Venango County, Pennsylvania
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 42121 · population 50,453 · 674 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 805 records for Venango County, Pennsylvania from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 479 days; the most frequent are severe thunderstorm wind events (398 records). The deadliest single record is the May 31, 1985 tornado: 8 deaths and 40 injuries. FEMA has issued 15 declarations naming the county since 1972, 13 of them for natural hazards; the latest for a natural hazard was “Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding” on October 1, 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
- 805on 479 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 1368 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $243Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 15strongest F4
- FEMA declarations
- 15latest 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 Venango County most?
The most frequent records are severe thunderstorm wind events: 398 since 1965. 46% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1965 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 | 209 | 1965-2026 | 1 | 2 | $4.3M | 33 of 67 |
| Winter storms | 144 | 133 | 1996-2026 | 3 | 6 | $190K | 20 of 67 |
| Floods | 101 | 72 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 0 | $98M | 24 of 67 |
| Hail | 94 | 60 | 1986-2026 | 0 | 0 | $28K | 24 of 67 |
| High wind and dust storms | 28 | 28 | 1996-2024 | 1 | 0 | $2.0M | 28 of 67 |
| Tornadoes | 15 | 10 | 1974-2026 | 8 | 46 | $139M | 49 of 67 |
| Extreme cold | 11 | 11 | 2014-2025 | 0 | 0 | – | 33 of 67 |
| Lightning | 5 | 4 | 1997-2023 | 0 | 14 | $115K | 23 of 67 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 4 | 4 | 1996-2020 | 0 | 0 | – | 14 of 67 |
| Heavy rain | 3 | 2 | 2013-2018 | 0 | 0 | – | 21 of 67 |
| Drought | 2 | 2 | 1999-1999 | 0 | 0 | – | 62 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 Venango County had?
NOAA records 15 tornadoes in Venango County from 1974 to 2026, the strongest rated F4, with 8 deaths and 46 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 13 tornadoes whose track touched Venango 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 23 people, 8 of them in Venango County.
| Date | Tornado | Rating | Path | Killed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1985-05-31 15:17, as SPC files it | SugarcreekCrossed OH, PA | F4 | 56.2 mi | 16 |
| 1985-05-31 16:30, as SPC files it | Tionesta | F4 | 29 mi | 7 |
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Pennsylvania.
Every tornado record filed for Venango County (15)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-14 | Diamond, Venango County | EF0 0.4 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $15K |
| 2021-07-29 | Thornburgh, Venango County | EF0 0.27 mi x 15 yd | 0 | 0 | $16K |
| 2019-04-14 | Petroleum Center, Venango County | EF0 1 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2019-04-14 | Franklin Fisher Airport, Venango County | EF0 1.2 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2004-05-25 | Oil City, Venango County | F0 0.3 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2002-04-28 | Raymilton, Venango County | F1 6 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | $410K |
| 1985-06-22 | Venango County | F0 0.2 mi x 3 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1985-05-31 | Venango County | F0 3 mi x 300 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1985-05-31 | Venango County | F2 6 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 1 | – |
| 1985-05-31 | Venango County | F4 4 mi x 800 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1985-05-31 | Venango County | F4 11 mi x 350 yd | 0 | 5 | $25M step |
| 1985-05-31 | Venango County | F4 12.5 mi x 350 yd | 8 | 40 | $25M step |
| 1981-08-07 | Venango County | F2 | 0 | 0 | $250K step |
| 1977-09-24 | Venango County | 0 | 0 | $25K step | |
| 1974-07-02 | Venango County | F1 | 0 | 0 | – |
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 Venango County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the June 14, 2026 thunderstorm wind ($5,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-14 | Thunderstorm WindCooperstown, Venango County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $5K |
| 2026-06-14 | Thunderstorm WindDiamond, Venango County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $5K |
| 2026-06-14 | Thunderstorm WindDempseytown, Venango County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $5K |
| 2026-06-14 | Thunderstorm WindSunville, Venango County | 78 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $10K |
| 2026-06-14 | Thunderstorm WindDempseytown, Venango County | 78 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $10K |
| 2026-06-14 | Thunderstorm WindChapmanville, Venango County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $5K |
| 2026-06-14 | Thunderstorm WindBradleytown, Venango County | 78 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $10K |
| 2026-06-14 | TornadoDiamond, Venango County | EF0 0.4 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $15K |
| 2026-06-06 | Thunderstorm WindOil City, Venango County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2026-06-06 | Thunderstorm WindPlumer, Venango County | 56 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $5K |
| 2026-06-06 | Thunderstorm WindRouseville, Venango County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $5K |
| 2026-06-06 | Thunderstorm WindMc Kenzie Corners, Venango County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
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 | TornadoVenango County | F4 12.5 mi x 350 yd | 8 | 40 | $25M step |
| 2012-02-25 | Winter WeatherVenango County · forecast zone Venango Venango county emergency management reported several multiple vehicle accidents along interstate 80 in both directions between exits 29 and 42, Barkeyville to Emlenton due to white out conditions. 70 vehicles were involved in the crashes with the largest crash involving 28 vehicles, both cars and tractor trailers. ... | 3 | 6 | – | |
| 2022-07-24 | Thunderstorm WindFranklin, Venango County A large tree fell on to two trailers in the Idlewood Trailer Park on Maplewood Drive. A 28-year old woman was killed via blunt force trauma. | 50 kt wind | 1 | 0 | $10K |
| 2008-09-14 | High WindVenango County · forecast zone Venango A 52 year old male was killed when wind sheared off a tree top and struck him in the head. The fatality occurred while attempting to clear a tree which had previously fallen. | 65 kt wind | 1 | 0 | $1.4M |
| 2005-07-16 | LightningFranklin, Venango County When lightning began, 2 dozen people took shelter under a large pine tree. Lightning struck the tree, injuring 13, 1 critically. One 12 year old boy suffered cardiac arrest and was resuscitated. | 0 | 13 | – | |
| 1985-05-31 | TornadoVenango County | F4 11 mi x 350 yd | 0 | 5 | $25M step |
| 2004-06-14 | Thunderstorm WindFranklin, Venango County Numerous trees and power lines blown down. One tree fell onto a mobile home, giving 2 people minor injuries. In Seneca, a tree fell on a house. | 52 kt wind | 0 | 2 | $47K |
| 1997-08-16 | LightningCherrytree, Venango County Lightning struck a stage in an open amphitheatre in Cherry Township injuring a 47 year-old male security officer. | 0 | 1 | – |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996-07-19 | Flash FloodFranklin, Venango County | 0 | 0 | $94M | |
| 2006-08-29 | Flash FloodOil City, Venango County | 0 | 0 | $1.9M | |
| 2001-06-21 | Flash FloodFranklin, Venango County | 0 | 0 | $250K | |
| 2004-06-14 | Thunderstorm WindFranklin, Venango County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 2 | $47K |
| 2012-07-26 | Thunderstorm WindPresident, Venango County | 78 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $32K |
| 2025-06-17 | Flash FloodPolk Jct, Venango County | 0 | 0 | $20K | |
| 2025-06-18 | Flash FloodClintonville, Venango County | 0 | 0 | $20K | |
| 2021-07-29 | TornadoThornburgh, Venango County | EF0 0.27 mi x 15 yd | 0 | 0 | $16K |
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, Venango County, 8 killed); May 31, 1985 (tornado, Venango 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 Venango 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 | 2 | 8 | 18 | 80 | 66 | 119 | 105 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 12 | 34 | 36 | 62 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 10 | 33 | 35 | 23 |
| Hail | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 16 | 32 | 30 | 15 |
| High wind and dust storms | – | – | – | – | 2 | 16 | 6 | 4 |
| Tornadoes | 0 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
46% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1965 fell in June and July. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 60 · Feb 50 · Mar 26 · Apr 69 · May 78 · Jun 149 · Jul 129 · Aug 106 · Sep 43 · Oct 17 · Nov 30 · Dec 48 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Venango County
FEMA's register lists 15 declarations that include Venango County: 10 major disasters, 5 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for flood (4) and severe storm (3).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020-03-30 | DR-4506 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020-03-13 | EM-3441 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2013-10-01 | DR-4149 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| 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 |
| 2003-08-23 | DR-1485 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| 1996-07-26 | DR-1130 | Flood | Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes |
| 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 |
| 1981-06-15 | DR-641 | 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 Venango County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 101 flood or flash flood records for Venango County from 1996 to 2026, on 72 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Venango County ranks 575th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $5.9 million on 429 claims filed in Venango County; the most in one year was 109 in 1981. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1978: 18 · 1979: 38 · 1980: 15 · 1981: 109 · 1982: 88 · 1983: 2 · 1984: 1 · 1986: 4 · 1987: 3 · 1990: 11 · 1994: 1 · 1995: 1 · 1996: 37 · 2001: 3 · 2003: 20 · 2004: 7 · 2006: 26 · 2010: 2 · 2011: 8 · 2012: 1 · 2013: 1 · 2014: 9 · 2015: 1 · 2017: 2 · 2018: 1 · 2019: 14 · 2020: 1 · 2021: 2 · 2022: 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 Venango County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Venango County Relatively Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $15.8 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 | $692K | 38 a year (modeled) |
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively Moderate | $13M | 2.3 a year (modeled) |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate | $904K | 2.1 a year (modeled) |
| Landslide | Relatively Low | $4K | once in about 2 years (modeled) |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | $48K | 17 a year (modeled) |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | $564K | once in about 4 years (modeled) |
| Hurricane | Very Low | $106K | once in about 48 years (modeled) |
| Avalanche | Very Low | $631 | once in about 100 years (modeled) |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
Counties that share a border with Venango 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 Venango CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Venango County's FEMA declarations (CSV)15 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis