2025 Pennsylvania Severe Weather Review
2025 Pennsylvania Severe Weather Review
This is the first of three posts that will look back at the weather in 2025. Today I will take a look back at the severe weather that impacted the state.22 Tornadoes
A total of 22 tornadoes were confirmed in Pennsylvania this year. March 16th was the busiest day with a total of 7 which were all rated EF1. May was the busiest month with a total of 9. This was the first year without a tornado in August since 2019.
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| A full list of all tornadoes in Pennsylvania in 2025. Full details here. |
The Allison Park - Finleyville tornado on May 21st had the longest track, traveling over 15 miles. The strongest tornado of 2025 was an EF2 on July 9th in Erie County. This was the strongest tornado in Erie County since 1997! In addition to the EF2, ten were rated EF1 and ten were rated EF0. One other tornado was rated EFU (unknown rating). Most of the tornadoes occurred in western Pennsylvania. Berks, Washington and Westmoreland Counties all had three tornadoes each.
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| Map of all tornadoes in Pennsylvania in 2025. |
Storm Reports & Convective Outlook
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| Map of all Pennsylvania severe weather reports in 2025. Source |
In 2025 there were 23 tornado reports (one tornado reported twice), 583 wind reports, and 43 severe hail reports. June had the most wind reports with 161 while May had the most hail reports with 16. There were 4 wind gust reports of 75mph+. The squall line that moved through on March 16 brought the busiest day with 91 total reports of which 74 that were wind reports. The derecho on April 29 had more wind reports with 76.
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| SPC Convective Outlooks for March 16, April 29, and June 19. |
Pennsylvania was placed under Enhanced Risk for severe weather on 4 days in 2025. Three of these days (March 16, April 29, and June 19) ended as the top 3 days for storm reports in the state in 2025. The other day, March 30th, only included a sliver of the state in the Enhanced Risk.
Watches & Warnings
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| Maps showing all Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Pennsylvania in 2025 by polygon (left) and by county (right). |
A total of 545 Severe Thunderstorm Warnings were issued in the state this year. This is slightly more than the 10 year average of 534. Southwestern and southeastern PA saw the most Severe Thunderstorm Warnings. Only a small part of Pike County did not record any during the year. Westmoreland County recorded the most with 53. Washington County was not far behind with 50.
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| Total number of Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Pennsylvania by month since 1986. |
For the second year in a row there were Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in every month except January. June had the most with 184, the most for June in 10 years. August was unusually quiet with just 14, the fewest since 1991! March 16 and June 26 had the most Severe Thunderstorm Warnings with 28 both days.
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| Maps showing all Tornado Warnings in Pennsylvania in 2025 by polygon (left) and by county (right). |
The National Weather Service issued 47 Tornado Warnings in Pennsylvania in 2025 (10 year average is 42). 11 in March was the most ever for the month. June saw the most with 14. There were none in August which last occurred 10 years ago. The Tornado Warnings were concentrated in the western half of the state and extreme eastern PA. 7 Tornado Warnings were issued for Washington County (on 6 different days) which matches the county total last year. 10 Tornado Warnings on March 16 was the most for a single day in 2025.
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| Maps showing all Flash Flood Warnings in Pennsylvania in 2025 by polygon (left) and by county (right). |
A total of 240 Flash Flood Warnings were issued this year in Pennsylvania which ranks as third most. The 10 year average is 112. Flash Flood Warnings were issued for every county except three: Erie, Crawford, and Cameron. Allegheny County had the most with 34 which is the most ever. 21 of those came in June, the most ever for a single month for the county.
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| Map showing the Flash Flood Emergency on June 30th. |
June and July were very busy with 94 and 97 Flash Flood Warnings, respectively. 97 total was the record most for the month of July and 36 was the second most for the month of May. 20 Flash Flood Warnings on July 14th was the most for a single day. There was at least 1 Flash Flood Warning issued on 18 days in June. One Flash Flood Emergency was issued on the evening of June 30th for portions of Lancaster County and extreme southern Lebanon County.
Some other notable statistics and fun facts about Watches and Warnings:
- 52 Snow Squall Warnings were issued in January 2025- the most for any 1 month in Pennsylvania since the product debuted in 2018.
- A Blizzard Warning was issued for the Laurel Highlands in February.
- There were no Red Flag Warnings in Pennsylvania this year. This is only the 3rd year since 2006 with no Red Flag Warnings (2017 and 2020 are the only others).
- The National Weather Service Office in Pittsburgh issued the first ever Freezing Fog Advisories for western PA on November 20th.
- Pike County was the only county that did not get a Dense Fog Advisory this year.
- In December Crawford and Erie Counties had their first ever Ice Storm Warnings and it was the first since 2007 for a number of other counties.
- On August 30th, Frost Advisories were issued for McKean and Potter Counties. This is the earliest that Frost Advisories have been issued in Pennsylvania (first time in August, too!), beating the record set last year (September 2, 2024).
Looking Ahead
Look out for a post on New Years Eve reviewing the top weather events of the year here in Pennsylvania. In early January I will post the monthly review for December and later in the month watch for a post detailing the 2025 yearly temperature and precipitation statistics. A busy time is ahead!
Thanks for reading and remember to always look up!
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