Erie County, Pennsylvania
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 42049 · population 270,695 · 799 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 1,264 records for Erie County, Pennsylvania from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 714 days; the most frequent are severe thunderstorm wind events (398 records). The deadliest single record is the May 31, 1985 tornado: 12 deaths and 82 injuries. FEMA has issued 11 declarations naming the county since 1972, 9 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
- 1,264on 714 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 16169 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $299Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 24strongest F4
- FEMA declarations
- 11latest 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 Erie County most?
The most frequent records are severe thunderstorm wind events: 398 since 1956. 44% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1956 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 | 398 | 248 | 1956-2026 | 1 | 22 | $9.0M | 32 of 67 |
| Winter storms | 376 | 242 | 1996-2025 | 1 | 42 | $114M | 12 of 67 |
| Hail | 206 | 117 | 1959-2026 | 0 | 0 | $5.7M | 6 of 67 |
| High wind and dust storms | 122 | 69 | 1996-2024 | 0 | 1 | $12M | 11 of 67 |
| Floods | 80 | 61 | 1996-2025 | 2 | 0 | $66M | 41 of 67 |
| Tornadoes | 24 | 20 | 1952-2025 | 12 | 104 | $87M | 26 of 67 |
| Extreme cold | 22 | 12 | 1996-2022 | 0 | 0 | $4.7M | 37 of 67 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 20 | 19 | 1996-2011 | 0 | 0 | – | 11 of 67 |
| Drought | 10 | 5 | 1996-1999 | 0 | 0 | – | 44 of 67 |
| Heat | 2 | 1 | 1999-1999 | 0 | 0 | – | 43 of 67 |
| Heavy rain | 2 | 1 | 1996-1996 | 0 | 0 | – | 27 of 67 |
| Hurricanes and tropical storms | 2 | 2 | 1997-1997 | 0 | 0 | $221K | 14 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 Erie County had?
NOAA records 24 tornadoes in Erie County from 1952 to 2025, the strongest rated F4, with 12 deaths and 104 injuries recorded in the county. That is 26th 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 23 tornadoes whose track touched Erie County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 24: they file a crossing tornado once per county segment, and the two databases differ on some tracks); along their whole tracks they killed 12 people.
| Date | Tornado | Rating | Path | Killed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1985-05-31 14:59, as SPC files it | AlbionCrossed OH, PA | F4 | 14 mi | 12 |
| 1985-05-31 15:25, as SPC files it | Waterford to PanamaCrossed NY, PA | F4 | 28 mi | 0 |
| 1971-06-02 18:05, as SPC files it | Edinboro to Corry | F3 | 29.3 mi | 0 |
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Pennsylvania.
Every tornado record filed for Erie County (24)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-06-09 | Hammett, Erie County | EF2 1.04 mi x 115 yd | 0 | 0 | $100K |
| 2023-08-12 | Elgin, Erie County | EF0 0.45 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | $5K |
| 2023-08-12 | Elgin, Erie County | EF0 0.45 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | $5K |
| 2017-11-05 | Westminster, Erie County | EF0 1.94 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $602K |
| 2013-05-28 | Edinboro, Erie County | EF1 17.83 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 2 | $380K |
| 2013-05-28 | Ivarea, Erie County | EF1 1.69 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 5 | $95K |
| 2010-06-27 | Waldameer Park, Erie County | EF0 0.16 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 0 | $162K |
| 2010-06-06 | Springfield Station, Erie County | EF0 5.8 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $271K |
| 1997-08-16 | Union City, Erie County | F2 2 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $925K |
| 1985-05-31 | Erie County | F4 2 mi x 300 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1985-05-31 | Erie County | F4 16 mi x 300 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1985-05-31 | Erie County | F4 12 mi x 400 yd | 12 | 82 | $25M step |
| 1983-07-21 | Erie County | F1 0.2 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K step |
| 1983-05-02 | Erie County | F2 1 mi x 33 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K step |
| 1977-09-24 | Erie County | F1 | 0 | 2 | $250K step |
| 1977-09-18 | Erie County | F2 4.5 mi x 33 yd | 0 | 7 | $2.5M step |
| 1971-06-02 | Erie County | F3 29.3 mi x 33 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1970-07-15 | Erie County | F1 0.5 mi x 167 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1965-05-16 | Erie County | F1 | 0 | 1 | $25K step |
| 1961-07-31 | Erie County | F1 0.3 mi x 7 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1957-09-21 | Erie County | F1 0.3 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 3 | $25K step |
| 1954-07-29 | Erie County | F1 | 0 | 0 | $250 step |
| 1953-11-22 | Erie County | F2 2 mi x 67 yd | 0 | 2 | $25K step |
| 1952-07-19 | Erie County | F2 5.6 mi x 27 yd | 0 | 0 | $3K 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 Erie County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the June 10, 2026 thunderstorm wind ($3,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-25 | HailMooreheadville, Erie County | 0.75 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-25 | HailMooreheadville, Erie County | 1.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-14 | Thunderstorm WindUnion City, Erie County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-11 | Thunderstorm WindUnion City, Erie County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-10 | Thunderstorm WindWesleyville, Erie County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-10 | Thunderstorm WindLawrence Park, Erie County | 56 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $3K |
| 2026-04-15 | Thunderstorm WindBranchville, Erie County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-04-15 | Thunderstorm WindEdinboro, Erie County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-03-31 | Thunderstorm WindCranesville, Erie County | 55 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-03-31 | Thunderstorm WindWaterford, Erie County | 55 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $10K |
| 2026-03-31 | Thunderstorm WindLake City, Erie County | 55 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-11-27 | Lake-Effect SnowErie County · forecast zone Southern Erie | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1985-05-31 | TornadoErie County | F4 12 mi x 400 yd | 12 | 82 | $25M step |
| 2017-11-05 | Flash FloodEaglehurst, Erie County Warm humid air over the region supported strong thunderstorms and torrential rainfall. A rain gauge network in Mill Creek Township measured an instantaneous rainfall rate of over 7 inches per hour around 630 pm. The storms produced a measured 3.85 inches of rainfall in the Erie/Mill Creek area. The intensity of the ... | 2 | 0 | $325K | |
| 2020-12-01 | Winter StormErie County · forecast zone Southern Erie Rain changed over to snow during the early morning hours of December 1 in Northwest Pennsylvania, as low pressure moved just east of the area. By daybreak, heavy, wet snow overspread the region with visibility dropping to one-quarter of a mile or less and snowfall rates up to one inch per hour. Travel was severely ... | 1 | 1 | $171K | |
| 2010-06-06 | Thunderstorm WindNorth Springfield, Erie County A thunderstorm downburst with wind gusts estimated to be at least 60 mph caused damage at a campground in western Erie County. The campground is located along Lake Erie northwest of North Springfield. Several trees were knocked down and a camper trailer overturned at the campground. A 36 year old man was killed when ... | 52 kt wind | 1 | 0 | $203K |
| 1998-01-13 | Winter WeatherCountywide, Erie County A combination of occasional rain, freezing rain, sleet and snow, particularly on Tuesday the 13th, caused icy roads, bridges, sidewalks and other exposed surfaces. Schools were closed and hospitals treated numerous ice related injuries (mostly from slips and falls). This event did not meet winter storm criteria. | 0 | 29 | – | |
| 1996-04-12 | Thunderstorm WindCountywide, Erie County Powerful thunderstorms crossed the county causing widespread downed trees and power outages. Some trees were downed on cars and structures. Winds estimated at at least 70 mph partially collapsed an apartment building in Edinboro. Twelve people were injured. | 0 | 12 | $1.5M | |
| 1977-09-18 | TornadoErie County | F2 4.5 mi x 33 yd | 0 | 7 | $2.5M step |
| 2013-05-28 | TornadoIvarea, Erie County A supercell thunderstorm produced two tornadoes in Erie County. The first tornado touched down about two miles northeast of Cranesville. The tornado was on the ground for over a mile and a half and downed many trees. A mobile home was also overturned and destroyed. Five people inside the mobile home were injured. A ... | EF1 1.69 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 5 | $95K |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017-12-24 | Lake-Effect SnowErie County · forecast zone Northern Erie | 0 | 0 | $18M | |
| 2008-03-07 | Winter StormErie County · forecast zone Northern Erie | 0 | 0 | $16M | |
| 2017-12-24 | Lake-Effect SnowErie County · forecast zone Southern Erie | 0 | 0 | $12M | |
| 1996-09-17 | Flash FloodNorthern Portion, Erie County | 0 | 0 | $9.4M | |
| 2019-10-31 | Lakeshore FloodErie County · forecast zone Northern Erie | 0 | 0 | $9.2M | |
| 2004-09-09 | Flash FloodCountywide, Erie County | 0 | 0 | $8.7M | |
| 2009-06-30 | Flash FloodGoddard, Erie County | 0 | 0 | $8.6M | |
| 2020-03-01 | FloodStateline, Erie County | 0 | 0 | $5.7M |
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, Erie County, 12 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 Erie 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 | 3 | 14 | 11 | 36 | 87 | 67 | 120 | 60 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 64 | 150 | 104 | 58 |
| Hail | 1 | 2 | 1 | 21 | 58 | 62 | 46 | 15 |
| High wind and dust storms | – | – | – | – | 16 | 62 | 33 | 11 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 26 | 34 | 11 | 9 |
| Tornadoes | 4 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 3 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
44% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1956 fell in June and July. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 146 · Feb 92 · Mar 84 · Apr 80 · May 113 · Jun 157 · Jul 157 · Aug 115 · Sep 80 · Oct 34 · Nov 85 · Dec 121 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Erie County
FEMA's register lists 11 declarations that include Erie County: 6 major disasters, 5 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for hurricane (3) and biological (2).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 1993-03-16 | EM-3105 | Snowstorm | Severe Snowfall & Winter Storm |
| 1985-06-03 | DR-737 | Tornado | Severe Storms, High Winds & Tornadoes |
| 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 Erie County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 80 flood or flash flood records for Erie County from 1996 to 2025, on 61 days, with 2 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Erie County ranks 493rd of 2,942 U.S. counties.
| Storm | Began | Records | Deaths in the county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tropical Depression Ivan | 2004-09-17 | 1 | 0 |
| Tropical Depression Frances | 2004-09-08 | 2 | 0 |
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $6.0 million on 512 claims filed in Erie County; the most in one year was 88 in 1985. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1978: 23 · 1979: 70 · 1980: 15 · 1981: 9 · 1982: 24 · 1983: 5 · 1984: 6 · 1985: 88 · 1986: 16 · 1987: 6 · 1988: 15 · 1989: 11 · 1990: 11 · 1991: 2 · 1992: 8 · 1993: 5 · 1994: 4 · 1995: 8 · 1996: 26 · 1997: 1 · 1998: 2 · 1999: 1 · 2000: 5 · 2002: 10 · 2003: 2 · 2004: 16 · 2005: 2 · 2008: 3 · 2009: 12 · 2011: 14 · 2012: 5 · 2013: 12 · 2014: 1 · 2016: 3 · 2017: 16 · 2018: 2 · 2019: 9 · 2020: 22 · 2021: 10 · 2022: 9 · 2023: 1 · 2025: 1 · 2026: 1; 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 Erie County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Erie County Relatively Moderate overall, with an expected annual loss of $47.6 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 | $1.9M | 37 a year (modeled) |
| Winter Weather | Relatively High | $614K | 30 a year (modeled) |
| Strong Wind | Relatively High | $2.4M | 1.3 a year (modeled) |
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively Moderate | $38M | 2.1 a year (modeled) |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Moderate | $202K | 1.3 a year (modeled) |
| Tornado | Relatively Moderate | $2.1M | once in about 3 years (modeled) |
| Hurricane | Relatively Low | $598K | once in about 33 years (modeled) |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low | $417K | once in about 1,274 years (modeled) |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
Counties that share a border with Erie 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 Erie CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Erie County's FEMA declarations (CSV)11 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis