Franklin County, Pennsylvania
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 42055 · population 155,896 · 772 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 597 records for Franklin County, Pennsylvania from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 406 days; the most frequent are severe thunderstorm wind events (320 records). The deadliest single record is the May 3, 1997 high wind, filed for the forecast zone Franklin, which covers the county: 1 death. FEMA has issued 20 declarations naming the county since 1972, 18 of them for natural hazards; the latest for a natural hazard was “Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm” on March 23, 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
- 597on 406 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 15 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $6.0Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 15strongest 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 Franklin County most?
The most frequent records are severe thunderstorm wind events: 320 since 1963. 50% 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.
| Hazard | Records | Days | First, last | Killed | Injured | Damage | Rank in state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 320 | 215 | 1963-2026 | 0 | 3 | $2.2M | 39 of 67 |
| Hail | 87 | 53 | 1965-2023 | 0 | 0 | – | 31 of 67 |
| Winter storms | 70 | 70 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 0 | $65K | 56 of 67 |
| Floods | 60 | 57 | 1996-2025 | 0 | 0 | $2.0M | 42 of 67 |
| High wind and dust storms | 16 | 16 | 1996-2021 | 1 | 0 | $99K | 60 of 67 |
| Tornadoes | 15 | 12 | 1974-2022 | 0 | 2 | $1.6M | 47 of 67 |
| Drought | 11 | 11 | 1997-2026 | 0 | 0 | – | 23 of 67 |
| Heat | 8 | 8 | 2006-2025 | 0 | 0 | – | 24 of 67 |
| Extreme cold | 5 | 4 | 2007-2025 | 0 | 0 | – | 65 of 67 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 3 | 2 | 2007-2010 | 0 | 0 | – | 27 of 67 |
| Hurricanes and tropical storms | 1 | 1 | 2003-2003 | 0 | 0 | – | 28 of 67 |
| Lightning | 1 | 1 | 2025-2025 | 0 | 0 | $10K | 44 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 Franklin County had?
NOAA records 15 tornadoes in Franklin County from 1974 to 2022, the strongest rated EF2, with 0 deaths and 2 injuries 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 15 tornadoes whose track touched Franklin County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 15, the same count); along their whole tracks they killed 0 people.
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Pennsylvania.
Every tornado record filed for Franklin County (15)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022-05-27 | Grindstone Hill, Franklin County | EF0 0.27 mi x 185 yd | 0 | 0 | $71K |
| 2019-04-19 | Lemasters, Franklin County | EF2 2.89 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 0 | $115K |
| 2012-08-26 | Milnor, Franklin County | EF0 5.56 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $15K |
| 2011-05-26 | Zumbro, Franklin County | EF1 0.12 mi x 25 yd | 0 | 0 | $13K |
| 2004-09-17 | Chambersburg, Franklin County | F1 1.5 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2004-09-17 | St Thomas, Franklin County | F1 2.5 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2004-09-17 | Greencastle, Franklin County | F1 2 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1996-07-30 | Shippensburg, Franklin County | F1 3 mi x 440 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1996-07-19 | Waynesboro, Franklin County | F1 3 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1994-04-30 | Pond Bank, Franklin County | F2 6 mi x 55 yd | 0 | 2 | $995K |
| 1994-04-30 | Greencastle, Franklin County | F1 0.5 mi x 55 yd | 0 | 0 | $100K |
| 1992-06-19 | Franklin County | F0 0.6 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1989-06-20 | Franklin County | F1 1 mi x 23 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1976-03-21 | Franklin County | F0 1 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $3K step |
| 1974-07-29 | Franklin County | F1 0.2 mi x 20 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 Franklin County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the June 14, 2026 thunderstorm wind ($2,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-14 | Thunderstorm WindDuffield, Franklin County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $2K |
| 2026-06-14 | Thunderstorm WindMont Alto, Franklin County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $10K |
| 2026-06-14 | Thunderstorm WindKauffman, Franklin County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2026-06-14 | Thunderstorm WindKasiesville, Franklin County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $5K |
| 2026-06-11 | Thunderstorm WindRouzerville, Franklin County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2026-06-11 | Thunderstorm WindClay Hill, Franklin County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2026-06-11 | Thunderstorm WindMercersburg, Franklin County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $2K |
| 2026-06-06 | Thunderstorm WindWaynesboro, Franklin County | 61 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $2K |
| 2026-06-06 | Thunderstorm WindChambersburg, Franklin County | 61 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $8K |
| 2026-06-06 | Thunderstorm WindSt Thomas, Franklin County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2026-06-01 | DroughtFranklin County · forecast zone Franklin | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-05-20 | Thunderstorm WindWarleytown, Franklin County | 52 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
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997-05-03 | High WindFranklin County · forecast zone Franklin High winds took down a tree and killed a woman while she was mowing her lawn on a riding lawn mower in Greencastle. | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 1994-04-30 | TornadoPond Bank, Franklin County Two tornadoes struck southern Franklin County. The first occurred in Antrim Township, southwest of Greencastle. The tornado first struck a church on Worleytown Road. The steeple was destroyed along with a large portion of the roof. Gravestones were also damaged. At the end of its path, a barn was destroyed. Numerous ... | F2 6 mi x 55 yd | 0 | 2 | $995K |
| 2020-07-21 | Thunderstorm WindWoodstock, Franklin County A severe thunderstorm microburst produced straight line wind damage in Fayetteville, PA. Approximately 100 trees were downed by strong winds along a path approximately 700 yards long and 100 yards wide. Most of this damage occurred in a forested area alongside the road between 1640 and 1350 Woodstock Rd. In addition ... | 83 kt wind | 0 | 1 | $103K |
| 2020-07-21 | Thunderstorm WindScotland, Franklin County A severe thunderstorm producing winds estimated near 60 mph knocked down a tree onto a golfer, who was injured, at the Chambersburg Country Club. | 52 kt wind | 0 | 1 | $1K |
| 1994-06-06 | Thunderstorm WindChambersburg, Franklin County Storm winds toppled a 17-foot wall injuring a construction worker. Large tree limbs were also downed within the same area. | 0 | 1 | $995 |
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996-06-18 | Flash FloodSt Thomas, Franklin County | 0 | 0 | $1.9M | |
| 1994-04-30 | TornadoPond Bank, Franklin County | F2 6 mi x 55 yd | 0 | 2 | $995K |
| 1996-01-19 | Thunderstorm WindFayetteville, Franklin County | 0 | 0 | $941K | |
| 2020-07-21 | Thunderstorm WindWoodstock, Franklin County | 83 kt wind | 0 | 1 | $103K |
| 1994-04-30 | TornadoGreencastle, Franklin County | F1 0.5 mi x 55 yd | 0 | 0 | $100K |
| 2022-05-27 | TornadoGrindstone Hill, Franklin County | EF0 0.27 mi x 185 yd | 0 | 0 | $71K |
| 2025-04-19 | Thunderstorm WindMiddleburg, Franklin County | 61 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $15K |
| 2026-04-14 | Thunderstorm WindSt Thomas, Franklin County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $15K |
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: July 29, 1974 (tornado, Franklin County); June 20, 1989 (tornado, Franklin County); June 19, 1992 (tornado, Franklin 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 Franklin 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 | 3 | 16 | 21 | 67 | 59 | 93 | 61 |
| Hail | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 14 | 35 | 27 | 8 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 11 | 27 | 21 | 11 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 19 | 20 | 17 | 4 |
| High wind and dust storms | – | – | – | – | 3 | 8 | 4 | 1 |
| Tornadoes | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 1 |
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 1963 fell in June and July. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 34 · Feb 33 · Mar 20 · Apr 36 · May 80 · Jun 117 · Jul 118 · Aug 78 · Sep 36 · Oct 12 · Nov 14 · Dec 19 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Franklin County
FEMA's register lists 20 declarations that include Franklin County: 14 major disasters, 6 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for flood (6) and snowstorm (4).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020-03-30 | DR-4506 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020-03-13 | EM-3441 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2016-03-23 | DR-4267 | Snowstorm | Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm |
| 2013-01-10 | DR-4099 | Hurricane | Hurricane Sandy |
| 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 |
| 2006-06-30 | DR-1649 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides |
| 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 |
| 1996-06-18 | DR-1120 | Flood | Flooding, Severe Storms |
| 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 |
| 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 Franklin County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 60 flood or flash flood records for Franklin County from 1996 to 2025, on 57 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Franklin County ranks 971st of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $1.1 million on 188 claims filed in Franklin County; the most in one year was 44 in 1996. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1979: 10 · 1981: 2 · 1982: 2 · 1983: 1 · 1984: 25 · 1985: 3 · 1989: 2 · 1990: 1 · 1993: 2 · 1994: 1 · 1995: 4 · 1996: 44 · 2003: 3 · 2004: 5 · 2005: 1 · 2006: 40 · 2008: 1 · 2010: 6 · 2011: 9 · 2012: 4 · 2014: 6 · 2015: 2 · 2017: 1 · 2018: 4 · 2019: 1 · 2020: 2 · 2021: 2 · 2022: 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 Franklin County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Franklin County Relatively Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $37.7 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hurricane | Relatively Moderate | $4.4M | once in about 14 years (modeled) |
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively Moderate | $26M | 1.9 a year (modeled) |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate | $1.6M | 5.3 a year (modeled) |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Moderate | $237K | 12 a year (modeled) |
| Drought | Relatively Moderate | $928K | 0.9 modeled event-days a year |
| Lightning | Relatively Moderate | $360K | 37 a year (modeled) |
| Landslide | Relatively Low | $10K | once in about 2 years (modeled) |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low | $1.2M | once in about 1,019 years (modeled) |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
Counties that share a border with Franklin 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 Franklin CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Franklin County's FEMA declarations (CSV)20 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis