NWS Confirms Tornado On Smith Island, MD With Winds Of 110 MPH

...NWS DAMAGE SURVEY FOR 08/04/22 SMITH ISLAND TORNADO EVENT...

THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION WAS PROVIDED BY LOCAL RESIDENTS AND NEWS 
OUTLETS.

RATING:                 EF-1
ESTIMATED PEAK WIND:    110 MPH
PATH LENGTH /STATUTE/:  2.2 MILES
PATH WIDTH /MAXIMUM/:   100 YARDS
FATALITIES:             NONE
INJURIES:               1

START DATE:             AUGUST 4, 2022
START TIME:             7:20 PM EDT
START LOCATION:         SHEEP PEN GUT IN SMITH ISLAND, MD
START LAT/LON:          37.9695 / -76.0467

END DATE:               AUGUST 4, 2022
END TIME:               7:27 PM EDT
END LOCATION:           EWELL IN SMITH ISLAND, MD
END LAT/LON:            38.0000 / -76.0300


A WATERSPOUT TOUCHED DOWN IN THE CHESAPEAKE BAY JUST TO THE 
SOUTHWEST OF SMITH ISLAND BEFORE MOVING ASHORE AND CAPSIZING SEVERAL 
BOATS LONGER THAN 25 FEET IN SHEEP PEN GUT. AFTER CROSSING SHEEP PEN 
GUT, THE TORNADO CROSSED MARSH ROAD JUST TO THE NORTHWEST OF CALVARY 
CHURCH, WHERE POWER POLES WERE DOWNED. THE TORNADO TRACKED TO THE 
NORTH-NORTHEAST AND REACHED HIGH-END EF-1 INTENSITY WITH ESTIMATED WINDS 
OF 110 MPH WHEN IT ARRIVED AT THE INTERSECTION OF MARSH ROAD AND 
SMITH ISLAND ROAD. THE TORNADO RIPPED THE ROOF OFF OF ISLAND TIME 
BED AND BREAKFAST AND ANOTHER BLOCK BUILDING RIGHT AFTER THIS POINT. 
IN ADDITION, A MOBILE HOME JUST NORTH OF THESE TWO BUILDINGS WAS 
COMPLETELY DESTROYED AND ONE RESIDENT WAS INJURED. MULTIPLE TREES 
WERE DOWNED IN THIS AREA AS WELL. THE TORNADO CONTINUED TO TRACK TO 
THE NORTH-NORTHEAST, CROSSING SMITH ISLAND ROAD AND MOVING WELL INTO 
THE MARSH EAST OF SMITH ISLAND ROAD. THE TORNADO WEAKENED SOME 
BEFORE REACHING THE NORTH SIDE OF THE ISLAND, BUT STILL SEVERELY 
DAMAGED AN OUTBUILDING JUST WEST OF THE LOCAL POST OFFICE. IT ALSO 
OVERTURNED A GOLF CART, WHICH FELL INTO LEVERING CREEK. THE TORNADO 
MOVED BACK INTO THE CHESAPEAKE BAY SHORTLY AFTER CROSSING LEVERING CREEK.

&&

EF SCALE: THE ENHANCED FUJITA SCALE CLASSIFIES TORNADOES INTO THE
FOLLOWING CATEGORIES:

EF0...WEAK......65 TO 85 MPH
EF1...WEAK......86 TO 110 MPH
EF2...STRONG....111 TO 135 MPH
EF3...STRONG....136 TO 165 MPH
EF4...VIOLENT...166 TO 200 MPH
EF5...VIOLENT...>200 MPH

NOTE:
THE INFORMATION IN THIS STATEMENT IS PRELIMINARY AND SUBJECT TO
CHANGE PENDING FINAL REVIEW OF THE EVENT AND PUBLICATION IN NWS
STORM DATA.

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