Columbia County, Pennsylvania
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 42037 · population 64,676 · 483 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 435 records for Columbia County, Pennsylvania from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 320 days; the most frequent are severe thunderstorm wind events (224 records). The most damaging was the September 7, 2011 flood ($20.3 million in 2025 dollars). FEMA has issued 20 declarations naming the county since 1972, 18 of them for natural hazards; the latest for a natural hazard was “Severe Storms and Flooding” on November 27, 2018.
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
- 435on 320 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 012 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $24Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 9strongest EF2
- FEMA declarations
- 20latest 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 Columbia County most?
The most frequent records are severe thunderstorm wind events: 224 since 1966. 54% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1966 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 | 224 | 156 | 1966-2026 | 0 | 10 | $881K | 28 of 67 |
| Winter storms | 73 | 73 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 1 | $62K | 35 of 67 |
| Hail | 49 | 36 | 1980-2024 | 0 | 0 | – | 27 of 67 |
| Floods | 46 | 40 | 1996-2025 | 0 | 0 | $22M | 37 of 67 |
| High wind and dust storms | 13 | 13 | 1999-2019 | 0 | 0 | $57K | 49 of 67 |
| Drought | 11 | 11 | 1997-2025 | 0 | 0 | – | 15 of 67 |
| Tornadoes | 9 | 9 | 1964-2019 | 0 | 1 | $1.3M | 38 of 67 |
| Extreme cold | 5 | 4 | 2007-2025 | 0 | 0 | – | 57 of 67 |
| Heat | 4 | 4 | 2006-2025 | 0 | 0 | – | 27 of 67 |
| Hurricanes and tropical storms | 1 | 1 | 2003-2003 | 0 | 0 | – | 20 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 Columbia County had?
NOAA records 9 tornadoes in Columbia County from 1964 to 2019, the strongest rated EF2, 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 9 tornadoes whose track touched Columbia County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 9, the same count); along their whole tracks they killed 0 people.
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Pennsylvania.
Every tornado record filed for Columbia County (9)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019-04-15 | Benton, Columbia County | EF2 3.69 mi x 300 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2004-06-17 | Millville, Columbia County | F1 1 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2002-04-28 | Jerseytown, Columbia County | F1 6 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | $148K |
| 2001-05-27 | Catawissa, Columbia County | F0 0.1 mi x 35 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1994-06-27 | Bloomsburg, Columbia County | F1 0.25 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 0 | $995K |
| 1992-07-15 | Columbia County | F1 0.1 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1989-07-26 | Columbia County | F1 4 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1982-04-17 | Columbia County | F2 4 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 1 | $25K step |
| 1964-03-26 | Columbia County | F1 0.1 mi x 13 yd | 0 | 0 | $250 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 Columbia County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the June 11, 2026 thunderstorm wind ($5,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-11 | Thunderstorm WindMartzville, Columbia County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $5K |
| 2026-06-11 | Thunderstorm WindGrassmere, Columbia County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $5K |
| 2026-01-25 | Heavy SnowColumbia County · forecast zone Columbia | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-01 | Winter WeatherColumbia County · forecast zone Columbia | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-12-26 | Winter WeatherColumbia County · forecast zone Columbia | 0 | 1 | $40K | |
| 2025-09-04 | Thunderstorm WindBuckhorn, Columbia County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $500 |
| 2025-07-14 | Flash FloodCentral, Columbia County | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-07-14 | FloodBenton, Columbia County | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-07-03 | Thunderstorm WindBriar Creek, Columbia County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2025-06-23 | Excessive HeatColumbia County · forecast zone Columbia | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-06-19 | Thunderstorm WindLight Street, Columbia County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $10K |
| 2025-06-18 | Thunderstorm WindStillwater, Columbia County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016-08-16 | Thunderstorm WindRoaring Creek, Columbia County A severe thunderstorm producing winds estimated near 60 mph knocked down trees onto tents in Knoebels Campground. Injuries were reported. | 52 kt wind | 0 | 4 | $7K |
| 2024-07-15 | Thunderstorm WindBenton, Columbia County A severe thunderstorm with winds estimated near 60 mph knocked down multiple trees and wires around Benton. | 52 kt wind | 0 | 2 | – |
| 2005-07-13 | Thunderstorm WindBenton, Columbia County A thunderstorm produced straight line winds in and near the town of Benton. In Benton Park, where most of the damage was concentrated, 30 to 40 trees were downed. Several trees landed on buildings. At the Benton Rodeo grounds, two people were injured when tents collapsed. Several roofs were damaged, and several roads ... | 75 kt wind | 0 | 2 | – |
| 2025-12-26 | Winter WeatherColumbia County · forecast zone Columbia Freezing rain accumulations caused slick roadways in portions of Columbia County, where the eastbound lane of Interstate 80 was closed due to a multi-vehicle accident involving one tractor trailers and two passenger vehicles. One patient was transported due to injuries, with the roadway remaining closed throughout the ... | 0 | 1 | $40K | |
| 2024-06-22 | Thunderstorm WindGrassmere, Columbia County A National Weather Service storm survey found that a microburst occurred in association with a severe thunderstorm at Grassmere Park in Sugarloaf Township. Maximum wind gusts were estimated at 80 to 90 mph. Numerous trees were snapped throughout the park and one person was injured at the park's campground. | 78 kt wind | 0 | 1 | $9K |
| 1989-11-20 | Thunderstorm WindColumbia County | 0 | 1 | – | |
| 1982-04-17 | TornadoColumbia County | F2 4 mi x 30 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.
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011-09-07 | FloodCatawissa, Columbia County | 0 | 0 | $20M | |
| 2010-01-25 | Flash FloodBenton, Columbia County | 0 | 0 | $1.1M | |
| 1994-06-27 | TornadoBloomsburg, Columbia County | F1 0.25 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 0 | $995K |
| 2002-04-28 | TornadoJerseytown, Columbia County | F1 6 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | $148K |
| 2025-12-26 | Winter WeatherColumbia County · forecast zone Columbia | 0 | 1 | $40K | |
| 2024-06-26 | Thunderstorm WindBriar Creek, Columbia County | 87 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $28K |
| 2024-06-26 | Thunderstorm WindMartzville, Columbia County | 78 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $24K |
| 2019-04-14 | Thunderstorm WindIola, Columbia County | 83 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $17K |
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 $25K, in the dollars of the day) holds: April 17, 1982 (tornado, Columbia County); July 26, 1989 (tornado, Columbia 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 Columbia 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 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 6 | 53 | 45 | 53 | 60 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 14 | 32 | 15 | 12 |
| Hail | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 8 | 22 | 12 | 4 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 8 | 21 | 15 | 2 |
| High wind and dust storms | – | – | – | – | 2 | 6 | 5 | 0 |
| Drought | – | – | – | – | 4 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
54% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1966 fell in June and July. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 36 · Feb 28 · Mar 21 · Apr 22 · May 43 · Jun 82 · Jul 82 · Aug 49 · Sep 32 · Oct 6 · Nov 12 · Dec 22 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Columbia County
FEMA's register lists 20 declarations that include Columbia County: 14 major disasters, 6 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for flood (7) and severe storm (6).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020-03-30 | DR-4506 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020-03-13 | EM-3441 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2018-11-27 | DR-4408 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 2012-10-29 | EM-3356 | Hurricane | Hurricane Sandy |
| 2011-09-12 | DR-4030 | Flood | Tropical Storm Lee |
| 2011-09-08 | EM-3340 | Flood | Remnants of Tropical Storm Lee |
| 2006-06-30 | DR-1649 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides |
| 2005-09-10 | EM-3235 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina |
| 2005-04-14 | DR-1587 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 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 |
| 1996-01-21 | 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 |
| 1976-10-20 | DR-523 | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding |
| 1975-09-26 | DR-485 | Flood | Severe Storms, Heavy Rains & Flooding |
| 1973-07-17 | DR-400 | Flood | Severe Storms & 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 Columbia County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 46 flood or flash flood records for Columbia County from 1996 to 2025, on 40 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Columbia County ranks 174th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
| Storm | Began | Records | Deaths in the county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tropical Storm Lee | 2011-09-07 | 1 | 0 |
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $63.2 million on 2,200 claims filed in Columbia County; the most in one year was 798 in 2011. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1978: 14 · 1979: 81 · 1980: 1 · 1981: 24 · 1982: 4 · 1983: 28 · 1984: 13 · 1985: 1 · 1986: 12 · 1988: 1 · 1993: 35 · 1994: 4 · 1996: 261 · 1998: 1 · 1999: 7 · 2000: 1 · 2003: 3 · 2004: 136 · 2005: 69 · 2006: 524 · 2008: 2 · 2010: 26 · 2011: 798 · 2012: 3 · 2013: 1 · 2016: 1 · 2017: 3 · 2018: 138 · 2019: 2 · 2021: 2 · 2024: 1 · 2025: 3; 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 Columbia County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Columbia County Relatively Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $24.4 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 Moderate | $262K | 13 a year (modeled) |
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively Moderate | $20M | 1.4 a year (modeled) |
| Lightning | Relatively Moderate | $389K | 33 a year (modeled) |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate | $824K | 3.5 a year (modeled) |
| Landslide | Relatively Low | $17K | once in about 2 years (modeled) |
| Hurricane | Relatively Low | $665K | once in about 27 years (modeled) |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | $459K | 2.8 modeled event-days a year |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Low | $90K | about once 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 Columbia 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 Columbia CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Columbia County's FEMA declarations (CSV)20 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis