NHC HURDAT2 · SPC Tornado Database
Hurricanes and Tornadoes That Hit Wellsboro, 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
11 tropical systems have passed within 75 miles of Wellsboro, Pennsylvania since 1851, 1 of them at hurricane strength; the most recent was Frances in 2004. Since 1950, 16 tornadoes have touched down within 25 miles, 0 of them rated EF3 or stronger.
- Hurricanes
- 1
- Tropical storms
- 10
- Tornadoes
- 16
- EF3 or stronger
- 0
within 75 mi, since 1851
below hurricane strength
within 25 mi, since 1950
no recorded deaths
What the records show for Wellsboro
The strongest storm to pass near Wellsboro was Hazel in 1954, a Category 1 hurricane with 77 mph winds when its centre passed 22 miles away. The record near Wellsboro begins with an unnamed storm in 1876; the most recent system was Frances in 2004, a tropical storm 60 miles away. The 1900s and the 1950s were the busiest decades, with 2 systems each. Of the 11 systems, one has come since 2000. Of the 794 Pennsylvania cities on this site, 45% have more hurricanes within 75 miles than Wellsboro. The highest rating among the 16 tornadoes within 25 miles is F2 or EF2, reached 2 times; the most recent, on October 2, 2018, came within 15 miles. Of the 16, one had a path within 5 miles of the city centre, and 10 have come since 2000. May and July have had the most tornadoes, 6 each. The most recent tornado was on May 29, 2019. Of the 794 Pennsylvania cities, 99% have more tornadoes within 25 miles than Wellsboro. Hail has been reported within 10 miles 21 times since 1969, with stones up to 2 inches (hen egg size). Of the 794 Pennsylvania cities, 84% have more hail reports within 10 miles than Wellsboro.
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Tropical storms and hurricanes near Wellsboro
| Year | Storm | Closest | Strength when closest | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | FrancesSep 9 | 60 mi | Tropical storm (39 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1979 | DavidSep 6 | 52 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1955 | ConnieAug 13 | 64 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1954 | HazelOct 16 | 22 mi | Category 1 (77 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1949 | Unnamed 1949 stormAug 29 | 72 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1933 | Unnamed 1933 stormAug 24 | 38 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1903 | Unnamed 1903 stormSep 17 | 52 mi | Tropical storm (51 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1902 | Unnamed 1902 stormJun 29 | 66 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1893 | Unnamed 1893 stormOct 14 | 21 mi | Tropical storm (70 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1885 | Unnamed 1885 stormOct 14 | 12 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1876 | Unnamed 1876 stormSep 18 | 22 mi | Tropical storm (51 mph) | Category 3 |
Strength is the sustained wind on the track at the closest point, which is not the wind felt in Wellsboro: 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 Wellsboro
By decade
- 2010s9
- 2000s1
- 1990s2
- 1980s1
- 1970s2
- 1950s1
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Killed / injured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2, 2018 | EF2 | 15 mi | 2.17 mi | 0 / 0 |
| May 2, 1983 | F2 | 15 mi | 9.8 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jul 23, 2018 | EF1 | 11 mi | 2.12 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jul 27, 2013 | EF1 | 25 mi | 14 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jul 26, 2012 | EF1 | 24 mi | 0.26 mi | 0 / 0 |
| May 29, 2011 | EF1 | 16 mi | 2.54 mi | 0 / 0 |
| May 26, 2011 | EF1 | 22 mi | 2 mi | 0 / 0 |
| May 26, 2011 | EF1 | 17 mi | 5.57 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jul 24, 2010 | EF1 | 19 mi | 1.12 mi | 0 / 0 |
| May 31, 1998 | F1 | 19 mi | 0.5 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jul 8, 1997 | F1 | 15 mi | 8 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jul 6, 1977 | F1 | 25 mi | 1 mi | 0 / 0 |
The strongest 12 of 16, by rating and then by deaths. Ratings before February 2007 are on the original Fujita scale.
Hail in Wellsboro
The Storm Prediction Center has 21 hail reports within 10 miles of Wellsboro since 1969, made on 15 separate days. Of these, 12 were 1 inch across or larger, and 2 reached 2 inches. The largest size, 2 inches (hen egg size), was reported on 2 days, most recently June 26, 2009. The most recent report is from March 16, 2025. June has the most reports, 13.
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather reports, data through 2025.
Weather by month in Wellsboro
The nearest NOAA station with 1991–2020 climate normals is Wellsboro 4 SW, PA, 4 miles southwest of Wellsboro at 1,818 feet. July is the warmest, with an average high of 79°F and low of 57°F; January is the coolest, at 30°F and 14°F. June is the wettest at 4.3 inches of precipitation on average and February the driest at 2.5 inches; the year adds up to 42.5 inches over 87 days with at least a tenth of an inch. June to November, the hurricane season months, bring 54% of the year's precipitation (23.1 of 42.5 inches); the other six months are drier. September has brought the most of the 11 tropical systems that passed within 75 miles (4); a normal September there has highs of 70°F and 4.2 inches of precipitation. Highs reach 90°F on about 2 days a year, almost all from July. Lows fall below freezing on about 159 nights a year. Snowfall averages 60.6 inches a year, most of it in February. That 42.5 inches is more than at 45 of the 148 Pennsylvania stations used on this site (30%). Mansfield, 14 miles east, has its own station (Tioga Hammond Dam, PA): 36.4 inches a year, 6.1 less than here, and a July average high of 82°F against 79°F.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip. in | Days ≥ 0.1" | Snow in |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 30 | 14 | 3.0 | 7 | 13.2 |
| Feb | 33 | 15 | 2.5 | 6 | 14.1 |
| Mar | 42 | 22 | 3.3 | 7 | 12.5 |
| Apr | 55 | 33 | 3.6 | 8 | 3.2 |
| May | 67 | 43 | 3.7 | 8 | 0.1 |
| Jun | 75 | 52 | 4.3 | 9 | 0.0 |
| Jul | 79 | 57 | 4.1 | 8 | 0.0 |
| Aug | 77 | 55 | 3.7 | 7 | 0.0 |
| Sep | 70 | 48 | 4.2 | 7 | 0.0 |
| Oct | 59 | 37 | 3.6 | 7 | 0.8 |
| Nov | 46 | 29 | 3.2 | 6 | 4.0 |
| Dec | 35 | 21 | 3.3 | 7 | 12.7 |
| Year | 56 | 35 | 42.5 | 87 | 60.6 |
Averages for 1991–2020 at Wellsboro 4 SW, PA (1,818 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 Wellsboro
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged 67 flood, rain, thunderstorm wind and lightning events that began within 10 miles of Wellsboro: 61 thunderstorm wind reports, 4 flash floods and 2 floods. They killed 0 people and injured 1, and the NWS estimated $289,000 in property and crop damage. The strongest thunderstorm gust on record here was 100 mph, on March 16, 2025.
September 21, 2012: thunderstorm wind 3 miles from the centre of Wellsboro — 1 injured, $10,000 damage.
NWS: “Thunderstorm winds estimated near 80 mph knocked down several trees and caused a partial roof collapse on Niles Road just east of Wellsboro. One woman was injured as a result of the damage.”
March 16, 2025: thunderstorm wind 2 miles from the centre of Wellsboro — $100,000 damage.
NWS: “An NWS Storm Survey confirmed that a downburst, with maximum winds estimated near 100 mph, occurred along Balsam Road in Tioga County during the afternoon hours of March 16, 2025. Numerous pine trees were snapped and uprooted, leading to some roof damage at households on Balsam Road.”
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 Wellsboro's ZIP code 16901 have filed 39 claims with the National Flood Insurance Program since 1978, and were paid $542,000 for buildings and contents, in the dollars of each year. The year with the most claims was 1996, with 13. 44% 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, 229 have fewer than Wellsboro.
Tioga County, which includes Wellsboro, has been named in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1972, 14 of them major disasters (by incident: 7 floods, 5 severe storms, 3 hurricanes, 2 biological emergencies). The latest major disaster declaration was Tropical Storm Debby, on September 11, 2024. FEMA's National Risk Index gives Tioga County a Relatively Low rating for natural hazard risk overall; by hazard: Relatively Moderate for inland flooding, strong wind and lightning; Relatively Low for hurricanes; Very Low for tornadoes, hail and heat waves. It models the county's expected loss from all 18 hazards it covers at $18.6 million a year, the 45th highest of 67 Pennsylvania counties; of the hazards above, the largest share, $16.3 million (88%), 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 Wellsboro
- Mansfield, PA14 mi
- Blossburg, PA14 mi
- Westfield, PA15 mi
- Tioga, PA16 mi
- Lawrenceville, PA19 mi
- Millerton, PA24 mi
- Trout Run, PA25 mi
- Addison, NY25 mi
- Canton, PA26 mi
- Troy, PA27 mi
- Columbia Cross Roads, PA30 mi
- Pine City, NY30 mi
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