961
NOUS41 KPBZ 151732
PNSPBZ
WVZ509>512-160545-
PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA
132 PM EDT FRI MAY 15 2026
..NWS DAMAGE SURVEY FOR MAY 13TH, 2026 TORNADO EVENT
REEDSVILLE EF0 TORNADO
RATING: EF0
ESTIMATED PEAK WIND: 85 MPH
PATH LENGTH /STATUTE/: 0.80 MILES
PATH WIDTH /MAXIMUM/: 65 YARDS
FATALITIES: 0
INJURIES: 0
START DATE: 05/13/2026
START TIME: 04:32 PM EDT
START LOCATION: 2 E REEDSVILLE / PRESTON COUNTY / WV
START LAT/LON: 39.5035 / -79.7545
END DATE: 05/13/2026
END TIME: 04:35 PM EDT
END LOCATION: 3 E REEDSVILLE / PRESTON COUNTY / WV
END LAT/LON: 39.5059 / -79.7399
SURVEY SUMMARY:
A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CROSSED NORTHERN WEST VIRGINIA THROUGH
MONONGALIA AND PRESTON COUNTIES ON THE AFTERNOON OF MAY 13TH, 2026.
THIS STORM PRODUCED WIND DAMAGE AND QUARTER SIZE HAIL AS IT TRACKED
ACROSS THE NORTHERN PART OF THE STATE. WEAK MID-LEVEL ROTATION
TIGHTENED AND INTENSIFIED AS THE STORM REACHED WESTERN PRESTON
COUNTY AND PRODUCED A BRIEF TORNADO. THE DAMAGE PRODUCED BY THIS
STORM, SURVEYED BY UAS AND SECURITY CAMERAS, WAS DETERMINED TO BE
TORNADIC AND REPRESENTATIVE OF AN EF-0 WITH PEAK WIND OF 85 MPH.
INITIAL DAMAGE BEGAN ALONG THE WEST SIDE OF MORAN ROAD, 3 MILES EAST OF
REEDSVILLE, WV, WHERE TREES WERE UPROOTED AND A ROOF WAS BLOWN OFF A
RESTAURANT. THIS WAS DEEMED TO BE A SURGE OF STRAIGHT LINE WIND DAMAGE.
THE CHARACTER OF THE DAMAGE THEN BECAME TORNADIC ON THE EAST SIDE OF
MORAN ROAD WHERE SEVERAL TREES WERE UPROOTED, TRUNKS OF A FEW DEAD
TREES SNAPPED, AND LARGE BRANCHES SCATTERED WITHIN A WOODED AREA.
THE TORNADO THEN CONTINUED THROUGH A FEW HUNDRED YARDS OF THICK WOODS
WITH SPORADIC TREE DAMAGE NOTED BEFORE REACHING HOVATTER'S WILDLIFE
ZOO. HERE, TREES WERE SNAPPED, UPROOTED, AND LARGE BRANCHES WERE
SCATTERED ACROSS THE PROPERTY. SECURITY CAMERAS ON THE PROPERTY RECORDED
A CLEAR TORNADIC CIRCULATION, AND VISIBLE CONVERGENCE PATTERNS IN THE
FELLED TREES FURTHER CONFIRMED THE TORNADIC DAMAGE. THE TORNADO THEN
DISSIPATED ON THE EAST SIDE OF THE ZOO WITH NO FURTHER DISTINGUISHABLE
PATH.
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN PITTSBURGH WOULD LIKE TO THANK PRESTON
COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT OFFICIALS FOR THEIR AERIAL FOOTAGE AND
AID WITH THIS 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.
SHALLENBERGER/RACKLEY/MLB/MILCAREK/MCMULLEN
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