Cambria County, Pennsylvania
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 42021 · population 133,467 · 688 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 683 records for Cambria County, Pennsylvania from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 487 days; the most frequent are severe thunderstorm wind events (369 records). The deadliest single record is the August 7, 2005 lightning: 1 death and 4 injuries. FEMA has issued 18 declarations naming the county since 1972, 16 of them for natural hazards; the latest for a natural hazard was “Tropical Storm Debby” on September 11, 2024.
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
- 683on 487 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 419 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $13Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 20strongest F2
- FEMA declarations
- 18latest 2024
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 Cambria County most?
The most frequent records are severe thunderstorm wind events: 369 since 1955. 47% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1955 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.
| Hazard | Records | Days | First, last | Killed | Injured | Damage | Rank in state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 369 | 239 | 1955-2026 | 1 | 7 | $1.5M | 23 of 67 |
| Winter storms | 122 | 119 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 6 | $87K | 23 of 67 |
| Floods | 48 | 39 | 1996-2025 | 0 | 0 | $463K | 50 of 67 |
| Hail | 48 | 43 | 1960-2025 | 0 | 0 | – | 37 of 67 |
| High wind and dust storms | 39 | 38 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 0 | $239K | 19 of 67 |
| Extreme cold | 24 | 24 | 2004-2026 | 2 | 0 | – | 13 of 67 |
| Tornadoes | 20 | 14 | 1970-2023 | 0 | 0 | $10M | 33 of 67 |
| Drought | 7 | 7 | 1997-2024 | 0 | 0 | – | 30 of 67 |
| Lightning | 4 | 4 | 1999-2025 | 1 | 6 | $10K | 24 of 67 |
| Hurricanes and tropical storms | 1 | 1 | 2003-2003 | 0 | 0 | – | 27 of 67 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 1 | 1 | 2013-2013 | 0 | 0 | – | 37 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 Cambria County had?
NOAA records 20 tornadoes in Cambria County from 1970 to 2023, the strongest rated F2, with 0 deaths and 0 injuries recorded in the county. That is 33rd 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 22 tornadoes whose track touched Cambria County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 20: they file a crossing tornado once per county segment, and the two databases differ on some tracks); along their whole tracks they killed 0 people.
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Pennsylvania.
Every tornado record filed for Cambria County (20)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-08-12 | Colver, Cambria County | EF0 0.2 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $10K |
| 2023-08-12 | Preisser, Cambria County | EF1 0.32 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2021-07-29 | Nanty Glo, Cambria County | EF0 0.06 mi x 15 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2019-05-23 | Elim, Cambria County | EF0 1.56 mi x 300 yd | 0 | 0 | $12K |
| 2018-06-13 | Loretto, Cambria County | EF1 0.47 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1998-09-27 | Patton, Cambria County | F1 7 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1998-06-30 | Vintondale, Cambria County | F0 5 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1998-06-16 | Johnstown, Cambria County | F1 0.2 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1996-07-19 | Colver, Cambria County | F2 6 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1996-07-19 | Lyleville, Cambria County | F2 8.4 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1991-04-09 | Cambria County | F1 1 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K step |
| 1991-04-09 | Cambria County | F1 0.5 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $3K step |
| 1991-04-09 | Cambria County | F1 2 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K step |
| 1981-07-26 | Cambria County | F1 | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1981-07-26 | Cambria County | F1 | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1981-06-22 | Cambria County | F1 | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1980-06-09 | Cambria County | F2 7.4 mi x 33 yd | 0 | 0 | $2.5M step |
| 1980-06-09 | Cambria County | F0 | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1975-06-05 | Cambria County | F1 0.5 mi x 17 yd | 0 | 0 | $250 step |
| 1970-08-30 | Cambria County | F1 1.5 mi x 300 yd | 0 | 0 | $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 Cambria County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the June 14, 2026 thunderstorm wind ($5,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-14 | Thunderstorm WindBelmont, Cambria County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $5K |
| 2026-06-11 | Thunderstorm WindCresson, Cambria County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2026-06-11 | Thunderstorm WindCresson, Cambria County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $5K |
| 2026-06-11 | Thunderstorm WindSummerhill, Cambria County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2026-06-11 | Thunderstorm WindNanty Glo, Cambria County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2026-06-11 | Thunderstorm WindVinco, Cambria County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2026-06-11 | Thunderstorm WindBrownstown, Cambria County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2026-06-06 | Thunderstorm WindBrownstown, Cambria County | 43 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $2K |
| 2026-06-06 | Thunderstorm WindSt Lawrence, Cambria County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $5K |
| 2026-03-13 | High WindCambria County · forecast zone Cambria | 56 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-03-11 | Thunderstorm WindJohnstown Airport, Cambria County | 51 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-02-07 | Extreme Cold/Wind ChillCambria County · forecast zone Cambria | 0 | 0 | – |
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
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005-08-07 | LightningPatton, Cambria County Lightning struck and injured 4 motorcyclists, one fatally, who were taking refuge under a tree adjacent to Route 36 in Cambria County. | 1 | 4 | – | |
| 1999-08-13 | Thunderstorm WindPatton, Cambria County Downburst winds struck Prince Gallitzin State Park on late afternoon of Friday the 13th, crossing the heart of the campground area in the park. Hundreds of trees were blown down by the strong winds, damaging trucks, cars, tents, and campers. A 20-year old male was killed by a falling tree, and a 40-year old man ... | 1 | 1 | $89K | |
| 2025-01-20 | Extreme Cold/Wind ChillCambria County · forecast zone Cambria An extended period of well-below average temperatures across Cambria County allowed for wind chills to generally range between -15 to -20 degrees during the early morning hours of January 21, 2025 with temperatures remaining well-below average throughout the daytime hours. Colder air began to settle in during the ... | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 2024-12-22 | Cold/Wind ChillCambria County · forecast zone Cambria Cold temperatures, with wind chills ranging from zero to 10 degrees, were observed across Cambria County throughout the daytime hours on December 22, 2024 and continued until the afternoon hours of December 23. A 75-year-old woman fell outside of her home on December 22nd and was discovered hours later before being ... | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-11-28 | Winter WeatherCambria County · forecast zone Cambria SNOW SQUALL. A snow squall impacted Route 22 across all of Cambria County, bringing heavy snowfall and gusty winds that allowed for near-zero visibility. Snow covering the roadways allowed for ice formation on the road, which caused a multi-vehicle incident, where multiple injuries were reported. The roadway was ... | 0 | 4 | $60K | |
| 2008-06-26 | Thunderstorm WindJohnstown, Cambria County Cambria County emergency management and fire rescue reported multiple tents and a tower were blown down at an outside event called Thunder in the Valley. A performing stage also collapsed. The wind damage along with flying debris lead to 4 minor injuries. | 61 kt wind | 0 | 4 | $1K |
| 2001-08-31 | Thunderstorm WindAshville, Cambria County Thunderstorm winds overturned a mobile home in Ashville. Two persons were reported injured in the event. | 0 | 2 | $25K | |
| 2022-11-15 | Winter WeatherCambria County · forecast zone Cambria A period of moderate snow led to slick roads and caused a school bus to overturn at 526 Grace Street in Susquehanna Township. There were only two people on the bus, and one injury reported. | 0 | 1 | – |
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013-09-02 | Flash FloodBarnesboro, Cambria County | 0 | 0 | $253K | |
| 2025-11-28 | Winter WeatherCambria County · forecast zone Cambria | 0 | 4 | $60K | |
| 2016-10-20 | Thunderstorm WindColver, Cambria County | 70 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $49K |
| 2001-08-31 | Thunderstorm WindAshville, Cambria County | 0 | 2 | $25K | |
| 2019-05-23 | Thunderstorm WindDaisytown, Cambria County | 70 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $17K |
| 2025-03-16 | Thunderstorm WindNanty Glo, Cambria County | 61 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $15K |
| 2025-05-01 | Thunderstorm WindChest Spgs, Cambria County | 61 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $15K |
| 2019-05-23 | TornadoElim, Cambria County | EF0 1.56 mi x 300 yd | 0 | 0 | $12K |
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 $2.5M, in the dollars of the day) holds: June 9, 1980 (tornado, Cambria County).
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 Cambria 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).
| Hazard | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020-26 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 1 | 1 | 18 | 24 | 85 | 69 | 97 | 74 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 17 | 47 | 29 | 29 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 15 | 16 | 8 | 9 |
| Hail | 0 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 9 | 9 | 19 | 1 |
| High wind and dust storms | – | – | – | – | 9 | 19 | 5 | 6 |
| Extreme cold | – | – | – | – | 0 | 12 | 6 | 6 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
47% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1955 fell in June and July. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 55 · Feb 46 · Mar 29 · Apr 60 · May 84 · Jun 115 · Jul 113 · Aug 63 · Sep 31 · Oct 16 · Nov 26 · Dec 45 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Cambria County
FEMA's register lists 18 declarations that include Cambria County: 11 major disasters, 7 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for flood (5) and snowstorm (4).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-09-11 | DR-4815 | Tropical Storm | Tropical Storm Debby |
| 2020-03-30 | DR-4506 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020-03-13 | EM-3441 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2012-10-29 | EM-3356 | Hurricane | Hurricane Sandy |
| 2011-09-08 | EM-3340 | Flood | Remnants of Tropical Storm Lee |
| 2010-04-16 | DR-1898 | Snowstorm | Severe Winter Storms and Snowstorms |
| 2005-09-10 | EM-3235 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina |
| 2004-09-19 | DR-1555 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding Associated With Tropical Depression Frances |
| 2004-09-19 | DR-1557 | Hurricane | Tropical Depression Ivan |
| 2003-03-14 | EM-3180 | Severe Storm | Snow |
| 1996-07-26 | DR-1130 | Flood | Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes |
| 1996-01-21 | DR-1093 | Flood | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 1996-01-13 | DR-1085 | Snowstorm | Blizzard of 96 |
| 1994-03-10 | DR-1015 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms |
| 1993-03-16 | EM-3105 | Snowstorm | Severe Snowfall & Winter Storm |
| 1977-07-21 | DR-537 | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding |
| 1977-01-29 | EM-3026 | Snowstorm | Snowstorms |
| 1972-06-23 | DR-340 | Flood | Tropical 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 Cambria County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 48 flood or flash flood records for Cambria County from 1996 to 2025, on 39 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Cambria County ranks 382nd of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $3.2 million on 802 claims filed in Cambria County; the most in one year was 215 in 1996. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1978: 74 · 1979: 26 · 1980: 70 · 1981: 103 · 1982: 4 · 1983: 33 · 1984: 29 · 1985: 10 · 1986: 1 · 1987: 55 · 1988: 1 · 1989: 2 · 1990: 1 · 1992: 1 · 1993: 13 · 1994: 5 · 1995: 3 · 1996: 215 · 1997: 30 · 1998: 4 · 1999: 1 · 2001: 2 · 2002: 7 · 2003: 6 · 2004: 11 · 2005: 3 · 2006: 2 · 2007: 5 · 2008: 3 · 2010: 6 · 2011: 5 · 2012: 4 · 2013: 11 · 2014: 4 · 2015: 6 · 2016: 2 · 2017: 5 · 2018: 10 · 2019: 2 · 2020: 2 · 2021: 13 · 2023: 1 · 2024: 7 · 2026: 4; 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 Cambria County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Cambria County Relatively Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $31.6 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.
| Hazard | Risk rating | Expected annual loss | Modeled frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lightning | Relatively High | $798K | 38 a year (modeled) |
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively Moderate | $24M | 1.3 a year (modeled) |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Moderate | $144K | 24 a year (modeled) |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate | $957K | 2.5 a year (modeled) |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Moderate | $1.9M | 4.2 a year (modeled) |
| Landslide | Relatively Low | $15K | about once a year (modeled) |
| Hurricane | Relatively Low | $1.0M | once in about 26 years (modeled) |
| Hail | Relatively Low | $541K | 1.8 a year (modeled) |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
Counties that share a border with Cambria County
Source: U.S. Census Bureau county adjacency file; NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records since 1950. The Census Bureau's adjacency file.
Next
- Tornadoes in PennsylvaniaEvery Pennsylvania tornado since 1950 and the counties with the most per square mile
- Severe thunderstorm wind in PennsylvaniaThe state's severe thunderstorm wind events, by county, year and month
- The Pennsylvania recordEvery hazard in the state, its deadliest events and its federal declarations
- FEMA's risk rating for each hazard in Cambria CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Cambria County's FEMA declarations (CSV)18 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis