USA.com / Pennsylvania / Chester County / Valley Forge, PA / 19481 / Natural Disasters and Weather Extremes
19481 Zip Code Natural Disasters and Weather Extremes
Hot Rankings
The chance of earthquake damage in 19481 Zip Code is about the same as Pennsylvania average and is much lower than the national average. The risk of tornado damage in 19481 Zip Code is higher than Pennsylvania average and is higher than the national average.
Earthquake Index, #410
| 19481 Zip Code | 0.28 |
| 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
| 19481 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, #163
| 19481 Zip Code | 155.14 |
| 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 7,245 other weather extremes events within 50 miles of 19481 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: | 7 | Cold: | 65 | Dense Fog: | 62 | Drought: | 146 |
| Dust Storm: | 0 | Flood: | 1,088 | Hail: | 743 | Heat: | 246 | Heavy Snow: | 134 |
| High Surf: | 26 | Hurricane: | 0 | Ice Storm: | 13 | Landslide: | 0 | Strong Wind: | 337 |
| Thunderstorm Winds: | 2,832 | Tropical Storm: | 5 | Wildfire: | 36 | Winter Storm: | 100 | Winter Weather: | 206 |
| Other: | 1,199 | ||||||||
Volcanos Nearby
No volcano is found in or near 19481 Zip Code.
Historical Earthquake Events
A total of 4 historical earthquake events that had recorded magnitudes of 3.5 or above found in or near 19481 Zip Code.
| Distance (miles) | Date | Magnitude | Depth (km) | Latitude | Longitude |
| 48.6 | 1984-04-23 | 4.4 | 5 | 39.92 | -76.36 |
| 26.1 | 1973-02-28 | 3.8 | 14 | 39.72 | -75.44 |
| 20.0 | 1980-03-11 | 3.7 | 5 | 40.16 | -75.1 |
| 17.6 | 1980-03-05 | 3.5 | 5 | 40.19 | -75.16 |
Historical Tornado Events
A total of 56 historical tornado events that had recorded magnitude of 2 or above found in or near 19481 Zip Code.
| Distance (miles) | Date | Magnitude | Start Lat/Log | End Lat/Log | Length | Width | Fatalities | Injuries | Property Damage | Crop Damage | Affected County |
| 7.2 | 1955-03-22 | 3 | 39°58'N / 75°37'W | 40°03'N / 75°28'W | 9.60 Miles | 600 Yards | 1 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Chester |
| 7.2 | 1961-06-08 | 2 | 40°12'N / 75°27'W | 1.00 Mile | 200 Yards | 0 | 1 | 25K | 0 | Montgomery | |
| 10.3 | 1975-04-03 | 2 | 40°02'N / 75°40'W | 40°05'N / 75°39'W | 3.00 Miles | 20 Yards | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Chester |
| 12.4 | 1973-06-29 | 2 | 39°56'N / 75°29'W | 39°54'N / 75°27'W | 1.90 Miles | 63 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Delaware |
| 13.6 | 1960-06-24 | 2 | 40°12'N / 75°15'W | 0.80 Mile | 27 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Montgomery | |
| 15.2 | 1956-08-13 | 2 | 40°15'N / 75°18'W | 40°16'N / 75°15'W | 1.30 Miles | 333 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Montgomery |
| 18.4 | 1960-06-24 | 2 | 40°24'N / 75°37'W | 40°19'N / 75°28'W | 9.40 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Berks |
| 19.7 | 1992-07-17 | 2 | 39°54'N / 75°47'W | 39°55'N / 75°43'W | 4.00 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Chester |
| 20.5 | 1989-06-09 | 2 | 39°57'N / 75°09'W | 39°57'N / 75°07'W | 0.50 Mile | 50 Yards | 0 | 1 | 25K | 0 | Philadelphia |
| 21.5 | 1958-07-14 | 2 | 39°56'N / 75°08'W | 39°56'N / 75°07'W | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Philadelphia | ||
| 21.7 | 1979-09-05 | 2 | 39°47'N / 75°29'W | 2.50 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 5 | 250K | 0 | New Castle | |
| 22.0 | 1989-06-09 | 2 | 39°57'N / 75°07'W | 39°57'N / 75°05'W | 1.50 Miles | 50 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Camden |
| 22.5 | 1990-10-18 | 2 | 39°47'N / 75°35'W | 1.00 Mile | 430 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | New Castle | |
| 24.4 | 1989-06-09 | 2 | 39°47'N / 75°41'W | 2.00 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 1 | 2.5M | 0 | New Castle | |
| 24.7 | 1979-09-05 | 2 | 40°21'N / 75°48'W | 1.00 Mile | 30 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Berks | |
| 25.3 | 1998-06-01 | 2 | 40°07'N / 75°02'W | 40°05'N / 74°57'W | 5.60 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 0 | 1.8M | 0 | Philadelphia |
| Brief Description: A tornado ripped through Upper and Lower Moreland Townships as well as extreme northeast Philadelphia during the early morning of June 1st. The tornado was rated as an F1 (A weak tornado on the Fujita Scale) in Montgomery County and intensified into an F2 (or strong tornado on the Fujita Scale) within Philadelphia. The worst damage occurred within the unoccupied Byberry Industrial Park as the tornado reached its strongest intensity. Thirty-five commercial buildings were damaged, nine severely. Damage outside of the industrial park was mainly confined to downed trees. About ten homes were damaged by fallen trees. The damage within Philadelphia was discontinuous suggesting the tornado was not on the ground for its entire lifetime across the city. Damage was estimated at $1.8 million dollars. Because the buildings were unoccupied, no injuries occurred. The tornado moved into the city from Lower Moreland Township in the Bustleton/Lumar Park area around 120 a.m. EDT. Trees were split and knocked down. The tornado intensified into a strong one (F2 on the Fujita Scale) as it crossed into the Byberry Industrial Park. The worst damage was done in the area around Byberry Road, McNulty Road, Roosevelt Boulevard and Southampton Road. Five ton air conditioning units were tossed. Of the 35 commercial buildings damaged, nine were severely damaged and declared "imminently dangerous". Slabs of the roof were tossed 200 yards. Some buildings lost entire sides, had buckled steel beams, shattered windows and crushed equipment. The tornado plucked utility poles from the ground. About 20 poles were knocked over. Five teams of tree service personnel were overwhelmed. Damage south of the industrial park became sporadic as the tornado turned toward the southeast. It lifted just before the Bucks County border near Woodhaven Road just to the southeast of the Franklin Mills Mall. Its path length was about 5.6 miles and path width about 200 yards. PECO Energy reported 34,000 customers in Philadelphia lost power. Five thousand still did not have power the evening of the 1st. It was the worst non-winter storm in PECO Energy's 50 year history and the fourth worst overall. According to their lightning detection system, there were 7,000 cloud to ground lightning strikes in their service area as this line of thunderstorms moved through. | |||||||||||
| 25.6 | 1958-07-14 | 2 | 39°56'N / 75°07'W | 39°58'N / 74°56'W | 9.80 Miles | 27 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Philadelphia |
| 25.9 | 1960-07-14 | 2 | 39°43'N / 75°26'W | 39°44'N / 75°23'W | 2.30 Miles | 450 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Salem |
| 26.2 | 1988-08-17 | 2 | 39°43'N / 75°28'W | 1.50 Miles | 400 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Salem | |
| 26.3 | 1973-06-29 | 2 | 40°14'N / 75°02'W | 40°15'N / 74°59'W | 1.90 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Bucks |
| 26.4 | 1960-07-14 | 2 | 39°44'N / 75°23'W | 39°46'N / 75°08'W | 13.30 Miles | 450 Yards | 0 | 6 | 0K | 0 | Gloucester |
| 26.5 | 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 |
| 26.6 | 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 |
| 26.7 | 1979-09-05 | 2 | 39°46'N / 75°44'W | 39°48'N / 75°48'W | 4.10 Miles | 63 Yards | 1 | 4 | 2.5M | 0 | Chester |
| 27.6 | 2004-09-28 | 2 | 39°41'N / 75°36'W | 39°44'N / 75°35'W | 5.00 Miles | 150 Yards | 0 | 0 | 1.0M | 0 | New Castle |
| Brief Description: An F2 (on the Fujita scale) tornado touched down in northern New Castle County with maximum winds estimated at 130 mph. The path length was 5.0 miles long with a maximum path width of 150 yards. The tornado touched down near and was observed at the New Castle County Airport. The northern end of the tornado track was in Elsmere. Significant damage did occur along the path of this tornado, particularly to some of the planes at the airport and industrial buildings near the airport. In addition, five persons were injured. The tornado damaged five C-130 cargo planes at the New Castle County Airport, caused thousands of pounds of jet fuel to spill and damaged hangers. It tore through the Newport Industrial Park along Delaware State Route 141. It tossed long strips of metal siding into the air and onto roads. Windows were shattered, walls peeled away and trees and light poles were snapped. The roof and whole side of the United Electric Supply building was torn away. Delaware State Route 141 and some nearby side streets were closed. Gas service was shut off to prevent explosions. On Bellecor Drive, a self-storage facility suffered major damage. One man at the business was injured after he was trapped under a fallen refrigerator. Three people were injured at the airport itself. A man in Elsmere was hit by a fallen tree limb. The tornado also caused damaged to homes in Wilmington Manor and Chelsea Estates near the airport. In Elsmere, the tornado tore shingles and vent covers from the Corpus Christi Elementary School. The ensuing heavy rain damaged the gymnasium. In the Red Clay Consolidated School District, the tornado also caused minor damage to the Richardson Park Elementary School. | |||||||||||
| 28.1 | 1992-08-28 | 2 | 39°57'N / 75°58'W | 2.00 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 3 | 250K | 0 | Chester | |
| 28.2 | 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 |
| 28.6 | 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 |
| 28.6 | 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 |
| 28.8 | 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 |
| 28.8 | 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 |
| 29.3 | 1979-10-05 | 2 | 40°21'N / 75°55'W | 1.00 Mile | 40 Yards | 0 | 1 | 25K | 0 | Berks | |
| 30.1 | 1961-04-28 | 3 | 39°40'N / 75°34'W | 0.30 Mile | 30 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | New Castle | |
| 32.2 | 1962-05-24 | 2 | 40°19'N / 74°57'W | 40°18'N / 74°54'W | 1.90 Miles | 67 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Bucks |
| 32.3 | 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. | |||||||||||
| 32.4 | 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 |
| 34.1 | 1950-11-04 | 3 | 40°12'N / 76°07'W | 40°16'N / 76°04'W | 4.70 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 1 | 250K | 0 | Lancaster |
| 34.8 | 1974-08-17 | 2 | 39°57'N / 76°06'W | 0.70 Mile | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Lancaster | |
| 36.2 | 1998-05-31 | 2 | 39°54'N / 76°10'W | 39°55'N / 76°03'W | 7.00 Miles | 880 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Lancaster |
| Brief Description: The tornado struck about 12:30am EDT in the early morning hours of Monday, June 1st. Initial touchdown was just south of Quarryville. The tornado traveled east along a 7 mile path to Ninepoints. Damage was most extensive in the Ninepoints area and was rated an F2 intensity (112 to 157 mph). The width of the F2 damage was probably 100 to 200 yards wide with lesser damage extending out to 1/2 mile. At least 6 homes had significant damage. One home had the roof and second floor removed. Several barns were damaged and at least one destroyed. Trees were blown down on a number of homes. One person reported sighting the tornado. Only one minor injury was reported. | |||||||||||
| 36.4 | 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 |
| 38.6 | 1988-08-17 | 2 | 40°17'N / 74°47'W | 40°13'N / 74°45'W | 4.50 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | Mercer |
| 39.3 | 1981-05-15 | 2 | 39°36'N / 75°50'W | 1.50 Miles | 27 Yards | 0 | 2 | 2.5M | 0 | Cecil | |
| 39.5 | 2002-05-02 | 2 | 39°39'N / 76°00'W | 39°42'N / 75°57'W | 4.50 Miles | 160 Yards | 0 | 0 | 330K | 0 | Cecil |
| Brief Description: The first F2 (on the Fujita Scale) tornado in 21 years struck Cecil County during the late afternoon of the 2nd. About 21 homes, silos, sheds and barns sustained moderate to extensive damage. One family was displaced as their house was condemned because of the wind damage. Many large trees and utility poles were splintered, uprooted or snapped. Marble size hail was also reported. No serious injuries were reported. Damage was estimated at $330,000. The path length was 4.5 miles. The maximum path width was 160 yards. The tornado initially touched down just to the west of England Creamery Road about 5 miles southeast of Rising Sun at 538 p.m. EDT. The tornado's intensity was F0 to F1 as it moved across England Creamery and Trinity Church Roads. One house on Trinity Church Road had its windows broken, its porch splintered and its roof damaged. A second house on the road had its porch torn away and shingles ripped from the roof. The homeowner's barn and its content was destroyed. Their lawn chairs and hedge trimmers were found half a mile away. One of the two points that the tornado reached its maximum intensity of F2 occurred when it moved through the Tailwind Estates on Steeplechase Lane. Three homes were heavily damaged. One house (the condemned one) had half its roof torn away and its chimney crash through its deck. The homeowner's SUV vehicle was displaced 25 feet and a shed on the block was tossed over 100 yards. The tornado's intensity again peaked at F2 as it moved through a wooded area north of Old Elm Road and west of Blue Ball Road. Extensive tree damage occurred. The second floor of a new home under construction in the area also collapsed. During the last half mile of its existence, the tornado weakened and did not remain on the ground the entire time. It dissipated around the intersection of Fairview Road and Maryland State Route 273 at 545 p.m. EDT. | |||||||||||
| 39.9 | 1962-05-24 | 2 | 40°18'N / 74°54'W | 40°17'N / 74°37'W | 14.70 Miles | 300 Yards | 0 | 1 | 250K | 0 | Mercer |
| 41.8 | 1958-06-13 | 2 | 40°09'N / 74°42'W | 40°10'N / 74°40'W | 0 | 1 | 250K | 0 | Burlington | ||
| 43.2 | 1958-06-13 | 2 | 40°10'N / 74°40'W | 40°11'N / 74°39'W | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Mercer | ||
| 43.3 | 1975-07-13 | 2 | 39°30'N / 75°13'W | 1.50 Miles | 77 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25.0M | 0 | Cumberland | |
| 45.7 | 1990-10-18 | 3 | 40°29'N / 74°46'W | 0.50 Mile | 100 Yards | 0 | 8 | 2.5M | 0 | Somerset | |
| 46.4 | 1975-10-11 | 2 | 40°17'N / 76°29'W | 40°10'N / 76°11'W | 17.50 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | Lebanon |
| 46.8 | 1954-07-01 | 2 | 39°27'N / 75°44'W | 1.00 Mile | 50 Yards | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | New Castle | |
| 46.9 | 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 |
| 47.1 | 1973-02-02 | 2 | 40°36'N / 74°52'W | 0.30 Mile | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Hunterdon | |
| 47.6 | 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 |
| 48.2 | 1961-07-29 | 2 | 39°59'N / 76°30'W | 40°02'N / 76°15'W | 13.40 Miles | 500 Yards | 0 | 2 | 2.5M | 0 | Lancaster |
| 48.3 | 1990-05-10 | 2 | 39°29'N / 75°02'W | 0.50 Mile | 200 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Cumberland | |
| 48.7 | 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. | |||||||||||
* 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.