CHARLESTON, WV (LOOTPRESS) – The National Weather Service has confirmed five tornadoes touched down across portions of West Virginia and southeast Ohio during the July 21 severe weather outbreak, including three powerful EF2 tornadoes with winds reaching up to 130 mph.
The latest damage survey added a previously unconfirmed EF2 tornado in southeast Ritchie County and updated the paths and widths of several other tornadoes.
No injuries or deaths were reported in connection with any of the storms.
EF2 Tornado Confirmed in Ritchie County
An EF2 tornado with estimated peak winds of 115 mph touched down around 1:38 p.m. approximately seven miles north of Grantsville.
The tornado traveled about 1.8 miles and reached a maximum width of 800 yards before lifting around 1:43 p.m.
Survey crews found large, mature hardwood trees snapped along a path nearly half a mile wide near Leatherbark Road. A nearby home also suffered minor roof shingle damage.
Because of the remote terrain and limited access, the exact beginning and ending points of the tornado were estimated.
EF2 Tornado Crosses from Ohio into Pleasants County
A second EF2 tornado developed north-northeast of Marietta, Ohio, around 4:15 p.m. before traveling more than 12 miles into Pleasants County.
The tornado had estimated peak winds of 120 mph and reached a maximum width of 600 yards.
It moved through the Caywood and Hills communities, damaging several homes and knocking over a silo. The strongest damage occurred along State Route 26, where a large patch of pine trees was completely flattened.
The tornado later crossed the Ohio River near Newell Run and entered West Virginia near Belmont, where several camper trailers were damaged or overturned at Riverview Estates.
It continued through the Green Run area before dissipating south-southwest of St. Marys.
Third EF2 Tornado Reaches 130 MPH
Another EF2 tornado began in Washington County, Ohio, around 4:25 p.m. before crossing the Ohio River into West Virginia.
The tornado traveled approximately 12.1 miles, reached a maximum width of 1,000 yards and produced estimated peak winds of 130 mph.
After causing damage near Newport, the tornado strengthened as it crossed the river near the St. Marys Bridge.
The strongest damage was found near the intersection of Greens Run Road and Route 16, where several homes were significantly damaged, a large communications tower was bent over and a wide area of hardwood trees was leveled.
The tornado later followed an intermittent path near Route 16 toward the Cloverdale community before ending near the Ritchie County line.
24-Mile EF1 Tornado Crosses Five Counties
The longest tornado of the outbreak traveled more than 24 miles across Washington County, Ohio, and Pleasants, Tyler, Ritchie and Doddridge counties in West Virginia.
The EF1 tornado had estimated peak winds of 110 mph and reached a maximum width of 1,320 yards, or approximately three-quarters of a mile.
The tornado began in the Wayne National Forest before crossing the Ohio River near Raven Rock. It then followed a non-continuous path through several rural areas before lifting near Arnolds Creek Road in Doddridge County.
The National Weather Service said the tornado became increasingly wide in some areas, but most of the documented damage was limited to trees.
Survey crews noted that stronger damage may have gone undetected because much of the tornado’s path crossed remote forests with limited road access.
EF0 Tornado Touches Down Near Philippi
An EF0 tornado with estimated winds of 85 mph touched down around 5:38 p.m. approximately three miles north of Philippi in Barbour County.
The tornado traveled about one-third of a mile along a railroad track and reached a maximum width of 110 yards.
Several large hardwood trees were uprooted or snapped, including some measuring more than 18 inches in diameter.
The tornado lifted approximately one minute after touching down.
The National Weather Service said Barbour County has now recorded five tornadoes dating back to the late 1800s. The county’s previous tornado occurred on June 22, 2026, near Moatsville.
The National Weather Service thanked local emergency management agencies, sheriff’s offices and search-and-rescue teams for providing access, drone footage and aerial surveys of the storm paths.
All tornado ratings and damage information remain preliminary and could change following a final review.
