Downburst caused damage in Liverpool Township

Staff report

East Liverpool

The National Weather Service in Pittsburgh has reported to Columbiana County officials that a downburst, not a tornado, caused downed trees and other damage in Tuesday night’s storm.

Officials from the service examined the pattern of damage to trees to make the determination, said county Commissioner Tim Weigle, who met Wednesday with weather service officials as they toured the area.

According to the National Weather Service, a downburst is a strong downdraft that causes damaging winds on or near the ground.

Damage was mostly in the eastern portion of Liverpool Township and Thompson Park in East Liverpool, Weigle said.

“They told us a downburst can have winds of 80 to 90 mph, which is as strong as a small tornado,” he said.

In addition, a lightning strike during the storm led to the destruction of a historic home in Beaver Creek State Park, Weigle said.

This is the second storm this month that has caused damage in Liverpool Township. There was flooding on July 10 after heavy rains caused a drainage ditch to overflow in a low-lying area of the city near the Ohio River.

Residents stated at the time it was the worst flooding they had seen in that area in 40 years.