KEARNEYSVILLE, W.Va. — Three storms that broke out in the Eastern Panhandle during a weather event June 5th are now confirmed to have been tornadoes.
This week, the National Weather Service updated its damage reports, reporting that additional damage reports, aerial drone surveys, and further radar analysis reveal that there were tornadoes in Inwood, Kearneysville, and Shepherdstown.
“On the afternoon and evening of Wednesday, June 5th, 2024, a warm front slowly lifted northeast across the eastern Panhandle of West Virginia into northern Virginia as well as central and northeastern Maryland. At the same time, low pressure tracked along the warm front causing severe thunderstorms and tornadoes to develop. At this time, the National Weather Service is confirming thirteen tornadoes in this report.
The tornado that touched down in Kearneysville lasted roughly 5 minutes and luckily just caused some tree damage.
Inwood Tornado
The Inwood tornado, which moved through just after 4 p.m., was reportedly an EF-0 with estimated peak winds of 75 mph. It measured .85 miles long and 65 yards wide. It lasted about four minutes “when it touched down south/southeast of Inwood in a field where tall grass could be seen disturbed in a rotating pattern,” according to the report.
“The tornado proceeded to move north across a cow pasture where a line of trees contained tree damage with large branches broken off. The tornado then tracked north across the field, where additional tree damage and shingle damage occurred along Emery Lane. The tornado continued north towards Lucy Drive where gutter damage and additional tree damage occurred. The tornado then crossed Lucy Drive where large tree branched were broken off. It is believed that the tornado lifted before reaching Middleway Pike as no further damage was observed past that point.”
Kearneysville Tornado
The tornado that was spotted in Kearneysville was also an EF-0 with estimated peak winds of 70 mph, 1.6 miles in length and 110 yards wide. That storm reportedly began at 4:29 p.m. and was on the ground for five minutes in the area of the Chapel View neighborhood of Kearneysville.
“The initial tree damage seen just to the east of Rustling Leaf Place was minor limbs broken off as the tornadic circulation started around 4:29 PM. Approximately 150 yards to the north of the initial damage is a large tree that was uprooted with several large limbs broken on the property of Mount Zion Baptist Church. The tornado then moved further to the north-northeast across several acres of open field farmlands approximately 200 to 300 yards east of Opequon Lane. Video evidence reveals the tornadic circulation approaching and ultimately crossing Route 9 before dissipating where no further damage was observed around 4:34 PM.”
Shepherdstown Tornado
A third tornado was confirmed to have blown through Shepherdstown, with even higher winds. It was also rated an EF-0, with estimated peak winds of 80 mph.
The National Weather Service reports the storm, which hit at 4:58 p.m., was on the ground for four minutes. It was 1.2 miles and 130 yards long.
The tornado reportedly began approximately 200 yards southwest of Morgans Grove Park, leaving leaf litter and small limbs broken.
“The tornado progressed north-northeast near the Town Run Commons adjacent to Morgans Grove Park, uprooting a tree and bringing down several large branches on both sides of Kearneysville Pike near Morgans Grove Park. The tornado continued to bring down large limbs along Shepherd Lane as it progressed north-northeastward towards the Colonial Hills neighborhood. The tornado brought down a tree along the southbound lane of Potomac Farms Drive before moving just off to the north across the road into a lightly wooded area with small limbs broken and no further damage observed further north.”
There were no injuries or fatalities reported as a result of the tornadoes.
The National Weather Service expressed gratitude to the citizens of the affected areas for their help and support in conducting the survey, and providing storm damage reports to the NWS.