09/04/2026
Public Information Statement
National Weather Service State College PA
621 PM EDT Fri Sep 4 2026
..NWS Damage Survey for 09/01/2026 Tornado Event...
Gaines Township Tornado...
Rating: EF-1
Estimated Peak Wind: 110 mph
Path Length /statute/: 6.5 miles
Path Width /maximum/: 150 yards
Fatalities: 0
Injuries: 0
Start Date: 09/01/2026
Start Time: 05:33 PM EDT
Start Location: 4 W Gaines / Potter County / PA
Start Lat/Lon: 41.794 / -77.6155
End Date: 09/01/2026
End Time: 05:48 PM EDT
End Location: 4 ESE Galeton / Tioga County / PA
End Lat/Lon: 41.7082 / -77.5748
Survey Summary:
On September 1, 2026 at approximately 5:33 PM EDT, an EF-1
tornado impacted areas of eastern Potter County and western Tioga
County in the vicinity of Gaines Township. Maximum wind speeds
were estimated at 110 mph with a maximum path width of 150 yards.
Damage associated with the tornado began north of Galeton near
Phoenix Run in Pike Township, where multiple hardwood trees were
snapped along with numerous large branches on both sides of
Phoenix Road. There was more extensive damage just east of Phoenix
Road, where a larger swath of EF-1 damage was observed with some
uprooted trees alongside snapped trees and large branches. Damage
continued southeastward on Phoenix Road in Potter County with more
sporadic damage including broken large branches and snapped
trees. There was an area where the tornado potentially lifted as
it approached US Route 6 with damage being largely sporadic and
not as concentrated as it crossed the roadway.
Once crossing US Route 6, more widespread damage was observed
across Hanky Panky Road in Gaines Township, Tioga County. Numerous
uprooted and snapped trees were observed across approximately a
150 yard segment with eyewitnesses mentioning that there were
trees across the roadway in a convergent pattern. This damage
continued towards the intersections of Dingman Road and Bloody Run
Road, where concentrated areas of snapped and uprooted trees
continued to be observed. There was another eyewitness that noted
multiple trees uprooted at their residence on Dingman Road with
what appeared to be a convergent pattern. As the storm continued
into Marshlands, multiple large branches as well as uprooted and
snapped trees were in a convergent pattern, with surrounding
vegetation also outlining a convergent pattern. The tornado likely
continued to parallel Elk Run Road just south of the roadway
before dissipating on the north side of the intersection with
Straight Run Road.
We would like to thank Gaines Township Emergency Management,
Tioga County Emergency Management, multiple first responders, and
the multiple eyewitnesses from Gaines Township for their
assistance with this damage survey.
&&
EF Scale: The Enhanced Fujita Scale classifies tornadoes into the
following categories:
EF0.....65 to 85 mph
EF1.....86 to 110 mph
EF2.....111 to 135 mph
EF3.....136 to 165 mph
EF4.....166 to 200 mph
EF5.....>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.
