Tornadoes · United States · Pennsylvania · 2019
EF1 tornado, Inglenook to Waynesville, Pennsylvania, May 29, 2019
From Inglenook to Waynesville, this EF1 tornado ran 2.5 miles across Dauphin County on May 29, 2019, touching down at 4:24 PM EDT and reaching 350 yards wide. It killed nobody, and did $20,000 of property damage.
The rating scale
Tracks are drawn in the color of the rating. The Enhanced Fujita scale rates the damage rather than measuring the wind: the speeds are what that damage is taken to imply.
EF065 to 85 mph
Light damage. Surface peeled off some roofs, gutters and siding damaged, branches broken, shallow-rooted trees pushed over.
EF186 to 110 mphthis tornado
Moderate damage. Roofs badly stripped, mobile homes overturned or badly damaged, exterior doors lost, windows broken.
EF2111 to 135 mph
Considerable damage. Roofs torn off well-built houses, frame homes shifted on their foundations, mobile homes destroyed, large trees snapped or uprooted, cars lifted off the ground.
EF3136 to 165 mph
Severe damage. Whole stories of well-built houses destroyed, large buildings badly damaged, trains overturned, trees debarked, heavy cars lifted and thrown.
EF4166 to 200 mph
Devastating damage. Well-built houses leveled, structures with weak foundations moved some distance, cars thrown and large missiles generated.
EF5over 200 mph
Incredible damage. Strong frame houses swept off their foundations, car-sized missiles thrown more than 100 meters, steel-reinforced concrete badly damaged, high-rise buildings deformed.
Unrated
The survey recorded a tornado but could not put a number on it, most often because it crossed open country and damaged nothing a rating can be read from.
The record
- Rating
- EF1
- Date
- May 29, 2019
- Touchdown
- 4:24 PM EDT (20:24 UTC)
- Lifted
- 4:28 PM EDT (20:28 UTC)
- On the ground
- 4 minutes
- Path length
- 2.5 miles (3.9 km)
- Path width
- 350 yards (320 m)
- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- $20,000
- County
- Dauphin County
- Touchdown point
- 40.440, -76.935
- Lift-off point
- 40.434, -76.889
- Record number
- 1905291424-01
The damage survey
47 damage points were recorded along this path by NWS CTP, in the Damage Assessment Toolkit the survey teams carry. The strongest indicator was rated EF1. The highest wind the damage implies is 107 mph.
- Convergent pattern in field
Survey points are preliminary and are the raw material the published rating was built from. Source: NWS Damage Assessment Toolkit.
What the Weather Service recorded
An EF1 tornado touched down near Matamoras in Dauphin County on the evening of May 29, 2019. The tornado produced maximum winds estimated near 100 mph along a path that was nearly 2.5 miles in length and had a maximum path width of approximately 350 yards.
A National Weather Service storm survey confirmed an EF1 tornado near Matamoras in Dauphin County Pennsylvania on May 29, 2019.||The tornado touched down near Route 225 north of Matamoras Rd. The tornado produced intermittent tree damage along a 2.5 mile path as it traveled to the east-southeast into Camp Hebron. The tree damage, which consisted of many uprooted trees and a few snapped tree trunks, was most intense near the end of the |tornado's path in Camp Hebron. A few cabins sustained roof damage from the falling trees in Camp Hebron.||Other tree damage was noted along and just to the north of Dusty Trail Drive. Maximum winds were estimated around 105 mph.
From NOAA NCEI's Storm Events Database, the narrative the local forecast office wrote for Storm Data.
What forecasters said that day
The local office's own words before the tornado touched down, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.
NWS State College, PA wrote its last area forecast discussion before the tornado touched down at May 29, 3:46 PM EDT, 38 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, May 29, 3:46 PM EDT, 38 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service State College PA 346 PM EDT Wed May 29 2019 .SYNOPSIS... Severe weather will continue to target central Pennsylvania through Thursday. A short break in the active pattern appears likely on Friday with mainly dry weather to close out the month of May. Showers and thunderstorms return to the forecast over the weekend with a 2-day stretch of dry weather possible into early next week. && .NEAR TERM /UNTIL 8 PM THIS EVENING/... Tornado watch #292 remains in effect until 8PM EDT. Plan to trim the northern portions of the watch soon. 1930Z radar shows a line of severe storms/QLCS stretching from Sullivan to Cambria County, with more discrete cells moving across the southeast 1/2 of the CWA. The discrete cells will pose the highest risk for tornadoes, with damaging winds the primary threat with the QLCS. Expect the line to continue to push to the southeast toward the Lower Susq. Valley through this evening. Progressive storm motions have limited flash flood threat thus far, and will need to watch how convection evolves into tonight. && .SHORT TERM /8 PM THIS EVENING THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT/... Storm coverage and intensity will fade into tonight, but any lingering showers/storms may prolong FF risk across the southern part of the CWA - especially the sensitive terrain areas in the Laurel Highlands that received heavy rain yesterday. SPC D2 update increased severe storm risk from MRGL to SLGT across the southern 1/3 of central PA. Primary threat should be damaging wind and some hail. However, an isolated tornado will be possible given sufficient 0-1km hodographs. Flash flood risk will also need to be monitored given favorable environment and recent bouts of intense rainfall. && .LONG TERM /FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/... We should get a short break in the active/stormy pattern on Friday, with increasing storm risk over the weekend. Guidance seems to favor a 2-day drying trend early next week, but will need to see if this holds over the next few forecast cycles. && .AVIATION /19Z WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY/... Line of strong/severe storms will move across the southeast 1/2 of the airspace through 00Z. A few individual storms may impact KMDT and KLNS terminals 20-23Z. Intense t-storm rain should briefly drop vis below 1-2SM with sfc wind gusts 25-50KT. MVFR to VFR flying is likely into tonight with some lower cigs possible across the western airspace toward AM Thursday. .Outlook... Thu...AM low cigs possible W Mtns. Scattered PM TSRA impacts possible srn 1/2 to 1/3 airspace. Fri-Sat...No sig wx expected. Sun...Scattered TSRA impacts with cold frontal passage. Mon...No sig wx expected. && .CTP WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Flash Flood Watch until 2 AM EDT Thursday for PAZ010>012- 017>019-024>028-033-034-045-046-049>053-056>059-063-066. && SYNOPSIS...Steinbugl NEAR TERM...Steinbugl SHORT TERM...Steinbugl LONG TERM...Steinbugl AVIATION...Steinbugl
Hazardous weather outlook, May 29, 4:07 PM EDT, 17 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook...UPDATED National Weather Service State College PA 407 PM EDT Wed May 29 2019 PAZ017>019-045-046-302015- Clearfield-Northern Centre-Southern Centre-Southern Clinton- Southern Lycoming- 407 PM EDT Wed May 29 2019 ...FLASH FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT UNTIL 2 AM EDT THURSDAY... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for central Pennsylvania. .DAY ONE...Tonight. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov/StateCollege on the internet for more information about the following hazards. Flash Flood Watch. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday. A few strong to severe storms with gusty winds, hail, and locally heavy rain are possible Thursday afternoon. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time. PAZ004>006-037-041-042-302015- Warren-McKean-Potter-Tioga-Northern Lycoming-Sullivan- 407 PM EDT Wed May 29 2019 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for central Pennsylvania. .DAY ONE...Tonight. The probability for widespread hazardous weather is low. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday. The probability for widespread hazardous weather is low. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotters are encouraged to report significant hazardous weather. PAZ035-036-064-065-302015- Fulton-Franklin-Adams-York- 407 PM EDT Wed May 29 2019 ...TORNADO WATCH 292 IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for central Pennsylvania. .DAY ONE...Tonight. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov/StateCollege on the internet for more information about the following hazards. Tornado Watch. Locally heavy rain is possible this evening and may produce isolated flash flooding. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday. Severe thunderstorms capable of damaging wind gusts, hail and a couple of tornadoes are possible Thursday afternoon and evening. Locally heavy rain is also possible and may produce isolated flash flooding. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotters are encouraged to report significant hazardous weather. PAZ024>028-033-034-056-057-059-063-066-302015- Cambria-Blair-Huntingdon-Mifflin-Juniata-Somerset-Bedford-Perry- Dauphin-Lebanon-Cumberland-Lancaster- 407 PM EDT Wed May 29 2019 ...FLASH FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT UNTIL 2 AM EDT THURSDAY... ...TORNADO WATCH 292 IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for central Pennsylvania. .DAY ONE...Tonight. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov/StateCollege on the internet for more information about the following hazards. Tornado Watch. Flash Flood Watch. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday. Severe thunderstorms capable of damaging wind gusts, hail and a couple of tornadoes are possible Thursday afternoon and evening. Locally heavy rain is also possible and may produce isolated flash flooding. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotters are encouraged to report significant hazardous weather. PAZ049>053-058-302015- Union-Snyder-Montour-Northumberland-Columbia-Schuylkill- 407 PM EDT Wed May 29 2019 ...FLASH FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT UNTIL 2 AM EDT THURSDAY... ...TORNADO WATCH 292 IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for central Pennsylvania. .DAY ONE...Tonight. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov/StateCollege on the internet for more information about the following hazards. Tornado Watch. Flash Flood Watch. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday. A few strong to severe storms with gusty winds, hail, and locally heavy rain are possible Thursday afternoon. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotters are encouraged to report significant hazardous weather. PAZ010>012-302015- Elk-Cameron-Northern Clinton- 407 PM EDT Wed May 29 2019 ...FLASH FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT UNTIL 2 AM EDT THURSDAY... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for central Pennsylvania. .DAY ONE...Tonight. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov/StateCollege on the internet for more information about the following hazards. Flash Flood Watch. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday. The probability for widespread hazardous weather is low. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotters are encouraged to report significant hazardous weather.
In the hours before
Special weather statement, May 29, 2:31 PM EDT, 1 hour 53 minutes before
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service State College PA 231 PM EDT Wed May 29 2019 PAZ052-053-058-291900- Columbia PA-Northumberland PA-Schuylkill PA- 231 PM EDT Wed May 29 2019 ...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT PARTS OF SCHUYLKILL... NORTHUMBERLAND...AND COLUMBIA COUNTIES UNTIL 300 PM EDT... At 230 PM EDT, Doppler radar indicated a strong thunderstorm over Fairview-Ferndale, moving east at 35 mph. winds in excess of 40 mph and Penny size hail are possible. Locations impacted include... Pottsville, Shamokin, Mount Carmel, Shenandoah, Minersville, Frackville, Kulpmont, Ashland, Elysburg, Fairview-Ferndale, Trevorton, Tremont, Girardville, Marshallton, Friedensburg, Lavelle, Marlin, Altamont, Englewood and Forrestville. LAT...LON 4067 7667 4085 7665 4089 7619 4057 7622 TIME...MOT...LOC 1830Z 272DEG 31KT 4076 7657 Jung
Special weather statement, May 29, 2:39 PM EDT, 1 hour 45 minutes before
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service State College PA 239 PM EDT Wed May 29 2019 PAZ036-063-064-291915- Adams PA-Franklin PA-Cumberland PA- 239 PM EDT Wed May 29 2019 ...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT PARTS OF ADAMS...FRANKLIN...AND CUMBERLAND COUNTIES UNTIL 315 PM EDT... At 238 PM EDT, Doppler radar indicated a strong thunderstorm over Marion, moving east at 50 mph. winds in excess of 40 mph and Penny size hail are possible. Locations impacted include... Chambersburg, Gettysburg, Shippensburg, Greencastle, Guilford, St. Thomas, Fayetteville, Mont Alto, Scotland, Marion, Cashtown, Orrtanna, Arendtsville, McKnightstown, Quincy, Williamson, Gettysburg National Military Park, Penn State Mont Alto and Gettysburg College. LAT...LON 3977 7778 3994 7784 4009 7738 3981 7720 TIME...MOT...LOC 1838Z 253DEG 42KT 3988 7772 Jung
Special weather statement, May 29, 2:46 PM EDT, 1 hour 38 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service State College PA
246 PM EDT Wed May 29 2019
PAZ042-291915-
Sullivan PA-
246 PM EDT Wed May 29 2019
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT PARTS OF SULLIVAN COUNTY UNTIL
315 PM EDT...
At 245 PM EDT, Doppler radar indicated a strong thunderstorm over
Shunk, moving east at 40 mph.
Winds in excess of 40 mph and Pea size hail are possible.
Locations impacted include...
Overton, Lincoln Falls, Shunk, Dushore and Forksville.
LAT...LON 4147 7677 4159 7681 4155 7628 4155 7626
4154 7622
TIME...MOT...LOC 1845Z 258DEG 43KT 4153 7672
RXRSpecial weather statement, May 29, 3:02 PM EDT, 1 hour 22 minutes before
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service State College PA 302 PM EDT Wed May 29 2019 PAZ057-059-291930- Lebanon PA-Dauphin PA- 302 PM EDT Wed May 29 2019 ...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT PARTS OF DAUPHIN AND LEBANON COUNTIES UNTIL 330 PM EDT... At 302 PM EDT, Doppler radar indicated a strong thunderstorm near Dehart Dam, moving east at 35 mph. wind gusts up to 50 mph and Penny size hail are possible. Locations impacted include... Skyline View, Fredericksburg, Harper Tavern, Lickdale, Fort Indiantown Gap, Penn National Race Course, Dehart Dam, Jonestown and Ono. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... This storm may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio stations and available television stations for additional information and possible warnings from the National Weather Service. && LAT...LON 4034 7673 4042 7683 4057 7655 4044 7635 TIME...MOT...LOC 1902Z 255DEG 31KT 4041 7675 RXR
Local storm report, May 29, 3:21 PM EDT, 1 hour 3 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA
321 PM EDT WED MAY 29 2019
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0305 PM HAIL 3 SW RICHFIELD 40.66N 77.15W
05/29/2019 M1.00 INCH JUNIATA PA TRAINED SPOTTER
&&
EVENT NUMBER CTP1901375
TRAVISLocal storm report, May 29, 4:09 PM EDT, 15 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA
409 PM EDT WED MAY 29 2019
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0323 PM TSTM WND DMG BLOOMSBURG 41.00N 76.46W
05/29/2019 COLUMBIA PA 911 CALL CENTER
TREES AND WIRES DOWN ON W 1ST ST.
&&
EVENT NUMBER CTP1901376
TRAVISThe air that afternoon
The radiosonde launches on either side of the tornado, from the nearest station that was launching then, drawn and analyzed the way Storm Lab does: the same diagram, the same parcel and shear definitions SPC's mesoanalysis uses.
Washington/Dulle, VA (KIAD), 12:00Z
8.4 hours before the tornado, 171 km from the path. May 29, 2019.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 292 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -123 J/kg
- Surface CAPE
- 379 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 1463 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 37 kt
- 0-1 km bulk shear
- 28 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 25 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 30 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 0.0
- 0-3 km lapse rate
- 5.2 K/km
Washington/Dulle, VA (KIAD), 00:00Z
3.6 hours after it, 171 km from the path. May 30, 2019.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 24 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -86 J/kg
- Surface CAPE
- 219 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 2113 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 29 kt
- 0-1 km bulk shear
- 21 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 58 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 54 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 0.0
- 0-3 km lapse rate
- 8.2 K/km
The surface observations
Harrisburg/Capital (CXY), 25 km from the path, in the two hours either side.
| Time (UTC) | Temp (°F) | Dew point (°F) | Wind | Gust (kt) | Pressure (mb) | Weather |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 00:00 UTC |
From the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of airport observations.
The radar
The State College radar (KCCX), 107 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the touchdown began at 20:20 UTC.
Open the radar archive at this moment, over the track
Reflectivity and velocity, decoded from the Level II archive in the browser. Volumes take a few seconds to open the first time.
This ground now
The live radar over the trackEvery 2019 tornado in PennsylvaniaEvery tornado in Pennsylvania since 1950Warnings in force in Pennsylvania nowThe forecast where you are
The other tornadoes of May 29, 2019
40 more were confirmed in the United States that day.
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 29 | 8:44 AM CDT | EF1 | Scott, MO | 1.0 | 75 | $50,000 | ||
| May 29 | 2:07 PM EDT | EF0 | Tioga, PA | 1.1 | 50 | $25,000 | ||
| May 29 | 1:19 PM CDT | EF0 | Tarrant, TX | 3.9 | 200 | $5,000 | ||
| May 29 | 1:22 PM CDT | EF0 | Denton, TX | 3.7 | 250 | $1,000 | ||
| May 29 | 1:31 PM CDT | EF1 | Tarrant, TX | 0.5 | 300 | $100,000 | ||
| May 29 | 3:14 PM EDT | EF0 | Lehigh, PA | 2.3 | 50 | |||
| May 29 | 3:20 PM EDT | EF0 | Sullivan, PA | 0.4 | 50 | |||
| May 29 | 2:58 PM CDT | EF0 | Rockwall, TX | 3.1 | 25 | $1,000 | ||
| May 29 | 3:07 PM CDT | EF0 | Van Zandt, TX | 3.0 | 100 | $5,000 | ||
| May 29 | 4:14 PM EDT | EF1 | Perry, PA | 4.9 | 300 | $40,000 | ||
| May 29 | 3:17 PM CDT | Unrated | Van Zandt, TX | 0.2 | 50 | |||
| May 29 | 4:24 PM EDT | EF1 | Fulton, PA | 0.7 | 50 | $35,000 | ||
| May 29 | 3:36 PM CDT | EF0 | Wood, TX | 3.4 | 100 | $1,000 | ||
| May 29 | 4:00 PM CDT | Unrated | Sac, IA | 1.2 | 30 | |||
| May 29 | 4:11 PM CDT | Unrated | Sac, IA | 0.7 | 20 | |||
| May 29 | 4:21 PM CDT | EF0 | McCurtain, OK | 1.1 | 75 | |||
| May 29 | 4:24 PM CDT | EF2 | Kaufman, TX | 4.0 | 215 | 1 | $1.0 million | |
| May 29 | 4:28 PM CDT | EF0 | Christian, IL | 0.2 | 20 | |||
| May 29 | 4:30 PM CDT | EF0 | Christian, IL | 0.2 | 20 | |||
| May 29 | 4:35 PM CDT | EF0 | Christian, IL | 0.3 | 20 | |||
| May 29 | 4:49 PM CDT | Unrated | Pocahontas, IA | 0.2 | 40 | |||
| May 29 | 4:50 PM CDT | EF0 | Macon, IL | 0.5 | 20 | |||
| May 29 | 4:50 PM CDT | EF2 | Wood, TX | 9.1 | 850 | $300,000 | ||
| May 29 | 4:51 PM CDT | EF2 | Van Zandt, TX | 7.2 | 700 | $500,000 | ||
| May 29 | 5:08 PM CDT | EF1 | Van Zandt, TX | 2.3 | 140 | $250,000 | ||
| May 29 | 5:16 PM CDT | EF0 | Randolph, AR | 0.6 | 75 | $40,000 | ||
| May 29 | 5:18 PM CDT | EF1 | Van Zandt, TX | 3.8 | 250 | $1,000 | ||
| May 29 | 5:31 PM CDT | EF0 | Fannin, TX | 10.8 | 300 | $25,000 | ||
| May 29 | 6:21 PM CDT | Unrated | Humboldt, IA | 0.5 | 30 | |||
| May 29 | 6:23 PM CDT | EF0 | Iowa, IA | 0.1 | 20 | |||
| May 29 | 7:01 PM CDT | EF1 | Poweshiek, IA | 3.5 | 50 | 1 | $10,000 | |
| May 29 | 7:28 PM CDT | Unrated | Poweshiek, IA | 0.9 | 30 | |||
| May 29 | 7:37 PM CDT | EF0 | Hardin, IA | 1.1 | 30 | |||
| May 29 | 7:39 PM CDT | Unrated | Poweshiek, IA | 0.9 | 30 | |||
| May 29 | 7:46 PM CDT | EF0 | Iowa, IA | 3.3 | 20 | |||
| May 29 | 8:13 PM CDT | EF0 | Johnson, IA | 0.3 | 20 | |||
| May 29 | 8:15 PM CDT | EF0 | Hardin, IA | 1.2 | 30 | |||
| May 29 | 8:29 PM CDT | EF0 | Hardin, IA | 0.6 | 40 | $30,000 | ||
| May 29 | 8:31 PM CDT | EF0 | Hardin, IA | 1.3 | 50 | $10,000 | ||
| May 29 | 8:54 PM CDT | Unrated | Hardin, IA | 0.7 | 20 |
What this means
Ratings are the survey's, read off the damage rather than measured; the rating scale is above. Tornado counts rise through the record as reporting improved, so a year in the 1950s is not comparable with one today except for the strongest tornadoes, which were always noticed.
Sources
NOAA Storm Prediction Center tornado database, 1950-2025, the official record kept by NOAA's Storm Prediction Center.