Tornadoes · United States · West Virginia · 2021
EF0 tornado, Colfax, West Virginia, June 14, 2021
This EF0 tornado ran 0.9 miles across Marion County on June 14, 2021, touching down at 6:42 PM EDT and reaching 100 yards wide. It killed nobody.
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 mphthis tornado
Light damage. Surface peeled off some roofs, gutters and siding damaged, branches broken, shallow-rooted trees pushed over.
EF186 to 110 mph
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
- EF0
- Date
- June 14, 2021
- Touchdown
- 6:42 PM EDT (22:42 UTC)
- Lifted
- 6:46 PM EDT (22:46 UTC)
- On the ground
- 4 minutes
- Path length
- 0.9 miles (1.4 km)
- Path width
- 100 yards (91 m)
- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- County
- Marion County
- Touchdown point
- 39.473, -80.122
- Lift-off point
- 39.462, -80.115
- Record number
- 2106141642-01
The damage survey
7 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 76 mph.
- Established via aerial imagery
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
Severe storms developed along an approaching front on Monday, June 14th. Strong shear (60kts in the 0-6km layer), moderate instability (CAPE of 1000-1500 J/kg), and dry mid-level air helped produce strong downdrafts and hail.||An isolated supercell developed ahead of an advancing boundary and quickly spun up a tornado near Pleasant Valley, WV.
Initial damage began just west of Interstate 79, and intensified |briefly after crossing the Interstate. The most concentrated |damage along the convergent debris path was found along Stoney |Road, where numerous trees were uprooted or snapped, and a well- |constructed garage lost shingles. A large tree in this area was |blown onto a house, where an inhabiatant sustained injuries. The |tornado continued along the valley and slowly weakened, continuing|to uproot trees.||Given the wet soil from prior rain, maximum wind speed was |estimated on the lower end of what would be consistent with the |nature and scope of the observed damage.
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 Jun 14, 6:11 PM EDT, 31 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Jun 14, 6:11 PM EDT, 31 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion...UPDATED National Weather Service Pittsburgh PA 611 PM EDT Mon Jun 14 2021 .SYNOPSIS... Thunderstorms will end over southern portions of the area this evening as a cold front exits the region Another crossing disturbance will maintain lower shower and thunderstorm chances Tuesday. High pressure will then provide dry and cooler weather for Wednesday and Thursday. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH TUESDAY/... Line of storms continues to move southeast, ahead of a southward moving cold front. The activity has been maintained by numerous outflow boundaries that continue to spread away from dying convection. The first severe watch has ended and a second is now in effect for the southern border, in WV, until 9pm. A generally quiet overnight is then expected with the loss of instability and the passage of the front. && .SHORT TERM /TUESDAY NIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY NIGHT/... Another shortwave rotating through the main northeast CONUS trough will fire off a few showers and thunderstorms on Tuesday. Coverage will be more sporadic with less upper support, and severe weather is not expected as instability and shear will be more subdued. Activity will end Tuesday evening as the shortwave departs. Surface high pressure digging into the Great Lakes will then spread its influence over our area, bringing dry and cooler weather through Wednesday night. Low temperatures in the 40s will make a return appearance. && .LONG TERM /THURSDAY THROUGH MONDAY/... Dry weather will continue through at least Thursday night as the high remains in control. The next shortwave trough is then expected to advance from the Upper Midwest, with shower and thunderstorm chances returning late Friday and into Saturday as it approaches and crosses the region. Low, shortwave-dependent shower chances will then continue into Monday, with seasonable temperatures overall. && .AVIATION /22Z MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/... General VFR for early portions of the forecast period. The exception would be at MGW which will see the risk for a thunderstorm very early in the forecast period. Expect IFR to MVFR fog to develop at most ports later tonight, especially those which saw rain. Fog will burn off quickly Tuesday morning, with return to VFR expected at all ports. Wind gusts will pick up by late morning with northwest winds of 15 to 25 mph anticipated. .Outlook... Periodic rain chances from passing shortwaves within a developing eastern U.S. trough may also create intermittent restrictions through Tuesday. VFR under high pressure is expected mid-week. && .PBZ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... PA...None. OH...None. WV...None. &&
Hazardous weather outlook, Jun 14, 4:23 PM EDT, 2 hours 19 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook...UPDATED National Weather Service Pittsburgh PA 423 PM EDT Mon Jun 14 2021 OHZ058-059-068-069-PAZ021>023-029-031-073>076-WVZ002>004-012-021- 509>512-152030- Guernsey-Belmont-Noble-Monroe-Allegheny-Armstrong-Indiana-Washington- Greene-Westmoreland-Higher Elevations of Westmoreland-Fayette- Higher Elevations of Fayette-Brooke-Ohio-Marshall-Wetzel-Marion- Monongalia-Ridges of Eastern Monongalia and Northwestern Preston- Preston-Eastern Preston- 423 PM EDT Mon Jun 14 2021 ...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 269 IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM EDT THIS EVENING... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for east central Ohio, southwest Pennsylvania, western Pennsylvania, northern West Virginia and the northern panhandle of West Virginia. .DAY ONE...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. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday. No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Weather spotters are encouraged to report significant weather conditions according to Standard Operating Procedures. OHZ039>041-048>050-057-PAZ007>009-013>016-020-WVZ001-513-514-152030- Tuscarawas-Carroll-Columbiana-Coshocton-Harrison-Jefferson OH- Muskingum-Mercer-Venango-Forest-Lawrence-Butler-Clarion-Jefferson PA- Beaver-Hancock-Western Tucker-Eastern Tucker- 423 PM EDT Mon Jun 14 2021 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for east central Ohio, northwest Pennsylvania, southwest Pennsylvania, western Pennsylvania and northern West Virginia. .DAY ONE...Tonight. No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday. No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time.
In the hours before
Local storm report, Jun 14, 5:59 PM EDT, 43 minutes before
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</html>Special weather statement, Jun 14, 6:05 PM EDT, 37 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Pittsburgh PA
605 PM EDT Mon Jun 14 2021
OHZ069-WVZ004-012-021-509-142245-
Monroe-Marshall-Marion-Monongalia-Wetzel-
605 PM EDT Mon Jun 14 2021
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING HAIL AND GUSTY WIND
WILL AFFECT SOUTHEASTERN MONROE...WEST CENTRAL MONONGALIA...WETZEL...
MARSHALL AND NORTHWESTERN MARION COUNTIES...
At 604 PM EDT, a strong thunderstorm was located over New
Martinsville, moving southeast at 35 mph.
Wind gusts up to 55 mph and hail up to the size of nickels are
possible with this storm.
Locations impacted include...
New Martinsville... Mannington...
Pine Grove... Fairview...
Jacksonburg... Sardis...
Clarington... Smithfield...
Grangeville... Wileyville...
Proctor... Big Run...
LAT...LON 3943 8058 3945 8058 3944 8061 3947 8065
3946 8067 3948 8067 3947 8071 3955 8078
3956 8081 3956 8082 3960 8085 3958 8088
3959 8091 3966 8098 3977 8087 3961 8020
3945 8040 3947 8049 3943 8052
TIME...MOT...LOC 2204Z 295DEG 28KT 3965 8081Local storm report, Jun 14, 6:07 PM EDT, 35 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA
607 PM EDT MON JUN 14 2021
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0350 PM TSTM WND DMG NORVELT 40.21N 79.50W
06/14/2021 WESTMORELAND PA 911 CALL CENTER
WIDESPREAD REPORTS OF TREES AND POWER LINES DOWNED
ACROSS MT. PLEASANT TWP AND DONEGAL TWP. MT. PLEASANT
FIRE DEPT CALLING FOR ASSISTANCE FROM SURROUNDING FIRE
DEPTS.
&&
EVENT NUMBER PBZ2101719
FLHLocal storm report, Jun 14, 6:08 PM EDT, 34 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA
608 PM EDT MON JUN 14 2021
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0400 PM TSTM WND DMG 1 SE BRINKERTON 40.21N 79.52W
06/14/2021 WESTMORELAND PA 911 CALL CENTER
TREES AND WIRES DOWN AROUND MOUNT PLEASANT TOWNSHIP
&&
CORRECTED EVENT TIME...COUNTY/STATE...LOCATION...REMARKS
EVENT NUMBER PBZ2101716
KRAMARLocal storm report, Jun 14, 6:27 PM EDT, 15 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA
627 PM EDT MON JUN 14 2021
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0400 PM TSTM WND DMG ARMBRUST 40.22N 79.55W
06/14/2021 WESTMORELAND PA PUBLIC
TREE DOWN ON POWER LINES
&&
EVENT NUMBER PBZ2101720
RRRSpecial weather statement, Jun 14, 6:33 PM EDT, 9 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Pittsburgh PA
633 PM EDT Mon Jun 14 2021
WVZ021-509-510-142300-
Ridges of Eastern Monongalia and Northwestern
Preston-Marion-Monongalia-
633 PM EDT Mon Jun 14 2021
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING HAIL...GUSTY WIND AND
HEAVY RAIN WILL AFFECT SOUTH CENTRAL MONONGALIA AND CENTRAL MARION
COUNTIES...
At 633 PM EDT, a strong thunderstorm was located over Barrackville,
or over Fairmont, moving southeast at 35 mph.
Wind gusts up to 45 mph and hail up to the size of nickels are
possible with this storm.
Locations impacted include...
Fairmont... Pleasant Valley...
Winfield... Barrackville...
Monongah... Rivesville...
Grant Town... Farmington...
Baxter... Rachel...
Bentons Ferry... Colfax...
This includes Interstate 79 in West Virginia between mile markers 132
and 144.
Torrential rainfall also is occurring with this storm and may cause
localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.
LAT...LON 3941 8011 3940 8012 3940 8016 3952 8032
3961 8021 3947 7990 3945 7993 3945 7994
3942 8001 3940 8003 3939 8009
TIME...MOT...LOC 2233Z 297DEG 28KT 3950 8016The 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.
Pittsburgh, PA (KPIT), 12:00Z
10.7 hours before the tornado, 105 km from the path. June 14, 2021.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 0 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -78729 J/kg
- Surface CAPE
- 0 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 1684 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 51 kt
- 0-1 km bulk shear
- 13 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 26 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 72 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 0.0
- 0-3 km lapse rate
- 3.8 K/km
Pittsburgh, PA (KPIT), 00:00Z
1.3 hours after it, 105 km from the path. June 15, 2021.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 90 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -1 J/kg
- Surface CAPE
- 876 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 1039 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 59 kt
- 0-1 km bulk shear
- 14 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- -104 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- -55 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- -0.0
- Supercell composite
- -0.9
- 0-3 km lapse rate
- 6.6 K/km
The surface observations
Clarksburg/Benedum (CKB), 21 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 Pittsburgh radar (KPBZ), 119 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the touchdown began at 22:40 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 West VirginiaEvery tornado in West Virginia since 1950Warnings in force in West Virginia nowThe forecast where you are
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.