By Tom Markland, The Journal
MARTINSBURG, W.Va. — A tornado touched down last Thursday night as remnants of Tropical Storm Debby hit the Eastern Panhandle, according to a new report from the National Weather Service.
Data from the National Weather Service indicated the tornado touched down in Hedgesville. It first touched down around the intersection of Wampum Lane and Lodge Road, uprooting a large tree and snapping branches as it moved toward Brumbaugh Lane and dissipated.
The EF-0 tornado had wind speeds of 80 mph and traveled less than half a mile in the minute it was estimated to be on the ground. Several others were reported outside the Eastern Panhandle, including an EF-1 in Clarke County, Virginia, as well as in Stafford and Loudoun counties, also in Virginia.
Thursday’s tornado was the 19th confirmed twister to touch down in 2024 in West Virginia, pushing this calendar year even further past the previous record of 14 in 1998.
