July 2009 Mid-Atlantic tornadoes
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}}
{{Infobox storm
| name = July 2009 Mid-Atlantic tornadoes
| image = Ww0559 radar init.gif
| alt =
| caption = Radar image of the storm system as it passed through the Northeastern States
| type = Tornado outbreak
| active = July 29, 2009
| lowest pressure =
| lowest temperature =
| tornadoes = 5 confirmed
| fujitascale = EF2
| tornado duration = 2 hours and 30 minutes
| highest winds =
| hail =
| gusts =
| maximum snow =
| power outages =
| fatalities = 2 injuries
| damages = $2.165 million{{cite web |title=Tornado Reports: July 29, 2009 |url=https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/listevents.jsp?eventType=%28C%29+Tornado&beginDate_mm=07&beginDate_dd=29&beginDate_yyyy=2009&endDate_mm=07&endDate_dd=29&endDate_yyyy=2009&hailfilter=0.00&tornfilter=0&windfilter=000&sort=DT&submitbutton=Search&statefips=-999%2CALL |website=National Centers for Environmental Information |publisher=NOAA |access-date=November 3, 2022}}
| affected =
| current advisories =
| enhanced = yes
| notes =
}}
The July 2009 Mid-Atlantic tornadoes were a series of five tornadoes, two of which attained EF2 status, that touched down within one hour and thirty minutes in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States.
Confirmed tornadoes
{{Tornado Chart
|Total = 5
|F0 = 2
|F1 = 1
|F2 = 2
|F3 = 0
|F4 = 0
|F5 = 0
|Enhanced=yes
}}
=Pennsylvania=
Two tornadoes touched down in Pennsylvania, one in Monroe County and one in Wyoming County.{{cite web |author=Staff Writer |publisher=WNEP |date=July 30, 2009 |accessdate=July 31, 2009 |title=Tornado Confirmed in Wyoming County |url=http://www.wnep.com/wnep-wyo-weather-service-confirms-tornado,0,6358642.story |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090803101451/http://www.wnep.com/wnep-wyo-weather-service-confirms-tornado,0,6358642.story |archivedate=August 3, 2009 }} The first tornado was an EF2 in Monroe County that touched down around 1:30 pm EDT and tracked for {{convert|5|mi|km}}. Five homes lost their roofs and several barns were destroyed along the tornado's path. Numerous power lines were also downed, resulting in several road closures.{{cite web |agency=Associated Press |publisher=Fox News |date=July 30, 2009 |access-date=July 31, 2009 |title=Violent Tornado Rips Through Pennsylvania Towns in Pocono Mountains |url=https://www.foxnews.com/story/violent-tornado-rips-through-pennsylvania-towns-in-pocono-mountains |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090802140024/http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,535612,00.html?test=latestnews |archive-date=August 2, 2009 }} This tornado was one of 12 tornadoes to touch down in the county since 1950. In Cherry Valley, 25 power poles were downed, resulting in extensive internet and power outages.{{cite web|author=Andrew Scott|publisher=Pocono Record|date=July 31, 2009|accessdate=July 31, 2009|title=Cleanup continues after Wednesday's tornado in Hamilton, Stroud townships (with flyover video)|url=http://www.poconorecord.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090731/NEWS/907310334}} In Franklin County, a downburst caused structural damage.
=New Jersey=
In New Jersey, one EF2 tornado was confirmed in Sussex County.{{cite web|author=Storm Prediction Center|publisher=National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration|date=July 31, 2009|accessdate=July 31, 2009|title=Storm Reports for July 29, 2009|url=http://www.spc.noaa.gov/climo/reports/090729_rpts.html}} The tornado tracked for roughly {{convert|7|mi|km}} before dissipating. Along its track, thousands of trees were uprooted and snapped, numerous segments of guardrail were destroyed, acres of farmland were lost and several structures were damaged. The tornado, peaking with winds up to {{convert|120|mph|km/h}} touched down around 2:45 pm EDT and traveled for 15 minutes. The worst damage was along a {{convert|2|mi|km}} stretch of the track in Wantage where a state of emergency was declared;{{cite news|author=Tanya Drobness|newspaper=The Star-Ledger|date=July 31, 2009|accessdate=July 31, 2009|title=Wantage picks up the pieces after facing 120-mph tornado (Page 3)|url=http://www.nj.com/news/ledger/jersey/index.ssf?/base/news-14/124900170835470.xml&coll=1&thispage=3}} in this area, hundreds of trees were tossed in multiple directions, a corn field was decimated by the tornado's winds and damaged a dairy farm.{{cite news|author=Tanya Drobness|newspaper=The Star-Ledger|date=July 31, 2009|accessdate=July 31, 2009|title=Wantage picks up the pieces after facing 120-mph tornado (Page 1)|url=http://www.nj.com/news/ledger/jersey/index.ssf?/base/news-14/124900170835470.xml&coll=1}} One {{convert|70|ft|m}} tall silo, made of 40 tons of concrete and steel, was destroyed by the tornado. Two of the barns on the dairy farm were destroyed and two others were severely damaged. A large portion of one of the barns roof was torn off, and was tossed roughly {{convert|.75|mi|km}} before landing in the yard of another home. Another barn was pick up and twisted around despite being secured by 18 poles anchored 4 feet in the ground.{{cite news|author=Tanya Drobness|newspaper=The Star-Ledger|date=July 31, 2009|accessdate=July 31, 2009|title=Wantage picks up the pieces after facing 120-mph tornado (Page 2)|url=http://www.nj.com/news/ledger/jersey/index.ssf?/base/news-14/124900170835470.xml&coll=1&thispage=2}}
There were also 100 cows on the farm at the time of the tornado, of which one was reported missing. Residents who saw the tornado reported that two of the cows were picked up and tossed {{convert|50|ft|m}} by the tornado. On the dairy farm property alone, roughly 600 trees were uprooted. Severe storms in the region also produced damaging wind gusts up to {{convert|70|mph|km/h}}. Torrential rainfall also fell within these storms, triggering widespread flash flooding. Numerous power lines were downed and a {{convert|100|ft|m}} radio tower collapsed due to the winds. The tornado was one of 145 to touch down in the state since 1950 and the first to hit Wantage in 29 years.{{cite news|author=Tanya Drobness|newspaper=The Star-Ledger|date=July 31, 2009|accessdate=July 31, 2009|title=Wantage picks up the pieces after facing 120-mph tornado (Page 4)|url=http://www.nj.com/news/ledger/jersey/index.ssf?/base/news-14/124900170835470.xml&coll=1&thispage=4}} Throughout the state, roughly 25,000 residences were left without power due to the storms.{{cite news|agency=Associated Press |newspaper=The Philadelphia Inquirer |date=July 31, 2009 |accessdate=July 31, 2009 |title=Tornado confirmed in northwest New Jersey |url=http://www.philly.com/inquirer/local/nj/20090731_Tornado_confirmed_in_northwest_New_Jersey.html |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090803184930/http://www.philly.com/inquirer/local/nj/20090731_Tornado_confirmed_in_northwest_New_Jersey.html |archivedate=August 3, 2009 }}
=New York=
In Unionville, New York, near the New York-New Jersey state line, a brief EF0 tornado touched down around 3:05 pm EDT. Dozens of trees were damaged and several more were uprooted. The most severe damage took place along County Highway 36.{{cite news|author=Kieth Goldberg |newspaper=Times Herald-Record |date=July 31, 2009 |accessdate=July 31, 2009 |title=Weather service confirms tornado hit Unionville |url=http://www.recordonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090731/NEWS/907310355/-1/SITEMAP |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20240524025049/https://www.webcitation.org/5igfdLL7x?url=http://www.recordonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article%3FAID=/20090731/NEWS/907310355/-1/SITEMAP |archivedate=May 24, 2024 }}
=Maryland=
Around 2:46 pm EDT, an EF1 tornado touched down near Oldtown, Maryland in Allegany County. Several roads were closed due to downed trees and power lines, including route 51. Several homes were also damaged by the tornado.{{cite news |agency=Associated Press |newspaper=The Baltimore Sun |date=July 29, 2009 |accessdate=July 31, 2009 |title=Reported tornado downs trees, utility poles in Western Md. |url=http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/weather/bal-severe-weather0729,0,4080676.story |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20240524025210/https://www.webcitation.org/5iggUPDqO?url=http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/weather/bal-severe-weather0729,0,4080676.story |archivedate=May 24, 2024 }} The path of the tornado was estimated to be {{convert|5|mi|km}} long.{{cite web|author=Angelique Gonzalez & Jacqueline Waite |publisher=Nexstar Broadcasting, Inc. |date=July 30, 2009 |accessdate=July 31, 2009 |title=National Weather Service Confirms EF-1 Tornado in Oldto... |url=http://your4state.com/content/fulltext/?cid=74022 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20240524025130/https://www.webcitation.org/5iggqM97J?url=http://your4state.com/content/fulltext/%3Fcid=74022 |archivedate=May 24, 2024 }} A total of 810 residences were also left without power after the storm.{{cite news|author=Staff Writer |newspaper=Cumberland Times-News |date=July 29, 2009 |accessdate=July 31, 2009 |title=Twister hits Oldtown |url=http://www.times-news.com/local/local_story_210232210.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120913090423/http://www.times-news.com/local/local_story_210232210.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 13, 2012 }}
See also
References
{{reflist}}
{{2009 tornado outbreaks}}
Category:2009 natural disasters in the United States