By CarlyPorterAccuWeather.comWeather may have been a factor in $1 million-per-hour losses from a freighttrain derailment in central Pennsylvania, near Lewistown, on Wednesday night.
Twenty-eight of the train's 112 cars derailed, and a significant amount ofgrain and polypropylene pellets were spilled as a result of the accident.
AccuWeather.com Doppler Radar suggested wind speeds of up to 65 mph in thevicinity of where the derailment occurred after 11 p.m. on Wednesday night.
The area had been experiencing drenching rain since the mid-afternoon onWednesday. Rainfall in the region was between 0.5 and 1 inch from the storm andwas not exceptional for the area.
"Given the topography, winds could have accelerated down the mountain near thetracks and been much higher at the scene, perhaps up to 80 mph," saidAccuWeather.com Expert Senior Meteorologist Henry Margusity.
Train Derailment Picture By AccuWeather.com's Al Reppert
A spokesman from Norfolk Southern, the freight train's carrier, said, "Onetrack was reopened around 2:30 a.m. last night, and the second more recently,shortly before 10 a.m. this morning."
Phil Lucas, Director of the Mifflin Office of Public Safety, said that forevery hour the track was closed, the rail line can predict loses of around $1million.
The accident closed State Route 103 in Wayne Township.
Special crews from as far as Kentucky were called to conduct cleanupoperations. Cleanup is expected to continue through next week.
"The cause is still under investigation," the spokesman said.
There were no injuries reported as a result of the derailment.
Contributing to the Story Meteorologist Al Reppert
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