ILWACO, Wash. — The first tornado to strike Pacific County in nearly 30 years was reported on Friday near Ilwaco, according to the National Weather Service.
The tornado touched down just after 8 p.m. near Redwing Way north of the Port of Ilwaco Airport. It crossed northeast through a housing subdivision and the Wallacut River and make it about 500 yards before dissipating around Highway 101.
Its width was estimated at 60 yards and reached a top speed of about 65 mph — just about the bare minimum windspeed for a tornado.
There was some minor damage found to trees, fences, windows and shingles, and other unsecured attachments to structures along its path.
No one was injured.
Forecasters gave the tornado a rating of EF-0 on the Enhanced Fujita Scale, the lowest rating on the 6-level scale. It’s the first confirmed tornado in the county since June 1991.
While the storm survey team was over there, they checked out a second storm near Long Beach that radar indicated could have also spawned a weak tornado, but didn’t find any evidence of a twister nor any wind damage.
Washington averages about 2-3 tornadoes a year in the state; the vast majority of them are weak and rarely cause severe damage.
by Scott Sistek (2021, Mar 22) Komo News
