YORK COUNTY, Pa. — Update, 5 p.m. (August 10): The National Weather Service determined a Category EF0 tornado briefly touched down near Holtwood, Lancaster County during Monday's storms.
The tornado snapped a large tree, downed several tree limbs, and damaged a corn field after touching down along the 1000 block of Truce Road, the NWS said. The 40-yard-wide tornado was on the ground for about a half mile, according to NWS.
Previously
The National Weather Service on Wednesday confirmed that a tornado touched down in York County during the severe storms that swept through central Pennsylvania Monday night.
The category EF1 tornado touched down in East Hopewell Township, beginning at the edge of a cornfield north of Century Farms Road and lifting just north of Fulton School Road, the NWS determined. The tornado caused damage to two cornfields and uprooted a few dozen trees, but did not cause any injuries.
The NWS said the tornado traveled just short of a half-mile. The width of its path was about 50 yards. Its wind speed peaked at about 107 miles per hour, according to NWS.
Tornadoes are measured by the Enhanced Fujita Scale, which classifies them in the following categories:
- EF0 (Weak): 65-85 mph winds
- EF1 (Weak): 86-110 mph winds
- EF2 (Strong): 111-135 mph winds
- EF3 (Strong): 136-165 mph winds
- EF4 (Violent): 166-200 mph winds
- EF5 (Violent): >200 mph winds
Storm damage in other areas of southern York and Lancaster counties were caused by straight-line wind gusts of between 65 and 90 mph, according to NWS.
"At 5 p.m. (Monday), a strong squall line crossed the Maryland/Pennsylvania border and entered into southwestern York County," the NWS said in a statement issued Wednesday afternoon. "This squall line continued eastward into Lancaster County and did not exit Lancaster County until after 6 p.m.
"This line of storms caused extensive damage along its path, knocking down numerous trees and powerlines, closing many roads, causing widespread power outages, large amounts of crop damage, and damage to some structures. (The damage) was caused by widespread 65-75mph wind gusts associated with the leading edge of the storm.
"There were some isolated pockets of enhanced damage caused by localized wind gusts of 80-90mph. These greater damages consist of some destroyed outbuildings and a tree which fell on and destroyed a home."
The NWS said there were no injuries or fatalities reported as a result of the storms.
"The information in this statement is preliminary and subject to change pending final review of the event and publication in NWS Storm Data," the NWS said.