Centre County, Pennsylvania
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 42027 · population 158,157 · 1,107 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 858 records for Centre County, Pennsylvania from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 441 days; the most frequent are severe thunderstorm wind events (441 records). The deadliest single record is the November 22, 2014 winter weather, filed for the forecast zone Southern Centre, which covers the county: 2 deaths. FEMA has issued 15 declarations naming the county since 1972, 13 of them for natural hazards; the latest for a natural hazard was “Severe Storms and Flooding” on December 2, 2016.
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
- 858on 441 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 46 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $86Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 15strongest F4
- 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 Centre County most?
The most frequent records are severe thunderstorm wind events: 441 since 1957. 50% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1957 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 | 441 | 222 | 1957-2026 | 2 | 3 | $2.4M | 51 of 67 |
| Winter storms | 190 | 114 | 1996-2026 | 2 | 0 | $1.9M | 51 of 67 |
| Hail | 83 | 54 | 1960-2026 | 0 | 0 | $26K | 42 of 67 |
| High wind and dust storms | 41 | 23 | 1996-2025 | 0 | 0 | $140K | 59 of 67 |
| Floods | 37 | 31 | 1996-2025 | 0 | 0 | $8.4M | 64 of 67 |
| Extreme cold | 27 | 19 | 2004-2026 | 0 | 0 | – | 29 of 67 |
| Tornadoes | 15 | 14 | 1975-2026 | 0 | 1 | $72M | 51 of 67 |
| Drought | 14 | 7 | 1997-2020 | 0 | 0 | – | 43 of 67 |
| Heat | 4 | 3 | 2006-2025 | 0 | 0 | – | 40 of 67 |
| Lightning | 3 | 3 | 2000-2024 | 0 | 2 | $554K | 31 of 67 |
| Wildfires | 2 | 2 | 2022-2023 | 0 | 0 | – | 13 of 67 |
| Hurricanes and tropical storms | 1 | 1 | 2003-2003 | 0 | 0 | – | 38 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 Centre County had?
NOAA records 15 tornadoes in Centre County from 1975 to 2026, the strongest rated F4, with 0 deaths and 1 injury recorded in the county. 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 14 tornadoes whose track touched Centre County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 15: 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.
| Date | Tornado | Rating | Path | Killed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1985-05-31 17:35, as SPC files it | Treasure Lake | F4 | 69 mi | 0 |
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Pennsylvania.
Every tornado record filed for Centre County (15)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-14 | Pine Glen, Centre County | EF1 1.16 mi x 120 yd | 0 | 0 | $150K |
| 2023-07-02 | Zion, Centre County | EF1 0.62 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2017-05-01 | Smullton, Centre County | EF1 1.1 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 1 | $241K |
| 2015-04-20 | Tusseyville, Centre County | EF0 0.96 mi x 40 yd | 0 | 0 | $6K |
| 2013-06-27 | Linden Hall, Centre County | EF1 1 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2007-08-07 | Woodward, Centre County | EF1 1.5 mi x 400 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1998-06-02 | Philipsburg, Centre County | F0 0.5 mi x 67 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1998-05-29 | Bellefonte, Centre County | F0 2 mi x 440 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1996-11-08 | Old Fort, Centre County | F0 4 mi x 550 yd | 0 | 0 | $188K |
| 1991-04-09 | Centre County | F0 0.5 mi x 60 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1990-02-16 | Centre County | F1 3 mi x 350 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K step |
| 1985-05-31 | Centre County | F4 4.5 mi x 3,330 yd | 0 | 0 | $25M step |
| 1976-07-29 | Centre County | F1 0.3 mi x 40 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K step |
| 1975-06-05 | Centre County | F1 | 0 | 0 | $3K step |
| 1975-06-05 | Centre County | F2 | 0 | 0 | $250K 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 Centre County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the June 14, 2026 thunderstorm wind ($10,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-14 | Thunderstorm WindBellefonte, Centre County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $10K |
| 2026-06-14 | TornadoPine Glen, Centre County | EF1 1.16 mi x 120 yd | 0 | 0 | $150K |
| 2026-06-11 | Thunderstorm WindColeville, Centre County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $5K |
| 2026-06-11 | Thunderstorm WindState College, Centre County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $5K |
| 2026-06-11 | Thunderstorm WindBuffalo Run, Centre County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $5K |
| 2026-06-11 | Thunderstorm WindSnow Shoe, Centre County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $5K |
| 2026-06-06 | Thunderstorm WindBellefonte, Centre County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2026-05-18 | Thunderstorm WindWoodycrest, Centre County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $30K |
| 2026-03-22 | Thunderstorm WindWoodycrest, Centre County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $10K |
| 2026-03-22 | HailWoodycrest, Centre County | 1.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-03-22 | HailState College, Centre County | 0.75 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-03-22 | HailState College, Centre County | 1.00 in hail | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014-11-22 | Winter WeatherCentre County · forecast zone Southern Centre Light freezing rain caused traffic accidents and road closures throughout the county, including portions of Interstates 80 and 99. Two people were killed after a crash on Interstate 80 in Marion Township. Police said 59 year-old woman and 64 year-old man died after the Volvo they were driving in was crushed between ... | 2 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-04-29 | Thunderstorm WindState College, Centre County A line of severe thunderstorms producing wind gusts estimated at 70 mph knocked down power lines near the 1500 block of University Drive in State College. A man was killed as he was electrocuted while trying to put out a mulch fire that started as a result of the downed power lines. | 61 kt wind | 1 | 0 | $5K |
| 2025-03-16 | Thunderstorm WindPine Grove Mills, Centre County A line of severe thunderstorms producing wind gusts estimated at 70 mph knocked down multiple trees and power lines near Pine Grove Mills. A motorist exited his vehicle after stopping due to a fallen tree, began walking towards the tree, and was electrocuted by a downed power line. | 61 kt wind | 1 | 0 | $10K |
| 2012-07-26 | Thunderstorm WindOak Hall, Centre County Thunderstorm winds estimated near 60 mph knocked down a few large trees in the State College area. A large tree fell on a house on Orlando Avenue causing significant structural damage. Another tree fell on a vehicle traveling on Linden Hall Road, with three people sustaining minor injuries. | 50 kt wind | 0 | 3 | $6K |
| 2000-06-11 | LightningPort Matilda, Centre County A Taylor Township 45 year old female and her 18 year old son were shocked by lightning as they tried to rescue their dog after a maple tree had blown down atop a dog house outside their home on South Mountain Road. When they hurried back to the house, they were shocked just as the mother touched the doorknob of the ... | 0 | 2 | – | |
| 2017-05-01 | TornadoSmullton, Centre County An EF1 tornado touched down near a wooden pallet factory on the outskirts of town and moved rapidly northeastward before lifting just northeast of the town. Damage occurred to several dozen homes and outbuildings across Rebersburg. Several dozen trees were either snapped or uprooted. One utility pole was also snapped. ... | EF1 1.1 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 1 | $241K |
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016-10-20 | Flash FloodYarnell, Centre County | 0 | 0 | $6.1M | |
| 2013-06-27 | Flash FloodPotters Mills, Centre County | 0 | 0 | $1.9M | |
| 2002-10-29 | Ice StormCentre County · forecast zone Northern Centre | 0 | 0 | $1.6M | |
| 2021-07-13 | LightningBuffalo Run, Centre County | 0 | 0 | $545K | |
| 2017-05-01 | TornadoSmullton, Centre County | EF1 1.1 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 1 | $241K |
| 2026-06-14 | TornadoPine Glen, Centre County | EF1 1.16 mi x 120 yd | 0 | 0 | $150K |
| 2025-03-16 | Thunderstorm WindBellefonte, Centre County | 87 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $140K |
| 2025-04-29 | Thunderstorm WindColeville, Centre County | 61 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $100K |
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, Centre 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 Centre 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 | 8 | 7 | 14 | 79 | 56 | 123 | 153 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 32 | 70 | 34 | 54 |
| Hail | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 11 | 30 | 21 | 15 |
| High wind and dust storms | – | – | – | – | 7 | 26 | 4 | 4 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 11 | 10 | 12 | 4 |
| Extreme cold | – | – | – | – | 0 | 14 | 8 | 5 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
50% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1957 fell in June and July. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 79 · Feb 62 · Mar 73 · Apr 63 · May 71 · Jun 160 · Jul 120 · Aug 68 · Sep 45 · Oct 28 · Nov 37 · Dec 52 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Centre County
FEMA's register lists 15 declarations that include Centre County: 10 major disasters, 5 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for flood (5) and severe storm (3).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020-03-30 | DR-4506 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020-03-13 | EM-3441 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2016-12-02 | DR-4292 | Flood | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 2013-10-01 | DR-4149 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| 2012-10-29 | EM-3356 | Hurricane | Hurricane Sandy |
| 2011-09-08 | EM-3340 | Flood | Remnants of Tropical Storm Lee |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 1975-09-26 | DR-485 | Flood | Severe Storms, Heavy Rains & Flooding |
| 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 Centre County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 37 flood or flash flood records for Centre County from 1996 to 2025, on 31 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Centre County ranks 686th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $3.0 million on 339 claims filed in Centre County; the most in one year was 90 in 2004. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1978: 27 · 1979: 47 · 1980: 1 · 1981: 8 · 1982: 1 · 1983: 1 · 1984: 21 · 1989: 1 · 1993: 10 · 1994: 2 · 1996: 53 · 1997: 1 · 1999: 1 · 2000: 2 · 2002: 1 · 2003: 4 · 2004: 90 · 2005: 2 · 2008: 4 · 2009: 1 · 2010: 8 · 2011: 5 · 2012: 1 · 2013: 3 · 2014: 4 · 2016: 16 · 2017: 1 · 2018: 17 · 2020: 1 · 2021: 1 · 2024: 2 · 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 Centre County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Centre County Relatively Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $24.9 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winter Weather | Relatively High | $576K | 14 a year (modeled) |
| Lightning | Relatively High | $1.1M | 35 a year (modeled) |
| Landslide | Relatively Moderate | $41K | 1.1 a year (modeled) |
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively Moderate | $19M | 1 a year (modeled) |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate | $570K | 2.6 a year (modeled) |
| Hurricane | Relatively Low | $1.3M | once in about 24 years (modeled) |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | $316K | 1.1 modeled event-days a year |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | $893K | once in about 3 years (modeled) |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
Counties that share a border with Centre 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 Centre CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Centre County's FEMA declarations (CSV)15 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis