Elk County tornado history

16 tornadoes touched Elk County, Pennsylvania between 1950 and 2025 — about 0.2 a year. The strongest was rated F4 (May 31, 1985). Tornadoes here killed 5 and injured 61 people.

16tornadoes since 1950

F4strongest rating

5killed · 61 injured

29 milongest path · 1985

(E)F0(E)F1(E)F2(E)F3(E)F4(E)F5· dots = start point only

By rating

(E)F02

(E)F110

(E)F22

(E)F31

(E)F41

(E)F50

By month

JFMAMJJASOND

Peak month: May.

By decade

’50’60’70’80’90’00’10’20

Strongest tornadoes

Date	Rating	Path	Width	Injured	Killed
May 31, 1985	F4	29 mi	1,000 yd	40	4
Sep 3, 1963	F3	8.4 mi	100 yd	20	0
May 31, 1985	F2	19 mi	300 yd	0	0
May 1, 2017	EF2	1.1 mi	175 yd	0	0
Oct 16, 2021	EF1	1.2 mi	260 yd	1	1
Aug 19, 2001	F1	5 mi	300 yd	0	0
May 31, 1998	F1	3 mi	100 yd	0	0
Jun 20, 2001	F1	3 mi	60 yd	0	0
Aug 21, 2018	EF1	2.4 mi	300 yd	0	0
May 1, 2017	EF1	1.7 mi	200 yd	0	0
Aug 9, 2009	EF1	1.5 mi	150 yd	0	0
Jul 26, 2009	EF1	1.3 mi	30 yd	0	0

Most recent tornadoes

Date	Rating	Path	Width	Injured	Killed
Mar 16, 2025	EF1	0.5 mi	200 yd	0	0
Oct 16, 2021	EF1	1.2 mi	260 yd	1	1
May 4, 2021	EF1	0.6 mi	125 yd	0	0
Oct 2, 2018	EF0	0.2 mi	20 yd	0	0
Aug 21, 2018	EF1	2.4 mi	300 yd	0	0
May 1, 2017	EF2	1.1 mi	175 yd	0	0
May 1, 2017	EF1	1.7 mi	200 yd	0	0
Aug 9, 2009	EF1	1.5 mi	150 yd	0	0
Jul 26, 2009	EF1	1.3 mi	30 yd	0	0
Aug 19, 2001	F1	5 mi	300 yd	0	0
Jun 20, 2001	F1	3 mi	60 yd	0	0
May 31, 1998	F1	3 mi	100 yd	0	0

Deadliest: May 31, 1985, F4, 4 killed.

Nearby counties

Cameron County, PA2 McKean County, PA5 Jefferson County, PA16 Clearfield County, PA8 Forest County, PA10 Clarion County, PA15 Warren County, PA18 Potter County, PA12

Questions

How many tornadoes has Elk County, Pennsylvania had?

16 tornadoes touched Elk County, Pennsylvania between 1950 and 2025 in the NOAA Storm Prediction Center database — about 0.2 per year.

What was the strongest tornado in Elk County?

The strongest rating recorded was F4 on May 31, 1985, with a 29-mile path and 4 deaths.

When is tornado season in Elk County?

Most of its tornadoes happened in May (7 of 16). Tornadoes can occur in any month, so keep alerts on year-round.

Right now: live tornado warnings map · alerts for your location. Dates link to that day’s full storm reports where available (2004 onward).