Pike County, Pennsylvania
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 42103 · population 58,432 · 545 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 356 records for Pike County, Pennsylvania from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 253 days; the most frequent are severe thunderstorm wind events (135 records). The most damaging was the January 19, 1996 flash flood ($43.3 million in 2025 dollars). FEMA has issued 18 declarations naming the county since 1965, 16 of them for natural hazards; the latest for a natural hazard was “Hurricane Sandy” on January 10, 2013.
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
- 356on 253 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 03 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $105Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 8strongest F3
- FEMA declarations
- 18latest 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 Pike County most?
The most frequent records are severe thunderstorm wind events: 135 since 1989. 57% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1989 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 | 135 | 87 | 1989-2026 | 0 | 0 | $1.6M | 60 of 67 |
| Winter storms | 87 | 86 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 0 | $1.5M | 31 of 67 |
| Hail | 61 | 37 | 1990-2023 | 0 | 0 | $22K | 32 of 67 |
| Floods | 27 | 19 | 1996-2025 | 0 | 0 | $88M | 61 of 67 |
| High wind and dust storms | 19 | 19 | 1996-2019 | 0 | 1 | $2.2M | 36 of 67 |
| Extreme cold | 8 | 8 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 0 | $7.5M | 38 of 67 |
| Tornadoes | 8 | 3 | 1998-2010 | 0 | 2 | $3.1M | 65 of 67 |
| Drought | 5 | 5 | 1997-2024 | 0 | 0 | $368K | 33 of 67 |
| Heat | 4 | 4 | 2001-2012 | 0 | 0 | – | 28 of 67 |
| Lightning | 2 | 2 | 2000-2004 | 0 | 0 | $31K | 28 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 Pike County had?
NOAA records 8 tornadoes in Pike County from 1998 to 2010, the strongest rated F3, 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 8 tornadoes whose track touched Pike County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 8, the same count); along their whole tracks they killed 0 people.
| Date | Tornado | Rating | Path | Killed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998-05-31 18:20, as SPC files it | Hemlock Farms | F3 | 20 mi | 0 |
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Pennsylvania.
Every tornado record filed for Pike County (8)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010-07-23 | Kimbles, Pike County | EF1 1.32 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $41K |
| 2010-07-23 | Mast Hope, Pike County | EF1 9.91 mi x 400 yd | 0 | 0 | $34K |
| 2006-12-01 | Rowland, Pike County | F1 5 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | $29K |
| 2006-12-01 | Kimbles, Pike County | F0 7 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $29K |
| 1998-05-31 | Greentown, Pike County | F0 0.3 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | $72K |
| 1998-05-31 | Blooming Grove, Pike County | F2 3 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | $724K |
| 1998-05-31 | Pecks Pond, Pike County | F3 20 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 2 | $1.8M |
| 1998-05-31 | Blooming Grove, Pike County | F2 2 mi x 550 yd | 0 | 0 | $362K |
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 Pike County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the June 11, 2026 thunderstorm wind ($1,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-11 | Thunderstorm WindMilford, Pike County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2026-06-11 | Thunderstorm WindMast Hope, Pike County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2026-06-11 | Thunderstorm WindBushkill, Pike County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2026-06-06 | Thunderstorm WindDingmans Ferry, Pike County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $2K |
| 2026-06-06 | Thunderstorm WindLackawaxen, Pike County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $500 |
| 2026-06-06 | Thunderstorm WindBushkill, Pike County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2026-04-19 | Frost/FreezePike County · forecast zone Pike | 0 | 0 | $7.5M | |
| 2026-04-15 | Thunderstorm WindTwin Lakes, Pike County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2026-02-08 | Extreme Cold/Wind ChillPike County · forecast zone Pike | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-25 | Winter StormPike County · forecast zone Pike | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-12-26 | Winter WeatherPike County · forecast zone Pike | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-12-23 | Winter WeatherPike County · forecast zone Pike | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998-05-31 | TornadoPecks Pond, Pike County The cell that produced tornadic damage earlier both in southern Wayne county and just upstream in Promised Land State Park dropped a tornado once again across the southern and southeastern portions of Pike county. A nearly continuous 20 mile path was uncovered via aerial storm surveys from Pecks Pond ... | F3 20 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 2 | $1.8M |
| 1997-03-06 | High WindPike County · forecast zone Pike | 0 | 1 | – |
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996-01-19 | Flash FloodCountywide, Pike County | 0 | 0 | $43M | |
| 2004-09-18 | Flash FloodCountywide, Pike County | 0 | 0 | $23M | |
| 2006-06-28 | FloodMilford, Pike County | 0 | 0 | $7.3M | |
| 1998-05-31 | TornadoPecks Pond, Pike County | F3 20 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 2 | $1.8M |
| 2004-08-12 | Flash FloodShohola, Pike County | 0 | 0 | $1.6M | |
| 2005-04-02 | FloodPike County · forecast zone Pike | 0 | 0 | $1.5M | |
| 2005-04-03 | FloodPike County · forecast zone Pike | 0 | 0 | $1.5M | |
| 2005-04-03 | Flash FloodCountywide, Pike County | 0 | 0 | $1.5M |
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 Pike 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 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 22 | 32 | 33 | 47 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 13 | 39 | 18 | 17 |
| Hail | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 32 | 19 | 3 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 3 | 18 | 1 | 5 |
| High wind and dust storms | – | – | – | – | 9 | 6 | 4 | 0 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
57% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1989 fell in June and July. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 29 · Feb 27 · Mar 24 · Apr 26 · May 26 · Jun 62 · Jul 64 · Aug 25 · Sep 22 · Oct 10 · Nov 13 · Dec 28 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Pike County
FEMA's register lists 18 declarations that include Pike County: 13 major disasters, 5 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for hurricane (6) and severe storm (4).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020-03-30 | DR-4506 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020-03-13 | EM-3441 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2013-01-10 | DR-4099 | Hurricane | Hurricane Sandy |
| 2012-10-29 | EM-3356 | Hurricane | Hurricane Sandy |
| 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 |
| 1998-06-08 | DR-1219 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes,and Flooding |
| 1996-01-21 | DR-1093 | Flood | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 1996-01-13 | DR-1085 | Snowstorm | Blizzard of 96 |
| 1993-03-16 | EM-3105 | Snowstorm | Severe Snowfall & Winter Storm |
| 1972-06-23 | DR-340 | Flood | Tropical Storm Agnes |
| 1969-08-19 | DR-273 | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding |
| 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 Pike County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 27 flood or flash flood records for Pike County from 1996 to 2025, on 19 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Pike County ranks 891st of 2,942 U.S. counties.
| Storm | Began | Records | Deaths in the county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tropical Depression Ivan | 2004-09-18 | 5 | 0 |
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $3.0 million on 219 claims filed in Pike County; the most in one year was 69 in 2006. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1979: 2 · 1980: 2 · 1981: 25 · 1983: 2 · 1989: 2 · 1994: 2 · 1995: 1 · 1996: 7 · 1997: 1 · 1999: 1 · 2000: 2 · 2004: 21 · 2005: 47 · 2006: 69 · 2007: 2 · 2008: 1 · 2010: 1 · 2011: 22 · 2012: 2 · 2015: 1 · 2018: 2 · 2020: 1 · 2021: 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 Pike County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Pike County Relatively Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $24.5 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively Moderate | $18M | once in about 2 years (modeled) |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Moderate | $2.9M | 3 a year (modeled) |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Moderate | $100K | 16 a year (modeled) |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate | $757K | 4.1 a year (modeled) |
| Hurricane | Relatively Low | $1.2M | once in about 20 years (modeled) |
| Wildfire | Relatively Low | $195K | once in about 1,864 years (modeled) |
| Landslide | Relatively Low | $5K | once in about 2 years (modeled) |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | $280K | 30 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 Pike 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 Pike CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Pike County's FEMA declarations (CSV)18 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis