Tornadoes · United States · Pennsylvania · 2021

EF0 tornado, Indiana Co Arpt, Pennsylvania, July 29, 2021

This EF0 tornado ran 0.1 miles across Indiana County on July 29, 2021, touching down at 5:20 PM EDT and reaching 10 yards wide. It killed nobody, and did $50,000 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.

  1. EF065 to 85 mphthis tornado

    Light damage. Surface peeled off some roofs, gutters and siding damaged, branches broken, shallow-rooted trees pushed over.

  2. EF186 to 110 mph

    Moderate damage. Roofs badly stripped, mobile homes overturned or badly damaged, exterior doors lost, windows broken.

  3. 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.

  4. 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.

  5. EF4166 to 200 mph

    Devastating damage. Well-built houses leveled, structures with weak foundations moved some distance, cars thrown and large missiles generated.

  6. 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.

  7. 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
EF0
Date
July 29, 2021
Touchdown
5:20 PM EDT (21:20 UTC)
Lifted
5:21 PM EDT (21:21 UTC)
On the ground
1 minutes
Path length
0.1 miles (0.1 km)
Path width
10 yards (9 m)
Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
$50,000
Crop damage
$1,000
County
Indiana County
Touchdown point
40.617, -79.096
Lift-off point
40.617, -79.095
Record number
2107291520-01

The damage survey

5 damage points were recorded along this path by NWS PBZ, in the Damage Assessment Toolkit the survey teams carry. The strongest indicator was rated EF0. The highest wind the damage implies is 77 mph.

  • Tin roof and wall ripped off and tossed into the field about 100 feet.
  • A 2x4 hit the tin siding of shed and punctured it.
  • A barn roof and siding was tossed into a cornfield.

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

A shortwave passage during the morning of July 29th spread mainly non-severe showers and thunderstorms across the region during the morning and midday hours. However, a discrete cell along the back edge of the morning activity was able to develop an EF1 tornado along the Fayette-Westmoreland County border. This was a preview of what was to follow. ||In the wake of this morning activity, instability was able to build as partial clearing occurred. Additional thunderstorms were able to develop in association with a prefrontal trough. These storms were able to take advantage of deep shear, especially in the lower levels. A cross-boundary component to this shear allowed discrete supercells to form during the mid and late afternoon hours. Storm motions were favorable for the ingestion of streamwise vorticity, allowing for rotating storms, and the development of additional tornadoes in southwest Pennsylvania and eastern Ohio. Three additional tornadoes occurred in southwest Pennsylvania, causing generally tree and light structural damage. Thankfully, no injuries were reported. A few other damaging wind reports were received as well.

An EF-0 tornado, that was observed by live video and confirmed via damage |survey, began in a cornfield near Geesey Road, crossed a farmers property, |and dissipated at the end of the property. Minor crop damage was noted|near Geesey Road where the tornado began. The tornado then tracked |east-southeast where it struck the side of a barn and tossed portions |of the roofing and siding 100 feet away from the structure. Finally, |some damage was noted on the side of a open barn shed where a 2x4 struck a |metal side of a structure. Maximum wind speed was estimated at 75 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 Pittsburgh, PA wrote its last area forecast discussion before the tornado touched down at Jul 29, 1:37 PM EDT, 3 hours 43 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jul 29, 1:37 PM EDT, 3 hours 43 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Pittsburgh PA
137 PM EDT Thu Jul 29 2021

.SYNOPSIS...
Showers and thunderstorms will be crossing the area today with the
passage of a cold front. High pressure returns dry and seasonably
cool conditions for the first half of the weekend.

&&

.NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/...
A shortwave will finish its exit through the region shortly, pushing
most convection east while leaving a residual trail of cloud cover.
Though storms may continue north of I-80 due weak sfc convergence,
the main focus will be on scattered shower and thunderstorm
development ahead of an approaching pre-frontal trough this afternoon
and early evening.

Storms could become severe with damaging wind and large hail the
primary threats in part due to abundant shear and increasingly dry
mid-level air. However, there are two factors that may limit the
threat, keeping confidence low that one even develops. The first
factor is waning upper support as the sfc feature lags behind the
exiting shortwave; more limited storm coverage is the likely outcome
of this. The other factor is instability, or the lack thereof, at
the moment given excessive cloud cover from this morning's
convection. Very simply: more heating/destabilization is needed to
foster robust storm development and tap into the shear/dry air to
create the severe threat.

Overnight, additional weak shortwaves and the passage of the sfc cold
front may aid iso/sct showers with localized thunder. Otherwise,
drier conditions are expected due to building high pressure and dry, cold
advection.

&&

.SHORT TERM /FRIDAY THROUGH SATURDAY NIGHT/...
High pressure will slowly build in from the northwest on Friday with
dry conditions expected through Saturday. Temperatures will run
below seasonal averages under cold advection.

&&

.LONG TERM /SUNDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/...
Another shortwave within the broad eastern U.S. upper trough will
push a weak sfc cold front through the region Sunday, increasing
precipitation chances.

High pressure should resume influence over the upper Ohio River
Valley heading into next week under weak upper troughing, with
temperature near to slightly below seasonal averages.

&&

.AVIATION /18Z THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/...
Initial activity associated with a shortwave trough/MCV is currently
exiting the region, with MGW/DUJ possibly keeping a brief
restriction right at TAF time.

Another round of at least scattered showers and thunderstorms are
expected to develop in association with a pre-frontal trough during
the afternoon. Uncertainty regarding storm coverage and intensity
remains, and depends on the degree of destabilization that we can
achieve. Still, elected to keep a period of VCTS for several hours,
and tried to time the most likely period of impact in TEMPO groups at
the terminals. A direct hit will likely result in a brief period of
IFR/LIFR visibility and perhaps strong wind gusts.

Activity should dissipate/move off this evening with the departure of
the trough and the loss of instability. As the cold front drops
across the region overnight, a period of MVFR ceilings and mist is
possible at most terminals. Once daytime mixing commences on Friday,
ceilings will likely break, and VFR conditions and light northwest
wind will develop by midday.

.Outlook...
Restrictions are possible with a Sunday cold front.

&&

.PBZ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
PA...None.
OH...None.
WV...None.

&&
Hazardous weather outlook, Jul 29, 3:18 PM EDT, 2 hours 2 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Pittsburgh PA
318 PM EDT Thu Jul 29 2021

OHZ039>041-048>050-057>059-068-069-PAZ014-020>023-029-031-073>076-
WVZ001>004-012-021-509>514-301930-
Tuscarawas-Carroll-Columbiana-Coshocton-Harrison-Jefferson OH-
Muskingum-Guernsey-Belmont-Noble-Monroe-Butler-Beaver-Allegheny-
Armstrong-Indiana-Washington-Greene-Westmoreland-
Higher Elevations of Westmoreland-Fayette-
Higher Elevations of Fayette-Hancock-Brooke-Ohio-Marshall-Wetzel-
Marion-Monongalia-
Ridges of Eastern Monongalia and Northwestern Preston-Preston-
Eastern Preston-Western Tucker-Eastern Tucker-
318 PM EDT Thu Jul 29 2021

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 403 IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM EDT THIS
EVENING...

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for east central Ohio, southwest
Pennsylvania, western Pennsylvania, and northern West Virginia.

.DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight.

Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the
Internet for more information about the following hazards.

   Severe Thunderstorm Watch.

Scattered severe thunderstorms are possible today. Damaging wind
gusts would be the primary threat, but large hail and a tornado or
two cannot be ruled out. However, there is a fair amount of
uncertainty whether the severe threat will develop.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday.

Hazardous weather is not expected at this time.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Weather spotters are encouraged to report significant weather
conditions according to Standard Operating Procedures.

PAZ007>009-013-015-016-301930-
Mercer-Venango-Forest-Lawrence-Clarion-Jefferson PA-
318 PM EDT Thu Jul 29 2021

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for western Pennsylvania.

.DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight.

Scattered severe thunderstorms are possible today. Damaging wind
gusts would be the primary threat, but large hail and a tornado or
two cannot be ruled out. However, there is a fair amount of
uncertainty whether the severe threat will develop.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday.

Hazardous weather is not expected at this time.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Weather spotters are encouraged to report significant weather
conditions according to Standard Operating Procedures.

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Jul 29, 4:43 PM EDT, 37 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Pittsburgh PA
443 PM EDT Thu Jul 29 2021

OHZ041-PAZ013-020-292115-
Columbiana-Lawrence-Beaver-
443 PM EDT Thu Jul 29 2021

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING GUSTY WIND WILL AFFECT
NORTHEASTERN COLUMBIANA...BEAVER AND SOUTHERN LAWRENCE COUNTIES...

At 442 PM EDT, a strong thunderstorm was located over East Palestine,
moving southeast at 35 mph.

Wind gusts up to 45 mph are possible with this storm.

Locations impacted include...
Aliquippa...                      Beaver Falls...
Columbiana...                     Monaca...
East Palestine...                 Economy...
Ellwood City...                   New Brighton...
Beaver...                         Baden...
Rochester...                      Ohioville...

This includes the following highways...
  Pennsylvania Turnpike between mile markers 1 and 24.
  Interstate 376 in Pennsylvania between mile markers 31 and 43.

LAT...LON 4091 8016 4064 8015 4060 8036 4085 8067
      4090 8064 4090 8052 4098 8052
TIME...MOT...LOC 2042Z 298DEG 29KT 4085 8053
Local storm report, Jul 29, 4:56 PM EDT, 24 minutes before
<!doctype html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
  <meta charset="utf-8">
  <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1">
  <title>Service Notice</title>
  <link rel="stylesheet" href="index.css">
</head>
<body>
  <main class="wrap">
    <section class="card" role="status" aria-live="polite">
      <div class="status" id="status">Temporary Notice</div>
      <h1 id="headline">This service is currently unavailable.</h1>
      <p id="message1">
        The site you requested is temporarily down for maintenance or an unexpected outage.
      </p>
      <p id="message2">
        Please try again in a few minutes.
      </p>
      <p class="small" id="detail">
        If you are an administrator, restore upstream service and remove the redirect/fallback rule when normal operations resume.
      </p>
    </section>
  </main>
  <script src="index.js"></script>
</body>
</html>
Local storm report, Jul 29, 4:57 PM EDT, 23 minutes before
<!doctype html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
  <meta charset="utf-8">
  <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1">
  <title>Service Notice</title>
  <link rel="stylesheet" href="index.css">
</head>
<body>
  <main class="wrap">
    <section class="card" role="status" aria-live="polite">
      <div class="status" id="status">Temporary Notice</div>
      <h1 id="headline">This service is currently unavailable.</h1>
      <p id="message1">
        The site you requested is temporarily down for maintenance or an unexpected outage.
      </p>
      <p id="message2">
        Please try again in a few minutes.
      </p>
      <p class="small" id="detail">
        If you are an administrator, restore upstream service and remove the redirect/fallback rule when normal operations resume.
      </p>
    </section>
  </main>
  <script src="index.js"></script>
</body>
</html>
Local storm report, Jul 29, 5:00 PM EDT, 20 minutes before
<!doctype html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
  <meta charset="utf-8">
  <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1">
  <title>Service Notice</title>
  <link rel="stylesheet" href="index.css">
</head>
<body>
  <main class="wrap">
    <section class="card" role="status" aria-live="polite">
      <div class="status" id="status">Temporary Notice</div>
      <h1 id="headline">This service is currently unavailable.</h1>
      <p id="message1">
        The site you requested is temporarily down for maintenance or an unexpected outage.
      </p>
      <p id="message2">
        Please try again in a few minutes.
      </p>
      <p class="small" id="detail">
        If you are an administrator, restore upstream service and remove the redirect/fallback rule when normal operations resume.
      </p>
    </section>
  </main>
  <script src="index.js"></script>
</body>
</html>
Special weather statement, Jul 29, 5:09 PM EDT, 11 minutes before
<!doctype html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
  <meta charset="utf-8">
  <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1">
  <title>Service Notice</title>
  <link rel="stylesheet" href="index.css">
</head>
<body>
  <main class="wrap">
    <section class="card" role="status" aria-live="polite">
      <div class="status" id="status">Temporary Notice</div>
      <h1 id="headline">This service is currently unavailable.</h1>
      <p id="message1">
        The site you requested is temporarily down for maintenance or an unexpected outage.
      </p>
      <p id="message2">
        Please try again in a few minutes.
      </p>
      <p class="small" id="detail">
        If you are an administrator, restore upstream service and remove the redirect/fallback rule when normal operations resume.
      </p>
    </section>
  </main>
  <script src="index.js"></script>
</body>
</html>
Local storm report, Jul 29, 5:13 PM EDT, 7 minutes before
<!doctype html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
  <meta charset="utf-8">
  <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1">
  <title>Service Notice</title>
  <link rel="stylesheet" href="index.css">
</head>
<body>
  <main class="wrap">
    <section class="card" role="status" aria-live="polite">
      <div class="status" id="status">Temporary Notice</div>
      <h1 id="headline">This service is currently unavailable.</h1>
      <p id="message1">
        The site you requested is temporarily down for maintenance or an unexpected outage.
      </p>
      <p id="message2">
        Please try again in a few minutes.
      </p>
      <p class="small" id="detail">
        If you are an administrator, restore upstream service and remove the redirect/fallback rule when normal operations resume.
      </p>
    </section>
  </main>
  <script src="index.js"></script>
</body>
</html>

The surface observations

Indiana/Stewart Field (IDI), 2 km from the path, in the two hours either side.

Time (UTC)Temp (°F)Dew point (°F)WindGust (kt)Pressure (mb)Weather
00:00 UTC

From the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of airport observations.

The radar

The Pittsburgh radar (KPBZ), 95 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the touchdown began at 21:18 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 2021 tornado in PennsylvaniaEvery tornado in Pennsylvania since 1950Warnings in force in Pennsylvania nowThe forecast where you are

The other tornadoes of July 29, 2021

36 more were confirmed in the United States that day.

DateTimeRatingWherePath (mi)Width (yd)DeathsInjuriesDamage
July 291:05 AM CDTEF0Jefferson, WI6.0100
July 291:07 AM CDTEF0Jefferson, WI3.625
July 291:07 AM CDTEF1Jefferson, WI7.7200
July 291:23 AM CDTEF1Jefferson, WI4.7150
July 291:26 AM CDTEF1Waukesha, WI1.075
July 291:32 AM CDTEF0Waukesha, WI2.450
July 291:38 AM CDTEF1Waukesha, WI0.995
July 2912:40 PM EDTEF0Crawford, PA0.675
July 2912:55 PM EDTEF0Venango, PA0.315$15,000
July 291:54 PM EDTEF1Westmoreland, PA4.9100$275,000
July 292:25 PM EDTEF1Somerset, PA0.265
July 294:04 PM EDTEF1Lehigh, PA2.990
July 294:25 PM EDTEF1Lehigh, PA1.175
July 294:50 PM EDTEF2Harrison, OH2.7220$200,000
July 294:59 PM EDTEF2Carroll, OH6.2150$500,000
July 295:07 PM EDTEF0Howard, MD0.350$50,000
July 295:15 PM EDTEF1Jefferson, OH2.2300$250,000
July 295:16 PM EDTEF0Washington, OH0.155$500
July 295:20 PM EDTEF0Pickaway, OH0.950$100,000
July 295:34 PM EDTEF0Lebanon, PA0.760
July 295:40 PM EDTEF1Bucks, PA2.770
July 295:45 PM EDTEF1Jefferson, OH2.3300$250,000
July 295:54 PM EDTEF0Essex, NJ0.350$330,000
July 294:59 PM CDTEF2Bucks, PA to NJ6.3400
July 296:00 PM EDTEF1Greene, PA2.8200$100,000
July 296:10 PM EDTEF0Cambria, PA0.115
July 295:40 PM CDTEF0Cumberland, IL0.550
July 296:56 PM EDTEF1Mercer, NJ1.6100
July 297:04 PM EDTEF3Bensalem tornado, PA3.4530
July 297:07 PM EDTEF0Philadelphia, PA0.440
July 297:58 PM EDTEF1Shelby, IN2.550$43,000
July 298:04 PM EDTEF0Ocean, NJ0.880
July 298:14 PM EDTEF1Shelby, IN0.750$15,000
July 297:20 PM CDTEF1Crawford, IL0.475
July 298:42 PM EDTEF1Ocean, NJ6.5250
July 299:03 PM EDTEF2Ocean, NJ4.2758

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.