Northampton County, Pennsylvania
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 42095 · population 312,822 · 370 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 1,359 records for Northampton County, Pennsylvania from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 979 days; the most frequent are severe thunderstorm wind events (390 records). The deadliest single record is the October 29, 2012 high wind, filed for the forecast zone Northampton, which covers the county: 2 deaths and $1.3 million in damage in 2025 dollars. FEMA has issued 24 declarations naming the county since 1965, 22 of them for natural hazards; the latest for a natural hazard was “Remnants of Hurricane Ida” on September 10, 2021.
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
- 1,359on 979 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 1071 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $240Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 13strongest F3
- FEMA declarations
- 24latest 2021
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 Northampton County most?
The most frequent records are severe thunderstorm wind events: 390 since 1958. 51% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1958 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 | 390 | 235 | 1958-2026 | 1 | 1 | $5.0M | 3 of 67 |
| Winter storms | 316 | 311 | 1996-2026 | 3 | 26 | $3.8M | 5 of 67 |
| Floods | 137 | 96 | 1996-2025 | 0 | 1 | $143M | 7 of 67 |
| High wind and dust storms | 124 | 121 | 1996-2025 | 2 | 0 | $5.8M | 5 of 67 |
| Hail | 69 | 47 | 1975-2025 | 0 | 0 | $356K | 10 of 67 |
| Heat | 66 | 66 | 1996-2025 | 1 | 26 | – | 5 of 67 |
| Lightning | 60 | 53 | 1996-2022 | 1 | 12 | $3.7M | 2 of 67 |
| Drought | 43 | 43 | 1997-2010 | 0 | 0 | – | 4 of 67 |
| Heavy rain | 42 | 35 | 1996-2022 | 0 | 0 | – | 4 of 67 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 42 | 41 | 1997-2026 | 0 | 0 | – | 5 of 67 |
| Extreme cold | 36 | 35 | 1996-2022 | 1 | 0 | $12K | 5 of 67 |
| Wildfires | 19 | 18 | 2000-2015 | 1 | 0 | $1.7M | 1 of 67 |
| Tornadoes | 13 | 11 | 1973-2025 | 0 | 5 | $76M | 19 of 67 |
| Hurricanes and tropical storms | 2 | 2 | 2011-2020 | 0 | 0 | $984K | 7 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 Northampton County had?
NOAA records 13 tornadoes in Northampton County from 1973 to 2025, the strongest rated F3, with 0 deaths and 5 injuries recorded in the county. That is 19th 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 13 tornadoes whose track touched Northampton County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 13, the same count); along their whole tracks they killed 0 people.
| Date | Tornado | Rating | Path | Killed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1981-07-26 19:35, as SPC files it | Walnutport | F3 | 3.3 mi | 0 |
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Pennsylvania.
Every tornado record filed for Northampton County (13)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-05-06 | Ackermanville, Northampton County | EF1 1.5 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $20K |
| 2023-06-26 | Martins Creek, Northampton County | EF0 3.37 mi x 60 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1996-11-08 | Danielsville, Northampton County | F2 2 mi x 67 yd | 0 | 1 | $470K |
| 1992-07-15 | Northampton County | F0 0.2 mi x 13 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1992-07-15 | Northampton County | F1 1.5 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | $3K step |
| 1985-07-14 | Northampton County | F0 0.8 mi x 660 yd | 0 | 0 | $3K step |
| 1983-08-11 | Northampton County | F1 2 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1983-08-11 | Northampton County | F1 8 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 2 | $25M step |
| 1981-07-26 | Northampton County | F3 3.3 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 2 | $250K step |
| 1981-07-20 | Northampton County | F2 4.1 mi x 67 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1977-06-01 | Northampton County | F1 1 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $3K step |
| 1976-03-21 | Northampton County | F1 2.3 mi x 33 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1973-06-29 | Northampton County | F1 | 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 Northampton County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the May 6, 2025 tornado ($20,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).
An NWS storm survey determined an EF1 tornado with estimated maximum wind speeds of 80 to 90 mph occurred near Bangor. The first damage was noted at a Public Works Barn. Damage in this area was consistent with maximum wind speeds of 70 to 80 mph. A small tree was felled and several tiles were blown off the roof. Of note, some of the tiles from the roof were found approximately one quarter mile away near a school. For the next approximate mile, discontinuous tree damage occurred in a wooded area. The highest degree of damage was noted behind a residence on Washington Boulevard. At that location, several softwood trees were uprooted and a few were snapped. Maximum wind speed in this area were estimated to be 80 to 90 mph. This is also the location where the estimated maximum width was observed, approximately 100 yards. …
National Weather Service event narrative, NOAA Storm Events Database (search the full record, event 1266692)
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-06 | Thunderstorm WindEaston, Northampton County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-03-16 | Thunderstorm WindHellertown, Northampton County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-03-16 | Thunderstorm WindNazareth, Northampton County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-03-03 | Winter WeatherNorthampton County · forecast zone Northampton | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-02-10 | Winter WeatherNorthampton County · forecast zone Northampton | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-25 | Winter StormNorthampton County · forecast zone Northampton | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-18 | Winter WeatherNorthampton County · forecast zone Northampton | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-17 | Winter WeatherNorthampton County · forecast zone Northampton | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-17 | Freezing FogNorthampton County · forecast zone Northampton | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-06 | Dense FogNorthampton County · forecast zone Northampton | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-12-28 | Winter WeatherNorthampton County · forecast zone Northampton | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-12-26 | Winter WeatherNorthampton County · forecast zone Northampton | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012-10-29 | High WindNorthampton County · forecast zone Northampton Post Tropical Storm Sandy caused an initial estimate of $20 million dollars in damage in Pennsylvania and directly or indirectly caused 15 deaths across the state. Most of the damage in the eastern part of the state was wind related as wind gusts reached as high as 81 mph. Some moderate creek flooding occurred in the ... | 67 kt wind | 2 | 0 | $1.3M |
| 2015-03-03 | Winter WeatherNorthampton County · forecast zone Northampton An approaching warm front generated a mixture of snow, sleet and freezing rain in Eastern Pennsylvania during the afternoon and evening of the 3rd. Snow and/or sleet accumulations averaged 1 to 3 inches in the Lehigh Valley and Poconos and around an inch or less throughout the rest of Eastern Pennsylvania. Ice ... | 1 | 1 | – | |
| 2015-04-06 | WildfireNorthampton County · forecast zone Northampton The combination of gusty south to southwest winds and drying conditions led to several wildfires across Eastern Pennsylvania on the 6th and resulted in one fatality, a couple of injuries and minor property damage. In Northampton County, on the afternoon of the 6th, in Lower Saucon Township, a 72-year-old man died ... | 1 | 0 | $1K | |
| 2009-08-05 | LightningFarmersville, Northampton County A 53-year-old man collapsed and died while doing yard work in his backyard in Bethlehem Township. He was holding an electric trimmer when he was struck by lightning. Medical crews responded, administered CPR, then transported him to Lehigh Valley Hospital Muhlenberg Campus where he was pronounced dead. | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 2008-12-24 | Winter WeatherNorthampton County · forecast zone Northampton A wintry mix of sleet and freezing rain fell from the late evening of the 23rd into the morning on the 24th across eastern Pennsylvania. The resulting glaze on untreated roadways led to numerous accidents. Precipitation was spottier right around the local Philadelphia area, but was steadier elsewhere. Ice accretions ... | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 2007-02-13 | Winter StormNorthampton County · forecast zone Northampton An area of low pressure tracked across southeastern Canada during the 12th, which brought an arctic front across the Mid Atlantic region late on the 12th. As this occurred, a strong area of high pressure located across central Canada built down into the Northeast, allowing very cold air to spill southward ultimately ... | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 2005-01-23 | Cold/Wind ChillNorthampton County · forecast zone Northampton In the wake of the winter storm, a high pressure system from Canada built into the northeastern part of the United States. The pressure gradient difference between this high and the departing low pressure system produced windy conditions from the 23rd into the morning of the 24th. The combination of the wind and ... | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 1999-07-04 | HeatNorthampton County · forecast zone Northampton A very strong and oppressive high pressure system that extended from the surface to aloft gave Eastern Pennsylvania a brutal heat wave that included the entire Independence Day weekend. There were 74 heat related deaths and over 100 reported heat related injuries. High temperatures reached the 90s for the first time ... | 1 | 0 | – |
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021-09-01 | Flash FloodBerlinsville, Northampton County | 0 | 0 | $27M | |
| 2006-06-27 | FloodWalnutport, Northampton County | 0 | 0 | $16M | |
| 1996-01-19 | FloodNorthampton County · forecast zone Northampton | 0 | 0 | $3.8M | |
| 2011-03-10 | FloodWalnutport, Northampton County | 0 | 0 | $2.3M | |
| 1996-01-07 | BlizzardNorthampton County · forecast zone Northampton | 0 | 0 | $1.9M | |
| 2003-09-18 | High WindNorthampton County · forecast zone Northampton | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1.8M |
| 2007-08-25 | LightningBelfast, Northampton County | 0 | 0 | $1.8M | |
| 2009-02-12 | High WindNorthampton County · forecast zone Northampton | 56 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1.7M |
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: August 11, 1983 (tornado, Northampton 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 Northampton 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 | 4 | 16 | 13 | 20 | 46 | 66 | 118 | 107 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 34 | 117 | 115 | 50 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 11 | 38 | 54 | 34 |
| High wind and dust storms | – | – | – | – | 17 | 68 | 35 | 4 |
| Hail | 0 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 5 | 20 | 21 | 16 |
| Heat | – | – | – | – | 20 | 27 | 16 | 3 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
51% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1958 fell in June and July. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 159 · Feb 140 · Mar 102 · Apr 58 · May 85 · Jun 139 · Jul 227 · Aug 153 · Sep 65 · Oct 40 · Nov 67 · Dec 124 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Northampton County
FEMA's register lists 24 declarations that include Northampton County: 17 major disasters, 7 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for hurricane (7) and severe storm (6).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021-09-10 | DR-4618 | Hurricane | Remnants of Hurricane Ida |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 2011-09-12 | DR-4030 | Flood | Tropical Storm Lee |
| 2011-09-08 | EM-3340 | Flood | Remnants of Tropical Storm Lee |
| 2011-09-03 | DR-4025 | Hurricane | Hurricane Irene |
| 2011-08-29 | EM-3339 | Hurricane | Hurricane Irene |
| 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 |
| 1973-07-17 | DR-400 | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding |
| 1972-06-23 | DR-340 | Flood | Tropical Storm Agnes |
| 1965-08-18 | DR-206 | Drought | Water Shortage |
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 Northampton County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 137 flood or flash flood records for Northampton County from 1996 to 2025, on 96 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Northampton County ranks 236th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
| Storm | Began | Records | Deaths in the county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hurricane Ida | 2021-09-01 | 2 | 0 |
| Hurricane Irene | 2011-08-27 | 2 | 0 |
| Tropical Depression Ivan | 2004-09-18 | 2 | 0 |
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $48.4 million on 1,561 claims filed in Northampton County; the most in one year was 329 in 2004. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1978: 10 · 1979: 44 · 1980: 1 · 1981: 5 · 1982: 7 · 1983: 16 · 1984: 10 · 1985: 5 · 1986: 13 · 1987: 12 · 1989: 1 · 1990: 1 · 1993: 3 · 1994: 4 · 1995: 1 · 1996: 104 · 1997: 2 · 1998: 1 · 1999: 22 · 2000: 3 · 2001: 2 · 2002: 1 · 2003: 3 · 2004: 329 · 2005: 298 · 2006: 296 · 2007: 10 · 2008: 1 · 2009: 2 · 2010: 21 · 2011: 137 · 2012: 6 · 2013: 5 · 2014: 8 · 2015: 9 · 2016: 3 · 2017: 2 · 2018: 12 · 2020: 77 · 2021: 36 · 2023: 30 · 2024: 5 · 2025: 2 · 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 Northampton County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Northampton County Relatively Moderate overall, with an expected annual loss of $90.4 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 High | $940K | 14 a year (modeled) |
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively High | $63M | 3.3 a year (modeled) |
| Lightning | Relatively High | $1.5M | 35 a year (modeled) |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Moderate | $5.3M | 5.9 modeled event-days a year |
| Hurricane | Relatively Moderate | $5.3M | once in about 18 years (modeled) |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Moderate | $5.0M | 1 a year (modeled) |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate | $1.5M | 6.1 a year (modeled) |
| Tornado | Relatively Moderate | $4.4M | once in about 6 years (modeled) |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
Counties that share a border with Northampton 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 Northampton CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Northampton County's FEMA declarations (CSV)24 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis