CHARLESTON, W.Va. — There have been five confirmed tornadoes in recent weeks in the Mountain State but that’s not that unusual according to the National Weather Service.
“West Virginia normally averages at least two tornadoes per year so we’re really not out of a normal range for tornadoes,” NWS Meteorologist John Sikora said.
This summer’s storms have produced tornadoes in Cabell, Monongalia, Taylor, Ritchie, Pleasants and Harrison counties.
“When you get a pretty warm air mass over top of us and you’ve got a cold air mass trying to push it out—when the two air masses clash you’ll get the severe weather,” Sikora said.
All of the tornadoes confirmed in West Virginia in recent weeks have been either EF-O or EF-1 with winds from 89-110 mph. None of them were on the ground for very long.
The latest confirmation came Tuesday when meteorologists confirmed a tornado had touched down Sunday night in the Harrison County community of Johnstown.