Survey says EF1 tornado hit Mahanoy; school reopens for last day Wednesday
KAYLEE LINDENMUTH / SHENANDOAH SENTINEL - Trees are strewn about the 8th Street Park.
MAHANOY CITY – The National Weather Service at State College confirmed Monday night’s storm dropped an EF1 tornado on Mahanoy City.
The twister had peak winds of about 90mph, the weather service said.
It formed just west of the borough around 7:38pm and travelled northeast, roughly along the railroad, ending near Glendon Road on the way to Delano.
SHERRY STREETER / SHENANDOAH SENTINEL – A plank is seen embedded in the grass at the Mahanoy Area High School. 
PHOTO COURTESY / JACK HURST, MASD — A plank is seen driven into the Mahanoy Area High School roof on May 27, 2024 after a reported tornado. 
PHOTO COURTESY / MAHANOY AREA SD – A tree is seen down on the Mahanoy Area campus. 
SHERRY STREETER / SHENANDOAH SENTINEL – A window is seen busted at the Mahanoy Area High School. 
PHOTO COURTESY / MEGAN KROMER — A funnel cloud is seen in Mahanoy City.
Trees were uprooted along the path and wood impaled the roof of the Mahanoy Area High School, prompting its closure Tuesday.
School will reopen Wednesday for the last day of the year, and graduation is still on as planned as crews clear trees from the area of the football stadium.
John Bowen, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service’s storm survey crew, told the Sentinel during the survey that they were “fairly confident” the damage was tornadic.
He said they were “Basically, performing forensic meteorology with the goal of putting all the pieces together to complete the story of what the storm did last night.”
“Given a lot of the video we’ve seen and the way the damage has been blown around, we’re fairly confident that this was tornadic damage,” he said.
Bowen added that the common belief in northern Schuylkill County, that communities like Shenandoah and Mahanoy City are shielded from tornadoes by mountains, is not true.
KAYLEE LINDENMUTH / SHENANDOAH SENTINEL – Damage to a window’s awning is seen at Mahanoy Automotive on May 28, 2024. 
KAYLEE LINDENMUTH / SHENANDOAH SENTINEL – A deck’s fence is completely gone and a garage damaged at Catawissa and Railroad Streets. 
KAYLEE LINDENMUTH / SHENANDOAH SENTINEL – A roof lays atop cars at Village Auto. 
SHERRY STREETER / SHENANDOAH SENTINEL – Damage seen to the window at the Mahanoy City Lumber Company building. 
KAYLEE LINDENMUTH / SHENANDOAH SENTINEL – The face of the Dollar General sign is seen in a backyard in Mahanoy City on May 28, 2024. 
KAYLEE LINDENMUTH / SHENANDOAH SENTINEL – The Dollar General sign is seen damaged. 
KAYLEE LINDENMUTH / SHENANDOAH SENTINEL – Mahanoy City Fire Chief Dan Markiewicz shows damage to his deck.
“Topography can modify weather to a degree, but if a tornado is on the ground and causing damage, it really doesn’t care,” Bowen said. “It’ll cross mountains.”
The Sentinel was the only Schuylkill County-based media outlet along for the survey.
John Blickley, Schuylkill County Emergency Management Director, said Mahanoy area residents who have storm damage should report damages to Mahanoy City Borough Hall or the Schuylkill County Office of Emergency Management.
Residents should contact their homeowners insurance, take photos, and keep any receipts of costs incurred.
When reaching out to the borough or EMA, include your name, address, damage, and insured or uninsured loss.
“Please be patient with the process and remember there is no guarantee of assistance available,” Blickley said.
The Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency was also in town Tuesday.
Miraculously, no injuries were reported.
Fire Chief Dan Markiewicz’s home was one that received minor damage.
KAYLEE LINDENMUTH / SHENANDOAH SENTINEL – A National Weather Service meteorologist stands next to an uprooted tree. 
KAYLEE LINDENMUTH / SHENANDOAH SENTINEL – The remains of a roof lay atop cars at Village Auto. 
KAYLEE LINDENMUTH / SHENANDOAH SENTINEL – Trees are strewn about the 8th Street Park. 
KAYLEE LINDENMUTH / SHENANDOAH SENTINEL – John Bowen, a National Weather Service meteorologist, takes a photo of downed trees at the 8th Street Park. 
KAYLEE LINDENMUTH / SHENANDOAH SENTINEL – A downed tree lays atop a fence at the 8th Street Park. 
KAYLEE LINDENMUTH / SHENANDOAH SENTINEL – Mahanoy City Fire Chief Dan Markiewicz shows damage to his fence.
He pointed out a damaged solar panel on his roof, which he said looked like a baseball had struck it.
The face of the Dollar General sign also landed in his backyard.
At the 8th Street Playground, trees were strewn about, including one downing much of a fence.
A roof had been blown across the Reading and Northern Railroad near the former gas plant as well, just west of Main Street.
As of Tuesday night, all power outages had been repaired. Over 600 customers in Mahanoy City were without power from Catawissa Street west, as well as the entire village of Buck Mountain.
Mahanoy City and Mahanoy Township also declared emergencies.
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