Monday Tornado Confirmed In Montgomery County

MONTGOMERYVILLE, PA — A tornado left heavy damage scattered throughout parts of Montgomery County on Monday afternoon.

National Weather Service officials confirmed on Tuesday that the tornado, rated an EF-0, touched down in Montgomeryville, running along a half mile stretch of land for less than a minute.

EF-0 is the mildest tornado rating on the Enhanced Fujita scale used by meteorological observers, and indicates wind speeds between 65 and 85 miles per hour.

The storm touched down at about 3:47 p.m. just east of the Bethlehem Pike on ramp to the 202 parkway, officials said.

After crossing the parkway, trees, picnic benches, cars and tables were tossed "a few hundred feet" near the Texas Roadhouse restaurant. The glass at Noboru restaurant was also shattered by debris, and pieces of siding and roof were ripped off.

The storm continued to the northeast, bending metal light posts and street signs, damaging the Staybridge Hotel, and eventually hitting the roof of the Costco on Upper State Road, officials said.

Ultimately it lifted off just past Upper State Road in the area of a quarry.

A warning was issued for Bucks and Montgomery counties, and specifically for the Montgomeryville area.

No injuries were reported.