Strong to high winds buffeted Eastern Pennsylvania mainly during the afternoon of the 31st. Numerous trees, tree limbs and power lines were knocked down. Hardest hit by the wind were Berks and Chester Counties. In Berks County, about 9,500 homes and businesses in sixteen different municipalities lost power. Hardest hit were the Laureldale area (most outages) and Cumru and Robeson Townships. The latter were the last two townships to have power restored as late as January 1st. In Cumru Township utility poles and trees were knocked down along Pennsylvania State Route 724. The road was closed until January 1st. PECO Energy reported that half of their wind related outages in their service area occurred in Chester County. In all about 20,000 PECO Energy customers lost power in southeastern Pennsylvania. Downed trees forced a road closure in Kennett Township (Chester County). In the Lehigh Valley, about 1,800 homes and business lost power in Pennsylvania Power and Light's service area. Most of the outages were in North Whitehall Township (Lehigh County). A vehicle was damaged by a downed tree within Allentown (Lehigh County).
Peak wind gusts included 51 mph at the Philadelphia International Airport and Reading (Berks County), 50 mph in Doylestown (Bucks County), 48 mph in Glenmoore (Chester County), 47 mph at the Lehigh Valley International Airport and Mount Pocono (Monroe County) and 45 mph in Willow Grove (Montgomery County).
The high winds were caused by the large pressure difference between a rapidly intensifying Alberta Clipper type low pressure system moving through New England and a strong high pressure system approaching from the upper Mississippi Valley.

High Wind in CHESTER, PENNSYLVANIA
From 31-DEC-08 11:00:00 to 31-DEC-08 15:00:00 (EST-5)
Magnitude: 50.00 EG
Property damage: 25.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Newspaper

Strong Wind in PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA
From 31-DEC-08 11:00:00 to 31-DEC-08 19:00:00 (EST-5)
Magnitude: 44.00 MG
Property damage: 5.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: ASOS

High Wind in BERKS, PENNSYLVANIA
From 31-DEC-08 11:00:00 to 31-DEC-08 15:00:00 (EST-5)
Magnitude: 50.00 EG
Property damage: 25.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Newspaper

Strong Wind in BUCKS, PENNSYLVANIA
From 31-DEC-08 11:00:00 to 31-DEC-08 19:00:00 (EST-5)
Magnitude: 43.00 MG
Property damage: 5.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: ASOS

Strong Wind in MONTGOMERY, PENNSYLVANIA
From 31-DEC-08 12:00:00 to 31-DEC-08 18:00:00 (EST-5)
Magnitude: 40.00 EG
Property damage: 10.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Strong Wind in DELAWARE, PENNSYLVANIA
From 31-DEC-08 11:00:00 to 31-DEC-08 19:00:00 (EST-5)
Magnitude: 40.00 EG
Property damage: 5.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: ASOS

Strong Wind in NORTHAMPTON, PENNSYLVANIA
From 31-DEC-08 12:00:00 to 31-DEC-08 19:00:00 (EST-5)
Magnitude: 40.00 EG
Property damage: 10.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Strong Wind in CARBON, PENNSYLVANIA
From 31-DEC-08 12:00:00 to 31-DEC-08 23:59:00 (EST-5)
Magnitude: 40.00 EG
Property damage: 10.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Strong Wind in MONROE, PENNSYLVANIA
From 31-DEC-08 12:00:00 to 31-DEC-08 23:59:00 (EST-5)
Magnitude: 41.00 MG
Property damage: 10.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: ASOS

Strong Wind in LEHIGH, PENNSYLVANIA
From 31-DEC-08 12:00:00 to 31-DEC-08 19:00:00 (EST-5)
Magnitude: 41.00 MG
Property damage: 20.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: ASOS