On June 2 1998 a severe storm cell developed in Fayette County PA. This storm cell spawned an F2 tornado that began tracking toward Garrett County. A friend and I were driving back from the lake and we spotted this massive cloud moving towards Friendsville as we drove down Route 42 towards Friendsville. It was huge and black, and was sending out bolts of lightning that resembled elevator shafts as opposed to lightning streaks. One particular lightning bolt we saw clearly seemed to hit the ground and remain flashing and pulsing for what seemed like ten seconds!

We got home safely and proceeded to have a dinner as the power went out. We hadn't been watching TV so little did we know that most of our neighbors were huddled in the basement. As the storm approached we noticed that our flag outside the kitchen window was sticking out straight and stiff like a board. Hail was banging against the house and the rain and wind was intense. Carol my wife ran upstairs and shut the bedroom window and said when she returned that the wind had almost sucked her out. We survived that storm for it passed Friendsville 1 mile away, whew! When tornadoes are going to hit, open the windows! Houses explode if the windows are kept shut because of the sudden drop in air pressure outside.

This tornado proceeded to cross I-68 just west of town (storm damage and snapped trees are still evident in the valley just west of the Blooming Rose bridge and along the Yough River one mile upriver of town). It tracked for 12 miles and was 300 yards wide. Not much damage was reported except a barn outside of town was damaged and numerous trees uprooted and snapped in half. The tornado (or another one) touched down again outside of Frostburg in Finzel and several buildings were destroyed.

It seems odd that a tornado was able to travel up and down over the mountains but that is what happened. Most tornadoes occur in Kansas because this area is a battle ground for two kinds of air. Warm moist air comes up from the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean and cold dry air comes down from Canada. When they meet severe weather is the result of this clash of weather types. Information on how tornadoes are formed.

Maryland ranks number 33 for frequency of Tornadoes, 37 for number of deaths, 33 for injuries and 35 for cost of damages. When we compare these statistics to other States by the frequency per square mile, Maryland ranks, number 15 for the frequency of tornadoes, number 30 for fatalities. More Information on Maryland Tornadoes

Being prepared for severe weather events is in important. One way to help stay safe is to keep track of developing storms on TV or through the National Weather Service Website that displays information on severe weather watches, advisories and warnings. Weather band radios are also nice to have and they are specialized radios that only play current weather reports and weather advisories. Here are some general ideas of how to be prepared for tornadoes hurricanes and severe weather.

Assemble a Disaster Supplies Kit Including the Following Items:

• First aid kit and essential medications.
  

• Canned food and can opener.

• At least three gallons of water per person.

• Protective clothing, rainwear, and bedding or sleeping bags.
  

• Battery-powered radio, flashlight, and extra batteries.
  

• Special items for infants, elderly, or disabled family members.
  

• Written instructions on how to turn off electricity, gas and water if authorities advise you to do so. (Remember, you'll need a professional to turn them back on.)

The Federal Emergency Management Agency has a website just for kids with more information about storm and disaster preparedness. FEMA KIDS SITE

I stumbled on this page and thought you might be interested in this strange object that was sighted near a tornado-"An unusual object seen and taped by KWTV News 9 in Oklahoma City during the recent tornado. This object appears to be white, spherical, rotating, and it appears to descend from a cloud bank, it caused some damage on the ground. It has been classified as a weather "unknown".

Here are some awesome photos and short flash movie I made from videos and photos I collected on the web (click the flash movie to play after it loads.)

This cow seems pretty relaxed as a massive tornado is in the distance. Perth Kansas.

Cars aren't much to a tornado.

This isn't a tornado but I thought it was an awesome shot of a hurricane. You can clearly see the round spinning cloud. WOW!

This is an aerial photograph of a tornado's path of destruction (about 40 miles)

2004 is shaping up to be another year for severe weather. Severe hurricanes and tornadoes are expected to hit the United States. With a little preparation and staying informed, surviving these incredible weather events should be no problem.

Click on this flash movie to play.