Powerful Storm in the Western U.S.; Heavy Rain and Flooding Threat Across the Central Gulf Coast

A powerful storm system will continue to bring heavy mountain snow, rain, and high winds to the Pacific Northwest and northern California through midweek. Heavy rain and flash flooding potential exists across the central Gulf Coast over the next few days, including the Florida Panhandle. A Slight Risk (level 2 of 4) of excessive rainfall is in effect Tuesday. Read More >

Overview

Damage over the Lower Susquehanna Valley - especially Lancaster County was surveyed by a National Weather Service team and found to have been caused by an EF1 Tornado packing winds of 85-95 mph.

Tornado
Photos & Video

Tornadoes:

Tornado - Lititz/Ephrata
Lancaster County

Date	03/29/09
Time (Local)	4:40 PM EDT - 4:45 PM EDT
EF Rating	EF1
Est. Peak Winds	85-95 MPH
Path Length	1.25 MILES
Max Width	200 YARDS
Injuries/Deaths	3 INJURIES... 0 FATALITIES
Summary: AN EF1 TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN AT 440 PM EDT NEAR LITITZ...AND LIFTED BETWEEN LITITZ AND EPHRATA AT 445 PM EDT. WHILE THE TORNADO PATH LENGTH WAS 1.25 MILES...WIDESPREAD DOWNBURST WIND DAMAGE ASSOCIATED WITH THE PARENT THUNDERSTORM CONTINUED WELL BEYOND THE TRACK OF THE INITIAL TORNADO... CREATING A TOTAL DAMAGE PATH OF 10 MILES BETWEEN LITITZ AND DENVER. IN ALL...238 STRUCTURES WERE AFFECTED BY THE TORNADO...HAIL AND DOWNBURST WIND DAMAGE. 200 HOMES SUFFERED MINOR HAIL DAMAGE. 8 TRAILER HOMES WERE AFFECTED BY THE TORNADO...6 OF WHICH WERE DESTROYED...WHILE 2 MORE SUFFERED MAJOR DAMAGE. 30 BARNS SUFFERED MODERATE DAMAGE...AND ANOTHER SUSTAINED MAJOR DAMAGE. A TORNADO WARNING WAS ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN STATE COLLEGE PA AT 421 PM EDT...PROVIDING NEARLY 20 MINUTES OF LEAD TIME.