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NHC HURDAT2 · SPC Tornado Database

Hurricanes and Tornadoes That Hit Lackawanna, NY

Every tropical system within 75 miles since 1851 and every tornado within 25 miles since 1950.

10 tropical systems have passed within 75 miles of Lackawanna, New York since 1851, 1 of them at hurricane strength; the most recent was Frances in 2004. Since 1950, 34 tornadoes have touched down within 25 miles, 1 of them rated EF3 or stronger.

Hurricanes
1

within 75 mi, since 1851

Tropical storms
9

below hurricane strength

Tornadoes
34

within 25 mi, since 1950

EF3 or stronger
1

no recorded deaths

Tropical storms and hurricanes near Lackawanna

Tropical systems that passed within 75 miles of Lackawanna, New York, newest first
YearStormClosestStrength when closestPeak
2004FrancesSep 947 miTropical storm (39 mph)Category 4
1995OpalOct 611 miTropical storm (41 mph)Category 4
1989HugoSep 2315 miTropical storm (41 mph)Category 5
1955ConnieAug 1466 miTropical storm (51 mph)Category 4
1954HazelOct 1633 miCategory 1 (75 mph)Category 4
1902Unnamed 1902 stormJun 2971 miTropical storm (40 mph)Category 1
1896Unnamed 1896 stormSep 3057 miTropical storm (58 mph)Category 3
1893Unnamed 1893 stormOct 1463 miTropical storm (69 mph)Category 3
1878Unnamed 1878 stormSep 134 miTropical storm (46 mph)Category 2
1876Unnamed 1876 stormSep 1871 miTropical storm (46 mph)Category 3

Strength is the sustained wind on the track at the closest point, which is not the wind felt in Lackawanna: 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 Lackawanna

By decade

  • 2020s5
  • 2010s4
  • 2000s3
  • 1990s11
  • 1980s1
  • 1970s4(1 EF3+)
  • 1960s5
  • 1950s1
Strongest tornadoes near Lackawanna, New York
DateRatingDistancePathKilled / injured
Aug 19, 1970F310 mi2.3 mi0 / 3
Jul 10, 2024EF212 mi3.2 mi0 / 0
Jul 20, 2017EF26 mi6.11 mi0 / 0
Jul 30, 1987F27 mi1.5 mi0 / 1
May 2, 1972F217 mi12 mi0 / 0
Aug 23, 1971F29 mi0.1 mi0 / 0
Jul 7, 1961F212 mi7.8 mi0 / 0
Aug 5, 2024EF15 mi1.4 mi0 / 0
Jul 10, 2024EF110 mi2.8 mi0 / 0
Jul 25, 2009EF122 mi4.12 mi0 / 0
Jun 30, 2006F17 mi3 mi0 / 2
Aug 31, 1993F117 mi0.8 mi0 / 0

The strongest 12 of 34, by rating and then by deaths. Ratings before February 2007 are on the original Fujita scale.

How to read this page

A storm is listed when the centre of its track passed within 75 miles of Lackawanna while it was at least a tropical storm, which is the reach of damaging wind and rain for a typical hurricane. Being on the list does not mean the city took a direct hit; the "closest" column says how near the centre came. Tornadoes are counted when any part of the path came within 25 miles.

Tornado records before the 1990s are thinner, because weak tornadoes in open country often went unreported before Doppler radar and mobile phones. A rise in the decade counts is mostly better reporting, not a change in the weather.

Tracks come from the National Hurricane Center's HURDAT2 database, tornadoes from the Storm Prediction Center's database. Both are the official federal records and both are revised as old storms are re-analysed.

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