Reading, PA Tornado History — 71 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Reading, PA had?
Reading 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 Reading?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Reading was an EF0 on July 1, 2025.
When is tornado season in Reading?
July is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Reading, with 17 on record. April through June account for 33 of the 71 tornadoes on record near Reading.
At a Glance
Recent Tornado Activity Near Reading
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 22 total, averaging 1.1 per year over this window.
Preliminary tornado reports near Reading 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Preliminary reports are revised, merged, and sometimes withdrawn — historically about 23% are consolidated downward once surveys complete.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.
EF-1 tornado with 90 mph wind in Salisbury Twp. Path length 1.08 miles and width 100 yards. (CTP)
Within 25 miles of Reading. Quoted text is the report narrative exactly as filed. Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center preliminary storm reports, updated daily.
What storm spotters reported near Reading
4 local storm reports have been filed within 25 miles of Reading and since confirmed into the NOAA archive, the earliest on May 4, 2025 and the most recent on July 1, 2025. They are already counted in the Reading totals above; quoted below is the narrative each reporting office filed at the time.
A brief and weak tornado touched down on Weavertown Lane in Amity Township Berks County... Pennsylvania during the late afternoon of July 1. Several trees had large lim (PHI)
[Landspout] Storm damage survey... videos... and photos confirm a landspout tornado occurred in a rural area between Mohrsville and Shoemakersville. The tornadic circu (PHI)
[Landspout] Video via social media confirms a brief landspout and/or waterspout occurred near the northern end of Blue Marsh Lake in the Blue Marsh National Recreation (PHI)
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 Reading
5 fatalities have been recorded within 25 miles of Reading since 1950, across 3 events. 81 injuries have been reported across all events. 1994 was the deadliest year on record near Reading.
The deadliest single event was an F3 on July 27, 1994, which caused 3 fatalities along a 2.0-mile track.
Notable Tornadoes Near Reading
What the record shows near Reading
The 1990s were the busiest decade near Reading, with 18 of the 71 confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles; the 2020s have produced 9 so far. The Reading record runs from the 1950s to today.
Of the tornadoes rated near Reading, 53 reached EF0 or EF1 and 17 reached EF2 or stronger. The most intense on record near Reading is rated EF3, of which 4 are logged. A further 1 near Reading is unrated — events NOAA logged before a damage survey assigned a scale.
Across the last 20 years Reading has averaged 1.1 confirmed tornadoes a year within 25 miles, 22 in total. 2025 was the busiest of them with 4, and 9 of those years passed with none at all.