On Tuesday, June 2, 1998, one of the most significant tornado outbreaks in recent history hit the east-central United States. The severe weather event spawned a total of 33 tornadoes in nine states from New York to South Carolina and caused an estimated $40 million in damage, 77 injuries and 2 fatalities. For Pennsylvania in particular, it was the second historic and deadly severe weather outbreak in three days, as it immediately followed the late-May 1998 tornado outbreak and derecho.

Background On June 2, the Storm Prediction Center outlined a Moderate risk of severe weather across a large portion of the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern United States regions, allowing a series of shortwave troughs to undercut the vortex across the northern half of the country. Strong southerly flow ahead of a fast-moving cold front contributed to robust moisture return, with dewpoints in excess of into central New York, in excess of across the Washington metropolitan area, and in excess of into the Ohio River Valley. Combined with a very unstable atmosphere, exhibited by convective available potential energy values forecast above 3,000 J/kg, forecasters remarked on the potentially for a classic northwest flow event. Into the afternoon, a main shortwave accompanied by 500 mb winds up to pushed toward Lake Michigan. This feature enhanced a low-level convergence zone and surface barometric pressure falls associated with a lee trough east of the Appalachian Mountains, and generally contributed to widespread favorable wind profiles conducive for supercells. Given forecast storm relative helicity values of 300–600 m2/s2, the possibility of isolated significant, F2 or stronger on the Fujita scale, tornadoes were possible. Storms first developed across portions of Ontario southward into Ohio, and scattered supercells evolved across southern New York, Pennsylvania, the Delmarva region, and North Carolina over subsequent hours as the cold front continued eastward. This activity ultimately weakened as it encountered a loss of daytime heating and moisture closer to the coastline with the Atlantic Ocean.

Confirmed tornadoes

+ List of confirmed tornadoes during the tornado outbreak of June 2, 1998F#LocationCounty / ParishStateStart Coord.Time (UTC)Path lengthMax widthSummary F1SmyrnaRutherfordTN08:15–08:17The tornado destroyed a Grand Slam USA building, which had its metal beams ripped up and slammed back down onto the back of the facility. The wall was blown out of another business as well. F0SE of SaludaSaludaSC15:28–15:31A well-defined convergence pattern was identified in a swath of trees. F0S of GallipolisGalliaOH18:50–18:51Numerous large trees were downed, which caused damage to about six buildings upon falling. F1W of BuffaloMason, PutnamWV19:15–19:17A tornado destroyed a manufactured home and uprooted large trees. A man was injured after being pinned in his van by a fallen tree. F1SE of CharlestonKanawhaWV19:58–20:00Trees were downed, some of which caused damage to homes upon falling. F0SE of CharlestonKanawhaWV20:19An F0 tornado occurred southeast of Charleston. More substantial damage occurred from a severe hailstorm in the city, which dented hundreds of vehicles and damaged roofs. F0S of South River to Core SoundCarteretNC21:15–21:45A long-tracked but weak multi-vortex tornado damaged a few sheds and a boat. F1Shippingport to Raccoon TownshipBeaverPA21:30–21:40A trailer was destroyed and 23 houses sustained minor to moderate damage, mostly to their siding or roofs. F1Custer CityMcKeanPA21:45–21:50A tornado caused extensive tree damage along its path, particularly leveling a large area in the Allegheny National Forest. These downed trees caused a majority of the damage to homes, with 7 homes rendered uninhabitable and 31 homes receiving minor damage. An oil museum was destroyed. F1NW of Carnegie to SE of ManorAllegheny, WestmorelandPA21:55–22:28A large and long-tracked tornado moved through the southeastern suburbs of Pittsburgh, affecting Mount Washington, Hazelwood, Rankin, Irwin, and Manor. The hardest hit locale was Mount Washington, where over 1,000 structures sustained damage, including roofs blown off and brick walls torn down. To the north of Baldwin, several railroad cars were blown onto their sides along a concrete railroad overpass. Trees were downed as well. Fifty people were injured. F1W of RinggoldJeffersonPA22:45–22:50One barn was destroyed and three others were damaged. Several silos, and the roofs of surrounding homes, were also damaged. The tornado drained the water out of a small pond as it moved over a farm. F2Orangeville to CastileWyomingNY22:45–23:00A strong, multi-vortex tornado destroyed several structures, including barns, several buildings of a fertilizer plant, a modular home, and a hangar harboring three airplanes and a helicopter. Additional houses, garages, sheds, docks, manufactured homes, and larger buildings sustained severe damage. Trees and power lines were snapped or downed. F1DonegalWestmorelandPA22:50–23:10A tornado crossed the Pennsylvania Turnpike, overturning a tractor-trailer and injuring the driver. A manufactured home was also overturned. The remainder of structures sustained only minor damage to their shingles and siding, mainly the result of fallen trees. F2SE of Markleton to N of SalisburySomersetPA23:00–23:30An F2 tornado intercepted the path of another tornado occurring just two days prior. A carpentry shop destroyed by that tornado, which was already being rebuilt, once again had its framing demolished. One house had its windows broken. A second house and a barn lost their roofs. A shed was destroyed. F0S of ShippingportBeaverPA23:30Between 50 and 100 cherry trees were toppled, and a house was damaged. F0NW of IrvonaClearfieldPA23:30–23:32An F0 tornado damaged trees. It was accompanied by downburst winds that caused additional damage. F0Red LionYorkPA23:40–23:55Crops and trees were damaged. F1SSW of PitcherCortlandNY23:50A house had its roof almost completely torn off and front porch heavily damaged. Trees were snapped off. F1NW of TyroneBlairPA23:50–23:55Significant tree damage occurred. F1E of PitcherChenangoNY23:53–23:57Hundreds of trees were snapped, sheared off, or uprooted. F1Big Savage MountainAlleganyMD23:56–23:58Forested areas along the western ridges were damaged. F0N of GreenockAllegheny, WestmorelandPA00:20–00:25A roof was blown off a structure, and trees were downed. F0SE of CumberlandAlleganyMD00:21–00:23Trees were damaged. F1E of Fort AshbyMineral, HampshireWV00:36–00:46Siding and trim were ripped from homes, a gazebo was destroyed, and several trees were snapped or uprooted. F4SE of Indian Head, PA to Frostburg, MD to N of Cresaptown, MDFayette (PA), Somerset (PA), Garrett (MD), Allegany (MD)PA, MD01:00–01:50See section on this tornado – Five people were injured. F1Auburn Township to Springville TownshipSusquehannaPA01:05–01:15Two manufactured homes were demolished, the roof was ripped off a small brick storage building, and trees were snapped or uprooted. F2SW of Gibbon Glade, PA to SW of Friendsville, MDFayette (PA), Preston (WV), Garrett (MD)PA, WV, MD01:35–02:00A strong tri-state tornado completely destroyed two manufactured homes and a dairy barn. At least 21 other structures were heavily damaged with their roofs partially or completely ripped off. Several cows were killed, including one that was tossed over . A wide swath of trees were sheared or uprooted. F0NW of Bald EagleCentrePA01:35–01:40A number of large walnut trees were toppled, and a telephone pole was snapped. F1Shamokin to Kulpmont to Locust GapNorthumberlandPA01:40–01:55Over 100 homes sustained minor damage, part of a barn was destroyed, and numerous trees were leveled. F3Terry Township to North Abington TownshipBradford, Wyoming, LackawannaPA01:45–02:502 deaths – See section on this tornado – There were 15 injuries. F0BerryvilleClarkeVA01:50–01:52Several trees were uprooted, and a barn had its roof ripped off. F0SE of BluemontLoudounVA02:10–02:14Trees were damaged. F2SW of Keyser to S of JunctionMineral, HampshireWV02:33–02:51A garage and a barn were destroyed, while outbuildings sustained extensive damage. One manufactured home was destroyed and several others were damaged or rolled. Five people were injured in one home. Permanent houses and other buildings sustained generally minor damage. A station wagon was turned around, a car was blown over, and numerous trees were snapped or uprooted, some of which caused additional damage to structures.

Frostburg, Maryland

The most significant tornado of the outbreak was a violent F4 tornado that tracked across Pennsylvania and Maryland during the evening of June 2. The parent supercell responsible for the tornado persisted for over . The tornado first touched down at 9:00 p.m. EDT (01:00 UTC) in extreme eastern Fayette County, Pennsylvania, where it only sheared or uprooted trees. The tornado crossed into Somerset County, where it rapidly grew to a maximum width of and intensified to F3 strength. Though the tornado moved across generally rural areas, it still encountered many farms which were completely demolished. A manufactured home was blown off its foundation. In conjunction with other tornadoes in the county that afternoon, about 30 to 40 properties sustained some form of damage. Over 100 heads of cattle were killed in one destroyed barn alone, and many other farms suffered the loss of dozens of livestock too. The tornado crossed into Garrett County, Maryland, now at F2 strength. It destroyed several buildings as it moved through the town of Finzel, including a small house and a cinder-block garage. As the tornado crossed into Allegany County, it acquired multiple-vortex characteristics and reached violent F4 intensity with winds up to , the highest on record in Maryland. It descended Big Savage Mountain and entered Frostburg. In this area, at least eight homes were destroyed, including a two-story house that was obliterated. Dozens of other houses were damaged. An equal number of cars were damaged, some of which were totaled. Structures in this area were particularly susceptible to the tornado, as Frostburg resides on the Allegheny Plateau at an elevation around and thus faced full exposure to tornadic winds. Additional damage was incurred to structures in Eckhart Mines and Clarysville before the tornado crossed Dans Mountain. It continued north of Cresaptown before lifting. In total, the tornado was on the ground for and 50 minutes. Approximately 29 houses were destroyed and another 125 were damaged along the tornado's path, and about half of the homes remaining nevertheless suffered moderate to major damage. Thousands of trees were snapped or uprooted. Debris from the Frostburg area was carried upwards of downstream toward Sterling, Virginia. Initial monetary cost from the tornado ranged from $4.5–5 million (1998 USD). Five people were injured. It is one of three violent F4 tornadoes on record in Maryland, with the other two occurring in 1926 and 2002.

Lake Carey, Pennsylvania