Somerset County, Pennsylvania
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 42111 · population 74,099 · 1,075 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 652 records for Somerset County, Pennsylvania from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 460 days; the most frequent are severe thunderstorm wind events (299 records). The deadliest single record is the May 31, 1998 tornado: 1 death, 15 injuries and $7.2 million in damage in 2025 dollars. FEMA has issued 21 declarations naming the county since 1972, 19 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
- 652on 460 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 728 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $13Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 15strongest F3
- FEMA declarations
- 21latest 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 Somerset County most?
The most frequent records are severe thunderstorm wind events: 299 since 1968. 44% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1968 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 | 299 | 173 | 1968-2026 | 2 | 6 | $1.2M | 59 of 67 |
| Winter storms | 142 | 141 | 1996-2026 | 1 | 1 | $66K | 44 of 67 |
| Floods | 85 | 53 | 1996-2025 | 0 | 1 | $1.3M | 52 of 67 |
| Hail | 36 | 30 | 1971-2025 | 0 | 0 | $10K | 63 of 67 |
| High wind and dust storms | 33 | 32 | 1997-2026 | 1 | 0 | $539K | 44 of 67 |
| Extreme cold | 26 | 26 | 2004-2026 | 1 | 0 | – | 21 of 67 |
| Tornadoes | 15 | 13 | 1951-2021 | 1 | 17 | $10M | 53 of 67 |
| Drought | 10 | 10 | 1997-2024 | 0 | 0 | – | 32 of 67 |
| Lightning | 3 | 3 | 2006-2012 | 1 | 3 | – | 30 of 67 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 2 | 2 | 2007-2013 | 0 | 0 | – | 31 of 67 |
| Hurricanes and tropical storms | 1 | 1 | 2003-2003 | 0 | 0 | – | 36 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 Somerset County had?
NOAA records 15 tornadoes in Somerset County from 1951 to 2021, the strongest rated F3, with 1 death and 17 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 16 tornadoes whose track touched Somerset County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 15: they file a crossing tornado once per county segment, and the two databases differ on some tracks); along their whole tracks they killed 1 person.
| Date | Tornado | Rating | Path | Killed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998-05-31 18:50, as SPC files it | Salisbury | F3 | 13 mi | 1 |
| 1998-06-02 19:02, as SPC files it | MeyersdaleCrossed MD, PA | F4 | 36.5 mi | 0 |
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Pennsylvania.
Every tornado record filed for Somerset County (15)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021-07-29 | Bakersville, Somerset County | EF1 0.21 mi x 65 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2018-05-13 | Kantner, Somerset County | EF1 0.29 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2018-05-13 | Gray, Somerset County | EF1 0.54 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $59K |
| 2013-08-07 | Ralphton, Somerset County | EF0 0.22 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 0 | $3K |
| 2000-07-31 | Wittenberg, Somerset County | F0 1 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $9K |
| 1998-06-30 | Buckstown, Somerset County | F1 0.2 mi x 70 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1998-06-02 | Bakersville, Somerset County | F3 26 mi x 1,760 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1998-06-02 | Markleton, Somerset County | F2 15 mi x 880 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1998-05-31 | Salisbury, Somerset County | F3 13 mi x 880 yd | 1 | 15 | $7.2M |
| 1990-06-08 | Somerset County | F0 0.5 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1984-07-05 | Somerset County | F1 10 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1975-09-05 | Somerset County | F1 5.6 mi x 33 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1956-05-13 | Somerset County | F2 | 0 | 1 | $250K step |
| 1954-04-22 | Somerset County | F0 1 mi x 3 yd | 0 | 0 | $30 step |
| 1951-05-11 | Somerset County | F2 8 mi x 33 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.
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 Somerset County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the June 22, 2026 thunderstorm wind ($3,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-22 | Thunderstorm WindWellscreek, Somerset County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $3K |
| 2026-06-22 | Thunderstorm WindOrsina, Somerset County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $2K |
| 2026-06-14 | Thunderstorm WindStoystown, Somerset County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $2K |
| 2026-06-11 | Thunderstorm WindOgletown, Somerset County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-11 | Thunderstorm WindCentral City, Somerset County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2026-06-11 | Thunderstorm WindFerrelton, Somerset County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2026-06-11 | Thunderstorm WindBerlin, Somerset County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $5K |
| 2026-06-11 | Thunderstorm WindTire Hill, Somerset County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2026-06-11 | Thunderstorm WindHusband, Somerset County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $5K |
| 2026-06-11 | Thunderstorm WindHollsopple, Somerset County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2026-06-06 | Thunderstorm WindPleasant Union, Somerset County | 61 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $3K |
| 2026-06-06 | Thunderstorm WindListie, Somerset County | 70 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $4K |
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 | TornadoSalisbury, Somerset County The tornado touched down just east of Mt. Davis and traveled east-southeast into downtown Salisbury. The storm then continued eastward for 8 miles ending east of the town of Pocahontas. The tornado was rated as an F2 (113 to 157 mph) through the town of Salisbury, but probably reached F3 (158 to 206 mph) intensity ... | F3 13 mi x 880 yd | 1 | 15 | $7.2M |
| 1995-11-11 | Thunderstorm WindSomerset County Trees and power lines were down across the county including in Somerset. A tree fell on a car fatally injuring a woman. 4 others with minor injuries.(F29VE) | 1 | 4 | – | |
| 2012-07-24 | LightningGarrett, Somerset County A Somerset County woman and her unborn baby were killed when she was struck by lightning around 1100 am EDT. The woman was hit on Rockdale Road in Summit Township near Garrett while taking cover from a storm under a pine tree. According to PSP, the woman, her husband and two of their children were in the woods picking ... | 1 | 1 | – | |
| 2025-01-20 | Extreme Cold/Wind ChillSomerset County · forecast zone Somerset An extended period of well-below average temperatures across Somerset County allowed for wind chills to generally range between -20 to -25 degrees during the early morning hours of January 21, 2025 with temperatures remaining well-below average throughout the daytime hours. Colder air began to settle in during the ... | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 2024-11-20 | Strong WindSomerset County · forecast zone Somerset Gusty winds, estimated near 45 mph, knocked down a tree onto Cumberland Highway near the intersection of Palo Alto Road in Southampton Township. Rainfall close to sunset in an area with no streetlights led to a vehicle running into the tree, killing the driver of the vehicle. There were no other fatalities or injuries ... | 39 kt wind | 1 | 0 | $7K |
| 2012-10-30 | Heavy SnowSomerset County · forecast zone Somerset Strong upslope flow and cooling aloft changed rain to snow over the Laurel Highlands, mainly above 2200 feet in elevation. Heavy snow accumulations between 6 and 12 inches were reported, with locally higher amounts on the ridge-tops above 2800 ft. COOP stations at Laurel Summit and Mount Davis each recorded over a ... | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 2011-08-25 | Thunderstorm WindRoberts, Somerset County Thunderstorm winds estimated near 60 mph knocked down a tree which fell onto a residential home on Stepping Stone Road on the south-side of Somerset, causing significant damage. A 10-year old female in the house was killed by the falling tree. | 50 kt wind | 1 | 0 | $7K |
| 2025-04-19 | Thunderstorm WindAddison, Somerset County A severe thunderstorm, producing straight-line winds in excess of 95 mph, caused extensive tree damage in Addison and elk Lick Townships. In Addison, a tree fell onto a residence, with multiple trees knocked down across roadways in Addison, knocking out power for a majority of the town. Two people were injured in ... | 83 kt wind | 0 | 2 | $120K |
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998-05-31 | TornadoSalisbury, Somerset County | F3 13 mi x 880 yd | 1 | 15 | $7.2M |
| 2019-07-05 | Flash FloodListie, Somerset County | 0 | 0 | $1.2M | |
| 2025-04-19 | Thunderstorm WindAddison, Somerset County | 83 kt wind | 0 | 2 | $120K |
| 2022-06-08 | Thunderstorm WindRoberts, Somerset County | 74 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $61K |
| 2018-05-13 | TornadoGray, Somerset County | EF1 0.54 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $59K |
| 2025-02-08 | Ice StormSomerset County · forecast zone Somerset | 0 | 0 | $50K | |
| 2025-04-19 | Thunderstorm WindHarnedsville, Somerset County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $40K |
| 2025-03-16 | Thunderstorm WindStoystown, Somerset County | 61 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $20K |
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 $250K, in the dollars of the day) holds: May 13, 1956 (tornado, Somerset 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 Somerset 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 | 1 | 3 | 16 | 55 | 51 | 80 | 93 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 19 | 49 | 40 | 34 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 14 | 22 | 29 | 20 |
| Hail | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 11 | 6 | 15 | 1 |
| High wind and dust storms | – | – | – | – | 4 | 15 | 7 | 7 |
| Extreme cold | – | – | – | – | 0 | 12 | 6 | 8 |
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 1968 fell in June and July. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 56 · Feb 56 · Mar 49 · Apr 51 · May 76 · Jun 90 · Jul 97 · Aug 68 · Sep 25 · Oct 9 · Nov 25 · Dec 50 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Somerset County
FEMA's register lists 21 declarations that include Somerset County: 14 major disasters, 7 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for flood (6) and snowstorm (5).
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 1994-03-10 | DR-1015 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms |
| 1993-03-16 | EM-3105 | Snowstorm | Severe Snowfall & Winter Storm |
| 1985-11-09 | DR-754 | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding |
| 1984-08-27 | DR-721 | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding |
| 1977-07-21 | DR-537 | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding |
| 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 Somerset County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 85 flood or flash flood records for Somerset County from 1996 to 2025, on 53 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Somerset County ranks 609th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $2.6 million on 395 claims filed in Somerset County; the most in one year was 122 in 1996. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1978: 18 · 1979: 12 · 1980: 8 · 1981: 4 · 1982: 1 · 1983: 28 · 1984: 5 · 1985: 12 · 1987: 3 · 1989: 1 · 1992: 3 · 1993: 4 · 1994: 1 · 1995: 1 · 1996: 122 · 1997: 6 · 1998: 1 · 1999: 2 · 2000: 10 · 2003: 6 · 2004: 27 · 2005: 8 · 2006: 6 · 2008: 4 · 2009: 3 · 2010: 21 · 2011: 5 · 2012: 5 · 2014: 2 · 2015: 5 · 2017: 5 · 2018: 25 · 2019: 5 · 2020: 1 · 2024: 4 · 2025: 18 · 2026: 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 Somerset County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Somerset County Relatively Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $21.9 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 | 1.8 a year (modeled) |
| Lightning | Relatively Moderate | $657K | 40 a year (modeled) |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Moderate | $154K | 26 a year (modeled) |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate | $715K | 2.7 a year (modeled) |
| Landslide | Relatively Low | $17K | 1.1 a year (modeled) |
| Hurricane | Relatively Low | $721K | once in about 36 years (modeled) |
| Hail | Relatively Low | $377K | 2.3 a year (modeled) |
| Drought | Relatively Low | $141K | 0.3 modeled event-days a year |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
Counties that share a border with Somerset 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 Somerset CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Somerset County's FEMA declarations (CSV)21 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis