It used to be that you didn’t hear much about tornadoes outside of areas that are prone to them. However, climate change has brought more severe weather systems to different parts of the world, causing areas that aren’t used to such intense storms to become hot spots for tornado activity.
Now, a Pennsylvania man is sharing his story after an EF-1 tornado blew through his town, destroying the property where his house is located, battered but still standing.
Mike Beirlair shared his story with local CBS News station WTAJ, walking the reporter through his yard so he could show him the extent of the damage.
The wreckage serves as a reminder that summer storms can bring severe weather when they pop up, something Beirlair says he now knows he needs to brace for in the future.
The tornado touched down on July 18, 2026, and Beirlair confirmed that tornadoes really do sound like a train is coming through. “So, I got to the middle of the house to see if anything else was going to happen… carnage… I always keep saying carnage because it’s just crazy,” the homeowner recounted during his interview. “You see stuff like that on TV, but you know not here. I’ve never seen nothing like that… And I was right in the middle of it, so it hit both sides, I got pretty lucky, you know the house is still here… there’s damage… but you can fix that.”
As for how much damage there is, Beirlair estimates that the storm did about $75,000 worth of damage to his property. The homeowner revealed that he was trying to get some temporary fixes put in place, though, since more severe weather is on the way. “They’re doing temporary repairs to get ready for the next storm that’s coming tomorrow so I don’t get no more damage inside the house or anything,” he added.
Tornadoes Aren’t as Uncommon as We Think
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) estimates that there are around 1,200 in the U.S. each year. Tornado season typically runs from May to early June in areas like Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas. Meanwhile, in the Gulf Coast, the season starts earlier in the spring. Then in the northern Plains and upper Midwest, the NOAA says people can expect to see an influx of tornadoes in June and July.
That being said, the weather agency reminds people that tornadoes can really happen any time of year, and any time of day, making it extra important to be weather aware.