A persistent ridge of high pressure brought unseasonably mild temperatures to the northeast U.S. A sharp cold front formed a line of strong to severe thunderstorms which blew through Pennsylvania Friday afternoon. Winds from these thunderstorms knocked down numerous trees and power lines. Along with the severe thunderstorms, three tornadoes touched down in northeast Pennsylvania, the first occurrence of tornado touch downs in Pennsylvania during the month of December on record.

Tornado in LUZERNE, PENNSYLVANIA
From 01-DEC-06 16:52:00 to 01-DEC-06 17:05:00 (EST-5)
Location: HOBBIE
Tornado F-scale: F2
Property damage: 1.00M
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

At 4:52 pm EST, Friday, December 1st, a tornado touched down near Hobbie in  Luzerne County. The tornado tracked about 20 miles east northeast through Dorrance, Mountaintop, and Fairview Heights to Bear Creek where it lifted.  Most of the damage was F1 intensity with F2 intensity reached in Fairview Heights near route 309. A grocery store in Fairview heights had its windows blown out which injured 5 people. There was significant roof damage as well. An 8000 pound air conditioning unit was toppled on the roof of this grocery store. A roof was lifted off of a well built home approximately a quarter mile to the east northeast of the grocery store.  Thousands of trees were blown down and uprooted along the path of this tornado. Shingle and roof damage was common along the entire path of this tornado too. Over 100 homes sustained at least minor damage. Two trailer homes and a construction trailer were completely destroyed. There was also minor damage to a high school in Fairview Heights. A roof was blown off the fire department in Dorrance.

Thunderstorm Wind in BRADFORD, PENNSYLVANIA
From 01-DEC-06 15:00:00 to 01-DEC-06 15:00:00 (EST-5)
Location: EAST SMITHFIELD
Magnitude: 50.00 EG
Property damage: 5.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Trees were blown down in East Smithfield, Ulster and Wilmot.

Thunderstorm Wind in SUSQUEHANNA, PENNSYLVANIA
From 01-DEC-06 15:37:00 to 01-DEC-06 15:37:00 (EST-5)
Location: BRACKNEY
Magnitude: 50.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Department of Highways

A large tree was blown down.

Thunderstorm Wind in WYOMING, PENNSYLVANIA
From 01-DEC-06 15:47:00 to 01-DEC-06 15:47:00 (EST-5)
Location: FACTORYVILLE
Magnitude: 50.00 EG
Property damage: 2.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Numerous trees were blown down.

Thunderstorm Wind in LACKAWANNA, PENNSYLVANIA
From 01-DEC-06 15:56:00 to 01-DEC-06 15:56:00 (EST-5)
Location: BLAKELY
Magnitude: 50.00 EG
Property damage: 2.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: County Official

Trees and wires were blown down.

Thunderstorm Wind in WAYNE, PENNSYLVANIA
From 01-DEC-06 16:43:00 to 01-DEC-06 16:43:00 (EST-5)
Location: HAWLEY
Magnitude: 50.00 EG
Property damage: 2.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Numerous trees were blown down.

Thunderstorm Wind in WAYNE, PENNSYLVANIA
From 01-DEC-06 17:17:00 to 01-DEC-06 17:17:00 (EST-5)
Location: NEWFOUNDLAND
Magnitude: 50.00 EG
Property damage: 1.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Several trees were blown down.

Thunderstorm Wind in LUZERNE, PENNSYLVANIA
From 01-DEC-06 16:45:00 to 01-DEC-06 16:45:00 (EST-5)
Location: NESCOPECK
Magnitude: 55.00 EG
Property damage: 10.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Many trees were blown down by strong thunderstorm winds. Most of the trees were uprooted, with a few snapped.

Thunderstorm Wind in LUZERNE, PENNSYLVANIA
From 01-DEC-06 16:50:00 to 01-DEC-06 16:50:00 (EST-5)
Location: NUANGOLA
Magnitude: 66.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Broadcast Media

A 76 MPH wind gust was measured on Penobscot Mountain at about 2200 feet elevation.

Tornado in PIKE, PENNSYLVANIA
From 01-DEC-06 17:26:00 to 01-DEC-06 17:35:00 (EST-5)
Location: KIMBLES
Tornado F-scale: F0
Property damage: 20.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

At 5:26 pm, a tornado touched down about 3 miles East Northeast of Hawley. The tornado tracked east at about 65 mph with a maximum width of about 100 yards. The tornado had a path length of 5 miles as it lifted near Bohemia close to Route 590 at5:35 pm. The tornado knocked down scattered large trees along its path and was rated as an F0 on the Fujita with maximum winds between 50 and 70 mph.

Thunderstorm Wind in PIKE, PENNSYLVANIA
From 01-DEC-06 17:56:00 to 01-DEC-06 17:56:00 (EST-5)
Location: LORDS VLY
Magnitude: 50.00 EG
Property damage: 2.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Several trees and wires were blown down around Gold Key Lake.

Tornado in PIKE, PENNSYLVANIA
From 01-DEC-06 17:35:00 to 01-DEC-06 17:40:00 (EST-5)
Location: ROWLAND
Tornado F-scale: F1
Property damage: 20.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

A tornado touched down at 5:35 pm and tracked east at 65 mph through Lackawaxen at about 5:40 pm where it lifted. The tornado path length was about 5 miles with a maximum width of 200 yards. The tornado was rated an F1 on the Fujita scale. The tornado flattened a 200 yard wide area of trees at the base of a hill near the Lackawaxen River, about 1 mile upstream from the confluence of the Lackawaxen and Delaware Rivers. There were several other locations along the 5 mile path where numerous large trees were uprooted.

Thunderstorm Wind in PIKE, PENNSYLVANIA
From 01-DEC-06 17:17:00 to 01-DEC-06 17:17:00 (EST-5)
Location: GREENTOWN
Magnitude: 50.00 EG
Property damage: 1.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Several trees were blown down.

Thunderstorm Wind in LUZERNE, PENNSYLVANIA
From 01-DEC-06 16:55:00 to 01-DEC-06 16:55:00 (EST-5)
Location: AVOCA
Magnitude: 57.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Broadcast Media

A 66 mph wind gust was measured at television station WNEP TV 16.