NHC HURDAT2 · SPC Tornado Database
Hurricanes and Tornadoes That Hit Bethel, PA
Every tropical system within 75 miles since 1851 and every tornado within 25 miles since 1950.
Data: NOAA NHC HURDAT2 and NOAA SPC tornado and hail reports, through 2025 · Updated
22 tropical systems have passed within 75 miles of Bethel, Pennsylvania since 1851, 2 of them at hurricane strength; the most recent was Ida in 2021. Since 1950, 63 tornadoes have touched down within 25 miles, 4 of them rated EF3 or stronger.
- Hurricanes
- 2
- Tropical storms
- 20
- Tornadoes
- 63
- EF3 or stronger
- 4
within 75 mi, since 1851
below hurricane strength
within 25 mi, since 1950
1 deaths in all
What the records show for Bethel
The strongest storm to pass near Bethel was an unnamed storm in 1878, a Category 1 hurricane with 85 mph winds when its centre passed 7 miles away. The record near Bethel begins with an unnamed storm in 1878; the most recent system was Ida in 2021, a tropical storm 57 miles away. The busiest decade was the 1950s, with 4 systems, one of them at hurricane strength. Of the 22 systems, 4 have come since 2000. Bethel has more hurricanes within 75 miles than 54% of the 794 Pennsylvania cities on this site. The highest rating among the 63 tornadoes within 25 miles is F3, reached 4 times; the most recent, on July 14, 2004, came within 22 miles. The deadliest, an F3 on June 18, 1970, killed 1 person. Of the 63, 3 had paths within 5 miles of the city centre, and 25 have come since 2000. June has had the most tornadoes, 14. The most recent tornado was on May 4, 2025. Bethel has more tornadoes within 25 miles than 53% of the 794 Pennsylvania cities. Hail has been reported within 10 miles 41 times since 1977, with stones up to 1.75 inches (golf ball size). Of the 794 Pennsylvania cities, 60% have more hail reports within 10 miles than Bethel.
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Tropical storms and hurricanes near Bethel
| Year | Storm | Closest | Strength when closest | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | IdaSep 1 | 57 mi | Tropical storm (39 mph) | Category 4 |
| 2020 | IsaiasAug 4 | 46 mi | Tropical storm (64 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2012 | SandyOct 30 | 40 mi | Tropical storm (62 mph) | Category 3 |
| 2006 | ErnestoSep 3 | 46 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1992 | DanielleSep 26 | 64 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1979 | DavidSep 6 | 42 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1955 | DianeAug 18 | 33 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1955 | ConnieAug 13 | 54 mi | Tropical storm (53 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1954 | HazelOct 16 | 52 mi | Category 1 (81 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1952 | AbleSep 1 | 26 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1949 | Unnamed 1949 stormAug 29 | 25 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1943 | Unnamed 1943 stormOct 1 | 74 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1934 | Unnamed 1934 stormJun 19 | 62 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1933 | Unnamed 1933 stormAug 24 | 39 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1929 | Unnamed 1929 stormOct 3 | 13 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1915 | Unnamed 1915 stormAug 4 | 37 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1903 | Unnamed 1903 stormSep 16 | 55 mi | Tropical storm (63 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1899 | Unnamed 1899 stormNov 1 | 36 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1893 | Unnamed 1893 stormAug 29 | 24 mi | Tropical storm (63 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1888 | Unnamed 1888 stormAug 22 | 11 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1885 | Unnamed 1885 stormOct 14 | 63 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1878 | Unnamed 1878 stormOct 23 | 7 mi | Category 1 (85 mph) | Category 2 |
Strength is the sustained wind on the track at the closest point, which is not the wind felt in Bethel: a hurricane's worst winds sit within a few dozen miles of its centre, and inland cities are usually past that.
Tornadoes within 25 miles of Bethel
By decade
- 2020s8
- 2010s11
- 2000s6(1 EF3+)
- 1990s14(1 EF3+)
- 1980s2
- 1970s11(1 EF3+)
- 1960s3
- 1950s8(1 EF3+)
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Killed / injured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 18, 1970 | F3 | 6 mi | 1.9 mi | 1 / 5 |
| Jul 14, 2004 | F3 | 22 mi | 7.5 mi | 0 / 0 |
| May 31, 1998 | F3 | 20 mi | 8.3 mi | 0 / 7 |
| Nov 4, 1950 | F3 | 18 mi | 15.9 mi | 0 / 1 |
| Apr 28, 2011 | EF2 | 15 mi | 1.07 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jul 17, 1992 | F2 | 8 mi | 1 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jul 5, 1984 | F2 | 24 mi | 7 mi | 0 / 2 |
| Oct 5, 1979 | F2 | 21 mi | 1 mi | 0 / 1 |
| Oct 11, 1975 | F2 | 18 mi | 17.5 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Oct 18, 1967 | F2 | 21 mi | 10.2 mi | 0 / 11 |
| Nov 19, 1957 | F2 | 21 mi | 2 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Sep 12, 1953 | F2 | 20 mi | 4.7 mi | 0 / 0 |
The strongest 12 of 63, by rating and then by deaths. Ratings before February 2007 are on the original Fujita scale.
Hail in Bethel
The Storm Prediction Center has 41 hail reports within 10 miles of Bethel since 1977, made on 24 separate days. Of these, 22 were 1 inch across or larger, and none reached 2 inches. The largest size, 1.75 inches (golf ball size), was reported on 2 days, most recently June 28, 1979. The most recent report is from May 6, 2025. June has the most reports, 20.
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather reports, data through 2025.
Weather by month in Bethel
The nearest NOAA station with 1991–2020 climate normals is Lebanon 2 W, PA, 15 miles southwest of Bethel at 450 feet. July is the warmest, with an average high of 84°F and low of 64°F; January is the coolest, at 37°F and 22°F. July is the wettest at 4.9 inches of precipitation on average and February the driest at 2.6 inches; the year adds up to 46.5 inches over 81 days with at least a tenth of an inch. June to November, the hurricane season months, bring 56% of the year's precipitation (25.9 of 46.5 inches); the other six months are drier. August has brought the most of the 22 tropical systems that passed within 75 miles (8); a normal August there has highs of 82°F and 4.6 inches of precipitation. Highs reach 90°F on about 13 days a year, almost all from June to August. Lows fall below freezing on about 120 nights a year. Snowfall averages 24.0 inches a year, most of it in February. That 46.5 inches is more than at 95 of the 148 Pennsylvania stations used on this site (64%). Bernville, 8 miles east, has its own station (Blue Marsh Lake, PA): 48.3 inches a year, 1.8 more than here, and a July average high of 85°F against 84°F.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip. in | Days ≥ 0.1" | Snow in |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 37 | 22 | 3.1 | 6 | 6.8 |
| Feb | 40 | 23 | 2.6 | 6 | 7.8 |
| Mar | 49 | 31 | 3.6 | 7 | 4.2 |
| Apr | 62 | 40 | 3.7 | 7 | 0.4 |
| May | 72 | 51 | 4.0 | 8 | 0.0 |
| Jun | 80 | 60 | 4.5 | 8 | 0.0 |
| Jul | 84 | 64 | 4.9 | 7 | 0.0 |
| Aug | 82 | 63 | 4.6 | 7 | 0.0 |
| Sep | 76 | 55 | 4.6 | 6 | 0.0 |
| Oct | 64 | 44 | 4.1 | 7 | 0.3 |
| Nov | 52 | 34 | 3.2 | 6 | 0.5 |
| Dec | 42 | 27 | 3.6 | 7 | 4.0 |
| Year | 62 | 43 | 46.5 | 81 | 24.0 |
Averages for 1991–2020 at Lebanon 2 W, PA (450 ft), from NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals. Normals describe the station; the farther a place is from it, and the bigger the difference in height, the more its weather can differ.
Floods, thunderstorm wind and lightning near Bethel
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged 190 flood, rain, thunderstorm wind and lightning events that began within 10 miles of Bethel: 163 thunderstorm wind reports, 16 flash floods, 8 floods and 3 heavy rain events. They killed 1 person and injured 0, and the NWS estimated $720,000 in property and crop damage. The strongest thunderstorm gust on record here was 115 mph, on June 27, 2002. June has had the most flash floods, 5 of 16. Of the 788 Pennsylvania cities on this site with a flash flood on record, 283 have had fewer than Bethel.
March 10, 2011: flood 7 miles from the centre of Bethel — 1 killed.
June 27, 2002: thunderstorm wind 9 miles from the centre of Bethel — $250,000 damage.
August 12, 2009: flash flood 9 miles from the centre of Bethel — $100,000 damage.
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, events whose starting point is on record, 1996 to June 30, 2026. Damage is the NWS estimate in the dollars of the year, not insured losses, and NWS notes that some reports are unverified.
Flood insurance claims, disaster declarations and FEMA risk ratings
Berks County, which includes Bethel, has been named in 23 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1965, 17 of them major disasters (by incident: 7 severe storms, 6 floods, 4 hurricanes, 3 snowstorms). The latest major disaster declaration was Covid-19 Pandemic, on March 30, 2020. FEMA's National Risk Index gives Berks County a Relatively Moderate rating for natural hazard risk overall; by hazard: Relatively High for tornadoes, inland flooding, strong wind and lightning; Relatively Moderate for hurricanes and heat waves; Relatively Low for hail. It models the county's expected loss from all 18 hazards it covers at $119.5 million a year, the 9th highest of 67 Pennsylvania counties; of the hazards above, the largest share, $69.1 million (58%), is from inland flooding.
Claims: FEMA, OpenFEMA Dataset FIMA NFIP Redacted Claims – v3, summed over ZIP codes; payments in the dollars of each year, not adjusted for inflation. Declarations: Disaster Declarations Summaries – v2, by county. Retrieved October 25, 2026. This product uses the Federal Emergency Management Agency's OpenFEMA API, but is not endorsed by FEMA. The Federal Government or FEMA cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from the Agency's website(s).
Risk ratings: FEMA, National Risk Index county table, December 2025 (v1.20), retrieved October 26, 2026; ratings compare counties nationwide, are meant for planning and are no substitute for a local risk assessment. This product uses the Federal Emergency Management Agency's National Risk Index dataset API or downloadable datasets but is not endorsed by FEMA. The Federal Government or FEMA cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from the Agency's website(s).
What counts as a pass, the distances and the sources: how this storm history is built.
Cities near Bethel
- Myerstown, PA7 mi
- Pine Grove, PA7 mi
- Richland, PA8 mi
- Bernville, PA8 mi
- Fredericksburg, PA8 mi
- Womelsdorf, PA9 mi
- Schuylkill Haven, PA10 mi
- Auburn, PA10 mi
- Robesonia, PA12 mi
- Tremont, PA12 mi
- Newmanstown, PA12 mi
- Mohrsville, PA13 mi
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