July 2009 Mid-Atlantic tornadoes

July 2009 Mid-Atlantic tornadoes

Radar image of the storm system as it passed through the Northeastern States
Date(s) July 29, 2009
Duration 2 hours and 30 minutes
Confirmed tornadoes 5 confirmed
Maximum rated tornado EF2 (Enhanced Fujita Scale)
Damages >$1 million
Casualties 3 injuries

The July 2009 Mid-Atlantic tornadoes were a series of five tornadoes, two of which attained EF2 status, that touched down within one hour and thirty minutes in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States.

Confirmed tornadoes

Confirmed tornadoes by Enhanced Fujita rating
EF0 EF1 EF2 EF3 EF4 EF5 Total
2 1 2 0 0 0 5

Pennsylvania

Two tornadoes touched down in Pennsylvania, one in Monroe County and one in Wyoming County.[1] The first tornado was an EF2 in Monroe County that touched down around 1:30 pm EDT and tracked for 5 miles (8.0 km). Five homes lost their roofs and several barns were destroyed along the tornado's path. Numerous power lines were also downed, resulting in several road closures.[2] This tornado was one of 12 tornadoes to touch down in the county since 1950. In Cherry Valley, 25 power poles were downed, resulting in extensive internet and power outages.[3] In Franklin County, a downburst caused structural damage.[4]

New Jersey

In New Jersey, one EF2 tornado was confirmed in Sussex County.[5] The tornado tracked for roughly 7 miles (11 km) before dissipating. Along its track, thousands of trees were uprooted and snapped, numerous segments of guardrail were destroyed, acres of farmland were lost and several structures were damaged. The tornado, peaking with winds up to 120 miles per hour (190 km/h) touched down around 2:45 pm EDT and traveled for 15 minutes. The worst damage was along a 2 miles (3.2 km) stretch of the track[6] in Wantage where a state of emergency was declared;[7] in this area, hundreds of trees were tossed in multiple directions, a corn field was decimated by the tornado's winds and damaged a dairy farm.[6] One 70 feet (21 m) tall silo, made of 40 tons of concrete and steel, was destroyed by the tornado. Two of the barns on the dairy farm were destroyed and two others were severely damaged. A large portion of one of the barns roof was torn off, and was tossed roughly .75 miles (1.21 km) before landing in the yard of another home. Another barn was pick up and twisted around despite being secured by 18 poles anchored 4 feet in the ground.[8]

There were also 100 cows on the farm at the time of the tornado, of which one was reported missing. Residents who saw the tornado reported that two of the cows were picked up and tossed 50 feet (15 m) by the tornado. On the dairy farm property alone, roughly 600 trees were uprooted.[8] Severe storms in the region also produced damaging wind gusts up to 70 miles per hour (110 km/h). Torrential rainfall also fell within these storms, triggering widespread flash flooding. Numerous power lines were downed and a 100 feet (30 m) radio tower collapsed due to the winds.[7] The tornado was one of 145 to touch down in the state since 1950 and the first to hit Wantage in 29 years.[9] Throughout the state, roughly 25,000 residences were left without power due to the storms.[10]

New York

In Unionville, New York, near the New York-New Jersey state line,[11] a brief EF0 tornado touched down around 3:05 pm EDT.[5] Dozens of trees were damaged and several more were uprooted. The most severe damage took place along County Highway 36.[11]

Maryland

Around 2:46 pm EDT, an EF1 tornado touched down near Oldtown, Maryland in Allegany County.[5] Several roads were closed due to downed trees and power lines, including route 51. Several homes were also damaged by the tornado.[12] The path of the tornado was estimated to be 5 miles (8.0 km) long.[4] A total of 810 residences were also left without power after the storm.[13]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Staff Writer (July 30, 2009). "Tornado Confirmed in Wyoming County". WNEP. Retrieved July 31, 2009.
  2. ↑ Associated Press (July 30, 2009). "Violent Tornado Rips Through Pennsylvania Towns in Pocono Mountains". Fox News. Retrieved July 31, 2009.
  3. ↑ Andrew Scott (July 31, 2009). "Cleanup continues after Wednesday's tornado in Hamilton, Stroud townships (with flyover video)". Pocono Record. Retrieved July 31, 2009.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Angelique Gonzalez & Jacqueline Waite (July 30, 2009). "National Weather Service Confirms EF-1 Tornado in Oldto...". Nexstar Broadcasting, Inc. Retrieved July 31, 2009.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Storm Prediction Center (July 31, 2009). "Storm Reports for July 29, 2009". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved July 31, 2009.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Tanya Drobness (July 31, 2009). "Wantage picks up the pieces after facing 120-mph tornado (Page 1)". The Star-Ledger. Retrieved July 31, 2009.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Tanya Drobness (July 31, 2009). "Wantage picks up the pieces after facing 120-mph tornado (Page 3)". The Star-Ledger. Retrieved July 31, 2009.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Tanya Drobness (July 31, 2009). "Wantage picks up the pieces after facing 120-mph tornado (Page 2)". The Star-Ledger. Retrieved July 31, 2009.
  9. ↑ Tanya Drobness (July 31, 2009). "Wantage picks up the pieces after facing 120-mph tornado (Page 4)". The Star-Ledger. Retrieved July 31, 2009.
  10. ↑ Associated Press (July 31, 2009). "Tornado confirmed in northwest New Jersey". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved July 31, 2009.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 Kieth Goldberg (July 31, 2009). "Weather service confirms tornado hit Unionville". Times Herald-Record. Retrieved July 31, 2009.
  12. ↑ Associated Press (July 29, 2009). "Reported tornado downs trees, utility poles in Western Md.". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved July 31, 2009.
  13. ↑ Staff Writer (July 29, 2009). "Twister hits Oldtown". Cumberland Times-News. Retrieved July 31, 2009.