Beaver County, Pennsylvania

County storm and disaster record · FIPS 42007 · population 168,155 · 435 sq mi

NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 978 records for Beaver County, Pennsylvania from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 498 days; the most frequent are severe thunderstorm wind events (504 records). The deadliest day on its record was May 31, 1985: tornado and thunderstorm wind records filed for Beaver County that day count 5 deaths across 2 records. FEMA has issued 15 declarations naming the county since 1972, 13 of them for natural hazards; the latest for a natural hazard was “Hurricane Sandy” on October 29, 2012.

The record, 1950 to 2026

Storm records filed for the county each year (2026 to June 30, 2026). Before 1996 NOAA recorded only tornadoes (from 1950), thunderstorm wind and hail (from 1955).

  • recorded, no damage figure
  • under $100,000
  • $100,000 or more
  • $1 million or more
  • $10 million or more, or a death
  • $100 million or more, or 10 deaths
  • a year's colour: its recorded damage or deaths
  • a year with a death
  • 1955: wind and hail recorded from 1955
  • 1996: all 48 event types from 1996
Storm records
978on 498 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
Deaths recorded
751 injuries
Damage, 2025 dollars
$183Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
Tornadoes
25strongest F3
FEMA declarations
15latest 2020

Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records through June 30, 2026 (file revision 20260918); damage converted to 2025 dollars with the BLS CPI-U. Search the record at NCEI. BLS consumer price index.

What hazards hit Beaver County most?

The most frequent records are severe thunderstorm wind events: 504 since 1963. 48% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1963 fell in June and July. The rank column places the county among Pennsylvania's counties by days with a record per 1,000 square miles of land over each hazard's complete period.

Beaver County: records by hazard, 1950 to June 30, 2026
HazardRecordsDaysFirst, lastKilledInjuredDamageRank in state
Severe thunderstorm wind 504 259 1963-2026 2 1 $14M 5 of 67
Floods 158 80 1996-2025 0 0 $68M 10 of 67
Hail 153 90 1956-2026 0 0 $2K 3 of 67
Winter storms 80 74 1996-2026 1 0 $10K 26 of 67
High wind and dust storms 32 31 1996-2023 1 2 $8.5M 12 of 67
Tornadoes 25 22 1954-2026 3 47 $93M 2 of 67
Extreme cold 9 9 2014-2026 0 0 – 25 of 67
Heavy rain 7 5 2012-2022 0 0 – 13 of 67
Lightning 6 5 1996-2011 0 1 $72K 14 of 67
Drought 2 2 1999-1999 0 0 – 55 of 67
Fog, smoke and funnel clouds 2 2 1996-1998 0 0 – 18 of 67

Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (county and forecast-zone records attributed to the county; a zone record shows its own totals on each county it covers). Days: dates with at least one record of the hazard in the county. Ranks: days with a record per 1,000 square miles of land (Census Bureau 2024 Gazetteer), since 1950 for tornadoes, 1955 for hail and thunderstorm wind, 1996 for the rest.

How many tornadoes has Beaver County had?

NOAA records 25 tornadoes in Beaver County from 1954 to 2026, the strongest rated F3, with 3 deaths and 47 injuries recorded in the county. That is 2nd of 67 Pennsylvania counties by days with tornadoes per 1,000 square miles since 1950. A tornado that crossed a county line is counted in each county it touched, with the length of its path inside the county.

Counted as whole tornadoes rather than county records, the Storm Prediction Center's database holds 24 tornadoes whose track touched Beaver County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 25: they file a crossing tornado once per county segment, and the two databases differ on some tracks); along their whole tracks they killed 9 people, 3 of them in Beaver County.

The deadliest and strongest tornadoes that touched Beaver County, whole tracks
DateTornadoRatingPathKilled
1985-05-31 18:10, as SPC files itBig BeaverF339 mi9

Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Pennsylvania.

Every tornado record filed for Beaver County (25)
Every tornado recorded in Beaver County, newest first
DatePlaceCharacterKilledInjuredDamage
2026-06-14 West Mayfield, Beaver County EF0 0.73 mi x 200 yd 0 0 $20K
2024-05-25 Kendall, Beaver County EF0 0.1 mi x 30 yd 0 0 $9K
2024-05-08 Kendall, Beaver County EF0 0.38 mi x 200 yd 0 0 $9K
2021-10-21 Hazen, Beaver County EF1 2.63 mi x 110 yd 0 0 –
2021-10-21 New Galilee, Beaver County EF1 1.64 mi x 40 yd 0 0 –
2021-10-16 Stobo, Beaver County EF1 2.11 mi x 200 yd 0 0 –
2021-10-16 Midland, Beaver County EF0 0.94 mi x 50 yd 0 0 –
2020-06-10 Fairview, Beaver County EF1 9.6 mi x 790 yd 0 0 –
2020-04-07 Blackhawk, Beaver County EF0 0.86 mi x 100 yd 0 0 –
2017-07-10 Fombell, Beaver County EF0 1.71 mi x 75 yd 0 0 $18K
1998-06-02 Shippingport, Beaver County F0 0.2 mi x 25 yd 0 0 $91K
1998-06-02 Shippingport, Beaver County F1 7 mi x 300 yd 0 0 $724K
1998-04-09 Unionville, Beaver County F1 0.2 mi x 50 yd 0 0 $18K
1990-07-22 Beaver County F1 3 mi x 50 yd 0 0 $25K step
1985-05-31 Beaver County F3 17 mi x 243 yd 3 40 $25M step
1983-07-19 Beaver County F1 0.2 mi x 10 yd 0 0 $25K step
1983-07-04 Beaver County F1 0.2 mi x 10 yd 0 1 $250K step
1981-06-21 Beaver County F1 0 0 $25K step
1976-07-11 Beaver County 0 0 $3K step
1975-06-04 Beaver County F2 45.3 mi x 30 yd 0 0 $250 step
1975-03-24 Beaver County F1 0 0 $25K step
1970-09-03 Beaver County F1 1.3 mi x 200 yd 0 5 $2.5M step
1966-04-23 Beaver County F1 1 mi x 17 yd 0 0 $25K step
1956-05-12 Beaver County F2 0 0 $250K step
1954-06-10 Beaver County F2 7.3 mi x 33 yd 0 1 $25K step

A damage figure marked "step" is a record from before 1993: NOAA then filed damage by category, and the figure is the category as entered, in the dollars of that year, not an estimate of the loss.

Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, tornado records by county (path length in the county, maximum width); ratings as published: F scale before February 1, 2007, EF scale after. Whole-track figures: NOAA Storm Prediction Center tornado database (1950-2025). SPC severe weather database.

When was the last damaging storm in Beaver County?

The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the June 14, 2026 thunderstorm wind ($3,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).

The 12 most recent records kept for Beaver County
DateRecordCharacterKilledInjuredDamage
2026-06-14 Thunderstorm WindDavidson Hgts, Beaver County 50 kt wind 0 0 $3K
2026-06-14 TornadoWest Mayfield, Beaver County EF0 0.73 mi x 200 yd 0 0 $20K
2026-06-11 Thunderstorm WindHookstown, Beaver County 56 kt wind 0 0 $5K
2026-04-14 Thunderstorm WindAmbridge, Beaver County 50 kt wind 0 0 $2K
2026-04-14 Thunderstorm WindDavidson Hgts, Beaver County 50 kt wind 0 0 $4K
2026-04-14 Thunderstorm WindNew Sheffield, Beaver County 50 kt wind 0 0 $5K
2026-04-14 Thunderstorm WindBlackhawk, Beaver County 50 kt wind 0 0 $1K
2026-04-14 HailHolt, Beaver County 1.25 in hail 0 0 –
2026-03-22 Thunderstorm WindHookstown, Beaver County 50 kt wind 0 0 $3K
2026-03-17 Winter WeatherBeaver County · forecast zone Beaver 0 0 –
2026-03-07 Thunderstorm WindKoppel, Beaver County 50 kt wind 0 0 $3K
2026-03-07 Thunderstorm WindHighland, Beaver County 50 kt wind 0 0 $5K

Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database; every record of 2025-2026 is listed, earlier ones when they caused deaths, injuries or $250,000 of damage (2025 dollars), and every tornado.

The deadliest and costliest records

Records with deaths or injuries in Beaver County, most deaths first
DateRecordCharacterKilledInjuredDamage
1985-05-31 TornadoBeaver County F3 17 mi x 243 yd 3 40 $25M step
1985-05-31 Thunderstorm WindBeaver County 2 0 –
2009-12-13 Winter WeatherBeaver County · forecast zone Beaver Icy roads played a role in a traffic accident in Beaver Falls after 7 AM that resulted in the death of a 77 year old male driver. 1 0 –
2003-11-13 Strong WindBeaver County · forecast zone Beaver An 84-year-old woman was knocked down on the sidewalk, and died, in front of a beauty shop, in Patterson Twp by a gust of wind estimated at 55 mph (48 kt). 48 kt wind 1 0 –
1970-09-03 TornadoBeaver County F1 1.3 mi x 200 yd 0 5 $2.5M step
2011-05-14 LightningIndustry, Beaver County A 49-year old male was injured when lightning struck a tree near he was standing while working to clear Boy Scouts and camping supplies off a camp site. The camp site was located off of Wolf Run Road and Kelly Road in the town of Industry. No other injuries were reported. 0 1 –
2004-03-05 High WindBeaver County · forecast zone Beaver Numerous trees down county-wide. In Lawrence County, trees were reported blown down around Ellwood City and Slippery Rock. In Venango, the trees fell near Franklin. A tree fell across Route 51 near Beaver, striking a pick-up truck on the highway. (1 injured) 50 kt wind 0 1 $16K
1997-05-01 High WindBeaver County · forecast zone Beaver High winds toppled trees and downed power lines throughout Beaver County. A tree fell onto a car in Chippewa Township on Blackhawk Road. The driver suffered head and face injuries. Rescuers had to cut the car open to rescue her. 0 1 $18K

A damage figure marked "step" is a record from before 1993: NOAA then filed damage by category, and the figure is the category as entered, in the dollars of that year, not an estimate of the loss.

The costliest records in Beaver County since 1993, damage in 2025 dollars
DateRecordCharacterKilledInjuredDamage
1996-01-19 FloodBeaver County · forecast zone Beaver 0 0 $18M
2007-07-05 Flash FloodAliquippa, Beaver County 0 0 $14M
1996-06-19 Flash FloodFreedom, Beaver County 0 0 $14M
2008-09-14 High WindBeaver County · forecast zone Beaver 70 kt wind 0 0 $6.9M
2004-09-08 FloodBeaver County · forecast zone Beaver 0 0 $6.2M
2004-09-17 FloodBeaver County · forecast zone Beaver 0 0 $6.2M
2004-05-22 FloodBeaver County · forecast zone Beaver 0 0 $4.7M
2024-10-06 Thunderstorm WindBeaver Falls Co Airport, Beaver County 50 kt wind 0 0 $1.9M

Before 1993 NOAA filed damage by category, not amount, so the list above starts in 1993. The highest category filed here before then (entered as $25M, in the dollars of the day) holds: May 31, 1985 (tornado, Beaver County, 3 killed).

Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database: deaths and injuries direct and indirect; damage is property plus crops as estimated by the National Weather Service, converted to 2025 dollars.

Is it getting more frequent?

Records per decade for Beaver County's most frequent hazards. Counts rose everywhere after 1996, when NOAA began recording every event type, so compare decades within a hazard's complete period only (the shaded cells come before it).

Beaver County: records per decade (the 2020s to June 30, 2026)
Hazard1950s1960s1970s1980s1990s2000s2010s2020-26
Severe thunderstorm wind056329183148139
Floods––––14388323
Hail1071531304623
Winter storms––––7151840
High wind and dust storms––––71744
Tornadoes21444019

Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).

What time of year?

48% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1963 fell in June and July. The two busiest months are in violet.

The values, month by month

Jan 41 · Feb 42 · Mar 56 · Apr 89 · May 96 · Jun 213 · Jul 155 · Aug 120 · Sep 81 · Oct 17 · Nov 27 · Dec 41 (records).

Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.

Federal disaster declarations for Beaver County

FEMA's register lists 15 declarations that include Beaver County: 10 major disasters, 5 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for hurricane (3) and snowstorm (3).

Declarations including Beaver County, newest first
DeclaredNumberTypeTitle
2020-03-30DR-4506BiologicalCovid-19 Pandemic
2020-03-13EM-3441BiologicalCovid-19
2012-10-29EM-3356HurricaneHurricane Sandy
2010-04-16DR-1898SnowstormSevere Winter Storms and Snowstorms
2005-09-10EM-3235HurricaneHurricane Katrina
2004-09-19DR-1555Severe StormSevere Storms and Flooding Associated With Tropical Depression Frances
2004-09-19DR-1557HurricaneTropical Depression Ivan
1998-06-08DR-1219Severe StormSevere Storms, Tornadoes,and Flooding
1996-06-18DR-1120FloodFlooding, Severe Storms
1996-01-21DR-1093FloodSevere Storms and Flooding
1994-03-10DR-1015Severe StormSevere Winter Storms
1993-03-16EM-3105SnowstormSevere Snowfall & Winter Storm
1985-06-03DR-737TornadoSevere Storms, High Winds & Tornadoes
1977-01-29EM-3026SnowstormSnowstorms
1972-06-23DR-340FloodTropical Storm Agnes

Source: FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (v2), declarations through October 2, 2026; one declaration is counted once however many areas it names. OpenFEMA dataset page.

How many floods has Beaver County had?

NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 158 flood or flash flood records for Beaver County from 1996 to 2025, on 80 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Beaver County ranks 367th of 2,942 U.S. counties.

Named storms on Beaver County's flood and tropical record
StormBeganRecordsDeaths in the county
Tropical Depression Ivan2004-09-1710
Tropical Depression Frances2004-09-0810

The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $13.7 million on 832 claims filed in Beaver County; the most in one year was 260 in 2004. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.

The values, year by year

1978: 8 · 1979: 11 · 1980: 4 · 1981: 1 · 1982: 6 · 1983: 2 · 1984: 3 · 1985: 8 · 1986: 1 · 1989: 3 · 1990: 48 · 1991: 1 · 1994: 22 · 1995: 1 · 1996: 116 · 1997: 13 · 1998: 12 · 1999: 2 · 2000: 2 · 2001: 1 · 2003: 4 · 2004: 260 · 2005: 23 · 2007: 29 · 2008: 5 · 2009: 1 · 2010: 73 · 2011: 24 · 2013: 4 · 2014: 2 · 2015: 9 · 2016: 2 · 2017: 4 · 2018: 41 · 2019: 41 · 2022: 11 · 2023: 1 · 2024: 31 · 2026: 2; the other years: 0.

Source: FEMA OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Claims, as of September 8, 2026; claims by year of loss, payments in the dollars of the year paid. OpenFEMA dataset page.

FEMA's modeled risk for Beaver County

FEMA's National Risk Index rates Beaver County Relatively Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $35.5 million. These are FEMA's model estimates of future loss from 18 hazards, not a count of what happened; they can differ from the record above.

National Risk Index ratings for Beaver County (December 2025 release), by FEMA's rating, then score
HazardRisk ratingExpected annual lossModeled frequency
Riverine FloodingRelatively Moderate$30M2.7 a year (modeled)
Strong WindRelatively Moderate$1.2M2.5 a year (modeled)
LightningRelatively Moderate$649K41 a year (modeled)
HailRelatively Moderate$678K4.1 a year (modeled)
Ice StormRelatively Moderate$154Konce in about 2 years (modeled)
LandslideRelatively Low$21Kabout once a year (modeled)
TornadoRelatively Low$1.6Monce in about 5 years (modeled)
Heat WaveRelatively Low$308K1.9 modeled event-days a year

Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.

Counties that share a border with Beaver County

  1. Allegheny County 2,594
  2. Washington County 1,176
  3. Butler County 1,086
  4. Beaver County 978
  5. Columbiana County, OH 735
  6. Lawrence County 714
  7. Hancock County, WV 311

Source: U.S. Census Bureau county adjacency file; NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records since 1950. The Census Bureau's adjacency file.

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