NHC HURDAT2 · SPC Tornado Database
Hurricanes and Tornadoes That Hit Pequea, 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
26 tropical systems have passed within 75 miles of Pequea, Pennsylvania since 1851, 2 of them at hurricane strength; the most recent was Ida in 2021. Since 1950, 74 tornadoes have touched down within 25 miles, 2 of them rated EF3 or stronger.
- Hurricanes
- 2
- Tropical storms
- 24
- Tornadoes
- 74
- EF3 or stronger
- 2
within 75 mi, since 1851
below hurricane strength
within 25 mi, since 1950
no recorded deaths
What the records show for Pequea
The strongest storm to pass near Pequea was an unnamed storm in 1878, a Category 1 hurricane with 87 mph winds when its centre passed 10 miles away. The record near Pequea begins with an unnamed storm in 1872; the most recent system was Ida in 2021, a tropical storm 20 miles away. The busiest decade was the 1950s, with 4 systems, one of them at hurricane strength. Of the 26 systems, 5 have come since 2000. Pequea has more hurricanes within 75 miles than 54% of the 794 Pennsylvania cities on this site. The highest rating among the 74 tornadoes within 25 miles is F3, reached 2 times; the most recent, on April 5, 1952, came within 21 miles. Of the 74, one had a path within 5 miles of the city centre, and 36 have come since 2000. June has had the most tornadoes, 18. The most recent tornado was on September 4, 2025. Pequea has more tornadoes within 25 miles than 74% of the 794 Pennsylvania cities. Hail has been reported within 10 miles 57 times since 1971, with stones up to 1.75 inches (golf ball size). Pequea has more hail reports within 10 miles than 52% of the 794 Pennsylvania cities.
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Tropical storms and hurricanes near Pequea
| Year | Storm | Closest | Strength when closest | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | IdaSep 1 | 20 mi | Tropical storm (39 mph) | Category 4 |
| 2020 | IsaiasAug 4 | 34 mi | Tropical storm (66 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2012 | SandyOct 30 | overhead | Tropical storm (63 mph) | Category 3 |
| 2008 | HannaSep 6 | 73 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2006 | ErnestoSep 3 | 20 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1996 | BerthaJul 13 | 70 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1992 | DanielleSep 26 | 31 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1979 | DavidSep 6 | 64 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1955 | DianeAug 18 | overhead | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1955 | ConnieAug 13 | 36 mi | Tropical storm (55 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1954 | HazelOct 15 | 49 mi | Category 1 (81 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1952 | AbleSep 1 | 4 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1949 | Unnamed 1949 stormAug 29 | 43 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1943 | Unnamed 1943 stormOct 1 | 38 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1934 | Unnamed 1934 stormJun 19 | 26 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1933 | Unnamed 1933 stormAug 24 | 40 mi | Tropical storm (55 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1929 | Unnamed 1929 stormOct 2 | 1 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1915 | Unnamed 1915 stormAug 4 | 9 mi | Tropical storm (51 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1903 | Unnamed 1903 stormSep 16 | 75 mi | Tropical storm (66 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1899 | Unnamed 1899 stormNov 1 | 19 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1893 | Unnamed 1893 stormOct 23 | 58 mi | Tropical storm (43 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1893 | Unnamed 1893 stormAug 29 | 2 mi | Tropical storm (63 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1888 | Unnamed 1888 stormAug 21 | 48 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1885 | Unnamed 1885 stormOct 13 | 71 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1878 | Unnamed 1878 stormOct 23 | 10 mi | Category 1 (87 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1872 | Unnamed 1872 stormOct 26 | 74 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
Strength is the sustained wind on the track at the closest point, which is not the wind felt in Pequea: 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 Pequea
By decade
- 2020s10
- 2010s15
- 2000s11
- 1990s13
- 1980s4
- 1970s10
- 1960s5
- 1950s6(2 EF3+)
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Killed / injured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 5, 1952 | F3 | 21 mi | 17.5 mi | 0 / 4 |
| Nov 4, 1950 | F3 | 23 mi | 15.9 mi | 0 / 1 |
| Sep 1, 2021 | EF2 | 21 mi | 5.92 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Feb 24, 2016 | EF2 | 17 mi | 4.87 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Sep 18, 2004 | F2 | 12 mi | 2 mi | 0 / 0 |
| May 2, 2002 | F2 | 24 mi | 4.5 mi | 0 / 0 |
| May 31, 1998 | F2 | 8 mi | 7 mi | 0 / 0 |
| May 29, 1995 | F2 | 8 mi | 2.5 mi | 0 / 1 |
| Aug 28, 1992 | F2 | 19 mi | 2 mi | 0 / 3 |
| May 6, 1991 | F2 | 22 mi | 1 mi | 0 / 3 |
| Jun 15, 1989 | F2 | 8 mi | 16 mi | 0 / 6 |
| Oct 11, 1975 | F2 | 20 mi | 17.5 mi | 0 / 0 |
The strongest 12 of 74, by rating and then by deaths. Ratings before February 2007 are on the original Fujita scale.
Hail in Pequea
The Storm Prediction Center has 57 hail reports within 10 miles of Pequea since 1971, made on 43 separate days. Of these, 32 were 1 inch across or larger, and none reached 2 inches. The largest size, 1.75 inches (golf ball size), was reported on 8 days, most recently July 23, 2011. The most recent report is from June 30, 2025. June has the most reports, 17.
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather reports, data through 2025.
Weather by month in Pequea
The nearest NOAA station with 1991–2020 climate normals is Safe Harbor Dam, PA, 4 miles northwest of Pequea at 195 feet. July is the warmest, with an average high of 87°F and low of 68°F; January is the coolest, at 39°F and 25°F. September is the wettest at 4.9 inches of precipitation on average and February the driest at 2.7 inches; the year adds up to 46.5 inches over 79 days with at least a tenth of an inch. June to November, the hurricane season months, bring 54% of the year's precipitation (25.2 of 46.5 inches); the other six months are drier. Highs reach 90°F on about 20 days a year, almost all from June to September. Lows fall below freezing on about 87 nights a year. Snowfall averages 21.3 inches a year, most of it in February. That 46.5 inches is more than at 94 of the 148 Pennsylvania stations used on this site (64%). Willow Street, 5 miles northeast, has its own station (Lancaster 2NE Fltr Plt, PA): 44.2 inches a year, 2.3 less than here, and the same July average high, 87°F.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip. in | Days ≥ 0.1" | Snow in |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 39 | 25 | 3.3 | 6 | 6.1 |
| Feb | 41 | 26 | 2.7 | 5 | 7.6 |
| Mar | 50 | 33 | 4.1 | 7 | 3.5 |
| Apr | 63 | 44 | 3.5 | 7 | 0.0 |
| May | 72 | 53 | 3.9 | 8 | 0.0 |
| Jun | 82 | 63 | 4.6 | 7 | 0.0 |
| Jul | 87 | 68 | 4.3 | 8 | 0.0 |
| Aug | 84 | 66 | 3.6 | 7 | 0.0 |
| Sep | 77 | 60 | 4.9 | 6 | 0.0 |
| Oct | 65 | 48 | 4.4 | 6 | 0.0 |
| Nov | 53 | 38 | 3.4 | 6 | 0.5 |
| Dec | 44 | 30 | 3.8 | 7 | 3.6 |
| Year | 63 | 46 | 46.5 | 79 | 21.3 |
Averages for 1991–2020 at Safe Harbor Dam, PA (195 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 Pequea
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged 160 flood, rain, thunderstorm wind and lightning events that began within 10 miles of Pequea: 138 thunderstorm wind reports, 12 flash floods, 8 floods and 2 heavy rain events. They killed 2 people and injured 0, and the NWS estimated $786,000 in property and crop damage. The strongest thunderstorm gust on record here was 90 mph, on June 14, 2026. June has had the most flash floods, 7 of 12. Of the 788 Pennsylvania cities on this site with a flash flood on record, 211 have had fewer than Pequea.
July 25, 2010: thunderstorm wind 8 miles from the centre of Pequea — 1 killed, $5,000 damage.
April 22, 2023: thunderstorm wind 6 miles from the centre of Pequea — 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 Pequea's ZIP code 17565 have filed 87 claims with the National Flood Insurance Program since 1978, and were paid $941,000 for buildings and contents, in the dollars of each year. The most came from Flooding in 1996: 15 claims (17% of all) and $249,000. The year with the most claims was 1979, with 17. 45% 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, 353 have fewer than Pequea.
| Event | Claims | Paid |
|---|---|---|
| Flooding1996 | 15 | $249,000 |
Lancaster County, which includes Pequea, 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.
Cities near Pequea
- Conestoga, PA3 mi
- Holtwood, PA4 mi
- Willow Street, PA5 mi
- New Providence, PA6 mi
- Millersville, PA7 mi
- Airville, PA8 mi
- Strasburg, PA9 mi
- Quarryville, PA9 mi
- Lancaster, PA11 mi
- Delta, PA11 mi
- Mountville, PA11 mi
- Ronks, PA11 mi
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