Over the weekend, severe storms brought tornadoes to Washington and Fayette counties, leaving a trail of destruction in their wake. One tornado, classified as an EF2, touched down near Finleyville in Washington County on Saturday evening, according to the National Weather Service.
With wind speeds ranging from 111 to 135 mph, it caused significant damage along its 5.9-mile path. The storm damaged a church in Union Township, disrupted ongoing services, and brought hail to areas in Westmoreland and Fayette counties.
Fortunately, there were only two minor injuries reported from the tornado, but the impact on the community is still being assessed. This marks the first EF2 tornado in Washington County since October 2021.
Meanwhile, in Fayette County, additional tornadoes were reported. An EF0 tornado near New Salem and an EF1 tornado crossing into Preston County, West Virginia, near Fike Run were identified during NWS surveys on Sunday. These tornadoes caused varying degrees of damage, with peak winds reaching 65 mph and 90 mph, respectively.
The storms also affected other areas in western Pennsylvania, with reports of hail up to the size of golf balls and strong winds impacting communities along the Pennsylvania Turnpike corridor, New Stanton, and Mt. Pleasant.
As communities begin to recover from the weekend’s severe weather, meteorologists are monitoring the forecast for further storms. Jill Szwed from WTAE predicts a break from rain until Tuesday, but showers and storms are likely to return by Wednesday.
The full extent of the damage caused by these tornadoes is still being assessed, and further details will be released by the National Weather Service on Monday. In the meantime, affected communities are coming together to support one another and rebuild in the aftermath of the storms.