Pittsburgh, PA Tornado History — 70 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Pittsburgh, PA had?
Pittsburgh has had 70 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 3 strong to violent (EF3+) tornadoes.
When was the most recent tornado near Pittsburgh?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Pittsburgh was an EF0 on May 21, 2025.
When is tornado season in Pittsburgh?
June is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Pittsburgh, with 25 on record. April through June account for 43 of the 70 tornadoes on record near Pittsburgh.
At a Glance
Recent Tornado Activity Near Pittsburgh
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 32 total, averaging 1.6 per year over this window.
Preliminary tornado reports near Pittsburgh since December 29, 2025
These are 2 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Preliminary reports are revised, merged, and sometimes withdrawn — historically about 23% are consolidated downward once surveys complete.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.
A brief... narrow EF0 tornado caused damage mainly to trees along Upper Service Road in Greene and Raccoon Townships. Max wind was estimated at 75 mph... and path width (PBZ)
The National Weather Survey Storm Damage Surveyed confirmed a tornado occurred just southeast of Ellsworth... PA. Tornado details remain unknown as the survey continues (PBZ)
Within 25 miles of Pittsburgh. Quoted text is the report narrative exactly as filed. Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center preliminary storm reports, updated daily.
What storm spotters reported near Pittsburgh
2 local storm reports have been filed within 25 miles of Pittsburgh and since confirmed into the NOAA archive, the earliest on May 21, 2025 and the most recent on May 21, 2025. They are already counted in the Pittsburgh totals above; quoted below is the narrative each reporting office filed at the time.
Tornado confirmed with damage noted near the Gastonville area. (PBZ)
Based on damage reports provided to NWS... a brief EF0 tornado (max wind 65 mph) began near Oakleaf Rd... crossed Willow Rd and likely weakened toward Lynn Portal Rd. D (PBZ)
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 Pittsburgh
11 fatalities have been recorded within 25 miles of Pittsburgh since 1950, across 2 events. 404 injuries have been reported across all events. 1985 was the deadliest year on record near Pittsburgh.
The deadliest single event was an F3 on May 31, 1985, which caused 9 fatalities along a 39.0-mile track.
Notable Tornadoes Near Pittsburgh
What the record shows near Pittsburgh
The 2020s are the busiest decade on record so far near Pittsburgh, with 22 of the 70 confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles. The Pittsburgh record runs from the 1950s to today.
Of the tornadoes rated near Pittsburgh, 55 reached EF0 or EF1 and 14 reached EF2 or stronger. The most intense on record near Pittsburgh is rated EF4, of which 1 is logged. A further 1 near Pittsburgh is unrated — events NOAA logged before a damage survey assigned a scale.
Across the last 20 years Pittsburgh has averaged 1.6 confirmed tornadoes a year within 25 miles, 32 in total. 2024 was the busiest of them with 12, and 9 of those years passed with none at all.