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Storm Events Database
Event Details:
| Event | Tornado |
| -- Scale | EF2 |
| -- Length | 15.67 Miles |
| -- Width | 700 Yards |
| State | PENNSYLVANIA |
| County/Area | WASHINGTON |
| WFO | PBZ |
| Report Source | NWS Storm Survey |
| NCEI Data Source | CSV |
| Begin Date | 2021-10-21 18:30 EST-5 |
| Begin Location | 2SSW INDEPENDENCE |
| Begin Lat/Lon | 40.2283/-80.507 |
| End Date | 2021-10-21 18:57 EST-5 |
| End Location | 1WNW CANONSBURG |
| End Lat/Lon | 40.2542/-80.2118 |
| Deaths Direct/Indirect | 0/0 (fatality details below, when available...) |
| Injuries Direct/Indirect | 0/0 |
| Property Damage | 7.50M |
| Crop Damage | |
| Episode Narrative | A broken line of supercells, which formed along a front, moved quickly through the Ohio River Valley the evening of October 21st and spun off several tornadoes. The number of tornadoes, time of year, and intensity (one long track EF2 tornado) will mark this event as very rare and significant for this region. Prior to tornado development, surface temperatures warmed into the low-mid 60s; dew points topped out near 60F. Forecast soundings indicated modest levels of mean layer CAPE, and a relatively straight hodograph yielding marginal but sufficient storm relative helicity. The overall quick track of the broken line and eastward propagation helped cells sustain rotating updrafts. |
| Event Narrative | A NWS damage survey confirmed that an EF-2 tornado, with winds peaking near 130 MPH, tracked through western Washington County on the evening of October 21, 2021. The length was over 15 miles long and the width varies in some areas but the maximum was between 600 to 700 yards. This tornado was associated with the same circulation that initially produced a tornado in Jefferson County, Ohio earlier. Weak tornado damage was first noted along Brashears Run Road with a few fallen trees. The storm rapidly intensified along Indian Camp Rd, where a mobile home had roof damage and a well-structured deck was ripped and tossed into the neighbors yard. Many trees were snapped and uprooted as well. Damage in this area was consistent with winds speeds of 90-95 MPH. The tornado continued east towards Hopewell Township. Noted roads that had tree and structure damage, associated with EF-1 damage, were along Short Cut Road, Scenic Drive, Raccoon Run Road, Possum Hollow Road, Old Trail Road, Jefferson Avenue, Park View Drive, and Oakleaf Road. Peak intensity was reached near Willow Road and Lowry Lane where a two story home had a roof completely torn off and tossed about 100 feet and a few portions of the walls collapsed. With closer inspection, a few of the foundation blocks were shifted on both sides of the house. Peak wind was near 130 MPH in this region. A few hundred feet away a farm building was completely destroyed. As the tornado crossed Lynn Portal Road and advanced along White Lane, a solid brick home lost the roof and the attached garage. The tornado started to weaken, but still continued to hold near 100 MPH winds, as it tracked across McCarrell Road, Western Ave, and towards the outskirts of the city of Houston, PA. The tornado appears to have dissipated near North Main Street and Pine Ave north of Houston, PA. At least $600,000 of damage was noted by PEMA to four different structures. The total cost of destruction was estimated by the NWS Storm Surveyor. |
Event Map:
Note: The tornado track is approximate based on the beginning (B) and ending (E) locations. The actual tornado path may differ from a straight line.
All events for this episode:
| Location | County/Zone | St. | Date | Time | T.Z. | Type | Mag | Dth | Inj | PrD | CrD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Totals: | 0 | 0 | 8.375M | 100.00K | |||||||
| NEW GALILEE | BEAVER CO. | PA | 10/21/2021 | 17:56 | EST-5 | Tornado | EF1 | 0 | 0 | 0.00K | 0.00K |
| HAZEN | BEAVER CO. | PA | 10/21/2021 | 18:11 | EST-5 | Tornado | EF1 | 0 | 0 | 0.00K | 0.00K |
| MIDDLE LANCASTER | BUTLER CO. | PA | 10/21/2021 | 18:15 | EST-5 | Tornado | EF1 | 0 | 0 | 0.00K | 0.00K |
| INDEPENDENCE | WASHINGTON CO. | PA | 10/21/2021 | 18:30 | EST-5 | Tornado | EF2 | 0 | 0 | 7.500M | 0.00K |
| MT CHESTNUT | BUTLER CO. | PA | 10/21/2021 | 18:33 | EST-5 | Tornado | EF0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00K | 0.00K |
| EMSWORTH | ALLEGHENY CO. | PA | 10/21/2021 | 18:41 | EST-5 | Tornado | EF0 | 0 | 0 | 50.00K | 0.00K |
| ALLISON PARK | ALLEGHENY CO. | PA | 10/21/2021 | 18:47 | EST-5 | Tornado | EF1 | 0 | 0 | 500.00K | 100.00K |
| GALE | WASHINGTON CO. | PA | 10/21/2021 | 18:58 | EST-5 | Tornado | EF1 | 0 | 0 | 0.00K | 0.00K |
| PLEASANT GROVE | WASHINGTON CO. | PA | 10/21/2021 | 18:59 | EST-5 | Tornado | EF1 | 0 | 0 | 0.00K | 0.00K |
| THOMAS | WASHINGTON CO. | PA | 10/21/2021 | 19:07 | EST-5 | Tornado | EF1 | 0 | 0 | 325.00K | 0.00K |
| Totals: | 0 | 0 | 8.375M | 100.00K |
