BANGOR, Pa. — The tornado that hit the Bangor area Tuesday evening was an EF1 — the second-lowest on the scale of twisters, the National Weather Service at Mt. Holly, N.J., said.
That category of storm carries winds of 65 to 86 mph, according to the weather service.
"Damage in this area was consistent with maximum wind speeds of 70 to 80 mph," the statement reads.
The NWS estimated peak winds reached 80 to 90 mph with a path length of about 1.50 miles and a maximum path width of 100 yards.
"The highest degree of damage was noted behind a residence on Washington Boulevard. At that location, several softwood trees were uprooted and a few were snapped."National Weather Service statement
The statement says small trees fell and several shingles were torn from a roof — some nearly a quarter mile away.
"For the next approximate mile, discontinuous tree damage occurred in a wooded area," the statement says.
"The highest degree of damage was noted behind a residence on Washington Boulevard. At that location, several softwood trees were uprooted and a few were snapped."
The survey found the tornado crossed the train tracks near Mill Street and Murray Street, and dealt minor damage such as tiles blown off "a historic commercial building at the intersection of Murray Street and W Messinger Street."
Tornadoes are classified by the Enhanced Fujita scale, which breaks them into the following categories:
- EF0: 65 to 86 mph
- EF1: 86 to 110 mph
- EF2: 111 to 135 mph
- EF3: 136 to 165 mph
- EF4: 166 to 200 mph
- EF5: >200 mph
Tuesday evening touchdown
The statement notes that the survey findings are preliminary and subject to change pending final review.
The agency confirmed the tornado touched down at 6 p.m. Monday, after it had issued a severe thunderstorm watch for the Lehigh Valley from 1 to 8 p.m.
That later was upgrading to a tornado warning at 3:58 p.m. for East Stroudsburg, Stroudsburg and Bangor until 4:30 p.m.
Residents took to social media, sharing videos of a funnel cloud rotating and descending.
The weather service said in a statement that helped "confirm a tornado occurred near Route 191 south of Bangor earlier this afternoon."
Videos and photos on social media also showed hail raining down on Bangor and surrounding areas — of which the tornado alert warned.
A damage survey found that the tornado event started at 3:47 p.m. and ended at 3:50 p.m.
A public information statement released Wednesday by the agency said damage first was noted at a Public Works Barn.
