Power Outage in Harrisburg, PA

A severe thunderstorm producing winds estimated near 60 mph knocked down power lines near Carsonville.

High winds were estimated to have gusted to near 60 mph in Dauphin County on April 30, 2021. This wind event produced numerous downed trees and power lines in Dauphin County, particularly in the central and southern parts of the county. A 62 mph gust was measured by the ASOS at Harrisburg International Airport.

Severe thunderstorms producing winds estimated near 60 mph knocked down trees and power lines.

High winds knocked down several trees and utility wires, resulting in approximately 10,000 power outages. Several roads were also closed. Multiple homes sustained significant structural damage due to the high winds and falling trees.

Thunderstorm winds estimated near 95 mph knocked down hundreds of trees and numerous utility wires across Derry and South/East Hanover Townships near Hershey. The trees blocked several roads including sections of Routes 422/322/739/39. The most severely affected areas in Derry Township were the Pat's Hill, Village and Palmdale sections. Two businesses and 8 homes were also damaged, mainly from falling trees. PPL reported about 7,000 people without power. Hershey Gardens was closed due to storm damage. The NWS conducted an official storm survey with the Derry Township Police and confirmed a macroburst. The macroburst, straight-line wind event with estimated highest wind gusts to 95 mph (EF1 wind strength) was determined to have occurred over a broad area more than 3 miles wide just north of Hershey Park in Derry Township. The tree damage had mostly a north to south or NW to SE orientation. A notable destruction location included the area from Union Deposit in South Hanover township southeastward to the Swatara Creek where a house roof was lifted off and over 50 trees were damaged or destroyed. Another impressive damage location was found just west of the Hotel Hershey complex where a grove of tall pines were snapped or uprooted. There were scattered trees down throughout the area including those which fell onto structures in town. Throughout the area from 200 to 300 trees were estimated to have been damaged or downed including about 60 trees on the golf course according to the golf course manager. Within Hershey Park, the football stadium was set up for a Dave Matthews band concert for the evening. The protective field pads were all ripped up in the early morning wind gusts a strewn throughout the stadium.

Swatara Creek near Hershey crested at major flood stage, 26.8 feet. Flood stage is 7.0 feet. Swatara Creek at Middletwon crested at major flood stage, estimated at 26.30 feet. Flood stage is 11.0 feet. This is the 5th highest all time.||The Susquehanna River at Harrisburg crested in major flood stage at 25.17 feet. Flood stage is 17 feet. This is the 5th highest crest on record.||While the Susquehanna River flooded a large area of Harrisburg, some areas were fortunate enough to escape the flood waters. Midtown and Uptown residents were largely unscathed, though widespread power outages were reported. The river levels crested several feet below that of Agnes, thanks in part to less contribution from the West Branch of the Susquehanna.||Between 8,000 and 10,000 residents were evacuated. The Shipoke area of downtown reported significant flooding. City Island was also hard hit, with the baseball stadium under at least seven feet of water, prompting the double A baseball team to have to play its playoff games on the road.||Major damage was widespread in Hershey. Hersheypark and ZooAmerica both reported major damage with 8 feet of water in low lying areas of Hershey Park. Many structures were flooded and many roads suffered damage. A ramp off of Route 322 near the Penn State Hershey Medical Center had a 3-foot deep trench cut across the road. Swatara Creek cut a wide and devastating flood path. Evacuations were noted in Palmyra, Derry Township and Middletown.||A 70-year old man died when a basement wall collapsed on him in Derry Township. He was pumping water from his flooded basement. A second man died in flood waters. While details surrounding his death are unknown, his mud covered car and body were found in Swatara Township several days after the flooding. A third man, 81 years old, drowned after his car was washed into Clarks Creek in Middle Paxton Township. Finally, a fourth victim, a 54 year old female, was swept away by flood waters. Her body was recovered weeks later in Swatara Creek.||Water rescues were widespread in Dauphin County. One county rescuer was quoted, ���We were rescuing people on the way to rescuing people,��� Leonard said. ���There was no time for introductions or salutations. We were dispatched every 90 seconds for hours.���||Severe flooding occurred on Spring Creek. House flooding, closed roads and water rescues using boats were conducted in Paxtang Borough and Swatara Township. Three-quarters of all roads were flooded in Derry Township. Middletown on the mouth of Swatara Creek, where it enters the Susquehanna River also reported major flooding. Five of the eighteen homes on Few Avenue were condemned from flood damage. The basements of these homes were visible from the street through giant holes in the foundation. Residents also reported a foul smell after the floods, with one resident saying, ���Imagine the contents of a septic tank mixed with diesel and fuel oil.���||A preliminary total of 295 buildings were destroyed, 1040 suffered major damage, and 1273 suffered minor damage with a total of 3348 structures impacted. Overall damage was estimated at $150 million. In addition, 368 acres of crops were destroyed with an estimated value of $700,000.

Strong to damaging non-thunderstorm winds associated with Hurricane Irene knocked down several trees and utility wires, causing widespread road closures and thousands of power outages. One tree fell and killed a 56-year old man who was camping in a tent near Manda Gap. A woman who was also in the tent survived but sustained serious injuries. Peak wind gusts at Capital City (CXY) and Harrisburg International (MDT) were 44 and 51 mph respectively.

Thunderstorm winds estimated near 60 mph knocked down several 5-inch diameter tree limbs and blew them through a house window. The severe winds also knocked down trees and wires, causing power outages.

Non-thunderstorm wind gusts between 55 and 65 mph toppled numerous trees and power lines across Dauphin County. The high winds caused isolated power outages. The Capital City and Middletown Airports recorded peak gusts of 52 and 56 mph respectively.

Non-thunderstorm winds knocked down several trees, large branches and power lines across Dauphin County. A few trees fell on vehicles, but no injuries were reported. Over one thousand PPL customers were without power.

The Middletown and Capital City ASOS recorded peak winds of 50 to 60 mph. The high winds downed numerous trees and utility lines, leaving several customers without power.

A moderate to heavy coating of ice was common across the entire Lower Susquehanna Valley, with over 64,000 power outages. Reports from emergency management officials, spotters and local web cams suggested a quarter to one-half inch of ice build-up, which brought down numerous trees and wires across the southern half of Dauphin County. ||A brief period of sleet was observed at the onset of precipitation, but the primary cause of the icing was freezing rain.||Over 25,000 customers were without power in Dauphin County - many of them in the Harrisburg and Hershey areas.

An area of low pressure originating along the Gulf Coast moved northeast over the Appalachians, producing a wintry mix of snow, sleet and freezing rain across central Pennsylvania. Heavy snow was observed over the Northwest Mountains with light to moderate snow and sleet accumulations common across the Central Mountains and Susquehanna Valley. Occasional freezing rain and drizzle resulted in a glaze of icing in most locations with significant ice accretion over the Lower Susquehanna Valley.||Widespread hazardous winter weather resulted in numerous vehicle accidents and road closures. Sporadic power outages were also reported across the region.

A prolonged period of freezing rain resulted in a significant ice accumulation across much of Central Pennsylvania. Many locations received one quarter to one half inch of ice accumulation. The icing caused sporadic power outages and brought down several tree limbs.

High winds downed trees and utility lines across portions of Central Pennsylvania. Sporadic power outages were reported.