A tree on the lawn of City House Bed and Breakfast fell during an intense storm, temporarily blocking Front Street in Harrisburg, on Saturday, June 3, 2023. Climate change is expected to bring more, and more intense, rainfall to central Pennsylvania.
Rachel McDevitt / StateImpact Pennsylvania
Rachel McDevitt / StateImpact Pennsylvania
A tree on the lawn of City House Bed and Breakfast fell during an intense storm, temporarily blocking Front Street in Harrisburg, on Saturday, June 3, 2023. Climate change is expected to bring more, and more intense, rainfall to central Pennsylvania.
The National Weather Service confirmed a tornado touched down in York County during Monday night’s storm.
High-speed winds uprooted trees and caused damage to outbuildings like sheds and garages. One house was severely damaged by a falling tree.
NWS reports most wind gusts reached 65-75 mph, but there were some pockets where it reached 80-90 mph.
Aaron Tyburski, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service, said the investigation stage is time-consuming, but it ultimately provides important information.
“We not only can look at this past scenario, but then use that for learning in the future,” Tyburski said. “If we see something similar, what kind of things could we expect?”
The investigation involved NWS sending people to the area to examine the damage first-hand, looking at photos and videos, and speaking to people who experienced the storm. Tyburski said the first responders play a large role in gathering information and keeping people safe.
“They do a lot of groundwork for us when we’re kind of here putting out warnings in the office,” he said. “They’re the ones that know their county — they know the people, they’re able to talk to them and they can relay that information back to us very quickly. It does really help us in both the warning aspect of the storm and then also the follow-up.”
Tyburski said tornadoes are somewhat uncommon in PA compared to other regions of the country, but Pennsylvanians should still pay attention to emergency weather reports to stay safe.
A tornado watch means the conditions are right for a tornado, so people should listen for updates and take action if necessary. A tornado warning means a tornado has been seen or indicated by weather radar, and people should seek shelter immediately.
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