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Tornado in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania
20 tornadoes events in the NCEI Storm Events record, 1950 to 2026. Event types counted: Tornado.
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. Storm records through 30 Jun 2026.
NCEI records 20 tornado events in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, between 1950 and 2026, spread over 19 years.
July is the busiest month, with 5 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 5 events against 6 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 1.8% of the 1,091 tornado events recorded in Pennsylvania; its 2.2 per 100 square miles compares with 2.4 statewide.
By rating: 6 at (E)F0, 8 at (E)F1, 6 at (E)F2, 0 at (E)F3, 0 at (E)F4, 0 at (E)F5. Tornadoes before 2007 carry the original Fujita rating.
Compared with Pennsylvania
| Measure | Luzerne County | Pennsylvania | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tornado events since 1950 | 20 | 1,091 | 81,281 |
| Per 100 square miles | 2.2 | 2.4 | 2.3 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 0.6 | 0.8 | 2.4 |
| Deaths recorded | 0 | 83 | 6,410 |
| Busiest month | July | July | May |
By year
Seasonality
1Feb
1Mar
0Apr
1May
3Jun
4Jul
5Aug
2Sep
2Oct
0Nov
0Dec
1
Magnitude distribution
Enhanced Fujita scale wind estimates
- EF0/F0
- 65–85 mph (EF0)
- EF1/F1
- 86–110 mph (EF1)
- EF2/F2
- 111–135 mph (EF2)
- EF3/F3
- 136–165 mph (EF3)
- EF4/F4
- 166–200 mph (EF4)
- EF5/F5
- over 200 mph (EF5)
- Unrated
- no rating recorded
Tornado rating as recorded (Fujita scale before February 2007, Enhanced Fujita after).
Recorded events
All 20 events, most recent first. Magnitude is hail size, tornado rating or wind speed as recorded.
| Date | Event type | Magnitude | Property damage | Crop damage | Deaths | Injuries | Geography |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 Aug 2023 | Tornado | EF1 | $100K | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jun 2018 | Tornado | EF2 | $5.0M | — | — | 6 | County |
| 25 Feb 2017 | Tornado | EF2 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jul 2014 | Tornado | EF0 | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Jul 2012 | Tornado | EF1 | $30K | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Dec 2006 | Tornado | F2 | $1.0M | — | — | 5 | County |
| 22 Jul 2006 | Tornado | F0 | $100K | — | — | — | County |
| 31 May 1998 | Tornado | F0 | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jun 1996 | Tornado | F0 | $200K | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Apr 1993 | Tornado | F1 | $500K | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Sep 1988 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Aug 1986 | Tornado | F0 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 31 May 1985 | Tornado | F1 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Jul 1984 | Tornado | F2 | $250K | — | — | 12 | County |
| 21 Jun 1981 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 6 May 1980 | Tornado | F0 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jun 1975 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Sep 1968 | Tornado | F2 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jan 1962 | Tornado | F1 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jul 1960 | Tornado | F2 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
Questions and answers
How many tornado events has Luzerne County had?
20 events in the NCEI Storm Events record between 1950 and 2026. Reporting of tornadoes became far more complete after 1996, so early decades undercount.
When was the last recorded tornado event in Luzerne County?
12 Aug 2023 (Tornado, EF1). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging tornado event recorded in Luzerne County?
The tornado of 13 Jun 2018, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $5.0M.
How does Luzerne County compare with Pennsylvania for tornado?
2.2 events per 100 square miles against 2.4 statewide; the county holds 20 of the state's 1,091 recorded events.
Provenance
NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, yearly details files through 30 Jun 2026, public domain. County-recorded events plus zone-recorded events whose forecast zone is named for the county (marked "Forecast zone"). Population and area from the US Census Bureau (2021). Built 1 Oct 2026. See the methodology, the Tornado hub and the county page.