Possible tornadoes, huge hail, high winds wreak havoc

Severe thunderstorms yesterday brought reports of possible tornadoes, hailstones bigger than golf balls and 50 m.p.h. gusts to parts of southern and eastern Pennsylvania.

A trailer home overturned, crushing a car, and five other trailer homes were destroyed in Lancaster County's Clay Township yesterday afternoon.

Three people suffered minor injuries, said a county official.

In nearby Denver, Pa., "numerous roofs were blown off houses," according to a National Weather Service report.

A funnel cloud may have touched down, becoming a tornado, and a determination could come today after officials of the National Weather Service and county emergency management agency survey the damage and interview observers.

Funnel clouds were spotted between 4 and 4:30 p.m. by trained observers in York County, the county west of Lancaster.

Trees fell on houses in York, Pa., and poles and wires were down.

In Montgomery Township, Montgomery County, more than 20 homes in the Wethersfield and Summer Ridge developments suffered damage to siding, windows and roofs, according to the weather service.

Reports of golf-ball-size hail came in not only from Lancaster and Lebanon yesterday afternoon, but also during the early evening from Media, Delaware County; Northeast Philadelphia; and Ancient Oaks, Lehigh County.

One-inch hail even hit parts of South Jersey, from Mount Holly, Burlington County, to Hammonton, Atlantic County.

Gusts neared 50 m.p.h. at Northeast Airport and topped that mark in Reading.

For the latest forecast, go to http://go.philly.com/weather.