NHC HURDAT2 · SPC Tornado Database
Hurricanes and Tornadoes That Hit Christiana, 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
29 tropical systems have passed within 75 miles of Christiana, Pennsylvania since 1851, 2 of them at hurricane strength; the most recent was Ida in 2021. Since 1950, 78 tornadoes have touched down within 25 miles, 3 of them rated EF3 or stronger.
- Hurricanes
- 2
- Tropical storms
- 27
- Tornadoes
- 78
- EF3 or stronger
- 3
within 75 mi, since 1851
below hurricane strength
within 25 mi, since 1950
3 deaths in all
What the records show for Christiana
The strongest storm to pass near Christiana was an unnamed storm in 1878, a Category 1 hurricane with 87 mph winds when its centre passed 24 miles away. The record near Christiana begins with an unnamed storm in 1863; the most recent system was Ida in 2021, a tropical storm 15 miles away. The 1870s and the 1950s were the busiest decades, with 4 systems each. Of the 29 systems, 5 have come since 2000. Christiana has more hurricanes within 75 miles than 54% of the 794 Pennsylvania cities on this site. The highest rating among the 78 tornadoes within 25 miles is F3, reached 3 times; the most recent, on July 27, 1994, came within 17 miles. The deadliest, an F1 on June 9, 1993, killed 1 person. Of the 78, 5 had paths within 5 miles of the city centre, and 30 have come since 2000. June has had the most tornadoes, 14. The most recent tornado was on September 4, 2025. Christiana has more tornadoes within 25 miles than 81% of the 794 Pennsylvania cities. Hail has been reported within 10 miles 36 times since 1967, with stones up to 1.75 inches (golf ball size). Of the 794 Pennsylvania cities, 64% have more hail reports within 10 miles than Christiana.
Compare Christiana's storm record with another city →
Tropical storms and hurricanes near Christiana
| Year | Storm | Closest | Strength when closest | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | IdaSep 1 | 15 mi | Tropical storm (39 mph) | Category 4 |
| 2020 | IsaiasAug 4 | 20 mi | Tropical storm (66 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2012 | SandyOct 30 | 4 mi | Tropical storm (64 mph) | Category 3 |
| 2008 | HannaSep 6 | 61 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2006 | ErnestoSep 3 | 36 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1996 | BerthaJul 13 | 57 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1992 | DanielleSep 26 | 23 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1971 | DoriaAug 28 | 75 mi | Tropical storm (66 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1955 | DianeAug 18 | 7 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1955 | ConnieAug 13 | 51 mi | Tropical storm (55 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1954 | HazelOct 15 | 65 mi | Category 1 (81 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1952 | AbleSep 1 | 13 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1949 | Unnamed 1949 stormAug 29 | 56 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1943 | Unnamed 1943 stormOct 1 | 50 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1934 | Unnamed 1934 stormJun 19 | 21 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1933 | Unnamed 1933 stormAug 24 | 55 mi | Tropical storm (55 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1929 | Unnamed 1929 stormOct 3 | 13 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1915 | Unnamed 1915 stormAug 4 | overhead | Tropical storm (51 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1903 | Unnamed 1903 stormSep 16 | 59 mi | Tropical storm (67 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1899 | Unnamed 1899 stormNov 1 | 5 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1893 | Unnamed 1893 stormOct 23 | 70 mi | Tropical storm (43 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1893 | Unnamed 1893 stormAug 29 | 12 mi | Tropical storm (63 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1888 | Unnamed 1888 stormSep 11 | 71 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1888 | Unnamed 1888 stormAug 22 | 53 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1878 | Unnamed 1878 stormOct 23 | 24 mi | Category 1 (87 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1877 | Unnamed 1877 stormOct 4 | 73 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1874 | Unnamed 1874 stormSep 29 | 64 mi | Tropical storm (60 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1872 | Unnamed 1872 stormOct 26 | 62 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1863 | Unnamed 1863 stormSep 19 | 61 mi | Tropical storm (54 mph) | Tropical storm |
Strength is the sustained wind on the track at the closest point, which is not the wind felt in Christiana: 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 Christiana
By decade
- 2020s11
- 2010s10
- 2000s9
- 1990s20(1 EF3+)
- 1980s9
- 1970s11
- 1960s3
- 1950s5(2 EF3+)
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Killed / injured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 22, 1955 | F3 | 22 mi | 9.6 mi | 1 / 0 |
| Jul 27, 1994 | F3 | 17 mi | 4 mi | 0 / 11 |
| Nov 4, 1950 | F3 | 20 mi | 15.9 mi | 0 / 1 |
| Sep 5, 1979 | F2 | 15 mi | 4.1 mi | 1 / 4 |
| Sep 1, 2021 | EF2 | 7 mi | 5.92 mi | 0 / 0 |
| May 28, 2019 | EF2 | 18 mi | 3.08 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Feb 24, 2016 | EF2 | 6 mi | 4.87 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Sep 18, 2004 | F2 | 22 mi | 2 mi | 0 / 0 |
| May 2, 2002 | F2 | 16 mi | 4.5 mi | 0 / 0 |
| May 31, 1998 | F2 | 1 mi | 7 mi | 0 / 0 |
| May 29, 1995 | F2 | 22 mi | 2.5 mi | 0 / 1 |
| Aug 28, 1992 | F2 | 4 mi | 2 mi | 0 / 3 |
The strongest 12 of 78, by rating and then by deaths. Ratings before February 2007 are on the original Fujita scale.
Hail in Christiana
The Storm Prediction Center has 36 hail reports within 10 miles of Christiana since 1967, made on 22 separate days. Of these, 16 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 9, 2009. The most recent report is from July 2, 2022. June has the most reports, 13.
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather reports, data through 2025.
Weather by month in Christiana
The nearest NOAA station with 1991–2020 climate normals is Octoraro Lake, PA, 9 miles south of Christiana at 260 feet. July is the warmest, with an average high of 85°F and low of 65°F; January is the coolest, at 39°F and 22°F. September is the wettest at 5.2 inches of precipitation on average and February the driest at 2.9 inches; the year adds up to 48.5 inches over 80 days with at least a tenth of an inch. June to November, the hurricane season months, bring 54% of the year's precipitation (26.4 of 48.5 inches); the other six months are drier. Highs reach 90°F on about 23 days a year, almost all from May to September. Lows fall below freezing on about 125 nights a year. Snowfall averages 18.1 inches a year, most of it in February. That 48.5 inches is more than at 119 of the 148 Pennsylvania stations used on this site (80%). Atglen, 3 miles northeast, has its own station (Coatesville 2 W, PA): 52.2 inches a year, 3.7 more than here, and the same July average high, 85°F.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip. in | Days ≥ 0.1" | Snow in |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 39 | 22 | 3.5 | 7 | 5.0 |
| Feb | 42 | 23 | 2.9 | 6 | 7.1 |
| Mar | 51 | 31 | 4.2 | 7 | 2.6 |
| Apr | 63 | 40 | 3.8 | 7 | 0.1 |
| May | 72 | 50 | 3.6 | 7 | 0.0 |
| Jun | 80 | 60 | 4.5 | 7 | 0.0 |
| Jul | 85 | 65 | 4.5 | 7 | 0.0 |
| Aug | 83 | 63 | 4.7 | 7 | 0.0 |
| Sep | 76 | 56 | 5.2 | 6 | 0.0 |
| Oct | 65 | 44 | 4.1 | 6 | 0.0 |
| Nov | 53 | 33 | 3.4 | 6 | 0.3 |
| Dec | 43 | 27 | 4.1 | 7 | 3.0 |
| Year | 63 | 43 | 48.5 | 80 | 18.1 |
Averages for 1991–2020 at Octoraro Lake, PA (260 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 Christiana
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged 169 flood, rain, thunderstorm wind and lightning events that began within 10 miles of Christiana: 140 thunderstorm wind reports, 19 flash floods, 5 lightning strikes, 3 heavy rain events and 2 floods. They killed 3 people and injured 7, and the NWS estimated $1.1 million in property and crop damage. The strongest thunderstorm gust on record here was 75 mph, on March 28, 2021. July has had the most flash floods, 9 of 19. Of the 788 Pennsylvania cities on this site with a flash flood on record, 321 have had fewer than Christiana.
April 15, 2023: lightning strike 6 miles from the centre of Christiana — 1 killed, 1 injured.
June 9, 2011: lightning strike in Christiana — 1 killed.
NWS: “A 13-year-old boy was killed by lightning in Lancaster County. The lightning death occurred around 1915 EDT in a farm field along the 1100 block of Bartsville Road in Sadsbury Township.”
July 1, 2025: thunderstorm wind 4 miles from the centre of Christiana — 1 killed.
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
Flood insurance policyholders in Christiana's ZIP code 17509 have filed 22 claims with the National Flood Insurance Program since 1978, and were paid $502,000 for buildings and contents, in the dollars of each year. The year with the most claims was 1979, with 10. 23% of the claims carry the name of a storm or flood event; the rest have no event name. Of the 553 Pennsylvania cities on this site with 10 or more claims, 130 have fewer than Christiana.
Lancaster County, which includes Christiana, has been named in 22 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1972, 15 of them major disasters (by incident: 7 floods, 4 hurricanes, 4 severe storms, 4 snowstorms). The latest major disaster declaration was Covid-19 Pandemic, on March 30, 2020. FEMA's National Risk Index gives Lancaster County a Relatively High rating for natural hazard risk overall; by hazard: Relatively High for hurricanes, inland flooding, strong wind and lightning; Relatively Moderate for tornadoes, hail and heat waves. It models the county's expected loss from all 18 hazards it covers at $170.0 million a year, the 6th highest of 67 Pennsylvania counties; of the hazards above, the largest share, $110.6 million (65%), 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.