Tornado in Jefferson County marks sixth in Pa. this year

BROCKPORT, Pa. - The National Weather Service (NWS) in Pittsburgh was out assessing storm damage Friday in Jefferson and Elk counties, just days after a tornado touched down.

Warning Coordination Meteorologist Fred McMullen said western Pennsylvania averages six tornadoes each year.

McMullen said Tuesday's tornado was the sixth.

McMullen said the NWS was assessing the damage Friday to find where the tornado began and ended, and to determine how long it was on the ground.

"Through talking to people that were directly impacted, we learned people went to their basements, they heard the wind and found an interior room as fast as they could," McMullen. "We love to hear that people took actions. The tornado sirens were also activated in Brockway."

McMullen said the tornado was created by a warm front that went through the area Tuesday morning and low pressure tracking across Lake Erie.

"Because of Pennsylvania's hilly terrain, this tornado wasn't on the ground the entire time and actually lifted up and down," McMullen said.

McMullen said it was the thirteenth documented tornado since 1950 to impact Jefferson County. The last tornado took place on Aug. 21, 2014 and impacted Brookville and Punxsutawney.

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