On May 31st 1998, an F3 tornado went through Lyons, PA and caused much destruction. Luckily, no lives were lost as a result of it, but many resident’s properties were heavily damaged.
The tornado caused roughly $1,400,000 worth of damage to local homes and properties around Lyons. The town was closed off for nearly a month to all non-residents save for construction teams and the Red Cross. –Wikipedia
A line of severe thunderstorms with high winds, heavy rain and reports of several tornado touchdowns crushed houses, knocked over trees, ripped off roofs, downed power lines and injured at least seven people Sunday night in northern Berks County.
An F-3 tornado that struck northern Berks on Sunday night toppled a huge silo and ripped off the barn roof at this Richmond Township farm.
![Moore's Diner as it sat at 421 Penn Street in Reading. Moore's was first established at 5th & Court in 1937 by Walter J. Moore. He eventually opened four other diner locations downtown, and a restaurant on the corner of Lancaster Ave and Morgantown Road, which later became Queen City Diner. [colorized]](https://scontent-dfw5-2.cdninstagram.com/v/t39.30808-6/439342573_469943478696893_6557708698437293941_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=18de74&_nc_ohc=Fh5icujveaUQ7kNvgHmWWZw&_nc_ht=scontent-dfw5-2.cdninstagram.com&edm=ANo9K5cEAAAA&oh=00_AfB1FxRbBahJ4qzXJlaX7GTBfHNcXbbjQr5TvO3HptnhbA&oe=66320698)
I was traveling north on US 222 that evening, Reading to my home in Kutztown. I drove through Kirbyville (9 pm approx.) about 15 minutes before the storm crossed 222 going in a northeastern direction. Mostly farm land but several buildings and clumps of trees were taken out on the path to Lyons. Much of the town was virtually flattened and the storm continued following the road to Topton when it finally weakened. This storm was very powerful. Anyone in its path was in grave danger. Miracle that more people weren’t seriously injured or killed