Bridgeport and immediate surrounding areas were fortunate Friday evening. Though remnants of Tropical Storm Cindy brought down a few trees and power lines in the city and its outskirts, the effects were quite minimal compared to areas west and north of us.

 

“There were two tornadoes in our area – both EF1s; one in Salem (Harrison County) and the second one in Morgantown (Monongalia County),” said WDTV Meteorologist Kate Mantych.

 

Considerable damage in Cheat Lake - including airborne boats and portions of docks, as well as a blown off roof – is believed to be part of the same Monongalia County tornado, Mantych said.

 

In the Jarvisville and Sycamore Road/Shaw’s Run areas, just southeast of Salem, a barn collapsed and partially slid off its foundation and a two-storm home suffered partial wall failure. Straight-line winds responsible for that damage then traveled northwest, gaining momentum.

 

“Good, healthy pine trees snapped and utility poles snapped,” Mantych said. “There was a lot of structural damage. Even an SUV flipped.”

 

The most extensive tree damage was along old Davisson Run Road where trees were uprooted and snapped – an indication of straight line winds associated with tornadoes, Mantych said.

 

In Harrison County, maximum estimated winds were 100 miles per hour. The Salem tornado had a path of 400-yards wide and 4.42 miles long. Fortunately and miraculously, there were no fatalities or even injuries, Mantych said.

 

There had been tornado warnings for Harrison, Doddridge, Ritchie, Marion, Monongalia and Preston counties. 

 

In Bridgeport, maximum winds were tracked at 38 miles per hour. That peak speed was recorded at 5:53 p.m. Friday, June 23, from the North Central West Virginia Airport.

 

Damage within the city included a couple of fallen trees; one large one on Layman Court, just off Worthington Drive, which blocked entrance and exit to the Colonial Terrace apartment complex. Director of Bridgeport Parks and Recreation Don Burton said there was also some damage at Bridgeport City Park along the walking trail where a tree and several large tree branches came down.

 

Other calls associated with the storm included those on Hillcrest Circle, Newton Street and Archwood Drive, the latter call involving a backed-up culvert, according to Director of Bridgeport Emergency Services Laura Pysz. There was no major flooding, she said.

 

“At our usual trouble spots – like Route 131 – water was up on the road a little, but nothing like we were expecting it to be,” she said. “We were very fortunate.”

 

Along Despard Road, just outside of Bridgeport, there were reports of uprooted trees.

 

With Tropical Storm Cindy behind us – her remnants striking the general area on the one-year anniversary of southern West Virginia flooding and the 73^rd anniversary of the Shinnston tornado – this week looks to be pretty smooth sailing in the weather department, Mantych said.

 

“We have some storms coming this weekend, but it’s still very early to predict,” she said. “In the meantime, we’ll have plenty of sunshine and warmer weather.”

 

Editor's Note: Pictured are scenes from Bridgeport Friday evening and Saturday morning. From top: Layman Court, courtesy of Hannah Edwards; Worthington Drive, courtesy of Cathy Lyon and Bridgeport City Park, courtesy of Don Burton. See an updated gallery of area storm photos at the link below.