Lancaster, PA Tornado History — 71 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Lancaster, PA had?
Lancaster has had 71 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 4 strong to violent (EF3+) tornadoes.
When was the most recent tornado near Lancaster?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Lancaster was an EF0 on September 4, 2025.
When is tornado season in Lancaster?
June is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Lancaster, with 19 on record. April through June account for 36 of the 71 tornadoes on record near Lancaster.
At a Glance
Recent Tornado Activity Near Lancaster
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 25 total, averaging 1.3 per year over this window.
Preliminary tornado reports near Lancaster since December 29, 2025
These are 3 preliminary reports, not confirmed tornadoes. They have not yet been through an NWS damage survey, and are 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Preliminary reports are revised, merged, and sometimes withdrawn — historically about 23% are consolidated downward once surveys complete.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.
EF-1 tornado with 90 mph wind in Salisbury Twp. Path length 1.08 miles and width 100 yards. (CTP)
EF-0 Tornado... Max Estimated winds 85 mph... path length 0.49 miles... path width 125 yards. (CTP)
An EF1 tornado occurred near Kirkwood... PA in the evening hours of June 14th... 2026. The tornado path length was 2.87 miles... had a maximum width of 30 yards... and (CTP)
Within 25 miles of Lancaster. Quoted text is the report narrative exactly as filed. Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center preliminary storm reports, updated daily.
What storm spotters reported near Lancaster
2 local storm reports have been filed within 25 miles of Lancaster and since confirmed into the NOAA archive, the earliest on May 4, 2025 and the most recent on September 4, 2025. They are already counted in the Lancaster totals above; quoted below is the narrative each reporting office filed at the time.
An EF-0 tornado with an estimated peak wind of 70 mph occurred southeast of Collins... PA Thursday evening. It lifted the roof off of a dugout at the Solanco Youth Base (CTP)
A brief tornado occurred between Martzall Road and White Oak Road in East Cocalico Township just northeast of Denver. Damage along the approximately 500 foot path lengt (CTP)
Source: National Weather Service and trained-spotter local storm reports, relayed by the NOAA Storm Prediction Center.
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 Lancaster
1 fatality has been recorded within 25 miles of Lancaster since 1950, across 1 event. 76 injuries have been reported across all events. 1970 was the deadliest year on record near Lancaster.
The deadliest single event was an F3 on June 18, 1970, which caused 1 fatality along a 1.9-mile track.
Notable Tornadoes Near Lancaster
What the record shows near Lancaster
The 2010s were the busiest decade near Lancaster, with 14 of the 71 confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles; the 2020s have produced 10 so far. The Lancaster record runs from the 1950s to today.
Of the tornadoes rated near Lancaster, 48 reached EF0 or EF1 and 23 reached EF2 or stronger. The most intense on record near Lancaster is rated EF3, of which 4 are logged.
Across the last 20 years Lancaster has averaged 1.3 confirmed tornadoes a year within 25 miles, 25 in total. 2023 was the busiest of them with 5, and 8 of those years passed with none at all.