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West Salisbury, PA Natural Disasters and Weather Extremes
Hot Rankings
The chance of earthquake damage in West Salisbury is about the same as Pennsylvania average and is much lower than the national average. The risk of tornado damage in West Salisbury is lower than Pennsylvania average and is lower than the national average.
Earthquake Index, #1568
| West Salisbury, PA | 0.01 |
| 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
| West Salisbury, PA | 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, #1675
| West Salisbury, PA | 88.78 |
| 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 2,809 other weather extremes events within 50 miles of West Salisbury, PA 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: | 2 | Cold: | 17 | Dense Fog: | 0 | Drought: | 7 |
| Dust Storm: | 0 | Flood: | 586 | Hail: | 446 | Heat: | 2 | Heavy Snow: | 69 |
| High Surf: | 0 | Hurricane: | 0 | Ice Storm: | 9 | Landslide: | 0 | Strong Wind: | 39 |
| Thunderstorm Winds: | 1,482 | Tropical Storm: | 1 | Wildfire: | 3 | Winter Storm: | 24 | Winter Weather: | 0 |
| Other: | 122 | ||||||||
Volcanos Nearby
No volcano is found in or near West Salisbury, PA.
Historical Earthquake Events
No historical earthquake events that had recorded magnitudes of 3.5 or above found in or near West Salisbury, PA.
No historical earthquake events found in or near West Salisbury, PA.
Historical Tornado Events
A total of 31 historical tornado events that had recorded magnitude of 2 or above found in or near West Salisbury, PA.
| Distance (miles) | Date | Magnitude | Start Lat/Log | End Lat/Log | Length | Width | Fatalities | Injuries | Property Damage | Crop Damage | Affected County |
| 3.8 | 1998-05-31 | 3 | 39°45'N / 79°05'W | 39°44'N / 78°58'W | 13.00 Miles | 880 Yards | 1 | 15 | 4.0M | 0 | Somerset |
| Brief Description: The tornado touched down just east of Mt. Davis and traveled east-southeast into downtown Salisbury. The storm then continued eastward for 8 miles ending east of the town of Pocahontas. The tornado was rated as an F2 (113 to 157 mph) through the town of Salisbury, but probably reached F3 (158 to 206 mph) intensity briefly near Pocohontas. Along the 15 mile path, damages were estimated to reach between $3 million to $4 million. The path length of the tornado was probably close to 15 miles. F0 damage (40-72 mph) was in a swath about 1/2 mile wide, with F2 damage confined to an area about 2 blocks wide in Salisbury. Near Pocohontas, a farmhouse was completely destroyed indicating winds of F3 intensity (158 to 206 mph) in an area about 50 yards wide. Fifteen people were injured from the tornado. One person, a 13 year old female in a van, lost her life when a tree fell onto the vehicle. 150 people were sheltered overnight Sunday. A 51-year old male and 15-year old female died from carbon monoxide poisoning when a portable generator malfunctioned 3 days after the event. The tornado struck downtown Salisbury around 8:50pm. Ten to fifteen businesses were significantly damaged. Siding and parts of roofs were removed from a number of homes, and part of a roof was removed from a church. The roof was completely ripped off of a furniture factory. Several tractor trailers at the factory were overturned. F13VE | |||||||||||
| 4.7 | 1998-06-02 | 2 | 39°51'N / 79°14'W | 39°46'N / 79°04'W | 15.00 Miles | 880 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Somerset |
| Brief Description: This F2 tornado was the first of two tornadoes to cross southern Somerset County on the evening of June 2. It would cross the path of the May 31st tornado that struck Salisbury. The tornado initially touched down about 4 miles southeast of Markleton, then tracked southeast for 12 miles across the Boynton area and ended in Pocahontas crossing the May 31st track about 6 miles east of Salisbury. The town of Boynton was hard hit, but most of the remaining damage in Pennsylvania was to trees. A carpentry shop near Pocahontas that had been destroyed by the May 31st tornado on Sunday was already being rebuilt by Amish farmers when the framing was blown over by this tornado. There were no deaths or injuries. See additional details in the Seven Springs to Frostburg tornado that paralleled the track of this storm just two hours later. | |||||||||||
| 8.1 | 1998-06-02 | 2 | 39°44'N / 78°58'W | 39°42'N / 78°56'W | 2.50 Miles | 700 Yards | 0 | 0 | 500K | 0 | Garrett |
| Brief Description: An F2 tornado passed through the town of Finzel in extreme northeast Garrett County. Several buildings were destroyed, including a small house and cinder-block garage. This tornado actually began in extreme eastern Fayette County, PA and was on the ground for 33 miles before ending in in Allegany County, MD. | |||||||||||
| 10.5 | 1998-06-02 | 3 | 40°03'N / 79°13'W | 39°45'N / 79°05'W | 26.00 Miles | 1760 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Somerset |
| Brief Description: The second tornado of the evening, and the third to strike Somerset County in 3 days, this F3 was by far the longest and strongest of the trio. The storm created a path of damage 33 or more miles long, from Fayette County southeast across southern Somerset County into Maryland. The tornado crossed into Somerset County just southwest of the Seven Springs resort, tracked 26 miles across the county to the Maryland state line, 5 miles southeast of Salisbury. From there, the tornado continued southeast for more than 5 miles to Frostburg, Maryland. It, too, would cross the path of the May 31st storm, just 3 miles east of Salisbury. In some locations, the tornado was up to one mile wide. Damage from this tornado was rated at F3 on the fujita scale, with winds of 158 to 206 mph. Many farms were completely destroyed as this tornado moved through generally rural areas in southern Somerset County. A family in Laurel Falls near Summit Mills and St. Paul took shelter in a basement corner behind a television set. As the twister passed, they looked up to find all three stories of their house were gone, along with eight rows of foundation blocks. A battery operated clock found the next morning had stopped at 9:38 p.m. A neighbor told of losing electricity, then getting a phone call from his brother to warn him. He and his family took shelter in a hall closet because they had no basement. They told of hearing a buzzing noise like a giant bee's nest. Another neighbor found her mobile home flipped on its roof after taking shelter at her son's house. When the first tornado of the evening missed a Laurel Falls family mobile home, they proceeded to a neighbor's home. The second storm blew the trailer off its foundation. Residents of Boynton were cleaning up trees with chainsaws and front end loaders from the first tornado around 7:30pm when firefighters came by and told them to get back inside because another tornado was on its way. The second tornado broke all the windows from one house, ripped the roof off another and a barn. One person told of seeking shelter from rain in a shed when the first tornado passed, then going to the home basement when the second came through, mentioning that she was unable to pull the basement door shut behind her. The shed disappeared during the second storm. Estimated damage from the Tuesday evening tornadoes included 30 to 40 properties, including permanent and seasonal residences and farms. There were no deaths or injuries from this severe tornado. However, over 100 head of cattle were killed in one barn alone, which was completely destroyed. Many other farms lost tens of cattle and other livestock. | |||||||||||
| 12.0 | 1969-07-05 | 2 | 39°40'N / 78°54'W | 0.50 Mile | 200 Yards | 0 | 1 | 250K | 0 | Allegany | |
| 12.6 | 1998-06-02 | 4 | 39°40'N / 78°58'W | 39°38'N / 78°50'W | 8.00 Miles | 250 Yards | 0 | 5 | 5.0M | 250K | Allegany |
| Brief Description: The combination of an upper-level disturbance, increasing atmospheric shear, and ample instability set the stage for a major severe weather episode across the north half of Maryland during the late afternoon and evening. The episode was highlighted by supercell thunderstorms which produced three tornadoes, numerous instances of large hail, and several downbursts. The most substantial event was a strong-to-violent tornado which caused excessive damage in western Allegany Co. The multi-vortex twister had estimated wind speeds of 210 mph - the highest in recorded Maryland history - when it ravaged a neighborhood of well-constructed single-family homes along a local plateau just north of Frostburg. The tornado was on the ground for an amazing 33 miles, beginning in Somerset Co, Pennsylvania before crossing northeastern Garrett Co Maryland on its way to Allegany Co. The parent supercell tracked over 200 miles. After descending Big Savage Mountain, the twister produced a swath of destruction across a neighborhood just west of Frostburg. At least eight homes were destroyed and dozens others were damaged. Several cars were damaged, and some were totalled. One two-story home was obliterated. Left in the wake was the foundation and some remnant plywood. The residents of the home - a woman and two children - received ample warning and rode out the storm to safety in the basement. Advance warning likely saved several lives and reduced casualties; in all, only 5 area residents sustained minor injuries. The tornado continued through Eckhart Mines and Clarysville, causing further damage and destruction to homes and other property. It then continued through undeveloped areas, then passed across Dans Mountain before damaging a few more residences along state route 53 just north of Cresaptown. The twister lifted at that point, but the parent thunderstorm continued producing damage into eastern West Virginia. In all, emergency management officials reported 29 homes destroyed and 125 damaged, with nearly half of the surviving homes receiving moderate to major levels of damage. Initial dollar estimates ranged from $4.5 to $5 million. Hundreds, perhaps thousands, of trees in forested and developed areas were snapped or uprooted. The supercell was so powerful that Frostburg area residents' papers, including personal checks and one high school diploma - were found over 50 miles downstream in the northern Shenandoah Valley region of Virginia. The "Frostburg Tornado" was not the only twister to affect the county. The area had been on high alert since early evening - tornado warnings had been issued two other times, and funnel clouds were observed by several witnesses prior to sunset. One of the funnels touched down not too far from where the Frostburg Tornado entered the county - along the west side of Big Savage Mountain nearly 2 hours earlier. The funnel lifted while over Frostburg and nearby communities, and continued through Cumberland before touching down again on Irons Mountain 2-3 miles southeast of the city. In each instance, damage was limited to forested areas along the ridges. Tornadoes were just a portion of the severe weather to affect northern Maryland. The other major player was hail, with dozens of occurrences associated with each mini-supercell. The strongest cells produced hailstones ranging from 1.75" to 2.50" in diameter; the strong updrafts in each storm combined with steep atmospheric lapse rates to produce not only large hail but long-duration hail as well. Some areas experienced up to 20 minutes of hail, and many residents noted hail which covered the ground. Reported damage included some stripped siding, varying sized dings and dents, as well as shattered glass, in numerous vehicles; stripped paint from homes and vehicles, small limb and leaf debris, and likely crop damage or destruction. The main hail-producing storm affected portions of northern Montgomery, Howard, southern Carroll, southern Baltimore, and northern Prince George's and Anne Arundel Cos - all between 1800 and 1945EST. The episode concluded in Maryland with a few wind damage reports on the western shore of the Chesapeake Bay just before midnight. Winds blew out the door to the Annapolis (Anne Arundel Co) city fire department station, and knocked several large trees down in Eastport at approximately the same time. | |||||||||||
| 21.4 | 1998-06-02 | 2 | 39°40'N / 79°30'W | 39°38'N / 79°27'W | 3.00 Miles | 300 Yards | 0 | 0 | 1.0M | 0 | Garrett |
| Brief Description: An F2 tornado passed southeast through southern Fayette County PA, the northeast tip of Preston County WV, and into northwest Garrett County MD. The total length of the tornado as it passed across these three counties was 12 miles. Damage included a completely destroyed dairy barn, two completely destroyed house trailers, and at least 21 other structures heavily damaged, many with roofs partially or completely peeled off. Several cows were killed, with one cow thrown through the air over 100 yards. A clearly visible 300-yard wide, 1-mile long swath of trees which were completely sheared/uprooted was present near the Pennsylvania/West Virginia state border. One Fayette County official estimated at least two million dollars damage in lost timber alone in that county. Despite the damage, interviews with law enforcement officials, paramedics and local residents revealed no injuries occurred. | |||||||||||
| 22.9 | 1951-05-11 | 2 | 40°07'N / 79°07'W | 40°03'N / 78°59'W | 8.00 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 1 | 25K | 0 | Somerset |
| 23.2 | 1998-06-02 | 2 | 39°43'N / 79°33'W | 39°40'N / 79°30'W | 4.00 Miles | 300 Yards | 0 | 0 | 5.0M | 2.0M | Preston |
| Brief Description: An F2 tornado passed southeast through southern Fayette County PA, the northeast tip of Preston County WV, and into northwest Garrett County MD. The total length of the tornado as it passed across these three counties was 12 miles. Damage in Preston County included a completely destroyed dairy barn, two completely destroyed house trailers, and at least 21 other structures heavily damaged, many with roofs partially or completely peeled off. Several cows were killed, with one cow thrown through the air over 100 yards. A clearly visible 300-yard wide, 1-mile long swath of trees which were completely sheared/uprooted was present near the Pennsylvania/West Virginia state border. One Fayette County official estimated at least two million dollars damage in lost timber alone in that county. Despite the damage, interviews with law enforcement officials, paramedics and local residents revealed no injuries occurred. | |||||||||||
| 26.4 | 1971-07-13 | 2 | 39°42'N / 79°37'W | 39°40'N / 79°33'W | 3.80 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Fayette |
| 27.3 | 1998-06-02 | 2 | 39°45'N / 79°39'W | 39°43'N / 79°34'W | 5.00 Miles | 300 Yards | 0 | 0 | 3.0M | 2.0M | Fayette |
| Brief Description: An F2 tornado passed southeast through southern Fayette County PA, the northeast tip of Preston County WV, and into northwest Garrett County MD. The total length of the tornado as it passed across these three counties was 12 miles. Damage included a completely destroyed dairy barn, two completely destroyed house trailers, and at least 21 other structures heavily damaged, many with roofs partially or completely peeled off. Several cows were killed, with one cow thrown through the air over 100 yards. A clearly visible 300-yard wide, 1-mile long swath of trees which were completely sheared/uprooted was present near the Pennsylvania/West Virginia state border. One Fayette County official estimated at least two million dollars damage in lost timber alone in that county. Despite the damage, interviews with law enforcement officials, paramedics and local residents revealed no injuries occurred. | |||||||||||
| 28.3 | 1998-06-02 | 2 | 39°23'N / 79°03'W | 39°20'N / 78°52'W | 10.00 Miles | 150 Yards | 0 | 0 | 150K | 100K | Mineral |
| Brief Description: The combination of an upper-level disturbance, increasing atmospheric shear, and ample instability set the stage for a major severe weather episode across portions of eastern West Virginia during the late afternoon and evening. The episode was highlighted by supercell thunderstorms which produced two multi-county tornadoes and several instances of large hail. For many residents of the Potomac highlands, the storms were a watershed event; the locals believed that tornadoes "like those in the midwest and Great Plains" could never strike. The first twister, originally associated with a supercell which had produced a long (11-13 mile track) tornado in Somerset Co, Pennsylvania, re-emerged in extreme northeastern Mineral Co just east of Wagoner. The storm crossed into Hampshire Co, then passed an Allegheny Power substation before causing minor damage at some homes just north of Donaldson. Damage included a destroyed gazebo, stripped siding/trim from homes, and several uprooted or snapped trees. The tornado crossed River Mountain, causing damage primarily to forested areas. The path continued across the South Branch of the Potomac River before the tornado dissipated just outside the town of Levels. The second tornado produced significantly more property damage. Initial reports of a funnel cloud over Bloomington, Maryland (Garrett Co) became prophetic as the first touchdown occurred 5 miles southwest of Keyser. Damage increased as the storm descended the Allegheny front range (Green Mountain). A car was blown over, a garage destroyed, and several trees were snapped or uprooted. A pine tree landed on one home, another home sustained minor damage, and a nearby mobile home had its skirting blown off. The twister crossed New Creek Mountain, levelling numerous trees in heavily forested areas. Damage intensified after the tornado descended the mountain. One mobile home was destroyed - and, after the storm crossed federal highway 220, more tree damage was noted, as was minor damage to homes and extensive damage to outbuildings. The storm continued along federal highway(s) 50/220 to Ridgeville, rolling one mobile home, causing minor damage to nearby buildings, and destroying a barn near the Mill Creek Country Club just west of Burlington. From there, the tornado continued over Patterson Creek Mountain and into Hampshire Co, where several mobile homes were damaged or rolled along Davy Road. Five persons in one of the homes sustained minor injuries; only one accepted transport to a local hospital for head trauma. A station wagon was completely turned around and sustained minor damage. The twister then tracked three miles south of Junction, where it likely dissipated. Hail was associated with each mini-supercell - and several residents, including fruit farmers, noted varying amounts of damage due to prolonged and, in some cases, sizeable hail. One grower reported total damage to his orchard (near Levels); other damage was seen in the form of stripped leaves and downed small limbs. Conditions quieted after the final supercell (that which produced the second tornado) passed. | |||||||||||
| 28.6 | 1967-05-19 | 3 | 39°23'N / 79°20'W | 0.30 Mile | 33 Yards | 1 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Garrett | |
| 31.1 | 1977-06-20 | 2 | 39°29'N / 79°33'W | 39°24'N / 79°29'W | 6.60 Miles | 50 Yards | 0 | 5 | 250K | 0 | Preston |
| 32.2 | 1980-06-03 | 3 | 39°23'N / 79°29'W | 39°21'N / 79°23'W | 5.60 Miles | 117 Yards | 0 | 4 | 250K | 0 | Garrett |
| 32.3 | 1977-06-20 | 2 | 39°24'N / 79°29'W | 39°22'N / 79°27'W | 1.90 Miles | 50 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Garrett |
| 33.5 | 1971-07-13 | 2 | 39°46'N / 79°50'W | 39°42'N / 79°37'W | 12.20 Miles | 70 Yards | 0 | 4 | 250K | 0 | Fayette |
| 34.2 | 1986-10-01 | 2 | 39°55'N / 79°45'W | 39°54'N / 79°40'W | 4.50 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 2 | 2.5M | 0 | Fayette |
| 35.8 | 1965-11-16 | 2 | 40°05'N / 79°37'W | 40°06'N / 79°36'W | 0 | 3 | 250K | 0 | Westmoreland | ||
| 35.9 | 1965-11-16 | 2 | 40°06'N / 79°36'W | 40°07'N / 79°35'W | 0 | 3 | 250K | 0 | Fayette | ||
| 36.9 | 1956-05-13 | 2 | 40°15'N / 78°50'W | 0 | 1 | 250K | 0 | Somerset | |||
| 37.6 | 1980-06-03 | 3 | 39°30'N / 79°52'W | 39°23'N / 79°29'W | 21.90 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 15 | 2.5M | 0 | Preston |
| 41.5 | 1976-07-11 | 3 | 40°21'N / 79°30'W | 40°16'N / 79°18'W | 11.80 Miles | 67 Yards | 1 | 17 | 2.5M | 0 | Westmoreland |
| 41.9 | 1997-08-15 | 2 | 40°20'N / 79°19'W | 40°21'N / 79°16'W | 3.50 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 2 | 800K | 10K | Westmoreland |
| Brief Description: A severe thunderstorm produced a tornado that produced substantial damage in a residential area east-northeast of Latrobe along the foothills of the Chestnut Ridge. The tornado first touched down 1 mile west of Derry. The tornado completely destroyed a large tier of metal stadium bleachers at a high school football field and wrapped them against a utility pole. A nearby roof of a business was damaged and a mobile home was completely destroyed and a few mobile homes sustained damage. The tornado then tracked through a rural area, damaging some farm buildings and downing field corn. The tornado continued its rapid (estimated forward speed 50-60 miles per hour) northeast track and caused significant damage in a mobile home park in Derry. The tornado crossed Route 217 and downed trees across railroad tracks and then entered a residential area in Millwood. One frame house in Millwood was severely damaged and part of a room addition collapsed and trapped a resident, who was treated at the scene. A resident of a mobile home sustained minor injuries as well. Numerous trees were uprooted and large branches and power lines were downed along the track of the storm. One home along Route 217 had a branch embedded into the house siding. The tornado was estimated to have wind speeds of between 90 and 120 miles per hour, briefly attaining an F-2 rating on the Fujita Tornado Scale. All tolled, 7-8 mobile homes were destroyed (3 totally decimated), 10-12 sustained major damage, 15-18 sustained minor damage. One frame house was heavily damaged and about 10 sustained minor damage. One car was destroyed when a tree fell on it. Parked next to the auto was another car with two occupants that were not injured. About 10 other cars were damaged. An open-air church in Millwood was also heavily damaged. The tornado appeared to have dissipated as it entered the heavily wooded slopes of the Chestnut Ridge. | |||||||||||
| 44.7 | 1964-06-15 | 2 | 40°18'N / 79°33'W | 2.00 Miles | 800 Yards | 0 | 4 | 250K | 0 | Westmoreland | |
| 44.7 | 1953-05-30 | 2 | 40°24'N / 79°12'W | 40°24'N / 79°08'W | 1.90 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Indiana |
| 45.0 | 1980-06-03 | 3 | 39°32'N / 79°54'W | 39°30'N / 79°52'W | 2.30 Miles | 150 Yards | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | Monongalia |
| 46.2 | 1954-06-26 | 2 | 40°15'N / 79°41'W | 0 | 4 | 25K | 0 | Westmoreland | |||
| 46.7 | 1983-05-22 | 2 | 40°20'N / 79°30'W | 40°27'N / 79°17'W | 13.00 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 4 | 2.5M | 0 | Westmoreland |
| 47.1 | 1980-05-12 | 2 | 40°24'N / 79°23'W | 2.20 Miles | 20 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Westmoreland | |
| 48.4 | 1983-05-22 | 2 | 40°18'N / 79°47'W | 40°20'N / 79°30'W | 14.00 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 6 | 2.5M | 0 | Westmoreland |
* 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.