2 tornadoes confirmed in Butler County following NWS survey
The National Weather Service in Pittsburgh confirmed Thursday, May 22, that two tornadoes touched down in Butler County on Wednesday in an afternoon storm.
According to the weather service’s preliminary damage survey results, two EF-0 tornadoes resulted from the same storm, one in Center Township near the Unionville Volunteer Fire Company and another in the area of Mack Road in Clay Township.
“Both were from the same storm but discontinuous paths were observed supporting two separate tornado distinctions,” the post said.
In the tornado near the fire department, the weather service reported damage to the township’s salt storage building and trees along Unionville Road and North Main Street.
The tornado followed a path lasting 0.36 miles and had a maximum width of 160 yards. Peak winds were 85 mph in the EF-0 level storm. The tornado began at 4:37 p.m. and ended at 4:38 p.m., the weather service said.
“A closed-circuit security video captured a tornado touching down northwest of Northvue causing the roof to lift off of the Center Township salt dome and depositing it in the parking lot behind the facility,” the weather service said. “The first sign of damage was north of Unionville road where a handful of trees — less than five — had large branches down and one was uprooted.”
The worst damage, as reported by the weather service, was the roof that was torn off the salt storage building.
“The only other damage nearby to the salt dome was a few hardwood trees that had large limbs broken off,” the weather service said. “The twister lifted in an open field just northeast of the salt dome facility.”
The other tornado damaged trees along Mack Road in Clay Township. This EF-0 level storm included peak winds of 85 mph. It followed a 0.25 mile path and had a maximum width of 210 yards, the weather service said. The tornado lasted from 4:40 to 4:41 p.m.
“Several hardwood trees had large limbs broken off in a path in the 250-280 section of Mack Road,” the report said. “This was caused by a different circulation than tornado one.”
A view of the damage off Mack Road was provided by drone video to the weather service since the area is not accessible by vehicle.
Tornadoes are classified along the Enhanced Fujita Scale, or EF Scale, from EF-0 to EF-5 based on maximum wind speed. EF-0 tornadoes, like the two that touched down in the county, are the lowest classification available.
For classification based on maximum wind speeds, EF-0 tornadoes range from 65 to 85 mph, EF-1 ranges from 86 to 110 mph, EF-2 ranges from 111 to 135 mph, EF-3 ranges from 136 to 165 mph, EF-4 ranges from 166 to 200 mph and EF-5 represents anything over 200 mph.
The information provided by the weather service is “preliminary and subject to change pending final review of the events and publication in NWS Storm Data,” the report said.
The last tornado in Butler County was an EF-0 on Oct. 21, 2021. The Thursday findings bring the total number of tornadoes in the county to 28 since 1888.
