is an unincorporated census-designated place in Mineral County, West Virginia located along U.S. Route 50 where it crosses Pattersons Creek. As of the 2010 census, its population was 182. It is part of the Cumberland, MD-WV Metropolitan Statistical Area...
.
The tornado rose up and over Patterson Creek Mountain
Patterson Creek Mountain
Patterson Creek Mountain is a mountain ridge that forms the border between Mineral and Hampshire counties and Grant and Hardy Counties in West Virginia's Eastern Panhandle. The mountain's namesake, Patterson Creek, parallels its western flank...
, crossing into Hampshire County again at 10:47 pm EDT. Several mobile homes were severely damaged, some rolled Davy Road. Five persons in one of the overturned mobile homes were injured. A station wagon was completely turned around. The twister finally dissipated 3 miles south of Junction
Junction, West Virginia
Junction is an unincorporated community in Hampshire County in the U.S. state of West Virginia. Historically referred to as Moorefield Junction, Junction received its name because of its location at the crossroads of U.S. Highway 220/West Virginia Route 28 and the Northwestern Turnpike...
at 10:51 pm. Large hail from the supercell caused significant damage to trees and crops, and completely destroyed one farmer's orchard of fruit trees.
The two tornadoes that hit Mineral and Hampshire Counties were unprecedented in recent history and caught many area residents, who believed supercell thunderstorms and tornadoes only occurred in the Midwest and the Great Planes, completely by surprise. As with the Frostburg Tornado, however, swift actions by area residents and prompt NWS warnings likely saved many lives.
West Virginia Tornado Summary
Below is a table summarizing the 9 tornadoes that occurred throughout the state of West Virginia on June 2, 1998.
| Time (EDT) | County | Begin Location | End Location | Magnitude | Path Length | Path Width | Deaths | Injuries | Property Damage | Crop Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3:15 PM – 3:16 PM | Mason | 5 mi SE Apple Grove | 6 mi SE Apple Grove | F1 | 1 mi | 40 yds | 0 | 1 | $75 K | $0 |
| 3:16 PM – 3:17 PM | Putnam | 2 mi W Pliny | 2 mi WNW Pliny | F1 | 0 mi | 40 yds | 0 | 0 | $20 K | $0 |
| 3:58 PM – 4:00 PM | Kanawha | 2 mi SE Charleston | 4 mi SE Charleston | F1 | 2 mi | 80 yds | 0 | 0 | $100 K | $0 |
| 4:19 PM – 4:19 PM | Kanawha (2) | 1 mi SW Leewood | 1 mi SW Leewood | F0 | 1 mi | 60 yds | 0 | 0 | $10 K | $0 |
| 8:36 PM – 8:37 PM | Mineral | 3 mi SE Patterson Creek | 4 mi SE Patterson Creek | F1 | 1 mi | 100 yds | 0 | 0 | $5 K | $10 K |
| 8:37 PM – 8:46 PM | Hampshire | 3 mi W Donaldson | Levels | F1 | 8 mi | 150 yds | 0 | 0 | $20 K | $100 K |
| 9:45 PM – 9:50 PM | Preston | 1 mi NW Glade Farms | 3 mi SE Glade Farms | F2 | 4 mi | 300 yds | 0 | 0 | $5.0 M | $2.0 M |
| 10:33 PM – 10:46 PM | Mineral (2) | 5 mi SW Keyser | 3 mi ESE Burlington | F2 | 10 mi | 150 yds | 0 | 0 | $150 K | $100 K |
| 10:47 PM – 10:51 PM | Hampshire (2) | 2 mi NW Junction | 3 mi SW Junction | F1 | 5 mi | 150 yds | 0 | 5 | $100 K | $50 K |