The following is a list of

tropical cyclone A tropical cyclone is a rapidly rotating storm system characterized by a low-pressure center, a closed low-level atmospheric circulation, strong winds, and a spiral arrangement of thunderstorms that produce heavy rain and squalls. Depend ...

s that affected the U.S. state of

Pennsylvania Pennsylvania (; ( Pennsylvania Dutch: )), officially the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is a state spanning the Mid-Atlantic, Northeastern, Appalachian, and Great Lakes regions of the United States. It borders Delaware to its southeast, ...

List of tropical cyclones

Pre-1900

*September 18, 1876 – A tropical storm produced sustained winds in parts of Pennsylvania. *September 13, 1878 – A extratropical storm produced at least 70 km/h sustained winds throughout the state. *October 24, 1878 – The

Gale of 1878 The Gale of 1878, was an intense Category 2 hurricane that was active between October 18 and October 25. It caused extensive damage from Cuba to New England. Believed to be the strongest storm to hit the Washington - Baltimore region since hurr ...

destroyed at least 700 buildings, caused $2 million in damage, killed at least ten people and injured more, and produced 80 km/h sustained winds throughout the state. *October 13, 1885 – An extratropical storm produced 70 km/h sustained winds throughout the state. *August 22, 1888 – A tropical storm produced 75 km/h sustained winds throughout the state. *August 29, 1893 – A tropical storm produced 100 km/h sustained winds throughout the state. *October 25, 1893 – A tropical storm produced 65 km/h sustained winds. *September 30, 1896 – The extratropical remnants of the Cedar Keys hurricane produced 95–100 km/h sustained winds. *November 1, 1899 – An extratropical storm produced 95 km/h sustained winds.

1900–1950

*June 29, 1902 – A extratropical storm caused winds throughout the state. *September 16, 1903 – The Vagabond Hurricane affected Pennsylvania as a tropical storm with winds of 50–65 km/h, after making landfall in

New Jersey New Jersey is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York; on the east, southeast, and south by the Atlantic Ocean; on the west by the Delaware ...

with hurricane-force winds. *August 4, 1915 – A tropical depression caused winds of 45 km/h. *October 1, 1915 – An extratropical storm caused winds of 65 km/h. *October 24, 1923 – An extratropical storm caused winds of 75 km/h. *September 20, 1928 – An extratropical storm caused winds of 75 km/h. *October 3, 1929 – An extratropical storm caused winds of 55 km/h. *September 21, 1932 – A tropical depression caused winds of 30 km/h. *August 24, 1933 – A tropical storm caused winds of 85 km/h. *August 19, 1939 – A tropical depression caused winds of 45 km/h. *September 19, 1945 – An extratropical storm caused winds of 45 km/h. *August 29, 1949 – A tropical storm caused winds of 65 km/h.

1951–1999

*September 1, 1952 – Tropical Storm Able affected Pennsylvania as a tropical storm and tropical depression after making landfall in

South Carolina )''Animis opibusque parati'' ( for, , Latin, Prepared in mind and resources, links=no) , anthem = " Carolina";" South Carolina On My Mind" , Former = Province of South Carolina , seat = Columbia , LargestCity = Charleston , LargestMetro = ...

as a hurricane. *October 15, 1954 –

Hurricane Hazel Hurricane Hazel was the deadliest, second costliest, and most intense hurricane of the 1954 Atlantic hurricane season. The storm killed at least 469 people in Haiti before striking the United States near the border between North and South ...

caused hurricane-force winds and small portions with or more of rain. *August, 1955 – Hurricanes Connie and Diane both caused as much as of rain and tropical storm force winds. *June 21-June 22, 1972 –

Hurricane Agnes Hurricane Agnes in 1972 was the costliest hurricane to hit the United States at the time, causing an estimated $2.1 billion in damage. The hurricane's death toll was 128. The effects of Agnes were widespread, from the Caribbean to Canada, ...

caused rain and some winds. It caused widespread rains of 6 to with local amounts up to . *September 6, 1979 – Tropical Storm David caused tropical storm force winds and at least 5 inches of rain. *September, 1987 – Tropical Depression Nine brought at least 5 inches of rain to part of the state. *September 26, 1992 – Tropical Storm Danielle caused tropical storm force winds. *August 18, 1994 – Tropical Depression Beryl caused some rain and tropical depression winds. *September 1996 –

Tropical Storm Fran The name Fran was used for four tropical cyclones in the Atlantic Ocean. * Hurricane Fran (1973) – formed and remained out at sea. * Tropical Storm Fran (1984) – formed close enough to Cape Verde to cause tropical storm-force winds there, but ot ...

caused flashing flooding in about 15 Western Pennsylvania counties as rainfall up to 7 inches (178 mm) caused the

Juniata River The Juniata River () is a tributary of the Susquehanna River, approximately long,U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe National Map , accessed August 8, 2011 in central Pennsylvania. The river is ...

to overrun its banks. *August 29-August 31, 1999 –

Hurricane Dennis Hurricane Dennis was an early-forming major hurricane in the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico during the record-breaking 2005 Atlantic hurricane season. Dennis was the fourth named storm, second hurricane, and first major hurricane of the season. F ...

caused tropical depression force winds and five inches (127 mm) of rain. *September 16, 1999 –

Hurricane Floyd Hurricane Floyd was a very powerful Cape Verde hurricane which struck the Bahamas and the East Coast of the United States. It was the sixth named storm, fourth hurricane, and third major hurricane in the 1999 Atlantic hurricane season. Floyd tr ...

, which was a tropical storm by the time it reached Pennsylvania, caused 6 deaths and of rain in the eastern part of the commonwealth. It produced a storm surge in

Philadelphia Philadelphia, often called Philly, is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the sixth-largest city in the U.S., the second-largest city in both the Northeast megalopolis and Mid-Atlantic regions after New York City. Sinc ...

2000 onwards

*June 16, 2001 –

Tropical Storm Allison Tropical Storm Allison was a tropical storm that devastated southeast Texas in June of the 2001 Atlantic hurricane season. An arguable example of the " brown ocean effect", Allison lasted unusually long for a June storm, remaining tropical or s ...

caused rain and extensive damage. At its height, there was 10 inches of rain in some parts of the Philadelphia area. Some 241 homes were destroyed, at least 1,300 were majorly damaged, and 3 buildings of an Apartment Complex caught fire due to an explosion. A total of 7 lives were lost in the Philadelphia area. *September, 2003 –

Tropical Storm Henri The name Henri has been used for six tropical cyclones in the Atlantic Ocean: *Hurricane Henri (1979), took unusual route around Yucatán Peninsula, caused no significant damage * Tropical Storm Henri (1985), crossed Long Island as a weak storm, ...

s remnants caused rain and $3.5 million in damage. 12 homes were destroyed, 380 majorly damaged and 109,000 PECO customers were without power. *September 17, 2003 –

Hurricane Isabel Hurricane Isabel was the strongest Atlantic hurricane since Mitch, and the deadliest, costliest, and most intense hurricane in the 2003 Atlantic hurricane season. Hurricane Isabel was also the strongest hurricane in the open waters of the Atlanti ...

caused one death in Lancaster County and brought strong winds to parts of the state. * September 18, 2004 –

Hurricane Ivan Hurricane Ivan was a large, long-lived, Cape Verde hurricane that caused widespread damage in the Caribbean and United States. The cyclone was the ninth named storm, the sixth hurricane and the fourth major hurricane of the active 2004 Atlan ...

caused some of the worst flooding in Pittsburgh. *September 1–2, 2006 – Tropical Depression Ernesto caused 2.5 to 3 in (40 to 75 mm) of rain in parts of the south-western portion of the state. *June 4, 2007 – Tropical Depression Barry caused of rain, reported at

Philadelphia International Airport Philadelphia International Airport is the primary airport serving Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The airport served 19.6 million passengers annually in 2021, making it the 21st busiest airport in the United States. The airport is located from t ...

. *September 6, 2008 – The remnants of Tropical Storm Hanna led to a confirmed EF1 tornado that touched down in

Allentown, Pennsylvania Allentown (Pennsylvania Dutch language, Pennsylvania Dutch: ''Allenschteddel'', ''Allenschtadt'', or ''Ellsdaun'') is a city in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania. The city has a population of 125,845 as of the 2020 United ...

. *September 14, 2008 – The remnants of

Hurricane Ike Hurricane Ike () was a powerful tropical cyclone that swept through portions of the Greater Antilles and Northern America in September 2008, wreaking havoc on infrastructure and agriculture, particularly in Cuba and Texas. Ike took a sim ...

caused 180,000 people to be without power in western Pennsylvania, wind gusts over 70 mph, and other wind damage. In Oil City, one person was killed by a falling tree limb. A state of emergency was declared for Pennsylvania. *August 28, 2011 –

Hurricane Irene Hurricane Irene was a large and destructive tropical cyclone which affected much of the Caribbean and East Coast of the United States during late August 2011. The ninth named storm, first hurricane, and first major hurricane of the 2011 At ...

left 706,000 people without power in eastern Pennsylvania, and killed three people in Northampton County, Luzerne County, and Pocono Township. Floodwaters raised the Schuylkill River to levels not seen in 140 years. Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter declared a state of emergency for the first time since 1986. Hurricane Irene brought rain and wind gusts of up to 54 mph at the Philadelphia International Airport. Tornado warnings were issued in southeastern Pennsylvania, although no tornadoes were ultimately observed. Irene also brought winds of nearly 70 mph along the coast and 40 to 60 mph inland. The storm left five people dead in the state. *September 5, 2011 – The remnants of Tropical Storm Lee brought 6 to 10 inches of rain in Pennsylvania, some areas over 14 inches. Lee's leftovers spread into the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast, in some areas causing severe flooding, and record rainfalls throughout much of eastern Pennsylvania. On September 7, 2011, emergency management officials in Northumberland County, Bradford County, Susquehanna County, Columbia County, and Luzerne County declared a state of emergency, and mandatory evacuations because of major flooding; schools were closed due to rising river levels. County officials determined that numerous roads were covered by water or washed out. A number of bridges were affected by high water. In parts of Wilkes-Barre, severe flooding hadn't been seen since Hurricane Agnes of 1972. *October 29–30, 2012 –

Hurricane Sandy Hurricane Sandy (unofficially referred to as ''Superstorm Sandy'') was an extremely destructive and strong Atlantic hurricane, as well as the largest Atlantic hurricane on record as measured by diameter, with tropical-storm-force winds spann ...

brought over 20 inches of rain in southern Pennsylvania and caused 16 deaths. Over 1.2 million people were without electricity throughout the state. On October 29, a State of Emergency was declared. In Philadelphia, all major roads and highways were closed and people in low-lying areas were evacuated. By October 31, people were able to return home. In all of the state, schools and certain jobs were closed for more than a week. Social media referred to Hurricane Sandy as "Superstorm Sandy." *June 7, 2013 –

Tropical Storm Andrea The name Andrea has been used for two tropical cyclones and two subtropical cyclones worldwide. In the Atlantic Ocean: *Subtropical Storm Andrea (2007) Subtropical Storm Andrea was the first named storm to form in May in the Atlantic Ocean in 26 ...

affected south-eastern Pennsylvania with rainfall of 1-3 inches in Bucks, Montgomery, and other southern counties in the state. *June 23–24, 2017 – The remnants of Tropical Storm Cindy bought flash flooding in eastern Pennsylvania, following with more than 6 inches of rain in southwestern Pennsylvania. An EF1 tornado was confirmed near Long Pine, with damage to trees and homes. *September 8, 2018 – The remnants of

Tropical Storm Gordon The name Gordon has been used for ten tropical cyclones worldwide. In the Atlantic Ocean, Gordon has been used five times since 1988, when it replaced the name Gilbert on the list of hurricane names: * Hurricane Gordon (1994) – killed 1,122 in H ...

are absorbed by a large front. The new system brings rainfall on the state for several days. *July 9–11, 2020 – Part of Tropical Storm Fay hit New Jersey, causing a microburst to form over parts of the state, such as

Pittsburgh Pittsburgh ( ) is a city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, United States, and the county seat of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, Allegheny County. It is the most populous city in both Allegheny County and Wester ...

, causing flooding through the area. *September 1, 2021 - Days after

Hurricane Ida Hurricane Ida was a deadly and extremely destructive Category 4 Atlantic hurricane in 2021 that became the second-most damaging and intense hurricane to make landfall in the U.S. state of Louisiana on record, behind Hurricane Katrina in 200 ...

hit Louisiana as a Category 4 hurricane with 145 mph winds, the remnants traveled to Pennsylvania bringing record flooding and extensive tornado damage. The National Weather service predicted that 9/1 could be one of the top five wettest days on record in central PA behind

(1972) and Tropical Storm Lee (2011). The storm brought at least 5 inches of rain at Harrisburg International airport and 7 inches of rain in Lancaster. The

Schuylkill river The Schuylkill River ( , ) is a river running northwest to southeast in eastern Pennsylvania. The river was improved by navigations into the Schuylkill Canal, and several of its tributaries drain major parts of Pennsylvania's Coal Region. It fl ...

crested at 17.2 feet.

References

{{United States hurricanes

Hurricanes A tropical cyclone is a rapidly rotating storm system characterized by a low-pressure center, a closed low-level atmospheric circulation, strong winds, and a spiral arrangement of thunderstorms that produce heavy rain and squalls. Depend ...