073
NOUS41 KCTP 032251
PNSCTP
PAZ033-040300-
PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA
651 PM EDT MON AUG 3 2026
..NWS DAMAGE SURVEY FOR 07/18/26 TORNADO EVENT - UPDATE # 1
UPDATE
THIS CORRECTS THE PREVIOUS PNS. THE TORNADO DAMAGE OCCURRED
IN JENNER TOWNSHIP.
OVERVIEW
A DAMAGE SURVEY AND DRONE IMAGERY CONFIRMED AN EF-2 TORNADO
OCCURRED IN NORTHERN SOMERSET COUNTY DURING THE EARLY EVENING
HOURS OF SATURDAY, JULY 18, 2026. THIS TORNADO PRODUCED POCKETS
OF TREE DAMAGE, WITH CONSIDERABLE TREE DAMAGE WEST OF THE
CONEMAUGH TOWNSHIP RESERVOIR.
JENNER TOWNSHIP TORNADO
RATING: EF2
ESTIMATED PEAK WIND: 125 MPH
PATH LENGTH /STATUTE/: 0.72 MILES
PATH WIDTH /MAXIMUM/: 100 YARDS
FATALITIES: 0
INJURIES: 0
START DATE: 07/18/2026
START TIME: 05:38 PM EDT
START LOCATION: 5 W JEROME / SOMERSET COUNTY / PA
START LAT/LON: 40.2404 / -79.0756
END DATE: 07/18/2026
END TIME: 05:41 PM EDT
END LOCATION: 4 W JEROME / SOMERSET COUNTY / PA
END LAT/LON: 40.2344 / -79.0648
SURVEY SUMMARY:
A SUPERCELL MOVING ACROSS WESTMORELAND COUNTY BEGAN SHOWING
INCREASING ROTATION AS THE CELL MOVED INTO NORTHERN SOMERSET
COUNTY DURING THE EARLY EVENING HOURS OF SATURDAY, JULY 18, 2026.
A TORNADO ASSOCIATED WITH THIS SUPERCELL FORMED NORTHWEST OF
CONEMAUGH TOWNSHIP RESERVOIR. THE DAMAGE AT TORNADO ONSET WAS
MAINLY IN THE FORM OF MULTIPLE TREES BEING UPROOTED IN A
CONVERGENT PATTERN BEFORE THE TORNADO STRENGTHENED AND PRODUCED A
WIDESPREAD SWATH WHERE ALL TREES IN THE AREA JUST WEST OF THE
RESERVOIR WERE COMPLETELY SNAPPED. THIS ENTIRE SWATH OF HARDWOOD
TREES COMPRISED OF MOSTLY HEALTHY HARDWOOD TREES WITH VIRTUALLY
NO TREES REMAINING STANDING IN A QUARTER MILE SWATH.
TREE DAMAGE CONTINUED ONTO THE SOUTH END OF THE RESERVOIR, WITH
MULTIPLE SNAPPED AND UPROOTED TREES BEING KNOCKED INTO THE SOUTH
END OF THE RESERVOIR BEFORE SHIFTING TO A MORE SOUTHEASTERLY PATH
FOLLOWING FERNDALE ROAD FOR A BRIEF PERIOD OF TIME. CONCENTRATED
CONVERGENT TREE DAMAGE CONTINUED TO BE OBSERVED ON FERNDALE DRIVE
LEADING UP TO THE RESERVOIR BEFORE THE DAMAGE BECAME MORE SPORADIC
AND LESS CONVERGENT NORTH OF FERNDALE ROAD NEAR BENS CREEK.
NWS STATE COLLEGE WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE CONEMAUGH TOWNSHIP
MUNICIPAL AUTHORITY FOR DRONE IMAGERY OF THIS DAMAGE NEAR THE
RESERVOIR AND SOMERSET COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY ON THEIR
COLLABORATION ON THIS DAMAGE SURVEY.
EF SCALE: THE ENHANCED FUJITA SCALE CLASSIFIES TORNADOES INTO THE
FOLLOWING CATEGORIES:
EF0.....65 TO 85 MPH
EF1.....86 TO 110 MPH
EF2.....111 TO 135 MPH
EF3.....136 TO 165 MPH
EF4.....166 TO 200 MPH
EF5.....>200 MPH
NOTE:
THE INFORMATION IN THIS STATEMENT IS PRELIMINARY AND SUBJECT TO
CHANGE PENDING FINAL REVIEW OF THE EVENT AND PUBLICATION IN
NWS STORM DATA.
BEATY/COLBERT
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