A storm producing two separate tornadoes moved across Mercer and Venango counties.  The first tornado spawned by this storm, an F0, touched down in Mercer County at 1:35 PM EST near the community of Hermitage (approximately 2 miles east of Sharon) and moved to the east-northeast for about 6 miles before dissipating at approximately 1:40 PM EST.  The maximum estimated winds were about 70 MPH.  Some of the damage observed from this first tornado included a downed fire tower near Hermitage.  The windward side of a barn in Jefferson Township was blown apart and the adjacent building exhibited large holes in the metal sides from flying debris.  A garage that was under construction also suffered major damage.  Numerous trees and telephone poles were either toppled or snapped along the path of the tornado.  There were also some trees toppled onto houses.  The same storm continued moving to the east-northeast and produced another tornado in Mercer County, an F1, which touched down about 5 miles northeast of Mercer near Lake Latonka at 1:45 PM EST.  It moved to the east-northeast along Routes 65 and 965, eventually crossing over into Venango County at 2:00 PM EST approximately 5 miles east of the town of Stoneboro.  The tornado continued traveling to the east-northeast in Venango County, passing just south of the town of Polk, then dissipating about 2 miles southwest of Franklin at approximately 2:06 PM EST.  Even though the tornado dissipated, sporadic downburst wind damage continued for several more miles in Venango County.  The total path length of this tornado was about 16 miles, with 10 of those miles in Mercer County and 6 miles in Venango County.  The maximum estimated winds were 105 MPH with a maximum width of about 200 yards.  In Mercer County, this tornado produced structural damage to several houses at Lake Latonka.  Also, there were several decks and porches destroyed.  Some sheds and small garages were damaged, and there were numerous trees toppled or snapped.  One boat was blown over, and siding and shingles were blown off houses.  Near Jackson Corners, there were numerous large trees downed, as well as power lines and telephone poles.  Also, several trees were toppled onto houses.  Several signs were destroyed, and roofs, siding and shingles were ripped from several houses and out-buildings.  The fish hatchery building had about a 100-square foot piece of its metal roof ripped off and thrown several hundred yards.  A relatively new garage was completely destroyed.  Also, a wooden 2x4 board was found thrown into a mobile home and pieces of wood were also driven into the front of a car.  As the tornado approached the Venango County line, the damage pattern widened considerably.  Thousands of trees and branches were snapped or toppled.  At this point the path width of damage stretched to nearly nearly one-half mile, as the tornado track was joined by microburst damage.In Venango County, this tornado caused minor damage to 3 homes; moderate damage to another, and totally destroyed 4 barns.  There were also 2 tree farms that suffered major damage and one-half of a double-wide mobile home was turned completely over onto its roof.

Tornado in MERCER, PENNSYLVANIA
From 28-APR-02 13:45:00 to 28-APR-02 14:00:00 (EST)
Location: MERCER
Tornado F-scale: F1
Property damage: 750K
Reported by: NWS STORM SURVEY

Tornado in VENANGO, PENNSYLVANIA
From 28-APR-02 14:00:00 to 28-APR-02 14:06:00 (EST)
Location: RAYMILTON
Tornado F-scale: F1
Property damage: 250K
Reported by: NWS STORM SURVEY

Tornado in MERCER, PENNSYLVANIA
From 28-APR-02 13:35:00 to 28-APR-02 13:40:00 (EST)
Location: SHARON
Tornado F-scale: F0
Property damage: 150K
Reported by: NWS STORM SURVEY