Severe Weather History


Pennsylvania Heavy Rain History: 567 Recorded Events

567

Recorded events

26

Counties affected

2

Direct deaths

$1K

Property damage

Pennsylvania heavy rain history: 567 recorded events across 26 counties between 1996 and 2022.

Decade by decade

Pennsylvania heavy rain history by decade

Pennsylvania heavy rain history: recorded events per decade
Pennsylvania heavy rain history: recorded events per decade

The 2010s are the busiest decade on record with 158 reported heavy rain events across Pennsylvania. Earlier decades are thinner because systematic reporting for this hazard expanded over time, not because the weather was calmer.

County ranking

Counties with the most heavy rain events in Pennsylvania

RankCountyEventsDeathsDamageSpan
#1Bucks County420$01997–2017
#2Lehigh County410$01997–2022
#3Berks County400$1K1997–2017
#4Chester County391$01997–2022
#5Monroe County360$01997–2022
#6Delaware County350$01997–2017
#7Northampton County340$01997–2022
#8Montgomery County340$01997–2017
#9Allegheny County310$02007–2022
#10Carbon County290$01997–2022
#11Philadelphia County290$01996–2017
#12Westmoreland County180$02007–2022
#13Clarion County150$02010–2022
#14Jefferson County90$02013–2019
#15Beaver County70$02012–2022
#16Armstrong County61$01997–2022
#17Fayette County50$02013–2021
#18Butler County50$02018–2022
#19Washington County40$02014–2021
#20Mercer County30$02014–2022
#21Venango County30$02013–2018
#22Indiana County20$02012–2018
#23Lancaster County20$02008–2010
#24Forest County10$02018–2018
#25Sullivan County10$02018–2018
Source: NOAA/NCEI Storm Events · ranked by recorded event count

Significant events

Deadliest heavy rain events in Pennsylvania

DateCountyScaleDeathsInjuries
May 19, 1997Armstrong County—12
May 25, 1997Chester County—10
Source: NOAA/NCEI Storm Events · dates UTC

All hazards in Pennsylvania · Heavy Rain across the U.S.