Public Information Statement
National Weather Service State College PA
423 PM EDT Tue May 21 2019

...EF-1 TORNADO CONFIRMED IN LANCASTER COUNTY...

Location...West Cocalico Township in Lancaster County Pennsylvania
Date...May 19 2019
Estimated Time...803 PM EDT
Maximum EF-Scale Rating...EF-1
Estimated Maximum Wind Speed...105 mph
Maximum Path Width...125 yards
Path Length...1 mile
* Fatalities...0
* Injuries...3

* The information in this statement is preliminary and subject to
change pending final review of the event(s) and publication in
NWS Storm Data.

...Summary...
The National Weather Service in State College PA has confirmed an EF-1
tornado near West Cocalico Township in Lancaster County Pennsylvania on
May 19 2019.

At 803 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm produced a tornado in West Cocalico 
Township in northern Lancaster County. The tornado first formed near the
Oak Ridge mobile home park, just to the north and west of Oak Ridge Court.
Dozens of trees were uprooted or snapped in this area, with minor structural
damage also noted to some of the mobile homes, just south of the region of
significant tree damage. Maximum winds were estimated to be near 100 mph
at this time. 

The tornado then tracked northeastward across Wollups Hill Road, with 
additional tree uproots and snaps in this area. The tornado then subsequently 
tracked eastward, very close to the Pennsylvania Turnpike (Interstate 76), 
between Wollups Hill Road and Kline Road. Additional tree snaps and uproots occurred
on either side of the highway (both north and south of the Interstate). The
Pennsylvania Turnpike had to be closed for a time, due to fallen trees and
debris across the highway.  

The tornado then continued on an east-northeastward heading, causing 
additional tree damage, as well as some structural damage, in the vicinity
of both Kline Road and Bridal Path Way. Damage was noted to a mobile home 
close to Kline Road and just to the south of the Pennsylvania Turnpike. A storage
shed, housing lawn equipment, was also destroyed in this vicinity. Also, three homes 
sustained roof damage along Kline Road, just north of the Turnpike. Maximum
winds were estimated to be near 105 mph at this point. Three minor 
injuries were sustained in this area due to flying debris.  

The tornado appeared to dissipate, just to the east of Kline Road and north
of the Pennsylvania Turnpike, at around 805 PM EDT.    

This information can also be found on our website at
weather.gov/StateCollege.

For reference: the Enhanced Fujita Scale classifies tornadoes
into the following categories:

EF0...Wind speeds 65 to 85 mph
EF1...Wind speeds 86 to 110 mph
EF2...Wind speeds 111 to 135 mph
EF3...Wind speeds 136 to 165 mph
EF4...Wind speeds 166 to 200 mph
EF5...Wind speeds greater than 200 mph

$$

Jurewicz/Travis