Dover experienced an EF-1 tornado with estimated peak winds of 100 to 110 mph on Aug. 20, according to a National Weather Service report.
The tornado traveled more than 3 miles, the report said, but there were no reported injuries.
"EF" is an abbreviation for the Enhanced Fujita Scale, which rates tornadoes from 0 (lowest) to 5 (highest) based on wind speeds.
The NWS also confirmed a tornado occurred in Marydel on Aug. 20, but no other information was immediately available. A report is expected Aug. 23.
The Dover tornado was on the ground from 6:09 to 6:14 p.m., starting just west of Wyoming Mill Road near Riverside Road, the report said.
It damaged crops before traveling northwest across the Dover Little League facilities, the report said.
Two baseball diamonds were extensively damaged, the report said, with tornadic winds snapping at least seven large wooden field-lighting fixtures and likely ripping fencing from its posts.
One scoreboard secured by a brick foundation fell over, the report said, while a second scoreboard supported by metal posts was bent and likely crushed by a projectile.
Additionally, part of a tree was found in the middle of one of the fields with no clear origin, the report said.
The tornado then hit a city power station, the VanSant Generating Station, shifting a trailer off its foundation and causing minor damage to a metal building.
After carving a path through some trees, the tornado impacted what the NWS called "a factory warehouse." The NWS-drawn tornado path indicates the warehouse was the Kraft Heinz building, "where some of the most significant damage occurred," the report said.
"Two sections of concrete -block walls collapsed, a few trailers were sent tumbling and a small section of the metal roofcame off," the report said. "The damage to this facility confirmed max wind gusts of a high-end EF-1."
Weakened, the tornado moved toward downtown Dover, according to the report, downing trees and snapping branches along West North Street, Dover City Hall, Memorial Park, Park Drive and Kings Highway.
The tornado intensified again as it reached the intersection of Kings Highway and Dupont Boulevard (Route 13), reaching its maximum width of 100 yards, the report said.
"It peeled half of the roof off one motel, damaging the roof to the motel next door, and downing two large business signs," the report said, referring to the Super Lodge and Days Inn hotels on Route 13. "This significant roof damage provided secondary confirmation of max wind gusts of a high-end EF-1."
At this point, the tornado dissipated, the report said.
Three other tornadoes occurred in the Mid-Atlantic region as a result of the Aug. 20 storm system, reports said, in Maryland, Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
These tornadoes all had paths less than a half-mile long, according to reports.
The Enhanced Fujita Scale for Tornadoes is a six-category scale that determines the strength of a tornado.
EF0: The tornado has winds between 65-85 mph. It's the weakest classification and these tornadoes do minor damage.
EF1: These tornadoes have wind speeds between 86-110 mph and cause moderate damage.
EF2: These tornadoes have wind speeds of 111-135 mph and cause considerable damage.
EF3: These tornadoes have wind speeds of 136-165 mph and cause severe damage.
EF4: These tornadoes have wind speeds of 166-200 mph and cause devastating damage.
EF5: These tornadoes have wind speeds above 200 mph and cause incredible damage.
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This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Dover tornado on Aug. 20 rated EF-1, National Weather Service says