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Johnstown, PA Tornado History — 52 Tornadoes Since 1950

Pennsylvania · 25-mile radius · NOAA Storm Prediction Center

How many tornadoes has Johnstown, PA had?

Johnstown has had 52 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 2 strong to violent (EF3+) tornadoes.

When was the most recent tornado near Johnstown?

The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Johnstown was an EF1 on March 16, 2025.

When is tornado season in Johnstown?

May is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Johnstown, with 14 on record. April through June account for 32 of the 52 tornadoes on record near Johnstown.

At a Glance

Tornadoes Since 1950
52
Within search radius
Violent (EF3+)
2
3.8% of total
Peak Month
May
14 on record
Per Year Avg
0.7
Across 76 years

Recent Tornado Activity Near Johnstown

The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 20 total, averaging 1.0 per year over this window.

2026 0+1 prelim
2025 3
2024 3
2023 2
2022 0
2021 2
2020 0
2019 4
2018 3
2017 0
2016 0
2015 0
2014 0
2013 1
2012 2
2011 0
2010 0
2009 0
2008 0
2007 0

Striped bars mark preliminary reports not yet confirmed by NWS survey — excluded from the confirmed counts.

Preliminary tornado reports near Johnstown since December 29, 2025

This 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Preliminary reports are revised, merged, and sometimes withdrawn — historically about 23% are consolidated downward once surveys complete.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.

Preliminary EF0° July 18, 2026
2 SSE Derry, Westmoreland County, PA
EF0 Confirmed via NWS Survey. (PBZ)

Within 25 miles of Johnstown. Quoted text is the report narrative exactly as filed. Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center preliminary storm reports, updated daily.

Tornadoes by Decade

1950s 4
1970s 6
1980s 7
1990s 14
2000s 1
2010s 10
2020s 10

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.

EF0 14
EF1 26
EF2 10
EF3 1
EF4 1

Tornadoes by Month

Jan 0
Feb 0
Mar 4
Apr 5
May 14
Jun 13
Jul 7
Aug 5
Sep 4
Oct 0
Nov 0
Dec 0

Casualties on Record Near Johnstown

1 fatality has been recorded within 25 miles of Johnstown since 1950, across 1 event. 39 injuries have been reported across all events. 1976 was the deadliest year on record near Johnstown.

The deadliest single event was an F3 on July 11, 1976, which caused 1 fatality along a 11.8-mile track.

Notable Tornadoes Near Johnstown

Deadliest Tornado
F3 on July 11, 1976 — 1 fatality, 11.8 mi path, 67 yd wide.
Costliest Tornado
EF1 on June 1, 2012 — $3.0M in reported property damage.
Widest Tornado
F4 on June 2, 1998 — 1,200 yards wide.
Longest Path
F2 on May 22, 1983 — 38.0 mile track.
Most Recent
EF1 on March 16, 2025.

What the record shows near Johnstown

The 1990s were the busiest decade near Johnstown, with 14 of the 52 confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles; the 2020s have produced 10 so far. The Johnstown record runs from the 1950s to today.

Of the tornadoes rated near Johnstown, 40 reached EF0 or EF1 and 12 reached EF2 or stronger. The most intense on record near Johnstown is rated EF4, of which 1 is logged.

Across the last 20 years Johnstown has averaged 1.0 confirmed tornadoes a year within 25 miles, 20 in total. 2019 was the busiest of them with 4, and 12 of those years passed with none at all.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many tornadoes has Johnstown, PA had?
Since 1950, 52 tornadoes have been recorded within 25 miles of Johnstown. Data source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center.
What was the deadliest tornado near Johnstown?
The deadliest tornado on record within 25 miles of Johnstown was an F3 on July 11, 1976, which caused 1 fatality.
When is tornado season in Johnstown?
May is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Johnstown, with 14 tornadoes on record. Tornadoes can occur any time of year, but spring months (April–June) generally see the highest activity across most of the central and southern United States.
Has Johnstown been hit by an EF4 or EF5 tornado?
Within 25 miles of Johnstown, there has been 0 EF5 and 1 EF4 tornado recorded since 1950. EF4 and EF5 tornadoes are the most destructive ratings on the Enhanced Fujita scale, with winds above 166 mph.
When was the most recent tornado near Johnstown?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Johnstown was an EF1 on March 16, 2025.
How do I get tornado warnings for Johnstown?
Vortex delivers real-time tornado warnings, severe thunderstorm alerts, and SPC outlook updates for any US location via push notification and phone call. Alerts are sourced directly from the National Weather Service and updated within seconds of issuance.

Official Resources

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