Thunderstorm Wind in Erie County, Pennsylvania

A thunderstorm downburst with wind gusts estimated to be at least 60 mph caused damage at a campground in western Erie County. The campground is located along Lake Erie northwest of North Springfield. Several trees were knocked down and a camper trailer overturned at the campground. A 36 year old man was killed when the overturned camper landed on him. A damage path containing dozens of downed trees continued east from the campground for at least a mile. The same thunderstorm that produced this downburst later produced a weak tornado that caused damage from northeast of North Springfield to near Girard.

A thunderstorm downburst with winds estimated at 70 mph moved onshore from Lake Erie at North East. The damage path from this downburst was approximately one and a half miles wide and around two miles in length with the most concentrated damage near the lakeshore. This area was bordered to the west by State Route 89 and to the south by US Highway 20. Several dozen trees and power poles were downed and at least four homes damaged. A garage and up to two dozen cars were also damaged. About an hour after the storm, a man driving a car hit some debris in the road and was killed in the resulting accident.

A line of severe thunderstorms moved off Lake Erie and into northern Erie County. Winds of 60 to 70 mph accompanied the line of storms at it moved quickly east across the county. A 61 mph wind gust was measured at the Walnut Creek Access. People at an outdoor concert near the Perry Landing docks in Erie were evacuated a few minutes before the storm hit. Several boats at the docks were damaged. Some homes nearby also sustained damaged. One cottage was cut in half by a fallen tree and at least three other homes were heavily damaged by trees. Dozens of additional trees were downed elsewhere in the county.