Pennsylvania tornadoes

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993 confirmed tornadoes since 1950. Most recent: September 4, 2025, EF0. 2026 so far: 47 preliminary reports preliminary

Counties with the most tornadoes

CountyTornadoes since 1950Per 1,000 sq mi
Westmoreland County5049
Crawford County4040
Lancaster County3941
York County3539
Chester County3141
Berks County2934
Lycoming County2924
Allegheny County2838
Bucks County2846
Butler County2835
Beaver County2455
Mercer County2436
Erie County2329
Cambria County2232
Washington County2226

When tornadoes hit here

By month

2120 Jan: 7Feb: 6Mar: 32Apr: 89May: 177Jun: 192Jul: 212Aug: 116Sep: 80Oct: 42Nov: 35Dec: 5JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

July is the peak month, with 212 of 993 tornadoes.

By time of day

1240 12 AM: 7: 10: 43 AM: 3: 5: 56 AM: 5: 2: 119 AM: 12: 25: 4012 PM: 73: 106: 1143 PM: 124: 124: 1246 PM: 79: 52: 259 PM: 13: 18: 1212 AM3 AM6 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PM9 PM

Most often around 3:00 PM. Times as recorded by NOAA, mostly Central Standard Time.

By year, 1950 to 2025

590 1950: 5: 4: 7: 6: 21: 3: 6: 8: 1: 01960: 3: 6: 4: 4: 6: 3: 4: 3: 5: 21970: 12: 3: 2: 12: 7: 15: 23: 13: 15: 141980: 17: 17: 4: 16: 8: 33: 6: 6: 6: 111990: 19: 20: 31: 13: 27: 6: 25: 14: 59: 92000: 5: 12: 16: 9: 26: 11: 8: 7: 5: 72010: 17: 30: 12: 9: 9: 12: 9: 29: 32: 352020: 7: 44: 8: 24: 24: 2219501960197019801990200020102020

The line is the five-year average. Tornadoes before about 1953 were under-reported, and better radar since the 1990s finds more weak ones. This year so far: 47 preliminary reports.

By rating

EF0
285
EF1
492
EF2
176
EF3
28
EF4
8
EF5
1
Unknown
3

Ratings before February 2007 use the original F scale; the numbers line up with today's EF scale. Unknown means NOAA could not assign a rating.

Notable tornadoes

Deadliest

F5, May 31, 1985

18 deaths Longest path

69 miles, F4

May 31, 1985

Most recent tornadoes

DateRatingPath lengthWidthDeathsInjuries
Sep 4, 2025EF00.15 mi30 yd00
Jul 1, 2025EF00.9 mi150 yd00
Jun 17, 2025EF11.06 mi175 yd00
Jun 9, 2025EF21.04 mi115 yd00
Jun 9, 2025EF00.23 mi25 yd00
Jun 9, 2025EF00.66 mi25 yd00
May 21, 2025EF113.89 mi200 yd00
May 21, 2025EF02.22 mi75 yd00
May 21, 2025EF00.24 mi210 yd00
May 21, 2025EF00.36 mi160 yd00
May 16, 2025EF00.51 mi75 yd00
May 6, 2025EF11.5 mi100 yd00
May 4, 2025EF01.7 mi35 yd00
May 4, 2025EFU0.4 mi30 yd00
May 4, 2025EF00.1 mi10 yd00
Mar 16, 2025EF10.66 mi500 yd00
Mar 16, 2025EF10.51 mi200 yd00
Mar 16, 2025EF11.08 mi50 yd00
Mar 16, 2025EF01.69 mi50 yd00
Mar 16, 2025EF11.21 mi50 yd00

Every Pennsylvania county

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Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather database, 1950 to 2025. A tornado that crossed a state line counts in each state it touched.