STORM2K

On this date 7 years ago, Frostburg's north side was devastated by a destructive multi vortex F4 tornado. An F4 tornado has winds estimated between 207-260 mph. A better description of this event can be seen below. What's most striking about this event is that pieces of a home that was ripped off it's foundation was found over 30 miles away from where the tornado struck and also paper bills were found over 100 miles away in north central Virginia. WOW!!!


June 2, 1998 at 7:43 PM EDT, a violent F4 tornado moved southeast from Pennsylvania to Big Savage Mountain. The tornado moved through Frostburg, Eckhart Mines, and over Dans Mountain ending just a couple miles north of Cresaptown.

The damage path began well up in PA, but in Allegany County was 8 miles long and averaged 250 yards wide. The tornado was multi-vortex and reached its peak strength (F4) as it passed through the north portion of Frostburg.

During the majority of its life it was F2-F3 strength and mowed a clear path up and down the mountain ridges through heavy woods. In Allegany County, 30 homes and businesses were destroyed and over 100 damaged. Some vehicles were tossed. Numerous projectiles of all sizes occurred.

The house that was wiped off its foundation had pieces of it carried up to 30 miles away and a paper bill was carried 100 miles into Virginia. Amazingly no one was killed and only 5 people suffered minor injuries thanks to warning of the tornado and proper protective action by the people. Damages were estimated at $5 million.

I am from Eckhart, and my mom still lives there. I moved to North Myrtle beach in 1985. This was a huge surprise, as this area is all mountains, and tornados just don't happen there. (I remember one other one occuring when I was a child, but that's it.) Between LaVale and Frostburg, you can still see areas where it was very evident where the tornado's path was. A lady I went to school with had her home torn apart by this tornado, and barely made it to her basement before her house was ripped apart.