46
Recorded events
3
Direct deaths
6
Direct injuries
$2.7M
Property damage
Lightning in Chester County, Pennsylvania: 46 recorded events between 1996 and 2023. The strongest on record measured 0. That places the county #51 nationally and #5 statewide for this hazard.
Decade by decade
Lightning in Chester County, Pennsylvania: events per decade
Reporting practice changed over time — early decades are undercounted, not calmer.
The busiest decade for lightning in Chester County is the 2000s, when 19 of the county's 46 recorded events were logged. Comparing decades is useful for spotting active periods, but the earliest years are thin because systematic reporting for this hazard began later.
Within the Chester County archive, lightning makes up 3.6% of all recorded severe weather across 9 hazard types. Nationally the county sits at #51 for this hazard and #5 within Pennsylvania, putting it in the 97.8 percentile of all U.S. counties.
Seasonality
Events by month
Jul is the peak month for lightning in Chester County with 13 recorded events, while Jan is the quietest. Seasonality here is a property of the archive as much as the climate: reports cluster where population and spotter networks are densest.
Significant events
Deadliest on record
| Date | Location | Scale | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 15, 2023 | PARKESBURG | 0 | 1 | 1 | $0 |
| Jun 9, 2005 | CHATHAM | 0 | 1 | 0 | $0 |
| Jul 16, 2000 | GUTHRIESVILLE | 0 | 1 | 0 | $0 |
| Jul 9, 1997 | LONDON GROVE | 0 | 0 | 2 | $0 |
| Jun 9, 2009 | OAKBOURNE | 0 | 0 | 1 | $1K |
| Jun 10, 2008 | LOAG | 0 | 0 | 1 | $0 |
| Jun 1, 2004 | WEST CHESTER | 0 | 0 | 1 | $0 |
Most recent
Latest recorded events
| Date | Location | Magnitude | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 15, 2023 | PARKESBURG | 0 | $0 |
| Jun 19, 2017 | NEW LONDON ARPT | 0 | $750K |
| Jul 28, 2016 | MODENA | 0 | $10 |
| Sep 2, 2014 | CORINNE | 0 | $10K |
| Sep 2, 2014 | CHROME | 0 | $5K |
| Jul 28, 2014 | MALVERN | 0 | $5K |
| Jul 28, 2014 | CHROME | 0 | $10K |
| Jul 28, 2014 | PAOLI | 0 | $3K |
| Jul 28, 2014 | ROMANSVILLE | 0 | $3K |
| Jul 28, 2014 | BRANDYWINE MANOR | 0 | $3K |
Other hazards here
More from Chester County
- Thunderstorm Wind 769
- Flash Flood 223
- Hail 101
- Flood 67
From the record
What the reports say
Written by National Weather Service staff at the time of the event · public domain
A lightning strike and the ensuing fire seriously damaged a farm house on the Sunny High Farm off of Pennsylvania State Route 100 in North Coventry Township. The fire began on the first floor in the front of the house. Flames were through the windows when fire fighters arrived. Five fire companies helped battle the blaze. The family dog died; no additional injuries were reported. Damage was estimated at $300,000.
A lightning strike and subsequent fire totally consumed an abandoned home along Martin Road in Highland Township. The house was fully consumed by flames when fire crews arrived and it took two companies more than an hour to get the fire under control.
A barn caught fire after a lightning strike on Devyn Drive in West Pikeland Township. The fire was contained to the barn and two nearby homes were undamaged. The historic barn though was a total loss. Six fire companies assisted in battling the blaze.
Quick answers
Frequently asked
How many lightning events are on record in Chester County, Pennsylvania?
46 lightning events are recorded in Chester County between 1996 and 2023, causing 3 direct deaths.
What is the strongest lightning recorded in Chester County?
The strongest lightning on record in Chester County measured 0.
Where does the lightning data for Chester County come from?
All events come from the NOAA/NCEI Storm Events Database, the federal public-domain archive of severe weather reports. Dates are UTC, damage is as reported and not inflation-adjusted, and the most recent entries may still be revised.
Cite this page
“Lightning in Chester County, Pennsylvania.” Severe Weather History. severeweatherhistory.com/county/pennsylvania/chester-county/lightning/ · Data: NOAA/NCEI, FEMA, U.S. Census — public domain.