Lycoming County
Population 112,587 (2025) 1,229 sq mi
Property owners in Lycoming County have filed 3,878 federal flood insurance claims since 1978, 6th most of 67 counties in Pennsylvania.
Hazard fingerprint Each spoke is this county’s percentile among U.S. counties where that hazard occurs. How it is computed
- Tornado damage paths since 195029
- Tropical cyclone tracks within 100 miles since 1851, wider where stronger15
- Wildfire burn scars since 19842
- Major flood years since 19786
At a glance
The record for Lycoming County in eight numbers. Each links to its section below.
Tropical cyclones within 50 mi
9
23rd of 67 in Pennsylvania
1 at hurricane strength since 1851
DetailsAcres burned since 1984
969
8th of 67 in Pennsylvania
2 large fires; the largest was Okome Road, 2006
DetailsStrongest tornado
F3
July 29, 1976, 25.0 mile path
Strongest tropical cyclone
Cat. 1
Hurricane (unnamed), 1878, 41.1 miles away
Tornadoes
About one every 2.6 years since 1950, 2 of them rated F3/EF3 or stronger.
Strongest
July 29, 1976
F3, 25.0 mile path
150 yards wide.
Deadliest
May 31, 1985
6 killed, F3
60 injured along the whole path.
Most recent
Thursday, March 31, 2022
EF1, 9.1 mile path
4 years ago.
Every recorded tornado
| Mar 31, 2022 | EF1 | 9.1 | 1 | 0 |
| Oct 2, 2018 | EF2 | 2.2 | 0 | 0 |
| Jul 9, 2015 | EF1 | 0.9 | 0 | 0 |
| May 26, 2011 | EF1 | 2.0 | 0 | 0 |
| May 26, 2011 | EF1 | 5.6 | 0 | 0 |
| Jun 19, 2007 | EF0 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Aug 31, 2005 | F1 | 0.8 | 0 | 0 |
| Jun 6, 2005 | F1 | 1.5 | 0 | 0 |
| Jul 21, 2003 | F1 | 5.0 | 0 | 0 |
| May 11, 2003 | F0 | 1.3 | 0 | 0 |
| Jun 16, 2000 | F1 | 16.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jul 1, 1999 | F0 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 |
| Jun 16, 1998 | F1 | 0.2 | 0 | 0 |
| Jun 16, 1998 | F1 | 2.0 | 0 | 0 |
| May 31, 1998 | F0 | 0.2 | 0 | 0 |
| May 31, 1998 | F0 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 |
| May 31, 1998 | F1 | 7.0 | 0 | 0 |
| May 31, 1998 | F1 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 |
| Nov 8, 1996 | F1 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Nov 8, 1996 | F1 | 2.5 | 0 | 0 |
| Jul 8, 1996 | F1 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jun 12, 1994 | F0 | 2.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Aug 13, 1990 | F1 | 3.7 | 0 | 0 |
| Jul 13, 1986 | F1 | 17.0 | 0 | 0 |
| May 31, 1985 | F3 | 19.0 | 60 | 6 |
| Aug 2, 1979 | F1 | 0.8 | 0 | 0 |
| Jul 29, 1976 | F3 | 25.0 | 0 | 0 |
| May 10, 1973 | F1 | 1.6 | 0 | 0 |
| Aug 16, 1966 | F2 | 4.5 | 1 | 0 |
- Injuries and deaths are for the tornado’s whole path, which may extend beyond the county. Deaths recorded within Lycoming County: 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
9 passed within 50 miles since 1851; 1 at hurricane strength.
Strongest within 50 miles
October 23, 1878
Unnamed storm, Category 1
41.1 miles at closest approach, winds near 83 mph.
Most recent
August 4, 2020
Isaias, Tropical storm
74.8 miles at closest approach.
Every storm within 100 miles
| Isaias | 2020 | 74.8 | Tropical storm |
| Sandy | 2012 | 71.7 | Post-tropical |
| David | 1979 | 2.7 | Tropical storm |
| Agnes | 1972 | 74.5 | Post-tropical |
| Diane | 1955 | 81.0 | Tropical storm |
| Connie | 1955 | 37.0 | Tropical storm |
| Hazel | 1954 | 10.4 | Post-tropical |
| Able | 1952 | 71.9 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1949 | 24.7 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1933 | 0.0 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1929 | 41.4 | Post-tropical |
| Unnamed | 1928 | 66.3 | Post-tropical |
| Unnamed | 1915 | 84.0 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1903 | 32.3 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1902 | 54.6 | Post-tropical |
| Unnamed | 1899 | 74.4 | Post-tropical |
| Unnamed | 1896 | 66.9 | Post-tropical |
| Unnamed | 1893 | 85.9 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1893 | 10.2 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1893 | 68.3 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1888 | 38.8 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1885 | 0.0 | Post-tropical |
| Unnamed | 1878 | 41.1 | Category 1 |
| Unnamed | 1878 | 72.5 | Post-tropical |
| Unnamed | 1876 | 12.8 | Tropical storm |
- 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
969 acres burned in 2 large fires since 1984, equal to 0.1% of the land.
Largest
April 30, 2006
Okome Road Fire, 576 acres
574 acres inside Lycoming County.
Most recent
April 19, 2008
Bull Run Fire
2,005 acres in total.
Every large fire
| Bull Run | 2008 | 394 | 2,005 |
| Okome Road | 2006 | 574 | 576 |
- 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: 60 days
Heavy smoke on 11 days in 2023, the most of any year.
Last 10 years
14.4 days a year
Medium or heavy smoke, 2016 to 2025.
2025
14 days
Medium or heavy smoke. 24 so far in 2026.
- 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
3,878 federal flood insurance claims since 1978, with $58.3 million paid.
Most claims in one year
1996: 960 claims
$16.8 million paid.
2nd most
2011: 755 claims
$22.7 million paid.
3rd most
2004: 735 claims
$10.6 million paid.
Claims by ZIP code
| 17701 | 1,183 | $19.5 million |
| 17756 | 652 | $9.2 million |
| 17728 | 566 | $9.0 million |
| 17740 | 403 | $2.9 million |
| 17754 | 361 | $9.1 million |
| 17752 | 147 | $1.6 million |
| 17771 | 142 | $2.3 million |
| 17702 | 102 | $995,000 |
| 17744 | 52 | $591,000 |
| 17737 | 44 | $573,000 |
| 17776 | 34 | $459,000 |
| 33 | $152,000 | |
| 17763 | 33 | $322,000 |
| 17739 | 21 | $159,000 |
| 17703 | 15 | $324,000 |
| 17810 | 14 | $169,000 |
| 17723 | 10 | $75,000 |
| 17751 | 10 | $25,000 |
| 17758 | 8 | $195,000 |
| 18341 | 8 | $407,000 |
| 17742 | 5 | $82,000 |
| 17762 | 5 | $83,000 |
| 17759 | 5 | $44,000 |
Flood events since 1996
- Flood44
- Flash Flood38
6 deaths recorded in flood events since 1996.
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
Most severe crest
June 23, 1972
West Branch Susquehanna River near Muncy, 37.45 ft
17.45 feet above the 20.0 ft flood stage; major flooding by today’s categories.
Most recent moderate or major crest
September 11, 2018
West Branch Susquehanna River at Williamsport, 21.08 ft
Moderate flooding.
River gauges
| Loyalsock Creek at Loyalsockville | 12.0 | 19.78 ft | 5 |
| Muncy Creek at Muncy Creek | 15.0 | 23.06 ft | 0 |
| Pine Creek at Cedar Run | 12.0 | 16.00 ft | 1 |
| West Branch Susquehanna River at Jersey Shore | 26.0 | 38.20 ft | 7 |
| West Branch Susquehanna River at Williamsport | 20.0 | 34.75 ft | 4 |
| West Branch Susquehanna River near Muncy | 20.0 | 37.45 ft | 8 |
- 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 79 of 1,581 months since 1895 (5%); the longest spell lasted 13 months.
79
Months in severe drought or worse since 1895
16
Months in extreme drought
5%
Share of all months, severe or worse
14
Drought reports to the Weather Service since 1996
Lowest reading
January 1931
−5.89, extreme drought
Longest severe spell
13 months
September 1964 to September 1965.
Latest month
September 2026
+1.46, slightly wet
Last severe month: August 1999.
- 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 and landslides
3 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5 or more within 50 miles since 1974; none reached magnitude 4.
0
Magnitude 2.5+ inside the county since 1973
2
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
June 12, 2019
Magnitude 3.4
9 km N of Blain, Pennsylvania; 48.1 miles away, 16.6 miles deep.
Most recent, magnitude 3 or more
June 12, 2019
Magnitude 3.4
9 km N of Blain, Pennsylvania; 48.1 miles away.
- 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 county boundary (or inside the county).
- 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.
Mapped landslides
2
Landslides mapped, probable or better
2
With a recorded date
1
Source inventory
Mapped by NASA (2).
- Landslides mapped in the USGS compilation of landslide inventories across the United States (version 3.0, 2025), rated probable or better. The compilation joins inventories made by federal and state agencies for different purposes and areas, so the number mapped in a county reflects how closely it has been surveyed as much as how often its slopes fail. An area with few records may simply not have been mapped. Deaths are as recorded in the inventories; a slide listed in two inventories is counted once.
USGS Landslide Inventories across the United States, version 3.0, retrieved October 27, 2026.
Severe weather and other events
921 events in the National Weather Service record, 786 of them since 1996.
58
Hail reports, 1 inch or larger
4
Hail, 2 inches or larger
318
Damaging gusts, 58 mph+
157
Winter weather events since 1996
7
Heat events since 1996
27
Cold events since 1996
Largest hail
April 14, 1974
3.00 inches
Strongest measured or estimated gust
June 28, 2016
100 mph
More event types since 1996
| Lightning | 1 | 0 |
Costliest events since 1996
- Oct 21, 2016Flash Flood$26.0 million
National Weather Service narrative
Heavy rainfall brought flash flooding to parts of Lycoming County during the early morning hours of Friday, October 21st. The Loyalsock and Lycoming Creek watersheds were most heavily impacted. The flooding destroyed or seriously damaged multiple State and local roads and bridges. Over twenty primary residence homes were either destroyed or sustained major damage. Many camps and seasonal homes were also damaged or destroyed along Pleasant Stream, Wallis Run and Slacks Run.||An 8 ���inch liquid petroleum line was also damaged along the Loyalsock Creek and posed a significant environmental impact.||Multiple state and municipal roads and bridges were impacted. For several days…
- Sep 7, 2011Flood$11.0 million
National Weather Service narrative
Loyalsock Creek at Loyalsockville crested at record/major flood level of 19.78 feet. Flood stage is 12.0 feet. The West Branch of the Susquehanna River at Muncy crested in moderate flood stage of 26.7 feet. Flood stage is 20.0 feet. This is the 9th highest crest all time. The West Branch of the Susquehanna River at Montgomery crested in moderate flood stage of 26.7 feet. Flood stage is 20.0 feet. This is the 12th highest crest all time.||Muncy Creek flooded extensive areas near Hughesville and Muncy. Residents reported the creek overflowing its banks and rushing down 5th Street flooding homes and yards. One home had its chimney and foundation washed away. Others reported extensive…
- Jun 28, 2016Thunderstorm Wind$1.0 million
National Weather Service narrative
A severe thunderstorm produced winds around 100 mph near Muncy in Moreland Township. The winds destroyed a large chicken coop, nearly 600 feet by 70 feet, capable of housing over 80,000 chickens (there were no chickens in the structure when the storm hit). A NWS storm survey observed that the sturdy construction was completely uplifted and destroyed by a microburst. There were 6 persons in the structure, but none were injured.
- Sep 7, 1999Flash Flood$1.0 million
National Weather Service narrative
The remnants of Hurricane Dennis produced 4 to 8 inches of rain across the southeast parts of Lycoming County. Particularly hard hit was Montgomery where flooding was compared to Agnes in 1972. Major flooding hit around 3:00 a.m. EDT. Thirty homes were damaged and one bridge was out of service. Around 80 people were evacuated between 2:00 a.m. and 4:00 a.m., with a large number of residents abandoning their homes at the lower end of West Houston Avenue and Brook Street. Others left homes on Main Street and the campground. One person told of leaving his home, only to find his car had been overturned by the water.
- Aug 17, 2007Hail$350,000
National Weather Service narrative
Public reported golf ball to baseball sized hail in Muncy (report relayed through trained storm spotter).
- Mar 31, 2022Tornado$300,000
National Weather Service narrative
An EF1 tornado producing peak winds estimated between 85 to 95 mph tracked from northern Montour County into southeastern Lycoming County. The tornado touched down along Gearhart Road in northern Montour County, knocking down a tree and then causing damage to a barn along Muncy Exchange Road. The tornado continued northeastward into Lycoming County where it caused extensive tree damage along and east of Laidecker Road.|As the tornado moved further into Moreland Township, it knocked down hundreds of trees and damaged a silo roof, barn roof, and porch at various properties along Wallis Road. Dozens of trees were knocked down/snapped off along Moreland Township Road and Church Road…
- Jun 22, 2024Thunderstorm Wind$160,000
National Weather Service narrative
A National Weather Service storm survey confirmed a downburst associated with a severe thunderstorm near the town of Hughesville. Peak wind gusts were estimated at 70 mph. Several hundred trees were damaged and at least 4 small greenhouses were crushed. Additionally, a few homes and businesses had their metal roofs ripped off along with several homes sustaining damage from fallen trees. Numerous power poles and lines were damaged or broken. Significant tree damage was observed at a local cemetery where dozens of gravestones were damaged. Some trees were missing nearly all of their branches and some branches were found penetrating 4 to 5 inches into the ground.
- Sep 16, 1999High Wind, Southern Lycoming$100,000
- Jul 9, 2015Tornado$100,000
National Weather Service narrative
A National Weather Service survey team concluded that an EF1 tornado touched down northeast of Montoursville on Quaker State Road. The tornado traveled east-northeastward for about 3/4 of a mile before lifting near the intersection of Clarence Fry Road and Simpler Hollow Road. Numerous trees were snapped or uprooted, and several outbuildings were damaged along Quaker State Road. Maximum wind speed was around 90 mph, classifying this as an EF1 tornado.
- Nov 8, 1996Tornado$100,000
National Weather Service narrative
This storm was a continuation of damage that occurred in the Avis and Jersey Shore areas. The tornado caused intermittent damage along a 2.5 mile path in Woodward Township northwest of Linden. The tornado tore a brick facade off the southeast face of the Lycoming Christian Church at the initial touchdown northwest of Linden, then moved east northeast taking down trees in spots and doing minor damage to a couple of homes and a shed along the 2.5 mile path.
- 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 Williamsport Regional Airport, 3.1 miles from the county’s population centre, with records from 1948.
- All-time high
- 103°F3 times, most recently Jul 22, 2011
- All-time low
- −20°FJan 21, 1994
- Warmest night
- 78°FJul 15, 1995
- Coldest day
- 0°FJan 17, 1982
- Wettest day
- 8.66 inJun 22, 1972
- Snowiest day
- 20.0 inFeb 19, 1972
- Hottest year
- 2024mean 54.3°F
- Coldest year
- 1965mean 48.4°F
- Wettest year
- 201170.26 in
- Driest year
- 199730.08 in
- Snowiest season
- 85.9 in1995-96
Median first snow
November 22
Earliest: October 15, 2009
Median last snow
March 31
Latest: May 9, 1977
0 of 78 winters had no measurable snow.
Station Williamsport Regional Airport (USW00014778), 524 ft elevation, 3.1 miles from the population centre. Daily records from 1948 to October 26, 2026; 100.0% 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
21 since 1953. The most recent: Tropical Storm Debby, September 11, 2024.
| Sep 11, 2024 | Tropical Storm | DR-4815-PA |
| Mar 30, 2020 | Biological | DR-4506-PA |
| Mar 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3441-PA |
| Nov 27, 2018 | Severe Storm | DR-4408-PA |
| Dec 2, 2016 | Flood | DR-4292-PA |
| Oct 29, 2012 | Hurricane | EM-3356-PA |
| Sep 12, 2011 | Flood | DR-4030-PA |
| Sep 8, 2011 | Flood | EM-3340-PA |
| Jul 13, 2011 | Severe Storm | DR-4003-PA |
| Sep 10, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3235-PA |
| Sep 19, 2004 | Hurricane | DR-1557-PA |
| Sep 19, 2004 | Severe Storm | DR-1555-PA |
| Mar 14, 2003 | Severe Storm | EM-3180-PA |
| Sep 22, 1999 | Flood | DR-1298-PA |
| Jan 21, 1996 | Flood | DR-1093-PA |
| Jan 13, 1996 | Snowstorm | DR-1085-PA |
| Mar 10, 1994 | Severe Storm | DR-1015-PA |
| Mar 16, 1993 | Snowstorm | EM-3105-PA |
| Jun 3, 1985 | Tornado | DR-737-PA |
| Sep 26, 1975 | Flood | DR-485-PA |
| Jun 23, 1972 | Flood | DR-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.
How this compares
Where Lycoming County stands among 67 counties in Pennsylvania and 3,143 in the United States.
| Tornadoes since 1950 | 29 | 6 / 67 |
| Tornadoes rated F3/EF3 or stronger | 2 | 5 / 67 |
| Tropical cyclones within 50 mi | 9 | 23 / 67 |
| Hurricane-strength passes within 50 mi | 1 | 2 / 67 |
| Wildfire acres since 1984 | 969 | 8 / 67 |
| Flood insurance claims | 3,878 | 6 / 67 |
| Flood insurance paid | $58.3 million | 7 / 67 |
| Disaster declarations | 21 | 17 / 67 |
| Flood events since 1996 | 82 | 33 / 67 |
| Hail and wind events since 1996 | 475 | 23 / 67 |
| Winter storm events since 1996 | 157 | 17 / 67 |
| Reported damage since 1996 | $41.9 million | 28 / 67 |
| River crests at major flood stage | 25 | 7 / 67 |
| High tide flooding days a year, last 10 years | 0.0 | — |
| Months in severe drought since 1895 | 79 | 46 / 67 |
| Medium or heavy smoke days a year, last 10 years | 14.4 | 18 / 67 |
| Earthquakes M4+ within 50 mi since 1900 | 0 | — |
| Earthquakes M2.5+ in the county since 1973 | 0 | — |
Neighbouring counties
| Bradford County | 21 | 7 |
| Clinton County | 10 | 7 |
| Columbia County | 9 | 8 |
| Montour County | 4 | 7 |
| Northumberland County | 14 | 10 |
| Potter County | 12 | 4 |
| Sullivan County | 13 | 6 |
| Tioga County | 7 | 6 |
| Union County | 12 | 8 |
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 USW00014778.
- 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.
- Landslides USGS Landslide Inventories across the United States, version 3.0 (2025).
- 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.