
On August 20, 2026 at approximately 4:30 PM EDT, an EF-1 tornado impacted Columbia, PA. Maximum windspeeds were estimated at 100 mph with a maximum path width of 100 yards. The damage path began on the block where Walnut Street meets 4th Street. Damage was done to an old firehouse where a section of the second story brick wall was knocked down onto Avenue H and a neighboring store. The firehouse roof and another adjacent roof were torn off and lying nearby. The tornado continued southeast through town where a couple small outbuildings were collapsed near Avenue K. Damage continued down Malt Avenue with many tree limbs snapped and minor damage to roofs. The tornado then crossed the Columbia Reading Railway snapping some large trees along Manor Street and Furnace Avenue. It continued into the wooded area south of town and across Blue Lane where many trees were found uprooted and snapped. The tornado then lifted prior to reaching Richland Drive. We would like to thank Lancaster County Emergency Management, the Columbia Borough Police Department, and students from Millersville University for their assistance in this damage survey.