Hancock, NY/Manchester Twp, PA Tornado

May 31, 2002

STORM DAMAGE ASSESSMENT

A severe thunderstorm moving east along the Delaware River spawned a tornado around 5:00 P.M. on Friday, May 31, 2002. The tornado initially touched down on the Pennsylvania side of the river in rural sections of the township of Manchester, then raced across the river into the Town of Hancock New York near the hamlet of Lordville. The tornado continued for a total of 1.5 miles up into the heavily wooded ridges on the New York side of the river. The tornado then lifted back into it's parent thunderstorm near the state forest preserve around Bouchoux Brook.

The strongest damage produced along the path of the tornado was only about 300 yards wide, however, straight line winds in the vicinity of the tornado, contributed to toppling hundreds of trees both in New York and Pennsylvania. One person in Lordville received minor injuries when his trailer was overturned and destroyed. Most other property damage was a result of trees falling on homes, cabins and vehicles. The assessment determined that the damage was consistent with a strong F0, or a weak F1 tornado with estimated wind speeds of 70 to 80 mph.

F0 EQUATES TO WINDS OF 40-72 MPH.
F1 EQUATES TO WINDS OF 73-112 MPH.

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