The National Weather Service has confirmed that a brief EF-0 tornado touched down in Amity Township on Tuesday afternoon, July 1, causing tree damage along a nearly one-mile path before dissipating northwest of Earlville.
According to a storm survey conducted by the NWS Mount Holly office, the tornado touched down at approximately 4:47 p.m. along Weavertown Lane in Amity Township, Berks County. Peak wind speeds reached 70 mph, with the tornado carving a path about 0.9 miles long and up to 150 yards wide. The storm was classified as EF-0—the weakest rating on the Enhanced Fujita scale—with no reported injuries or fatalities.
Damage included large limbs broken or snapped off several softwood trees, at least one of which was uprooted. Some trees showed signs of twisting, and damage continued sporadically along Weavertown Lane, crossing Old Swede Road and ending across a farm field near Boyertown Pike and Camp Road.
The NWS noted that the damage pattern suggested some variability in direction, indicating the tornado may have lifted briefly during its short lifespan.
In addition to the tornado, a rear-flank downdraft produced straight-line winds—also reaching up to 70 mph—that continued northeast toward Boyertown and the northern side of Gilbertsville in Montgomery County. This downdraft caused additional tree damage. The weather service also observed several other areas of wind damage across Berks County likely caused by severe straight-line winds.
The National Weather Service thanked local storm spotters, including Lou Ruh, and the Berks County Department of Emergency Services for assisting with the storm damage survey.