Franklin County's first tornado in 7 years was an EF-2, weather service says

A tornado has been confirmed as the cause of damage to several properties in St. Thomas Township Friday evening, the National Weather Service in State College said.

The organization tweeted Tuesday afternoon preliminary damage survey results show an EF-2 tornado touched down in the area between 7:10 p.m. and 7:12 p.m., reaching a maximum wind speed of up to 120 mph. Categories are assigned to the funnels, ranging from EF-0 to EF-5, which show how fast its wind speeds were. 

Data also show the tornado, which is the first the county has seen since 2012, had a maximum path width of 75 yards and a path length of 3.5 miles. There were no injuries or fatalities. 

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The destructive weather began Friday morning once the weather service issued a flash flood watch for the area and surrounding region that was in effect until 11 a.m. the next day. Later that night, residents were notified of a severe thunderstorm warning that could bring up to 60 mph winds and possible hail, as well as a tornado warning for Waynesboro, Fayetteville and Mont Alto. 

According to the organization, the most intense damage occurred at C&R Produce, just north of U.S. 30, where several power poles were snapped and the business' property sustained significant damage.

It added the tornado continued north and northeast along Apple Way, uprooting and snapping trees, including some in nearby orchards, and damaging several homes, commercial buildings and garages near Summerswood Drive. 

Meteorologist Craig Evanego told Public Opinion Monday the weather service was notified of wind damage near the township and in Fulton County between McConnellsburg and Fort Littleton, which was also later determined to be a tornado with maximum wind speeds of up to 100 mph (EF-1). In addition, several other funnels were confirmed just north of the area in Huntingdon and Juniata County counties. 

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Although this isn't typical weather for this time of year, Evanego said it's not unheard of. 

"It's certainly not out of the question to see tornadoes in Pennsylvania in April," he continued. "It's not common, but I wouldn't say it's terribly unusual, either." 

Public Opinion previously reported the Franklin County Department of Emergency Services, Pennsylvania State Police and several local fire departments were at multiple scenes throughout the flood watch and weather warnings, assisting with building damage, and electrical wires, poles, trees and other debris that fell into streets. 

John Thierwechter, director of emergency services, said the department has seen this kind of damage from a storm over the course of a few years, but "I don't think we've had anything of this nature in the last several years."