Berwick

Population 10,297 (2025)

43 tornadoes have tracked within 25 miles of Berwick since 1950, 0 of them rated EF3 or F3 or stronger; the most recent was on May 27, 2024.

Hazard fingerprint for Berwick Tornado: 26th percentile. Tropical: 46th percentile. Wildfire: 0th percentile. Flood: 67th percentile. Hail & wind: 59th percentile. Heat: 33th percentile. Cold: 28th percentile. Winter: 55th percentile. TORTROPFIREFLOODSEVEREHEATCOLDWINTER

Hazard fingerprint Each spoke is this county’s percentile among U.S. counties where that hazard occurs. How it is computed

2026
  • Tornado damage paths within 25 miles since 195043
  • Tropical cyclone tracks within 100 miles since 1851, wider where stronger14
  • Wildfire burn scars within 25 miles since 19842
  • Major flood years since 1978, Columbia County5

At a glance

Tornado paths within 25 miles, tropical cyclone tracks within 100 miles and wildfire perimeters within 25 miles of the city centre. Storm events, flood insurance claims and disaster declarations are for Columbia County. Earthquakes within 50 miles, volcanoes within 100 miles and smoke days are measured from the city centre; river and tide gauges, tsunami and landslide records and the drought index are for Columbia County.

Flood insurance claims

2,200

Columbia County

$63.2 million paid since 1978

Details

Tropical cyclones within 50 mi

6

1 at hurricane strength since 1851

Details

Tornadoes since 1950, within 25 mi

43

0 rated F3/EF3 or stronger

Details

Large wildfires within 25 mi

2

Largest: Penobscot, 2009

Details

Strongest tornado

F2

December 1, 2006, 20.0 mile path

Strongest tropical cyclone

Cat. 1

Hurricane (unnamed), 1878, 28.8 miles away

Federal disaster declarations

20

Most recent: Covid-19 Pandemic, 2020

Details

Record high

101°F

Reached 3 times, most recently July 16, 1988

Details

Tornadoes

About one every 1.8 years since 1950, none rated F3/EF3 or stronger.

Strongest

December 1, 2006

F2, 20.0 mile path

150 yards wide.

Most recent

Monday, May 27, 2024

EF1, 1.5 mile path

2 years ago.

Tornadoes by decade, within 25 miles Doppler radar era² 1950s: 2 2 1960s: 4 4 1970s: 4 4 1980s: 9 9 1990s: 8 8 2000s: 6 6 2010s: 7 7 2020s: 3 3 1950s1960s1970s1980s1990s2000s2010s2020s
Recorded tornadoes per decade. The 2020s are incomplete.
Tornadoes by month J: 1 F: 0 M: 2 A: 5 M: 6 J: 7 J: 12 12 A: 4 S: 3 O: 1 N: 1 D: 1 JFMAMJJASOND
By month of occurrence, all years.

Every recorded tornado

Tornadoes within 25 miles since 1950
May 27, 2024EF11.57500
Aug 12, 2023EF13.215000
Mar 31, 2022EF19.150010
Apr 14, 2019EF23.730000
Jun 13, 2018EF22.915060
Jul 24, 2017EF00.32500
Jun 30, 2015EF11.110000
Jul 8, 2014EF00.95000
Jul 26, 2012EF10.57500
May 23, 2011EF10.27500
Dec 1, 2006F220.015050
Jul 22, 2006F01.57500
Jun 17, 2004F11.02000
Jul 21, 2003F15.090000
Apr 28, 2002F16.03000
May 27, 2001F00.13500
Jun 2, 1998F115.044000
Apr 1, 1998F02.01,20000
May 11, 1996F110.044000
Jun 27, 1994F10.27300
Apr 16, 1993F10.23000
Jul 17, 1992F00.52000
Jul 15, 1992F21.55020
Jul 15, 1992F10.11000
Jul 26, 1989F14.05000
Sep 20, 1988F10.55000
Aug 10, 1986F00.110000
May 31, 1985F111.053000
Jul 6, 1984F20.3300120
Apr 17, 1982F24.03010
Jul 26, 1981F20.11000
Jun 21, 1981F13.31700
May 6, 1980F00.31300
Oct 3, 1979F10.13000
Aug 7, 1978F01.91000
Jul 24, 1975F00.11000
Jun 19, 1975F10.11000
Sep 10, 1968F20.11000
Aug 19, 1968F10.11000
Mar 26, 1964F10.11300
Jan 27, 1962F10.120000
Nov 19, 1957F14.31000
Sep 19, 1954F00.13300
  1. Injuries and deaths are for the tornado’s whole path, which may extend beyond this area.
  2. Weak tornadoes were under-recorded before Doppler radar coverage became national in the early 1990s, so earlier decades read low. Ratings use the Fujita scale before February 2007 and the Enhanced Fujita scale after.

Storm Prediction Center severe weather database, 1950 to 2025.

Hurricanes and tropical storms

6 passed within 50 miles since 1851; 1 at hurricane strength.

Strongest within 50 miles

October 23, 1878

Unnamed storm, Category 1

28.8 miles at closest approach, winds near 83 mph.

Most recent

September 2, 2021

Ida, Post-tropical

93.2 miles at closest approach.

Tropical cyclones within 50 miles by decade 50s: 0 60s: 0 70s: 1 1 80s: 1 90s: 0 00s: 1 10s: 0 20s: 0 30s: 1 40s: 1 50s: 0 60s: 0 70s: 1 80s: 0 90s: 0 00s: 0 10s: 0 20s: 0 50s60s70s80s90s00s10s20s30s40s50s60s70s80s90s00s10s20s
Storms within 50 miles, by decade. Records before about 1900 miss storms that never reached land or ships.

Every storm within 100 miles

Tropical cyclones within 100 miles
Ida202193.2Post-tropical40Category 4
Isaias202061.0Tropical storm63Category 1
Sandy201278.3Post-tropical62Category 3
David197922.1Tropical storm46Category 5
Agnes197294.7Post-tropical52Category 1
Diane195565.8Tropical storm40Category 2
Connie195571.3Tropical storm52Category 4
Hazel195468.1Post-tropical78Category 4
Able195255.6Tropical storm58Category 2
Unnamed194924.3Tropical storm56Category 4
Unnamed193497.6Post-tropical46Category 2
Unnamed193328.6Tropical storm48Category 4
Unnamed192926.0Post-tropical58Category 4
Unnamed191567.6Tropical storm53Category 1
Unnamed190333.1Tropical storm60Category 2
Unnamed189958.0Post-tropical56Category 2
Unnamed189381.7Tropical storm71Category 3
Unnamed189350.7Tropical storm63Category 3
Unnamed188832.4Tropical storm46Category 3
Unnamed188553.7Post-tropical46Tropical storm
Unnamed187828.8Category 183Category 2
Unnamed187688.4Tropical storm54Category 3
  1. Tropical storms and hurricanes (34 kt or more, still tropical) at closest approach. Post-tropical remnants with gale-force winds are listed but not counted. Direct: track within 50 miles; near: within 100 miles. Distance is measured to the county boundary for counties and to the city centre for cities, using positions interpolated hourly between HURDAT2 fixes.

National Hurricane Center HURDAT2, 1851 to 2025.

Wildfire and smoke

2 large fires burned within 25 miles since 1984.

Largest

April 25, 2009

Penobscot Fire, 2,090 acres

20.7 miles from the city centre.

Most recent

April 25, 2009

Penobscot Fire

2,090 acres in total.

Acres burned by large fires within 25 miles, cumulative 2004: 1,8342009: 2,090 3,924 acres 198519901995200020052010201520202025
Running total of acres burned (line) and each year’s acres (bars).

Every large fire

Large wildfires since 1984
Penobscot200920.72,090
Crystal Lake200421.01,834
  1. Large fires mapped by the Monitoring Trends in Burn Severity program since 1984: 1,000 acres or more in the West, 500 or more in the East. Prescribed burns are excluded. Acres here are the part of each perimeter inside this place.

Monitoring Trends in Burn Severity (USGS and U.S. Forest Service), 1984 to 2026.

Smoke overhead

Smokiest year

2023: 57 days

Heavy smoke on 11 days in 2023, the most of any year.

Last 10 years

14.2 days a year

Medium or heavy smoke, 2016 to 2025.

2025

15 days

Medium or heavy smoke. 23 so far in 2026.

Days with medium or heavy smoke overhead, by year 2011: 5 2012: 3 2013: 0 2014: 5 2015: 7 2016: 0 2017: 3 2018: 5 2019: 7 2020: 8 2021: 24 2022: 10 2023: 57 57 2024: 13 2025: 15 201120122013201420152016201720182019202020212022202320242025
Days each year on which a satellite-traced plume of medium or heavy smoke covered the city centre, 2011 to 2025.
  1. A smoke day is a date on which a smoke plume traced by NOAA Hazard Mapping System analysts from satellite imagery covered this place's point (the county's population centre or the city centre). Counts here are of medium or heavy smoke. Since 2018 analysts have often drawn light smoke as one area over most of the continent, so light-smoke counts are not comparable from year to year. The plumes show smoke anywhere in the air above, not air quality at the ground, and smoke hidden by cloud is missed.

NOAA Hazard Mapping System smoke analysis, 2011 to 2026, retrieved October 30, 2026.

Floods and flood insurance

2,200 federal flood insurance claims since 1978, with $63.2 million paid.

Flood insurance figures are for Columbia County, the county that contains Berwick.

Federal flood insurance claims by year 1978: 14 1979: 81 1981: 24 1983: 28 1984: 13 1986: 12 1993: 35 1996: 261 1999: 7 2004: 136 2005: 69 2006: 524 2010: 26 2011: 798 798 2018: 138 197819862005
Claims per year since 1978. Years with fewer than five claims are not shown.

Most claims in one year

2011: 798 claims

$39.2 million paid.

2nd most

2006: 524 claims

$15.5 million paid.

3rd most

1996: 261 claims

$1.8 million paid.

Claims by ZIP code

Flood insurance claims by ZIP code
178151,419$46.7 million
17859222$6.8 million
17820147$2.9 million
17814135$2.1 million
1787881$1.8 million
1860376$695,000
1784640$317,000
1782425$887,000
17$89,000
1863117$397,000

Flood events since 1996

  • Flash Flood30
  • Flood16

This product uses the Federal Emergency Management Agency's OpenFEMA API, but is not endorsed by FEMA. The Federal Government or FEMA cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from the Agency's website(s).

OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Claims v3, refreshed August 4, 2026. NOAA Storm Events through 2026.

River crests

River gauges in Columbia County, the county that contains Berwick.

Most severe crest

September 9, 2011

Susquehanna River at Bloomsburg, 32.75 ft

13.75 feet above the 19.0 ft flood stage; major flooding by today’s categories.

Most recent moderate or major crest

August 15, 2018

Susquehanna River at Bloomsburg, 22.74 ft

Moderate flooding.

Highest river crests above flood stage
Sep 9, 2011Susquehanna River at Bloomsburg32.75+13.75Major
Mar 9, 1904Susquehanna River at Bloomsburg32.70+13.70Major
Jun 25, 1972Susquehanna River at Bloomsburg31.20+12.20Major
Jun 28, 2006Susquehanna River at Bloomsburg28.64+9.64Major
Mar 18, 1865Susquehanna River at Bloomsburg28.20+9.20Major
Mar 19, 1936Susquehanna River at Bloomsburg27.80+8.80Moderate
Sep 27, 1975Susquehanna River at Bloomsburg27.50+8.50Moderate
Sep 19, 2004Susquehanna River at Bloomsburg27.12+8.12Moderate
Mar 3, 1902Susquehanna River at Bloomsburg26.90+7.90Moderate
Jan 21, 1996Susquehanna River at Bloomsburg26.86+7.86Moderate
Apr 2, 1940Susquehanna River at Bloomsburg25.70+6.70Moderate
Mar 9, 1979Susquehanna River at Bloomsburg25.20+6.20Moderate
May 29, 1946Susquehanna River at Bloomsburg25.20+6.20Moderate
Apr 4, 2005Susquehanna River at Bloomsburg25.09+6.09Moderate
Apr 6, 1984Susquehanna River at Bloomsburg24.40+5.40Moderate
Dec 15, 1983Susquehanna River at Bloomsburg24.20+5.20Moderate
Mar 11, 1964Susquehanna River at Bloomsburg24.00+5.00Moderate
Feb 14, 1984Susquehanna River at Bloomsburg23.50+4.50Moderate
Jan 1, 1943Susquehanna River at Bloomsburg23.40+4.40Moderate
Mar 16, 1986Susquehanna River at Bloomsburg23.40+4.40Moderate
Apr 3, 1993Susquehanna River at Bloomsburg23.20+4.20Moderate
Apr 2, 1960Susquehanna River at Bloomsburg22.80+3.80Moderate
Aug 15, 2018Susquehanna River at Bloomsburg22.74+3.74Moderate
Mar 7, 1964Susquehanna River at Bloomsburg22.67+3.67Moderate
Mar 12, 2011Susquehanna River at Bloomsburg22.57+3.57Moderate

River gauges

River gauges and their highest listed crests
Susquehanna River at Bloomsburg19.032.75 ftSep 9, 20115
  1. Crests are the highest and the recent crests the National Weather Service lists for each river gauge in the county that has a flood stage, not every flood. Flood categories use each gauge's current flood stages; crests from before levees, dams or channel changes may not be comparable. Crests measured on an old datum are left out of the rankings.

NOAA National Water Prediction Service gauge records, retrieved October 30, 2026.

Drought

In severe drought or worse for 77 of 1,581 months since 1895 (5%); the longest spell lasted 13 months.

The drought index is for Columbia County, the county that contains Berwick.

77

Months in severe drought or worse since 1895

21

Months in extreme drought

5%

Share of all months, severe or worse

11

Drought reports to the Weather Service since 1996

Lowest reading

December 1931

−5.38, extreme drought

Longest severe spell

13 months

September 1931 to September 1932.

Latest month

September 2026

−0.97, incipient dry spell

Last severe month: February 2026.

Months in severe drought or worse, by year 1895: 1 1896: 0 1897: 0 1898: 0 1899: 0 1900: 4 1901: 1 1902: 0 1903: 0 1904: 0 1905: 0 1906: 0 1907: 0 1908: 0 1909: 2 1910: 0 1911: 0 1912: 0 1913: 0 1914: 0 1915: 0 1916: 0 1917: 0 1918: 0 1919: 0 1920: 0 1921: 0 1922: 0 1923: 0 1924: 0 1925: 0 1926: 0 1927: 0 1928: 0 1929: 0 1930: 3 1931: 11 11 1932: 9 1933: 0 1934: 0 1935: 0 1936: 0 1937: 0 1938: 0 1939: 3 1940: 1 1941: 3 1942: 1 1943: 0 1944: 0 1945: 0 1946: 0 1947: 0 1948: 0 1949: 0 1950: 0 1951: 0 1952: 0 1953: 1 1954: 0 1955: 1 1956: 0 1957: 0 1958: 0 1959: 0 1960: 0 1961: 0 1962: 0 1963: 1 1964: 4 1965: 10 1966: 6 1967: 2 1968: 0 1969: 0 1970: 0 1971: 0 1972: 0 1973: 0 1974: 0 1975: 0 1976: 0 1977: 0 1978: 0 1979: 0 1980: 4 1981: 1 1982: 0 1983: 0 1984: 0 1985: 0 1986: 0 1987: 0 1988: 0 1989: 0 1990: 0 1991: 0 1992: 0 1993: 0 1994: 0 1995: 2 1996: 0 1997: 0 1998: 1 1999: 1 2000: 0 2001: 0 2002: 0 2003: 0 2004: 0 2005: 0 2006: 0 2007: 0 2008: 0 2009: 0 2010: 0 2011: 0 2012: 0 2013: 0 2014: 0 2015: 0 2016: 0 2017: 0 2018: 0 2019: 0 2020: 0 2021: 0 2022: 0 2023: 0 2024: 0 2025: 3 18951905191519251935194519551965197519851995200520152025
Months each year with a Palmer index of −3 or lower, 1895 to 2025. Twelve means the whole year.
  1. The Palmer Drought Severity Index is computed by NOAA each month from the county's average temperature and precipitation, relative to the county's own climate. Zero is normal; -3 or lower is severe drought and -4 or lower extreme drought. It describes the long-term balance of moisture, not water supply or crop losses.

NOAA NCEI nClimDiv county Palmer Drought Severity Index, 1895 to September 2026, issued October 6, 2026.

Earthquakes

2 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5 or more within 50 miles since 1974; none reached magnitude 4.

1

Magnitude 3+ within 50 miles since 1973

0

Magnitude 4+ within 50 miles since 1900

0

Magnitude 5+ within 50 miles since 1900

Largest within 50 miles

April 27, 1974

Magnitude 3.0

0 km ENE of Pardeesville, Pennsylvania; 15.8 miles away, 1.9 miles deep.

Most recent, magnitude 3 or more

April 27, 1974

Magnitude 3.0

0 km ENE of Pardeesville, Pennsylvania; 15.8 miles away.

  1. Earthquakes of magnitude 2.5 or more in the USGS Comprehensive Catalog since 1900. Within 50 miles means the epicentre lies within 50 miles of the city centre.
  2. Small earthquakes were under-recorded before the modern seismic networks of the 1970s and are still missed in remote areas, so early decades read low. Magnitudes are as the catalogue reports them and mix scales (moment, local and body-wave).

USGS ANSS Comprehensive Earthquake Catalog, 1900 to present, retrieved October 30, 2026.

Severe weather and other events

439 events in the National Weather Service record for Columbia County, 385 of them since 1996.

28

Hail reports, 1 inch or larger

5

Hail, 2 inches or larger

170

Damaging gusts, 58 mph+

73

Winter weather events since 1996

5

Heat events since 1996

5

Cold events since 1996

Largest hail

July 19, 1983

2.75 inches

Strongest measured or estimated gust

June 26, 2024

100 mph

Costliest events since 1996

  1. Sep 7, 2011Flood$15.5 million
    National Weather Service narrative

    The Susquehanna River at Bloomsburg crested above record/major flood stage at 32.75 feet. Widespread flooding was reported in the Bloomsburg area.||Many roads were closed due to flooding from creeks and streams especially over the southern portion of the county. In Hemlock Township, Hemlock Creek overflowed its banks. A bridge on Dahl road was closed to traffic. Mainville and Mifflinville areas were pretty much isolated due to numerous road closings. In the village of Eyers Grove near Millville, water from Fishing Creek flooded the neighborhood. Water rescues were reported in the area. In Greenwood Township, Fishing Creek was a few feet away from Route 42 and was shut…

  2. Jan 25, 2010Flash Flood$800,000
    National Weather Service narrative

    Heavy rain during the morning hours caused significant flash flooding along Fishing Creek. Little Fishing Creek actually changed its natural course, and the flash flood waters surged into downtown Benton. A dyke system failed, leading to several residences having moderate to major flooding. Many people were evacuated to Red Cross Shelters. A disaster declaration was announced for the Benton area with initial damages estimates approaching one million dollars.

  3. Apr 28, 2002Tornado$90,000
    National Weather Service narrative

    The tornado touched down near Bennett Road just Northeast of Jerseytown around 1655 LST, then moved East-Northeast just north of Welliversville before lifing off over Orange Township about 1705 LST. The path of the tornado was about 6 miles in length, while the width varied up to 300 yards. The top wind speeds were estimated to be near 100 mph, which rates this tornado as an F1. There were no deaths or injuries.

  4. Aug 14, 1999Thunderstorm Wind$50,000
    National Weather Service narrative

    Dozens of trees were blown down from Bloomsburg to Berwick. One trailer was demolished and others damaged when trees fell in Almedia east of Bloomsburg.

  5. Dec 26, 2025Winter Weather, Columbia$40,000
    National Weather Service narrative

    Freezing rain accumulations caused slick roadways in portions of Columbia County, where the eastbound lane of Interstate 80 was closed due to a multi-vehicle accident involving one tractor trailers and two passenger vehicles. One patient was transported due to injuries, with the roadway remaining closed throughout the evening hours of December 26th.

  6. Aug 14, 1999Thunderstorm Wind$30,000
    National Weather Service narrative

    A station wagon was crushed by a fallen tree in Mifflinville.

  7. Jun 26, 2024Thunderstorm Wind$30,000
    National Weather Service narrative

    A severe thunderstorm producing winds estimated near 100 mph knocked down numerous trees along with damaging homes and buildings in Briar Creek Township. This included multiple damaged and destroyed barns and a garage that was heavily destroyed.

  8. Jun 26, 2024Thunderstorm Wind$25,000
    National Weather Service narrative

    A severe thunderstorm producing winds estimated near 90 mph lifted a roof off of a gift shop and dropped it back onto the shop, completely destroying the building.

  9. May 30, 2006Flash Flood$20,000
    National Weather Service narrative

    Heavy rain from a slow moving cluster of thunderstorms caused flash flooding along a narrow portion of west-central Columbia County. Spotters reported over 3 inches of rain in 30 minutes /3.12 inches from 2130 - 2200/ while radar estimates were over 6 inches. A small tributary to Catawissa Creek flooded a car dealership in Catawissa. The waters eroded the stream bank, and swept one car (unoccupied) into the water. Several mudslides were also reported. One mudslide occurred along Route 487 southwest of Catawissa, while a second mudslide occurred on Route 42 between Catawissa and Numidia.

  10. Sep 16, 1999Flash Flood$20,000
  1. Storm Events records before 1996 cover only tornadoes, thunderstorm wind and hail. Damage figures are as reported by the National Weather Service at the time, not adjusted for inflation.

NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, 1950 to 2026, issued October 26, 2026.

Weather records

From Wilkes-barre/scranton International Airport, 33.5 miles from the city centre, with records from 1949.

All-time high
101°F3 times, most recently Jul 16, 1988
All-time low
−21°FJan 21, 1994
Warmest night
80°FJul 22, 2011
Coldest day
−2°FJan 19, 1994
Wettest day
5.98 inSep 27, 1985
Snowiest day
22.1 inMar 14, 2017
Hottest year
2020mean 53.7°F
Coldest year
1958mean 47.2°F
Wettest year
201861.08 in
Driest year
196326.22 in
Snowiest season
98.3 in1995-96
Average monthly high and low temperature and precipitation, last 30 years, Wilkes-barre/scranton International Airport 32°F 34° 20° 2.6 Jan 38° 22° 2.2 Feb 48° 29° 2.8 Mar 60° 39° 3.3 Apr 71° 49° 3.5 May 79° 58° 4.0 Jun 84° 62° 3.8 Jul 81° 61° 4.1 Aug 75° 54° 4.4 Sep 63° 43° 3.6 Oct 50° 34° 2.7 Nov 40° 26° 2.9 Dec Precipitation, inches
Average daily high and low by month, and average monthly precipitation, over the last 30 years.
Nights at or below freezing per year 1976: 129 1977: 121 1978: 141 1979: 113 1980: 123 1981: 115 1982: 125 1983: 110 1984: 108 1985: 120 1986: 129 1987: 131 1988: 131 1989: 129 1990: 111 1991: 114 1992: 121 1993: 120 1994: 120 1995: 131 1996: 132 1997: 144 144 1998: 102 1999: 120 2000: 126 2001: 124 2002: 125 2003: 127 2004: 126 2005: 130 2006: 115 2007: 124 2008: 136 2009: 115 2010: 123 2011: 120 2012: 114 2013: 137 2014: 129 2015: 112 2016: 114 2017: 110 2018: 126 2019: 127 2020: 94 2021: 109 2022: 109 2023: 100 2024: 97 2025: 129 19761986199620062016
Nights at or below freezing each complete year, last 50 years. Thirty-year average: 119.9.
Snowfall by winter 1976: 56.4 in 1977: 73.5 in 1978: 44.5 in 1979: 25.5 in 1980: 40.5 in 1981: 59.6 in 1982: 59.1 in 1983: 39.4 in 1984: 35.3 in 1985: 49.3 in 1986: 47.5 in 1987: 45.7 in 1988: 7.3 in 1989: 37.3 in 1990: 31.3 in 1991: 24.5 in 1992: 60.3 in 1993: 90.4 in 1994: 25.0 in 1995: 98.3 in 98.3 2007: 41.5 in 2008: 31.4 in 2009: 48.5 in 2010: 55.1 in 2011: 18.5 in 2012: 33.9 in 2013: 58.8 in 2014: 49.3 in 2015: 15.5 in 2016: 55.5 in 2017: 52.1 in 2018: 32.5 in 2019: 21.6 in 2020: 53.2 in 2021: 26.8 in 2022: 21.3 in 2023: 21.4 in 2024: 28.9 in 2025: 37.8 in 1976198620072017
Total snowfall each winter (July to June), last 50 winters.

Median first snow

November 11

Earliest: October 3, 1974

Median last snow

April 8

Latest: May 17, 1973

0 of 65 winters had no measurable snow.

Station Wilkes-barre/scranton International Airport (USW00014777), 951 ft elevation, 33.5 miles from the city centre. Daily records from 1949 to October 27, 2026; 99.8% of days in the last 30 years are complete. Records at a single station can differ from a city’s official threaded record, which may combine several stations.

NOAA NCEI Global Historical Climatology Network Daily.

Federal disaster declarations

20 since 1953. The most recent: Covid-19 Pandemic, March 30, 2020.

Declarations for Columbia County.

Federal disaster declarations
Mar 30, 2020BiologicalCovid-19 PandemicMajor disasterDR-4506-PA
Mar 13, 2020BiologicalCovid-19EmergencyEM-3441-PA
Nov 27, 2018Severe StormSevere Storms and FloodingMajor disasterDR-4408-PA
Oct 29, 2012HurricaneHurricane SandyEmergencyEM-3356-PA
Sep 12, 2011FloodTropical Storm LeeMajor disasterDR-4030-PA
Sep 8, 2011FloodRemnants of Tropical Storm LeeEmergencyEM-3340-PA
Jun 30, 2006Severe StormSevere Storms, Flooding, and MudslidesMajor disasterDR-1649-PA
Sep 10, 2005HurricaneHurricane KatrinaEmergencyEM-3235-PA
Apr 14, 2005Severe StormSevere Storms and FloodingMajor disasterDR-1587-PA
Sep 19, 2004HurricaneTropical Depression IvanMajor disasterDR-1557-PA
Sep 19, 2004Severe StormSevere Storms and Flooding Associated With Tropical Depression FrancesMajor disasterDR-1555-PA
Mar 14, 2003Severe StormSnowEmergencyEM-3180-PA
Jan 21, 1996FloodSevere Storms and FloodingMajor disasterDR-1093-PA
Jan 13, 1996SnowstormBlizzard of 96Major disasterDR-1085-PA
Mar 10, 1994Severe StormSevere Winter StormsMajor disasterDR-1015-PA
Mar 16, 1993SnowstormSevere Snowfall & Winter StormEmergencyEM-3105-PA
Oct 20, 1976FloodSevere Storms & FloodingMajor disasterDR-523-PA
Sep 26, 1975FloodSevere Storms, Heavy Rains & FloodingMajor disasterDR-485-PA
Jul 17, 1973FloodSevere Storms & FloodingMajor disasterDR-400-PA
Jun 23, 1972FloodTropical Storm AgnesMajor disasterDR-340-PA

This product uses the Federal Emergency Management Agency's OpenFEMA API, but is not endorsed by FEMA. The Federal Government or FEMA cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from the Agency's website(s).

OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries, retrieved October 30, 2026. Statewide declarations are not listed.

Sources and vintage

Every number on this page comes from these public records.

  • Tornadoes NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather database, through 2025.
  • Tropical cyclones NOAA National Hurricane Center HURDAT2 (Atlantic; Northeast and Central Pacific), through 2025.
  • Wildfire USGS/USFS Monitoring Trends in Burn Severity, through 2026.
  • Storm events NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, through 2026.
  • Flood insurance OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Claims v3, refreshed August 4, 2026.
  • Declarations OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2, retrieved October 30, 2026.
  • Weather records NOAA NCEI Global Historical Climatology Network Daily, station USW00014777.
  • River crests NOAA National Weather Service, National Water Prediction Service river gauges, retrieved October 30, 2026.
  • Drought NOAA NCEI nClimDiv county Palmer Drought Severity Index, through September 2026.
  • Smoke NOAA NESDIS Hazard Mapping System smoke analysis, retrieved October 30, 2026.
  • Earthquakes USGS ANSS Comprehensive Earthquake Catalog (ComCat), retrieved October 30, 2026.

Joins, thresholds and known limits are set out in the methodology. Found an error? Report it. Page built October 30, 2026.