Tornadoes of 20 August 2026

Public Information Statement
National Weather Service State College PA
915 PM EDT Fri Aug 21 2026

...NWS Damage Survey for 08/20/2026 Tornado Event...

..Eastern York County Tornado...

Rating:                 EF2
Estimated Peak Wind:    120 mph
Path Length /statute/:  1.07 miles
Path Width /maximum/:   100 yards
Fatalities:             0
Injuries:               1

Start Date:             08/20/2026
Start Time:             04:24 PM EDT
Start Location:         2 SSW Wrightsville / York County / PA
Start Lat/Lon:          39.9994 / -76.5521

End Date:               08/20/2026
End Time:               04:26 PM EDT
End Location:           2 SSE Wrightsville / York County / PA
End Lat/Lon:            39.9975 / -76.5323

Survey Summary:
An EF-2 tornado impacted eastern York County during the afternoon
of August 20, 2026. Maximum wind speeds were estimated to be 120
mph and the tornado had a maximum path width of 100 yards. Damage
was first noted near the end of Vista Lane near Wrightsville where
approximately 5 trees were snapped. Sporadic tree damage was
noted along the tornado`s track as it continued towards
Picturesque Drive. The most significant damage occurred at Eastern
York High School where the roof was fully ripped off of multiple
classrooms. There was also significant damage to the school`s
auditorium, with the roof partially ripped off and bricks at the
top of the wall shifted from their original location. The tornado
continued eastward along Winding Way, where multiple homes
sustained damage to windows and siding. One injury was reported as
a result of a window being blown into a house. The tornado
knocked down crops in a field to the east of these houses, before
lifting prior to reaching Chateau Circle.

We would like to thank York County Emergency Management and local
homeowners for their assistance in this damage survey.

..Columbia Tornado...

Rating:                 EF1
Estimated Peak Wind:    100 mph
Path Length /statute/:  1.47 miles
Path Width /maximum/:   100 yards
Fatalities:             0
Injuries:               0

Start Date:             08/20/2026
Start Time:             04:30 PM EDT
Start Location:         Columbia / Lancaster County / PA
Start Lat/Lon:          40.0343 / -76.5015

End Date:               08/20/2026
End Time:               04:32 PM EDT
End Location:           1 SE Columbia / Lancaster County / PA
End Lat/Lon:            40.018 / -76.4838

Survey Summary:
On August 20, 2026 at approximately 4:30 p.m. EDT, an EF-1
tornado impacted Columbia, PA. Maximum windspeeds were estimated at
100 mph with a maximum path width of 100 yards. The damage path
began on the block where Walnut Street meets 4th Street. Damage
was done to an old firehouse where a section of the second story
brick wall was knocked down onto Avenue H and a neighboring store.
The firehouse roof and another adjacent roof were torn off and
lying nearby. The tornado continued southeast through town where a
couple small outbuildings were collapsed near Avenue K. Damage
continued down Malt Avenue with many tree limbs snapped and minor
damage to roofs. The tornado then crossed the Columbia Reading
Railway snapping some large trees along Manor Street and Furnace
Avenue. It continued into the wooded area south of town and across
Blue Lane where many trees were found uprooted and snapped. The
tornado then lifted prior to reaching Richland Drive.

We would like to thank Lancaster County Emergency Management,
the Columbia Borough Police Department, and students from Millersville
University for their assistance in this damage survey.

&&

EF Scale: The Enhanced Fujita Scale classifies tornadoes into the
following categories:

EF0.....65 to 85 mph
EF1.....86 to 110 mph
EF2.....111 to 135 mph
EF3.....136 to 165 mph
EF4.....166 to 200 mph
EF5.....>200 mph

NOTE:
The information in this statement is preliminary and subject to
change pending final review of the events and publication in
NWS Storm Data.


$$