Finleyville, Washington County, recently experienced the destructive aftermath of a tornado that tore through the area. The tornado left a trail of destruction, including downed trees, damaged houses, and even a church that was struck while nearly 60 worshipers were inside.
The National Weather Service conducted a survey of the damage on Sunday and indicated that the tornado was likely classified as an EF2 tornado based on preliminary evidence, initially thought to be an EF1. An EF2 tornado carries winds ranging from 111 to 135 miles per hour.
The tornado was confirmed to have touched down in Finleyville around 6:05 p.m. and 6:15 p.m., starting at the intersection of Oak Ridge Drive and Equestrian Drive in Peters Township. It caused damages to homes, trees, and telephone poles in the vicinity of Mineral Beach and along Route 88.
According to NWS lead meteorologist Shannon Hefferan, May has already seen a significant number of tornadoes in the region, with seven tornadoes recorded in western Pennsylvania, eastern Ohio, and northern West Virginia. This high tornado activity is unusual for this time of year, as June is typically considered the more active month for tornadoes.
Hefferan’s team is monitoring the weather closely, anticipating potentially active weather conditions toward the end of the month. Precedents such as the Johnstown Flood, the Kennywood microburst, and the deadly McKeesport tornado of 1944 serve as reminders of the region’s vulnerability to severe weather events.
Despite the destruction caused by the tornado, there were no reports of serious injuries resulting from the storm. Viewer videos captured the formation of funnel clouds and the lifting of debris into the air, while hail blanketed parts of the region from Allegheny County to Fayette County. Union Township declared a state of emergency in response to the tornado, with crews from WestPenn and Duquesne Light Company working to repair power lines in the affected areas on Sunday.
Further updates on the storm are expected from the NWS on Monday as the community works to recover from the impact of the tornado that struck Finleyville.