Tornado, Lancaster
- When
- May 28, 4:52 PM EST to 4:53 PM EST
- Where
- Lancaster County, 3.75 mi ENE of Churchtown to 3.93 mi ENE of Churchtown
- Rating
- EF1
- Path length
- 0.28 mi
- Path width
- 100 yd
- Continued into
- Berks, Pa (PHI)
- Property damage
- $25,000
- Reported by
- NWS Storm Survey
- Coordinates
- 40.159, -75.910
A National Weather Service storm survey concluded that an EF2 tornado touched down in Lancaster County, PA, and crossed into Berks County, PA before lifting. While in Lancaster County, the tornado was rated an EF1, strengthening to EF2 in Berks County. The tornado first touched down in Lancaster County at 5:52 pm EDT (40.1589, -75.9100), and left the county (crossing into Berks County) at 5:53 pm EDT at the approximate location 40.1576, -75.9050. The tornado traveled approximately 0.25 mile in Lancaster County, and continued another approximately 1.25 miles in Berks County. A complete description of the tornado follows.
A tornado developed in Caernarvon Township in Lancaster County, PA, approximately a quarter mile from the Berks County line. Damage began at a turkey farm in this area, where several trees were snapped and the roof of a barn was lofted and blown to a residence on Swamp Road in Berks County. Forty turkeys were killed at this location. The tornado then affected the Swamp Road residence, with substantial damage to two outbuildings, one of which was completely destroyed. The roof of one of the outbuildings ended up underneath a van that was lofted simultaneously. Additionally, a tractor trailer on the property was overturned and dragged nearly 40 feet from its initial position.
The tornado then tracked through Morgantown, where somewhat sporadic damage occurred to several businesses on Main Street. The tornado then downed numerous large and healthy trees on Mill Road and Mast Road. Several fallen trees severely damaged a house on Mast Road. At this point, the tornado shifted to a more southeast direction, where it moved into the Valley Ponds subdivision. Several homes sustained roof and window damage, at least a dozen vehicles were shifted and severely damaged (one vehicle overturned several times, ending up 30 to 40 feet from its original position), and numerous trees were snapped and uprooted.
From there, the tornado tracked to an industrial park near Hemlock Road, where numerous trees were snapped, three cars were shifted, and several buildings sustained roof damage. Finally, the tornado damaged several homes on Quarry View Drive. Two of the homes had substantial damage to one or more exterior walls.
The tornado subsequently lifted near the end of Quarry View Drive. No injuries were reported as a result of this tornado.