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NHC HURDAT2 · SPC Tornado Database

Hurricanes and Tornadoes That Hit Lafayette Hill, 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

35 tropical systems have passed within 75 miles of Lafayette Hill, Pennsylvania since 1851, 3 of them at hurricane strength; the most recent was Ida in 2021. Since 1950, 96 tornadoes have touched down within 25 miles, 4 of them rated EF3 or stronger.

Hurricanes
3

within 75 mi, since 1851

Tropical storms
32

below hurricane strength

Tornadoes
96

within 25 mi, since 1950

EF3 or stronger
4

6 deaths in all

What the records show for Lafayette Hill

The strongest storm to pass near Lafayette Hill was an unnamed storm in 1893, a Category 1 hurricane with 87 mph winds when its centre passed 72 miles away. The closest pass by a hurricane was an unnamed storm in 1878, whose centre came within 54 miles. The record near Lafayette Hill begins with an unnamed storm in 1861; the most recent system was Ida in 2021, a tropical storm 12 miles away. The 1870s and the 2020s were the busiest decades, with 4 systems each. Of the 35 systems, 7 have come since 2000. Lafayette Hill has more hurricanes within 75 miles than 89% of the 794 Pennsylvania cities on this site. The highest rating among the 96 tornadoes within 25 miles is F3 or EF3, reached 4 times; the most recent, on September 1, 2021, came within 20 miles. The deadliest, an F3 on July 27, 1994, killed 3 people. Of the 96, 5 had paths within 5 miles of the city centre, and 31 have come since 2000. July has had the most tornadoes, 25. The most recent tornado was on August 10, 2023. Lafayette Hill has more tornadoes within 25 miles than 98% of the 794 Pennsylvania cities. Hail has been reported within 10 miles 74 times since 1957, with stones up to 1.75 inches (golf ball size). Lafayette Hill has more hail reports within 10 miles than 71% of the 794 Pennsylvania cities.

Compare Lafayette Hill's storm record with another city →

Tropical storms and hurricanes near Lafayette Hill

Tropical systems that passed within 75 miles of Lafayette Hill, Pennsylvania, newest first
YearStormClosestStrength when closestPeak
2021IdaSep 212 miTropical storm (41 mph)Category 4
2021ElsaJul 972 miTropical storm (58 mph)Category 1
2020IsaiasAug 414 miTropical storm (64 mph)Category 1
2020FayJul 1050 miTropical storm (43 mph)Tropical storm
2012SandyOct 3027 miTropical storm (71 mph)Category 3
2011IreneAug 2856 miTropical storm (66 mph)Category 3
2008HannaSep 635 miTropical storm (52 mph)Category 1
1999FloydSep 1665 miTropical storm (62 mph)Category 4
1996BerthaJul 1329 miTropical storm (69 mph)Category 3
1992DanielleSep 2648 miTropical storm (40 mph)Tropical storm
1971DoriaAug 2843 miTropical storm (63 mph)Tropical storm
1961Unnamed 1961 stormSep 1567 miTropical storm (61 mph)Tropical storm
1960BrendaJul 3050 miTropical storm (58 mph)Tropical storm
1955DianeAug 1915 miTropical storm (41 mph)Category 2
1952AbleSep 130 miTropical storm (58 mph)Category 2
1944Unnamed 1944 stormAug 373 miTropical storm (40 mph)Category 1
1934Unnamed 1934 stormJun 1914 miTropical storm (46 mph)Category 2
1929Unnamed 1929 stormOct 347 miTropical storm (58 mph)Category 4
1924Unnamed 1924 stormSep 3045 miTropical storm (70 mph)Category 1
1915Unnamed 1915 stormAug 417 miTropical storm (53 mph)Category 1
1904Unnamed 1904 stormSep 1562 miCategory 1 (76 mph)Category 1
1903Unnamed 1903 stormSep 1616 miTropical storm (66 mph)Category 2
1899Unnamed 1899 stormNov 124 miTropical storm (58 mph)Category 2
1893Unnamed 1893 stormAug 2934 miTropical storm (63 mph)Category 3
1893Unnamed 1893 stormAug 2472 miCategory 1 (87 mph)Category 3
1888Unnamed 1888 stormSep 1149 miTropical storm (40 mph)Tropical storm
1888Unnamed 1888 stormAug 2256 miTropical storm (46 mph)Category 3
1882Unnamed 1882 stormSep 2462 miTropical storm (46 mph)Tropical storm
1878Unnamed 1878 stormOct 2354 miCategory 1 (85 mph)Category 2
1877Unnamed 1877 stormOct 554 miTropical storm (69 mph)Category 3
1874Unnamed 1874 stormSep 2938 miTropical storm (62 mph)Category 1
1872Unnamed 1872 stormOct 2636 miTropical storm (46 mph)Category 1
1866Unnamed 1866 stormOct 3057 miTropical storm (63 mph)Tropical storm
1863Unnamed 1863 stormSep 1929 miTropical storm (53 mph)Tropical storm
1861Unnamed 1861 stormSep 2847 miTropical storm (67 mph)Category 1

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

By decade

  • 2020s18(2 EF3+)
  • 2010s8
  • 2000s5
  • 1990s25(1 EF3+)
  • 1980s17
  • 1970s7
  • 1960s9
  • 1950s7(1 EF3+)
Strongest tornadoes near Lafayette Hill, Pennsylvania
DateRatingDistancePathKilled / injured
Jul 27, 1994F317 mi2 mi3 / 25
Mar 22, 1955F312 mi9.6 mi1 / 0
Sep 1, 2021EF320 mi12.37 mi0 / 2
Jul 29, 2021EF314 mi3.4 mi0 / 0
Sep 1, 2021EF22 mi8.28 mi1 / 2
Jul 29, 2021EF224 mi6.31 mi0 / 0
Aug 4, 2020EF213 mi20.77 mi0 / 18
Oct 31, 2019EF218 mi0.47 mi0 / 2
May 31, 1998F212 mi5.6 mi0 / 0
Jun 9, 1989F211 mi2 mi0 / 1
Sep 5, 1979F224 mi2.5 mi0 / 5
Apr 3, 1975F221 mi3 mi0 / 0

The strongest 12 of 96, by rating and then by deaths. Ratings before February 2007 are on the original Fujita scale.

Hail in Lafayette Hill

The Storm Prediction Center has 74 hail reports within 10 miles of Lafayette Hill since 1957, made on 43 separate days. Of these, 43 were 1 inch across or larger, and none reached 2 inches. The largest size, 1.75 inches (golf ball size), was reported on 7 days, most recently June 6, 2023. The most recent report is from May 3, 2025. July has the most reports, 24.

Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather reports, data through 2025.

Weather by month in Lafayette Hill

The nearest NOAA station with 1991–2020 climate normals is Norristown, PA, 5 miles west of Lafayette Hill at 62 feet. July is the warmest, with an average high of 89°F and low of 67°F; January is the coolest, at 42°F and 23°F. August is the wettest at 5.0 inches of precipitation on average and February the driest at 3.0 inches; the year adds up to 50.7 inches over 86 days with at least a tenth of an inch. June to November, the hurricane season months, bring 53% of the year's precipitation (26.7 of 50.7 inches); the other six months are drier. September has brought the most of the 35 tropical systems that passed within 75 miles (14); a normal September there has highs of 80°F and 4.9 inches of precipitation. Highs reach 90°F on about 39 days a year, almost all from May to September. Lows fall below freezing on about 107 nights a year. Snowfall averages 25.3 inches a year, most of it in February. That 50.7 inches is more than at 133 of the 148 Pennsylvania stations used on this site (90%). Glenside, 5 miles east, has its own station (Philadelphia NE Airport, PA): 45.0 inches a year, 5.7 less than here, and a July average high of 88°F against 89°F.

Water temperature at the NOAA tide station Bridesburg, PA, 12 miles southeast, averaged 80°F in July and 38°F in February over 2021–2025. It averaged 80°F or warmer from July. Sea level at the Philadelphia tide gauge, 12 miles from Lafayette Hill, has risen 1.24 ± 0.04 inches per decade from 1900 to 2025, NOAA's linear trend; at that pace it is 12.4 inches in a hundred years. That is faster than at 73 of the 144 U.S. gauges with a NOAA trend.

Monthly climate normals 1991–2020 at Norristown, PA
MonthHigh °FLow °FPrecip. inDays ≥ 0.1"Snow inWater °F
Jan42233.776.838
Feb44253.0610.938
Mar52324.473.046
Apr65423.980.254
May75524.380.063
Jun84624.280.073
Jul89674.780.080
Aug87655.070.079
Sep80584.960.073
Oct68454.370.164
Nov57353.670.153
Dec46284.784.242
Year664450.78625.359

Averages for 1991–2020 at Norristown, PA (62 ft), from NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals; water temperature: average of hourly readings 2021–2025 at the NOAA tide station Bridesburg, PA, from NOAA Tides & Currents. Normals describe the station; the farther a place is from it, and the bigger the difference in height, the more its weather can differ.

Pennsylvania weather by month, station by station →

Floods, thunderstorm wind and lightning near Lafayette Hill

Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged 698 flood, rain, thunderstorm wind and lightning events that began within 10 miles of Lafayette Hill: 465 thunderstorm wind reports, 159 flash floods, 47 floods, 15 lightning strikes and 12 heavy rain events. They killed 8 people and injured 7, and the NWS estimated $114.5 million in property and crop damage. The strongest thunderstorm gust on record here was 81 mph, on October 31, 2019. August has had the most flash floods, 57 of 159. Of the 788 Pennsylvania cities on this site with a flash flood on record, 718 have had fewer than Lafayette Hill.

  • September 1, 2021: flash flood 7 miles from the centre of Lafayette Hill — 2 killed, $21.0 million damage.

  • December 19, 2025: thunderstorm wind 5 miles from the centre of Lafayette Hill — 2 killed, $20,000 damage.

  • October 14, 2003: thunderstorm wind 6 miles from the centre of Lafayette Hill — 1 killed, 1 injured.

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 Lafayette Hill's ZIP code 19444 have filed 35 claims with the National Flood Insurance Program since 1978, and were paid $474,000 for buildings and contents, in the dollars of each year. 37% 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, 208 have fewer than Lafayette Hill.

Montgomery County, which includes Lafayette Hill, has been named in 29 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1965, 21 of them major disasters (by incident: 8 hurricanes, 7 floods, 6 severe storms, 4 snowstorms). The latest major disaster declaration was Remnants of Hurricane Ida, on September 10, 2021. FEMA's National Risk Index gives Montgomery County a Relatively High rating for natural hazard risk overall; by hazard: Very High for strong wind; Relatively High for tornadoes, inland flooding and heat waves; Relatively Moderate for hurricanes and lightning; Relatively Low for hail. It models the county's expected loss from all 18 hazards it covers at $296.7 million a year, the 3rd highest of 67 Pennsylvania counties; of the hazards above, the largest share, $192.6 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.

Cities near Lafayette Hill