It was a tornado! Twister leaves debris strewed in Lynn, Weisenberg townships
By Susan Bryant
A path of destruction was left in the awake of a tornado that passed through Lynn and Weisenberg townships between 4:06-4:09 p.m. July 29.
According to information provided by the National Weather Service late Sunday, Aug. 1, the tornado was an EF1 with peak winds of 90 mph.
The twister was 1.6 miles in length and 90 yards in maximum width.
The National Weather Service said the tornado touched down between Kunkels Mill and Red roads, near the far southern tip of Lynn Township, just east of the Berks County line.
Minor crop and tree damage was observed in this area, but with a clear convergent pattern, the weather service stated, adding a resident on Red Road filmed the tornado as it passed to his south.
The tornado passed through an open field before crossing Rhoads Road, where tree and minor roofing damage were sustained.
East of Rhoads Road, a number of trees were snapped and uprooted as the tornado approached New Smithville Road.
The extent of tree damage in the New Smithville Road area merited an EF1 rating, the National Weather Service said.
The tornado crossed Golden Key Road, uprooted a few more trees, before dissipating in a field before reaching Loch Valley Road in Weisenberg Township.
No fatalities or injuries were reported.
According to Weisenberg Volunteer Fire Company Chief Matt Krapf, his fire department and New Tripoli volunteer firefighters were dispatched around 4:15 p.m. for a motor vehicle accident with rescue along Golden Key Road between High and New Smithville roads.
“The rescue call came in as a tree on top of a vehicle with downed power lines around them, Krapf emailed The Press. “When fire crews arrived on scene, they found the power lines were already de-energized and the victims were able to exit the vehicle and get to safety at a nearby residence.”
He said crews encountered 12 trees down along that stretch of Golden Key Road, two trees down on New Smithville Road, a large amount of tree debris, and structural damage to a pole barn at 4349 Golden Key Road, Kempton.
“The destruction path was consistent between both locations and the National Weather Service was contacted of a possible weather event which occurred in that location,” Krapf said.
“It was later confirmed there was an EF1 tornado that struck the area,” Krapf said. “All fire crews were on scene for about 45 minutes until being dispatched for another call in the district.
Weisenberg Township road crews cleared the trees along New Smithville Road and PennDOT and Med-Ed cleared the trees along Golden Key Road.