States › Pennsylvania › Allegheny County
Allegheny County, Pennsylvania
Recorded hazard history: storm events since 1950, federal disaster declarations since 1953, flood insurance claims since 1978, and FEMA's risk index.
NCEI notes that Storm Data is compiled from a variety of sources including the National Weather Service, other federal, state and local agencies, the media and the public; that property and crop damage figures are estimates; and that some events are recorded by NWS forecast zone rather than by county. FEMA notes that NFIP claim records are redacted and aggregated to protect the privacy of policyholders. NCEI storm records through 30 Jun 2026; OpenFEMA declarations refreshed 1 Oct 2026; NFIP claims as of 8 Sep 2026.
Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, has 2,594 weather events in the NCEI Storm Events record since 1950, most of them damaging wind.
That is 355.4 events per 100 square miles, above the Pennsylvania figure of 121.6, and 21.0 per 10,000 residents against 42.0 statewide.
54 events fall in the 12 months to 30 Jun 2026. NCEI attributes 14 deaths and 361 injuries to events in the county, with property damage estimated at $454M and crop damage at $423K.
FEMA has designated the county in 18 federal disaster declarations since 1953; the most recent is Covid-19 Pandemic (major disaster, 30 Mar 2020).
National Flood Insurance Program policyholders in the county filed 4,832 claims since 1978, of which 3,841 were paid, totalling $82M (about $21K per paid claim). FEMA counts 1,851 residential flood policies in force.
FEMA's National Risk Index rates the county's overall risk as "Relatively High" and its expected annual loss as "Relatively High" ($354M a year across 18 hazards).
7 tropical storm or hurricane tracks in the HURDAT2 record passed within 100 miles of the county's centre at tropical-storm strength or more, 0 of them within 50 miles at hurricane strength.
Compared with Pennsylvania and the United States
| Measure | Allegheny County | Pennsylvania | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Recorded events since 1950 | 2,594 | 54,427 | 1,977,440 |
| Events per 100 square miles | 355.4 | 121.6 | 56.0 |
| Events per 10,000 residents | 21.0 | 42.0 | 59.6 |
| Events in the last 12 months | 54 | 2,028 | 62,008 |
| Deaths recorded by NCEI | 14 | 901 | 26,435 |
| Property damage (NCEI estimates) | $454M | $5.3B | $575B |
| NFIP claims per 1,000 residents | 3.9 | 5.9 | 8.1 |
| Average paid NFIP claim | $21K | $23K | $43K |
| Claims per 100 policies in force, last 10 years | 44.5 | 25.9 | 16.1 |
County-recorded events plus zone-recorded events whose forecast zone is named for the county. State and US rows include events recorded only by forecast zone. Rates use 2021 Census population and land area.
Events by decade
Trend: 1,881 events in the 20 years to 2025 against 545 in the 20 years before. Reporting practice changed in 1996 and again with automated reports in the 2000s, so decade totals measure the record as much as the weather.
Events by type
Hazard pages exist for hail, tornado, flood, wind and winter where the county has at least 10 recorded events. "Other" covers heavy rain, debris flow, dust, funnel clouds and similar reports.
Largest recorded events
| Date | Event type | Group | Magnitude | Property damage | Crop damage | Deaths | Injuries | Geography |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19 Aug 2011 | Flash Flood | Flood | — | $500K | — | 4 | 1 | County |
| 3 Aug 1963 | Tornado | Tornado | F3 | $25M | — | 2 | 70 | County |
| 2 Jan 1999 | Winter Storm | Winter | — | — | — | 2 | 1 | Forecast zone |
| 17 Sep 2004 | Flood | Flood | — | $26M | — | 1 | 92 | Forecast zone |
| 31 May 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | Wind | 105 mph | $10M | — | 1 | 54 | County |
| 29 Apr 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | Wind | 63 mph | $1K | — | 1 | 1 | County |
| 1 Jul 1997 | Flash Flood | Flood | — | $10M | — | 1 | — | County |
| 19 Jun 1996 | Flash Flood | Flood | — | — | — | 1 | — | County |
| 16 Jun 2022 | Excessive Heat | Heat | — | — | — | 1 | — | Forecast zone |
| 2 Jun 1998 | Tornado | Tornado | F1 | $13M | — | — | 50 | County |
| 3 Jun 1980 | Tornado | Tornado | F4 | $250M | — | — | 20 | County |
| 11 Dec 2002 | Ice Storm | Winter | — | — | — | — | 40 | Forecast zone |
| 30 Jun 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | Wind | 85 mph | $41M | — | — | 10 | County |
| 13 May 1956 | Tornado | Tornado | F2 | $250K | — | — | 5 | County |
| 30 May 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | Wind | 58 mph | $15K | — | — | 3 | County |
| 20 Jun 2018 | Flash Flood | Flood | — | $10M | $100K | — | 1 | County |
| 9 Aug 2007 | Flash Flood | Flood | — | $15M | — | — | — | County |
| 3 May 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | Wind | 58 mph | $50K | — | — | 1 | County |
| 12 Jan 2024 | High Wind | Wind | 59 mph | $25K | — | — | 1 | Forecast zone |
| 16 Jun 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | Wind | 58 mph | $20K | — | — | 1 | County |
Ranked by deaths, then injuries, then NCEI's damage estimate. Deaths and injuries are NCEI counts (direct plus indirect); no personal details are recorded here.
Federal disaster declarations
| Declared | Number | Type | Incident | Title | Programs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 Mar 2020 | DR-4506 | Major disaster | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic | Individual assistance, Public assistance |
| 13 Mar 2020 | EM-3441 | Emergency | Biological | Covid-19 | Public assistance |
| 1 Oct 2013 | DR-4149 | Major disaster | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding | Public assistance |
| 29 Oct 2012 | EM-3356 | Emergency | Hurricane | Hurricane Sandy | Public assistance |
| 16 Apr 2010 | DR-1898 | Major disaster | Snowstorm | Severe Winter Storms And Snowstorms | Public assistance |
| 10 Sep 2005 | EM-3235 | Emergency | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina | Public assistance |
| 19 Sep 2004 | DR-1557 | Major disaster | Hurricane | Tropical Depression Ivan | Individual assistance, Public assistance |
| 19 Sep 2004 | DR-1555 | Major disaster | Severe Storm | Severe Storms And Flooding Associated With Tropical Depression Frances | — |
| 8 Jun 1998 | DR-1219 | Major disaster | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes,And Flooding | Individual assistance, Public assistance |
| 21 Jan 1996 | DR-1093 | Major disaster | Flood | Severe Storms And Flooding | Individual assistance, Public assistance |
| 13 Jan 1996 | DR-1085 | Major disaster | Snowstorm | Blizzard Of 96 | Public assistance |
| 10 Mar 1994 | DR-1015 | Major disaster | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms | Public assistance |
| 16 Mar 1993 | EM-3105 | Emergency | Snowstorm | Severe Snowfall & Winter Storm | Public assistance |
| 5 Jun 1986 | DR-766 | Major disaster | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding | Individual assistance |
| 9 Nov 1985 | DR-754 | Major disaster | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding | Public assistance |
| 27 Aug 1984 | DR-721 | Major disaster | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding | Individual assistance |
| 13 Jun 1980 | EM-3081 | Emergency | Tornado | Severe Storms & Tornadoes | Individual assistance |
| 23 Jun 1972 | DR-340 | Major disaster | Flood | Tropical Storm Agnes | Individual assistance, Public assistance |
Declarations in which FEMA designated this county, from the OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (v2). DR: major disaster; EM: emergency; FM: fire management assistance. Programs show whether individual or public assistance was made available.
Flood insurance claims
| Year of loss | Claims | Paid claims | Amount paid | Average paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 15 | 4 | $60,521 | $15,130 |
| 2025 | 22 | 14 | $749,174 | $53,512 |
| 2024 | 92 | 79 | $2,767,907 | $35,037 |
| 2023 | 2 | 1 | $7,252 | $7,252 |
| 2022 | 13 | 5 | $23,762 | $4,752 |
| 2021 | 111 | 90 | $1,229,358 | $13,660 |
| 2020 | 5 | 3 | $15,950 | $5,317 |
| 2019 | 160 | 143 | $6,391,874 | $44,698 |
| 2018 | 330 | 272 | $8,682,983 | $31,923 |
| 2017 | 74 | 61 | $1,076,906 | $17,654 |
| 2016 | 23 | 15 | $200,599 | $13,373 |
| 2015 | 67 | 48 | $755,995 | $15,750 |
| 2014 | 25 | 19 | $128,488 | $6,763 |
| 2013 | 180 | 163 | $2,917,911 | $17,901 |
| 2012 | 38 | 29 | $1,085,069 | $37,416 |
| 2011 | 36 | 20 | $227,990 | $11,399 |
| 2010 | 96 | 67 | $756,217 | $11,287 |
| 2009 | 126 | 111 | $2,132,280 | $19,210 |
| 2008 | 12 | 6 | $26,321 | $4,387 |
| 2007 | 176 | 151 | $1,725,527 | $11,427 |
| 2006 | 5 | 3 | $52,631 | $17,544 |
| 2005 | 37 | 25 | $187,763 | $7,511 |
| 2004 | 1,221 | 1,109 | $35,797,495 | $32,279 |
| 2003 | 19 | 14 | $801,834 | $57,274 |
| 2002 | 23 | 16 | $128,094 | $8,006 |
OpenFEMA NFIP claims (v3, as of 8 Sep 2026), aggregated by year of loss; amounts are building, contents and increased-cost-of-compliance payments as recorded. Repetitive-loss counts from the NFIP Multiple Loss Properties file (2 Aug 2026); policies in force from the NFIP Residential Penetration Rates file (3 Aug 2026).
National Risk Index
| Hazard (NRI) | Risk rating | Expected annual loss |
|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | $294,995,949 | |
| Cold wave | $31,940,994 | |
| Tornado | $8,382,426 | |
| Heat wave | $5,414,585 | |
| Earthquake | $4,001,611 | |
| Strong wind | $3,760,007 | |
| Ice storm | $2,041,956 | |
| Lightning | $1,655,352 | |
| Hurricane | $1,198,105 | |
| Winter weather | $586,024 | |
| Hail | $135,049 | |
| Wildfire | $90,814 | |
| Landslide | $42,239 | |
| Avalanche | $94 |
FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025 release. Ratings are FEMA's relative comparison of counties; expected annual loss is FEMA's modelled estimate of average yearly building, population and agriculture loss. See how to read the NRI.
Hurricane and tropical storm passes
| Storm | Year | Closest approach | Max wind while within 100 mi |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sandy | 2012 | 19 mi | 46 mph |
| Isabel | 2003 | 34 mi | 40 mph |
| Frederic | 1979 | 86 mi | 40 mph |
| Audrey | 1957 | 89 mi | 46 mph |
| Unnamed Atlantic storm | 1928 | 88 mi | 40 mph |
| Unnamed Atlantic storm | 1915 | 21 mi | 40 mph |
| Unnamed Atlantic storm | 1878 | 88 mi | 46 mph |
HURDAT2 best-track positions at tropical-storm strength (34 kt) or more, measured from the county's Census centre point; through the 2025 season. Distance from a track is not the same as the extent of the storm's wind, rain or surge.
ZIP codes with flood claims
- 15209 370
- 15223 358
- 15017 227
- 15116 197
- 15237 170
- 15145 169
- 15071 135
- 15101 132
- 15215 127
- 15084 120
- 15106 117
- 15143 114
- 15236 109
- 15207 106
- 15018 105
- 15234 103
- 15136 97
- 15147 89
- 15102 84
- 15238 84
- 15037 82
- 15025 76
- 15140 70
- 15108 69
- 15088 61
- 15212 58
- 15132 57
- 15205 57
- 15222 56
- 15235 56
- 15241 48
- 15146 47
- 15202 47
- 15239 46
- 15139 43
- 15135 42
- 15210 42
- 15003 41
- 15220 39
- 15227 39
- 15213 36
- 15030 34
- 15064 33
- 15031 29
- 15044 28
- 15221 28
- 15137 27
- 15131 26
- 15076 25
- 15126 25
- 15225 25
- 15024 23
- 15122 23
- 15129 21
- 15229 21
- 15219 20
- 15065 16
- 15056 15
- 15203 14
- 15226 14
ZIP codes whose NFIP claims carry this county's code, with the number of claims. Five or more claims are needed for a ZIP page to be indexed.
Questions and answers
How often does it hail in Allegheny County, PA?
NCEI records 445 hail events in Allegheny County since 1950, in 56 different years; that is about 5.8 recorded events a year. 48 reports were golf-ball size (1.75 in) or larger.
Has Allegheny County had a tornado?
Yes. NCEI records 27 tornadoes in Allegheny County since 1950, 4 of them rated (E)F2 or stronger. Tornado deaths recorded: 2.
When was the last federal disaster declaration for Allegheny County?
30 Mar 2020: Covid-19 Pandemic, a major disaster declaration for biological. The county appears in 18 declarations since 1953.
How many flood insurance claims have been filed in Allegheny County, and how much was paid?
4,832 NFIP claims since 1978, 3,841 of them paid, for $82M in total. FEMA publishes these figures redacted and aggregated; individual properties are not identified.
Is Allegheny County in the National Risk Index's high-risk band?
FEMA's National Risk Index (December 2025) rates the county "Relatively High" for overall risk, "Relatively High" for expected annual loss, "Relatively Low" for social vulnerability and "Very High" for community resilience. These ratings are FEMA's relative comparison across all US counties.
How does Allegheny County compare with the rest of Pennsylvania?
355.4 recorded events per 100 square miles against 121.6 statewide, and 3.9 NFIP claims per 1,000 residents against 5.9. The comparison table on this page shows each measure beside the state and national figures.
Provenance
Storm events: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, yearly details files through 30 Jun 2026 (public domain). Declarations: OpenFEMA DisasterDeclarationsSummaries v2, refreshed 1 Oct 2026. Flood claims: OpenFEMA NfipClaims v3 as of 8 Sep 2026; NfipMultipleLossProperties v1 (2 Aug 2026); NfipResidentialPenetrationRates v1 (3 Aug 2026). Risk index: FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025. Hurricane tracks: NHC HURDAT2 through 2025. Population and area: US Census Bureau, 2021 vintage. Built 1 Oct 2026; see the methodology and corrections pages. Hazard hubs: Hail · Tornado · Flood · Wind · Winter.