Carlisle, PA Tornado History — 61 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Carlisle, PA had?
Carlisle has had 61 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 2 violent (EF3+) tornadoes.
When was the most recent tornado near Carlisle?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Carlisle was an EF1 on August 9, 2024.
When is tornado season in Carlisle?
August is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Carlisle, with 13 on record. Spring through early summer (April–June) generally sees the highest activity across most of the central and southern United States.
At a Glance
Recent Tornado Activity Near Carlisle
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 13 total, averaging 0.7 per year over this window.
Preliminary tornado reports near Carlisle since December 29, 2025
These is a preliminary report, not confirmed tornadoes. It has not yet been through an NWS damage survey, and is not counted in the confirmed totals above.
Preliminary reports are revised, merged, and sometimes withdrawn — historically about 23% are consolidated downward once surveys complete. Ratings are omitted until a survey assigns one.
Confirmed records above are complete through December 29, 2025. NOAA publishes the confirmed archive annually, so tornadoes after that date appear here first and move into the totals above once finalized.
Within 25 miles of Carlisle. Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center preliminary storm reports, updated daily.
Tornadoes by Decade
Tornadoes by Enhanced Fujita Rating
F0–F5 ratings (pre-2007) are grouped with their EF equivalents. The Enhanced Fujita scale replaced the original Fujita scale in February 2007.
Tornadoes by Month
Casualties on Record Near Carlisle
1 fatality has been recorded within 25 miles of Carlisle since 1950, across 1 event. 24 injuries have been reported across all events. 2006 was the deadliest year on record.
The deadliest single event was a F1 on December 1, 2006, which caused 1 fatality along a 1.5-mile track.
Notable Tornadoes Near Carlisle
About Tornadoes in Carlisle
This overview was written April 23, 2026. The tornado counts and notable-event figures elsewhere on this page reflect the latest data and may differ from this summary.
Carlisle, Pennsylvania has experienced 61 documented tornadoes within a 25-mile radius since 1950, according to the NOAA Storm Prediction Center. This record reflects the region's position in the mid-Atlantic, where tornado activity occurs with moderate frequency but generally produces weaker storms compared to the Great Plains. The majority of these events have been rated EF1 (35 tornadoes) or EF0 (12 tornadoes) on the Enhanced Fujita scale, which measures tornado intensity based on damage. Twelve tornadoes reached EF2 strength, while only two have been classified as EF3, indicating that violent tornadoes remain rare in this area.
Tornado frequency in the Carlisle area has varied considerably by decade. The 1950s and early decades saw relatively few events, with just two tornadoes recorded in the 1950s and six each in the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s. Activity increased notably beginning in the 1990s, when 13 tornadoes occurred, followed by 15 in the 2000s. The 2010s recorded eight tornadoes, and five have been documented in the 2020s through recent years. This uptick may reflect improved detection technology and more comprehensive reporting practices, as Doppler radar and spotter networks have enhanced the ability to identify weaker tornadoes that might have gone unrecorded in earlier decades.
August stands out as the peak month for tornado activity near Carlisle, with 13 events on record. This late-summer maximum differs from the traditional spring peak seen in many tornado-prone regions and likely reflects the influence of tropical systems, remnant hurricanes, and summertime convective patterns common to Pennsylvania. The most recent tornado occurred on August 9, 2024, an EF1 event that traveled 3.5 miles with a maximum width of 300 yards and caused $165,000 in property damage with no fatalities.
The deadliest tornado on record was an F1 that struck on December 1, 2006, resulting in one fatality along a 1.5-mile path. The costliest event was an F2 tornado on October 9, 1992, which caused $2,750,000 in property damage over a two-mile track. The widest tornado reached 800 yards across during an F2 event on June 7, 1980, while the longest-tracked tornado carved a 17-mile path on March 28, 1963. These events underscore that while tornadoes in the Carlisle area are typically less intense than those in traditional tornado corridors, they can still produce significant localized damage and pose serious risks to residents.