STATE COLLEGE – The National Weather Service determined that two tornadoes struck our region last Thursday. An EF-2 tornado impacted eastern York County with maximum wind speeds at 120 mph with a maximum path width of 100 yards. Damage was first noted near the end of Vista Lane near Wrightsville where about 5 trees were snapped. Sporadic tree damage was noted along the track as it continued towards Picturesque Drive. The most significant damage occurred at Eastern York High School where the roof was ripped off of multiple classrooms and caused significant damage to the school auditorium. The tornado continued eastward along Winding Way, where multiple homes sustained damage to windows and siding. One injury was reported as a result of a window being blown into a house. The tornado knocked down crops in a field to the east of these houses, before lifting prior to reaching Chateau Circle.
An EF-1 tornado impacted Columbia with maximum wind speeds of 100 mph with a maximum path width of 100 yards. The damage path began on the block where Walnut Street meets 4th Street. Damage was done to an old firehouse where a section of the second story brick wall was knocked down onto Avenue H and a neighboring store. The firehouse roof and another adjacent roof were torn off and lying nearby. The tornado continued southeast through town where a couple small outbuildings were collapsed near Avenue K. Damage continued down Malt Avenue with many tree limbs snapped and minor damage to roofs. The tornado then crossed the Columbia Reading Railway snapping some large trees along Manor Street and Furnace Avenue. It continued into the wooded area south of town and across Blue Lane where many trees were found uprooted and snapped. The tornado then lifted prior to reaching Richland Drive.
