ELK TWP., Pa. (EYT) – An investigation is underway to determine if the severe weather that hit Elk Township Monday night was indeed a tornado.
(Video: Clarion County EMA Coordinator Randall Stahlman discusses the situation.)
“What we’re doing right now is an initial damage assessment to see what all is affected, how much damage there was, and what caused the damage,” said Clarion County Emergency Management Coordinator Randall Stahlman.
Around 5:45 p.m., emergency radio transmissions indicated a possible tornado on the ground in the area of Millerstown Road.
Shortly after the storm hit Elk Township, a tornado warning siren was triggered in Shippenville Borough.
The storm produced high winds that uprooted several trees and heavy downpours that drenched the area.
Explore’s Joanne Bauer was on the scene when the severe weather hit.
“I was walking on Millerstown Road, and a dark cloud loomed over my head,” said Bauer. “Heavy winds and downpours came suddenly, and I didn’t know which way to run.”
Bauer also reported seeing a shed being blown away from a nearby residence.
The severe weather only lasted for about five minutes.
In the video below, another Millerstown Road resident provides an eye-witness account.
Stahlman says his department will be contacting the National Weather Service in Pittsburgh on Tuesday and handing off all available information.
“We’re looking for any information to pass along to (the National Weather Service), like pictures or videos,” said Stahlman. “They want as much information as they can get.”
“If it warrants them coming out to make the final determination — if we actually had a tornado touchdown — then that’s the process.”
“Right now, the township and fire departments are working on getting the roads back open.”
Stahlman told exploreClarion.com that he believes the severe weather was contained to the Millerstown Road area.
“As far as I know, it’s very localized, very centered right in this area,” said Stahlman. “There are no other reports from anywhere else in the county.”
“This weather has been horrible,” said Stahlman. “This has been the worst May and start of June that I’ve seen in a long time.”
Shippenville-Elk Township Volunteer Fire Department and Elk Township responded to the scene to remove several downed trees on Millerstown Road.
Additionally, Central Electric was dispatched for reports of several downed electrical wires.
According to a press release issued Monday night by Central Electric, approximately 525 customers in the Pine City area are without power.
No injuries have been reported.
Calls to the National Weather Service in Pittsburgh were not immediately returned.
