F3 Tornado — Montgomery, Pennsylvania

1994-07-27 · Montgomery, Pennsylvania

Event narrative

The parent thunderstorm that produced two tornadoes and downburst wind damage in eastern Chester County split in two near Spring City in Chester County. The left or western thunderstorm entered Montgomery County in Royersford and wind related damage intensified as the thunderstorm moved northeast through Royersford. Most of the damage (collapsed porches and downed trees) in Royerstown occurred from Fifth Avenue to Lewis Road and from Main to Chestnut Streets Several homes were damaged by falling trees. Lewis Road was closed for two days because of tree removal. From police and eyewitness reports apparently a funnel cloud was working its way toward the ground over Royersford and became a tornado in Limerick just to the northeast of Linfield Road at 10:45 pm EST. The tornado intensified into a strong (F3 on the Fujita Scale) one as it paralleled Limerick Road on its western side. A development called "The Hamlet" was in the direct path of this tornado. The Hamlet was a new development started within the past 2 years and about 30 of the planned 430 units were occupied or under construction. The development took a direct hit from the tornado. This resulted in 3 deaths (the same family) and 25 injuries. Of the 27 inhabited houses, 4 were leveled, 16 were damaged beyond repair, 1 under construction was destroyed and only 7 remained liveable. Damage in this development alone was $2 million. The family of three which lost their lives lived on Victory Way. They were asleep and blown out of their house. The father was found on the front lawn. The mother and her 10-month-old daughter were found over a sewer grate. A United States Savings Bond in the child's name was found the next day in Bath, Pennsylvania. Bath is located about 50 miles northeast in Northampton County. Another man was blown through the second story window of his house about 50 feet into the family room of his neighbor's house and survived. Equally miraculous a 5-month-old infant sailed out of his crib onto the front lawn of his home and survived. As tragic as the devastation was at "The Hamlet", it was not the only place in Limerick to sustain damage. As the tornado traveled through the business area of the town, it leveled most of the Hide and Seek Storage Sheds (damage estimated at $1 million). It peeled part of the roof off the Limerick Diner. None of the 30 patrons inside were injured. The Atlantic and Sunoco Gas Stations sustained major damage. Gasoline pumps at the Sunoco Station were wrenched from their cement foundation. An overturned beige truck lay about 200 yards from where it was parked. Even the Limerick Fire House sustained about $25,000 in wind damage. In addition to "The Hamlet", 14 other homes in Limerick sustained major damage. About 90 persons in Limerick had to find temporary shelter. Total damage in Limerick alone was estimated between $5 and $5.5 million. The tornado lifted in the Limerick Garden of Memories Cemetery, but its parent thunderstorm continued to produce wind related damage in upper (northwestern) Montgomery County. Downed trees were reported in Zieglersville. In Marlboro Township about 50 to 60 trees were uprooted on Swamp Creek and Miller Roads. About 10 properties were damaged by the falling trees, including one house that had six trees on top of it. A lightning ignited fire extensively damaged a West Marlborough home. It took six fire companies to get it under control. (M28P), (F28P), (F1P)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 10345878. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.