EF2 Tornado — Lancaster, Pennsylvania

2016-02-24 · near Gap, Lancaster, Pennsylvania

Event narrative

A survey team from the National Weather Service in State College confirmed an EF-2 tornado near White Horse in Salisbury Township, Lancaster County on February 24, 2016. The tornado touched down one-half mile southwest of the intersection of Amish Road and Spring Garden Road then travelled to the northeast at a speed of around 50 mph, staying on the ground for 7 minutes. An estimated 50 buildings sustained damage along the path of the tornado. Two large farm outbuildings and one two-story residence sustained major roof damage near the intersection of Amish Road and Spring Garden Road. This marked the transition of the tornado from EF-1 to EF-2. A van with several passengers travelling west on Spring Garden Road near the same intersection was blown about 10 feet to the north of the road into a field. Approximately one-half mile to the northeast along Millwood Road, additional EF-2 damage occurred as roofs were blown off several farm outbuildings, barns and one two-story residence. A pine tree located in the front yard of this house was stripped of most of its branches and foliage, with only a few larger bare limbs remaining. A wooden barn behind the residence was completely destroyed with substantial debris carried several hundred yards to the northeast across a field. Mid-to-high end EF-1 damage to roofs was noted to several farm buildings and homes along the east-west portion of Millwood Road and along Old Philadelphia Pike near School Lane Road. A significant amount of debris in the form of crumpled sheet metal from roofs was scattered across fields adjacent to Meeting House Road to the north of Old Philadelphia Pike. A second area of concentrated EF-2 damage was noted near the intersection of Seldomridge Road and Cambridge Road. The tornado knocked over several large granite tombstones in a cemetery, then stripped about one-quarter of the roof off a large building where more than 100 people were attending an auction. The final location of EF-2 damage was noted along Kauffroth Road just a few hundred yards to the north of the intersection with Seldomridge Road. It was here where a large one-room metal amish school was completely destroyed and blown about 100 yards uphill into a field. The tornado began to weaken from this point with the final EF-1 damage noted near the intersection of Gault Road and Rosehill Drive, where significant damage occurred to roofs and siding on several homes and sheds. Numerous softwood trees were also uprooted at the end of the tornado path about 100 yards to the north of Thistle drive. The tornado was rated as a high-end EF-2, with peak winds estimated at 125 mph. There were no injuries or fatalities.

Wider weather episode

A National Weather Service survey team confirmed an EF2 tornado touched down near the town of White Horse in Salisbury Township on the evening of Wednesday, February 24, 2016. The tornado touched down near Amish Road just west of Spring Garden Road, traveling northeastward for approximately 5 miles before lifting near a residential development on Rosehill Drive. An estimated 50 buildings sustained damage. Maximum wind speed 125 mph.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (40.0100, -76.0297)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 612796. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.