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Lebanon County Tornado

July 14, 2004

SynopsisThe Campbelltown Tornado

● A strong F3-tornado ripped through the County Squire Estates sub-division in southern Lebanon County during the early afternoon of July 14, 2004.

● Over 100 homes completely destroyed, or severely damaged. ● Multiple injuries (one critical), but no deaths. ● The meteorological conditions were favorable for severe thunderstorms. ● However, they were not excessive as we have seen in larger (widespread) tornado outbreaks like May 31, 1985, May 31,

1998, and Jun 2, 1998

Conditons

Infrared Satellite Image around Noon Local

Lebanon County Storms

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Lebanon County Storms

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Surface Observations and Fronts around 2 pm

Radar Pictures/LoopsReflectivity images at 0.5 degree elevation from KCCX (State College) radar. Animated Loop of this sequence

Storm Relative Winds >

2:48 PM

2:52 PM

2:56 PM

3:00 PM

3:05 PM

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Lebanon County Storms

3:09 PM

3:13 PM

3:17 PM

3:22 PM

3:26 PM

Storm Reports

Storm Reports for the day

Storm Damage Survey Pictures

See a Map of the path of this Tornado!

See an areal view of the Tornado Area (link to Google.com maps)

Public Information Statement on the Damage Survey at Campbelltown:

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENTNATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA345 PM EDT THU JUL 15 2004

...STRONG F3 TORNADO CONFIRMED IN LEBANON COUNTY...

A SURVEY TEAM SENT BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN STATE COLLEGE CONFIRMED TODAY THAT THUNDERSTORMS SPAWNED A STRONG F3 TORNADO DURING THE AFTERNOON OF WEDNESDAY JULY 14 IN SOUTHERN LEBANON COUNTY.

THE TORNADO FIRST TOUCHED DOWN AT 3:05 PM EDT...ABOUT 1 MILE WEST OFTHE TOWN OF CAMPBELLTOWN IN FAR WESTERN LEBANON COUNTY. THE TORNADOTRAVELED EAST...AND STRUCK A HOUSING DEVELOPMENT ABOUT ONE QUARTER MILE SOUTH OF ROUTE 322. A TOTAL OF 32 HOMES WERE DESTROYED...WITHANOTHER 37 HOMES SUSTAINING SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE. AN ADDITIONAL 50 HOMES IN THE AREA WERE DAMAGED BY DOWNBURST WINDS ASSOCIATED WITHTHE THUNDERSTORM THAT SPAWNED THE TORNADO. NINE OR MORE FARMBUILDINGS WERE ALSO DAMAGED.

THE TORNADO CONTINUED ALONG A PATH TO THE EAST FOR SEVEN AND ONEHALF MILES. THE TORNADO CROSSED ROUTE 322 WEST OF MOUNT

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Lebanon County Storms

PLEASANT...AND CONTINUED EAST...MAINLY ACROSS FIELDS...UNTIL IT LIFTED UP ABOUT 2 MILES NORTHWEST OF THE TOWN OF CORNWALL AT 3:15 PM EDT. THE WIDTH OF THE TORNADO WAS ONE QUARTER MILE. ALTHOUGH THE TORNADIC DAMAGE WAS CONFINED TO THE PATH DESCRIBED...ADDITIONAL DAMAGE OCCURRED OUTSIDE THIS PATH...AGAIN ASSOCIATED WITH DOWNBURST WINDS FROM THE PARENT THUNDERSTORM.

WINDS WERE ESTIMATED BETWEEN 175 AND 200 MPH...MAKING THIS A STRONG CATEGORY 3 TORNADO ON THE FUJITA SCALE. FOR REFERENCE:

F0 - 40 TO 72 MPH WINDSF1 - 73 TO 112 MPH WINDSF2 - 113 TO 157 MPH WINDSF3 - 158 TO 206 MPH WINDSF4 - 207 TO 260 MPH WINDSF5 - 261 TO 318 MPH WINDS

THE TORNADO INJURED 24 PERSONS...ONE CRITICALLY. NO DEATHS HAVE BEEN ASSOCIATED WITH THE STORM.

THE AMERICAN RED CROSS OPENED A MASS CARE CENTER...WHERE OVER 50PEOPLE REQUIRED ASSISTANCE WITH SHELTERING. BETWEEN 25,000 AND30,000 CUSTOMERS LOST POWER IN LEBANON AND BERKS COUNTIES AS A RESULT OF THE STORMS.

2004 Weather Events/Features:● Lebanon County F3 Tornado (July 14, 2004) ● Lancaster County F1 Tornado (July 27, 2004) ● Severe Weather Outbreak of August 4, 2004 (Multiple Tornadoes in Harrisburg Area) ● Hurricane Ivan (Flooding and record rainfall) ● Hurricane Jeanne Rainfall (Rainfall and Flooding in the Harrisburg Area)

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