USA.com / Pennsylvania / Luzerne County / Rock Glen, PA / 18246 / Natural Disasters and Weather Extremes
18246 Zip Code Natural Disasters and Weather Extremes
Hot Rankings
The chance of earthquake damage in 18246 Zip Code is about the same as Pennsylvania average and is much lower than the national average. The risk of tornado damage in 18246 Zip Code is about the same as Pennsylvania average and is lower than the national average.
Earthquake Index, #877
| 18246 Zip Code | 0.08 |
| Pennsylvania | 0.17 |
| U.S. | 1.81 |
The earthquake index value is calculated based on historical earthquake events data using USA.com algorithms. It is an indicator of the earthquake level in a region. A higher earthquake index value means a higher chance of an earthquake.
Volcano Index, #1
| 18246 Zip Code | 0.0000 |
| Pennsylvania | 0.0000 |
| U.S. | 0.0023 |
The volcano index value is calculated based on the currently known volcanoes using USA.com algorithms. It is an indicator of the possibility of a region being affected by a possible volcano eruption. A higher volcano index value means a higher chance of being affected.
Tornado Index, #1153
| 18246 Zip Code | 107.53 |
| Pennsylvania | 109.77 |
| U.S. | 136.45 |
The tornado index value is calculated based on historical tornado events data using USA.com algorithms. It is an indicator of the tornado level in a region. A higher tornado index value means a higher chance of tornado events.
Other Weather Extremes Events
A total of 4,083 other weather extremes events within 50 miles of 18246 Zip Code were recorded from 1950 to 2010. The following is a break down of these events:
| Type | Count | Type | Count | Type | Count | Type | Count | Type | Count |
| Avalanche: | 0 | Blizzard: | 3 | Cold: | 42 | Dense Fog: | 22 | Drought: | 62 |
| Dust Storm: | 0 | Flood: | 551 | Hail: | 529 | Heat: | 108 | Heavy Snow: | 112 |
| High Surf: | 0 | Hurricane: | 0 | Ice Storm: | 18 | Landslide: | 1 | Strong Wind: | 150 |
| Thunderstorm Winds: | 1,876 | Tropical Storm: | 1 | Wildfire: | 24 | Winter Storm: | 84 | Winter Weather: | 92 |
| Other: | 408 | ||||||||
Volcanos Nearby
No volcano is found in or near 18246 Zip Code.
Historical Earthquake Events
No historical earthquake events that had recorded magnitudes of 3.5 or above found in or near 18246 Zip Code.
No historical earthquake events found in or near 18246 Zip Code.
Historical Tornado Events
A total of 40 historical tornado events that had recorded magnitude of 2 or above found in or near 18246 Zip Code.
| Distance (miles) | Date | Magnitude | Start Lat/Log | End Lat/Log | Length | Width | Fatalities | Injuries | Property Damage | Crop Damage | Affected County |
| 6.9 | 1981-07-26 | 2 | 40°52'N / 76°15'W | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Schuylkill | |||
| 11.4 | 1992-07-15 | 2 | 40°53'N / 76°00'W | 1.50 Miles | 50 Yards | 0 | 2 | 2.5M | 0 | Schuylkill | |
| 11.9 | 1968-09-10 | 2 | 40°58'N / 75°58'W | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Luzerne | |||
| 18.2 | 2006-12-01 | 2 | 41°04'N / 76°04'W | 41°10'N / 75°46'W | 20.00 Miles | 150 Yards | 0 | 5 | 1.0M | 0K | Luzerne |
| Brief Description: EVENT NARRATIVE: At 4:52 pm EST, Friday, December 1st, a tornado touched down near Hobbie in Luzerne County. The tornado tracked about 20 miles east northeast through Dorrance, Mountaintop, and Fairview Heights to Bear Creek where it lifted. Most of the damage was F1 intensity with F2 intensity reached in Fairview Heights near route 309. A grocery store in Fairview heights had its windows blown out which injured 5 people. There was significant roof damage as well. An 8000 pound air conditioning unit was toppled on the roof of this grocery store. A roof was lifted off of a well built home approximately a quarter mile to the east northeast of the grocery store. Thousands of trees were blown down and uprooted along the path of this tornado. Shingle and roof damage was common along the entire path of this tornado too. Over 100 homes sustained at least minor damage. Two trailer homes and a construction trailer were completely destroyed. There was also minor damage to a high school in Fairview Heights. A roof was blown off the fire department in Dorrance. EPISODE NARRATIVE: A persistent ridge of high pressure brought unseasonably mild temperatures to the northeast U.S. A sharp cold front formed a line of strong to severe thunderstorms which blew through Pennsylvania Friday afternoon. Winds from these thunderstorms knocked down numerous trees and power lines. Along with the severe thunderstorms, three tornadoes touched down in northeast Pennsylvania, the first occurrence of tornado touch downs in Pennsylvania during the month of December on record. | |||||||||||
| 20.7 | 1982-04-17 | 2 | 41°12'N / 76°24'W | 41°15'N / 76°21'W | 4.00 Miles | 30 Yards | 0 | 1 | 25K | 0 | Columbia |
| 22.6 | 1984-07-06 | 2 | 41°17'N / 76°09'W | 0.30 Mile | 300 Yards | 0 | 12 | 250K | 0 | Luzerne | |
| 30.8 | 1953-09-12 | 2 | 40°40'N / 76°41'W | 40°39'N / 76°35'W | 4.70 Miles | 50 Yards | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Northumberland |
| 31.4 | 1978-08-28 | 2 | 40°51'N / 76°48'W | 40°52'N / 76°46'W | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Northumberland | ||
| 33.4 | 1981-04-29 | 2 | 40°49'N / 75°35'W | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Carbon | |||
| 33.9 | 1978-08-28 | 2 | 40°53'N / 76°52'W | 40°51'N / 76°48'W | 3.30 Miles | 50 Yards | 0 | 1 | 25K | 0 | Snyder |
| 35.4 | 1960-07-04 | 2 | 41°20'N / 75°44'W | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Luzerne | |||
| 35.8 | 1981-07-26 | 3 | 40°46'N / 75°35'W | 40°48'N / 75°31'W | 3.30 Miles | 50 Yards | 0 | 2 | 250K | 0 | Northampton |
| 36.2 | 1996-11-08 | 2 | 40°48'N / 75°32'W | 40°48'N / 75°32'W | 2.00 Miles | 67 Yards | 0 | 1 | 250K | 0 | Northampton |
| Brief Description: A tornado touched down in northwestern Northampton County near Danielsville at about 340 pm EST. It remained on the ground for about two miles and lifted prior to moving over the Blue Mountain Ridge which is the dividing line between Northampton and Monroe Counties. One person was injured and two families were made homeless after their homes were destroyed. About a dozen homes were damaged, two were destroyed, three vehicles were damaged or destroyed and significant roof damage occcurred to the Salem United Methodist Church. Damage estimates were around $250,000. The tornado was rated an F2 (or strong tornado with wind estimates between 113 and 157 mph) on the Fujita Scale. Lehigh Township was declared an emergency area. The tornado touched down near the Blue Mountain Road just south of Pennsylvania State Route 946. One of the first buildings in its path was the Salem United Methodist Church which lost part of its roof and a vehicle near the church was destroyed. It proceeded eastnortheast through Danielsville. An elderly woman was injured when the tornado struck the mobile home she was in and pushed it off its foundation. Another unoccupied 70 foot by 14 foot mobile home was tossed into a ditch 50 feet away. The roof of another house was found 100 feet downwind. A playhouse and a metal school bus shelter were deposited in the trees. Numerous trees were either snapped or damaged, but the majority of damage to other homes along the periphery of the tornado's path was limited to windows and chimneys. Prior to the tornado's touch down, the same parent thunderstorm did produce some damaging winds in Treichlers along Long Lane Road. | |||||||||||
| 37.4 | 1985-05-31 | 3 | 41°09'N / 76°55'W | 41°07'N / 76°50'W | 4.00 Miles | 2640 Yards | 2 | 20 | 25.0M | 0 | Northumberland |
| 38.1 | 1950-07-05 | 2 | 40°36'N / 76°45'W | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Dauphin | |||
| 38.1 | 1974-04-14 | 2 | 41°25'N / 76°33'W | 41°32'N / 76°21'W | 12.80 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Sullivan |
| 38.2 | 1998-05-31 | 3 | 40°29'N / 75°54'W | 40°29'N / 75°44'W | 8.30 Miles | 120 Yards | 0 | 7 | 1.4M | 0 | Berks |
| Brief Description: A violent thunderstorm produced a swath of wind damage across the northern half of Berks County and included an eight mile long strong F3 (Fujita Scale) Tornado that devastated the borough of Lyons. Seven persons were injured (five within Lyons). About 40 homes were either destroyed or damaged in Lyons, Maiden Creek, Maxatawny and Richmond Townships. Preliminary damage estimates for the entire event were placed at $1.5 million dollars. About 10,250 homes and businesses lost power. The last homes to come back on line were in Lyons on June 3rd. This was the first tornado of that strength to occur in Southeast Pennsylvania and the Southern Poconos since the Limerick Tornado on July 27, 1994 and the first F3 tornado to occur within Berks County since November 4, 1950. Even before the tornado formed, the parent thunderstorm was producing wind damage in western Berks County. Wind damage started in Centre Township as several trailers were overturned in Donny Acres. In Leesport, the severe thunderstorm ripped the entire roof off one home. The couple in the house was temporarily trapped after the porch roof they use to access the stairs collapsed. The thunderstorm also ripped the roof and some bricks off a detached garage. Other houses and buildings on East Main Street also had some minor wind damage. Debris from a knitting company's air conditioning unit pelted a neighborhood. Wind damage also occurred in Ontelaunee Tonship along Pennsylvania State Route 61. The tornado made its initial touchdown just to the east of Lake Ontelaunee in Maiden Creek Township around 9 p.m. EDT and moved almost due east across Richmond Township into the borough of Lyons (about 910 p.m. EDT), across southern Maxatawny Township and lifted in northern Rockland Township and 915 p.m. EDT. The tornado was on the ground for about 8.3 miles. Its path width was around 120 yards. The tornado destruction started near U.S. Route 222 in Maiden Creek Township as the roof was blown off one farmhouse. A vehicle was also crushed by a tree. In Maxatawny Township six homes were severely damaged. One house collapsed on Smoketown Road in the Bowers area. A second house lost its roof in the Arrowhead Development. The damage increased across Richmond Township as 10 homes or farms were destroyed or damaged. Pennsylvania State Route 662 was closed between U.S Route 222 and the Fleetwood Borough line because of downed poles and trees. Parts of U.S. Route 222 were also closed because of debris on the road. One house completely collapsed. At one farm the tornado toppled a huge silo and ripped off the roofs of another silo and the barn. At another home, the remains of a large metal storage bin rested on top of the house. Golf ball size hail also damaged two vehicles and a metal awning. The same parent thunderstorm also produced straight line wind damage farther south in Ruscombmanor Township. The worst damage occurred in the borough of Lyons. The north side of the borough was destroyed. About one quarter of the borough's 550 residents were affected by the tornado. The tornado damage within this borough led to a presidential declaration of a disaster area for Berks County. About 100 residents were sheltered. The tornado cut a two block wide path along Hunter Street just north of the Conrail Tracks. About 25 homes were heavily damaged, several collapsed. Miraculously, only five persons were injured. The last two tornado related injuries occurred in northern Rockland Township as it lifted and threw a modular home from its foundation. The two men inside were injured. The tornado then lifted. Although the tornado lifted, the parent thunderstorm still produced wind damage across eastern Berks County. Noble Street was closed in Kutztown because of downed trees and lines. Trees were also uprooted in Longswamp Township. Downed limbs and wires caused power outages in District, Greenwich, Longswamp and Rockland Townships. | |||||||||||
| 38.7 | 1970-06-18 | 3 | 40°24'N / 76°18'W | 40°24'N / 76°14'W | 1.90 Miles | 880 Yards | 1 | 5 | 2.5M | 0 | Lebanon |
| 39.7 | 1950-07-05 | 2 | 40°35'N / 75°42'W | 40°39'N / 75°28'W | 12.90 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 2 | 25K | 0 | Lehigh |
| 39.7 | 1992-07-17 | 2 | 40°24'N / 76°23'W | 1.00 Mile | 30 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Lebanon | |
| 40.9 | 1985-05-31 | 3 | 41°08'N / 76°58'W | 41°09'N / 76°55'W | 4.00 Miles | 910 Yards | 2 | 20 | 25.0M | 0 | Union |
| 41.6 | 1954-09-19 | 2 | 41°31'N / 76°40'W | 41°29'N / 76°25'W | 12.80 Miles | 50 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Sullivan |
| 41.8 | 1984-07-05 | 2 | 40°26'N / 75°49'W | 40°29'N / 75°40'W | 7.00 Miles | 300 Yards | 0 | 2 | 2.5M | 0 | Berks |
| 42.1 | 1984-07-05 | 2 | 40°27'N / 75°46'W | 40°28'N / 75°42'W | 3.00 Miles | 300 Yards | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | Berks |
| 42.6 | 1988-08-28 | 2 | 41°34'N / 76°04'W | 1.50 Miles | 60 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Wyoming | |
| 42.8 | 1984-07-05 | 2 | 40°29'N / 75°42'W | 40°29'N / 75°38'W | 3.00 Miles | 300 Yards | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | Berks |
| 43.5 | 1972-09-13 | 2 | 41°09'N / 75°24'W | 0.10 Mile | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Monroe | |
| 44.3 | 1950-11-04 | 3 | 40°16'N / 76°04'W | 40°24'N / 75°56'W | 11.20 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Berks |
| 44.4 | 1979-10-05 | 2 | 40°21'N / 75°55'W | 1.00 Mile | 40 Yards | 0 | 1 | 25K | 0 | Berks | |
| 44.5 | 1984-07-05 | 2 | 40°29'N / 75°38'W | 40°30'N / 75°35'W | 2.50 Miles | 300 Yards | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | Berks |
| 45.5 | 1984-07-05 | 2 | 40°30'N / 75°35'W | 40°31'N / 75°32'W | 2.50 Miles | 300 Yards | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | Lehigh |
| 45.7 | 1984-07-05 | 2 | 40°28'N / 75°38'W | 40°28'N / 75°35'W | 2.50 Miles | 300 Yards | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | Berks |
| 45.8 | 1966-08-16 | 2 | 41°18'N / 77°00'W | 41°18'N / 76°54'W | 4.50 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 1 | 25K | 0 | Lycoming |
| 46.0 | 1998-06-02 | 3 | 41°37'N / 76°03'W | 41°34'N / 75°48'W | 26.00 Miles | 500 Yards | 2 | 15 | 2.2M | 0 | Wyoming |
| Brief Description: The same tornadic supercell that affected southeastern Bradford county moved eastward into northern Wyoming county around 10 pm EDT. Aerial damage surveys indicate that intervals of tree damage occurred from Meshoppen eastward to near Valentine Hill on the border of Lemon township. This damage was primarily in the form of twisted off tree sections at canopy level and also some uprooted trees on hilltop areas. Between 1010 and 1015 pm, the tornado lowered again down the east side of Valentine Hill, skipped across the far north end of Stevens Lake, and carved a path over a small hill just west of Lake Carey. Several residences along this path had heavy tree damage and minor siding and roof damage to their homes. The twister then seemed to temporarily turn towards the south and cross a portion of the long axis of Lake Carey. It was here within this small vacation community that the most severe damage occurred along with loss of life. Eyewitness accounts indicate that the tornado crossed State Route 1003 (a small causeway across the short axis of the lake in an west-east orientation) at about 1020 pm. Every structure located along this narrow strip of land crossing Lake Carey either sustained substantial damage or was completely leveled. It was here where two fatalities occurred as an elderly woman and her grandson were literally sucked out of the second floor of a house and thrown into an adjacent building. Every nearby tree was snapped off, uprooted, or otherwise toppled in chaotic patterns. At that point, the tornado made a jog to the left and resumed its eastward course. It crossed over State Route 1005, which parallels the eastern end of Lake Carey, then skipped up over a small hill. Again, heavy damage was inflicted upon homes in the path of the tornado both along the east end of the lake and also going up the hill. A dozen or more small boats which were anchored along the eastern end of the lake were thrown up out of the water and onto the shoreline. One home going up the hill towards the east was reduced to only its foundation and a portion of the back wall. Massive tree damage continued to be evident with a swath of trees cut down in a narrow path going over the hill and down its eastern side towards East Lemon township. A total of 42 homes in and around Lake Carey suffered considerable damage or were totally destroyed. The character of damage in this area indicates that the tornado strengthened and reached F3 intensity. The damage path was over a third of a mile wide at times. As the tornado pushed further to the east through East Lemon township, it encountered more rugged terrain and less populated areas. Still, however, it did encounter three additional homes and heavily damaged all of them. One had its roof completely torn away and its garage flattened. Another had its back deck destroyed and all of the back windows blown out. Swaths of tree damage were interspersed amongst these houses. Fortunately, two of the homes were unoccupied at the time with only one other minor injury associated with the storm in East Lemon township. The tornado was rated as F2 intensity at this point with damage widths varying from 250 to 400 yards. As the cell approached Factoryville and the Lackawanna county line after 1035 pm EDT, it weakened a bit with the tornado skipping over hilltop sections for the most part. Mostly tree damage was evident from aerial surveys between Route 92 and Lake Sheridan. The tornado's intensity had decreased to F1 along this segment of its path with the width of damage narrowing to under 100 yards in spots. In total, county emergency management officials estimated that in excess of 2 million dollars worth of damage was incurred with over 50 homes destroyed or heavily damaged. Fifteen injuries were directly tied to the tornado along with the two deaths mentioned earlier. M35PH, F72PH For the second time in three days, significant severe weather including tornadoes affected northeastern Pennsylvania. The primary focusing mechanisms were a strong mid level shortwave and surface cold front that approached the region during the evening of the 2nd. Strongly veering wind profiles that increased with height contributed significantly to the development of tornadic supercells. Two long tracked supercells produced tornadic damage across northeastern Pennsylvania during this event. The first tornado touched down in southwestern Susquehanna county in Auburn towship just after 9 pm EDT. This tornado tracked along a 12 mile path through Springville and Lathrop townships. Several mobile homes were damaged or destroyed and the roof of a small storage building was torn away. The twister also cut down scores of trees along the way. Its intensity was rated as F1. Fortunately, no injuries resulted. The other twister tracked along approximately a 35 mile path from extreme southeastern Bradford county across the length of northern Wyoming county and into northwestern Lackawanna county before weakening. The most devastation occurred in the small vacation community of Lake Carey in Wyoming county. The tornado strengthened to F3 intensity at Lake Carey and killed two people and injured a total of fifteen. More than 40 homes immediately surrounding the lake were either heavily damaged or destroyed. Additional residences were damaged or leveled further to the east through East Lemon township in northern Wyoming county. Isolated structural damage and considerable tree damage was the rule from Terry township in Bradford county eastward to just west of Lake Carey and also from East Lemon township eastward to near Lackawanna State Park where the tornado finally dissipated. In all, over 50 homes were damaged or destroyed and total damage estimates in the three county area exceeded three million dollars. Other smaller scale bow echo complexes produced widespread wind damage in the form of downed trees and power lines primarily across the northern tier counties and sections of the Poconos. Portions of Bradford, Susquehanna, and Wayne counties were without power for most of the night as electrical crews could not keep up with reports of downed wires. The most severely damaged areas including the Lake Carey vicinity needed assistance from the National Gaurd to clean up excess debris and help with repairs. Much of northeastern Pennsylvania qualified for federal disaster assistance. | |||||||||||
| 46.0 | 1979-10-05 | 2 | 40°54'N / 75°19'W | 0.30 Mile | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Monroe | |
| 46.8 | 1976-07-29 | 3 | 41°12'N / 77°16'W | 41°14'N / 76°47'W | 25.00 Miles | 150 Yards | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | Lycoming |
| 46.8 | 1979-09-05 | 2 | 40°21'N / 75°48'W | 1.00 Mile | 30 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Berks | |
| 47.0 | 1985-05-31 | 3 | 41°11'N / 77°09'W | 41°08'N / 76°58'W | 11.00 Miles | 910 Yards | 2 | 20 | 25.0M | 0 | Lycoming |
| 47.1 | 1984-07-05 | 2 | 40°28'N / 75°35'W | 40°29'N / 75°32'W | 2.50 Miles | 300 Yards | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | Lehigh |
| 49.7 | 1957-11-19 | 2 | 40°18'N / 76°35'W | 2.00 Miles | 13 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Lebanon | |
* The information on this page is based on the global volcano database, the U.S. earthquake database of 1638-1985, and the U.S. Tornado and Weather Extremes database of 1950-2010.