Hail history in Lancaster, PA
On average, NOAA recorded hail within 15 miles of the center of Lancaster on 1.5 days a year from 2016 to 2025, 1.2 of them with hail 1 inch or larger. NOAA recorded hail within 15 miles of the center of Lancaster on 31 days since 2010. The largest hail reported was 1.75 in, in 2010. 23 of those days had hail of 1 inch or larger. June has the most hail days, 12 since 2010. The most recent was June 30, 2025. NOAA also recorded high wind on 145 days, with gusts up to 90 mph.
Ranks #93 of 200 US cities for days with hail 1 inch or larger, 2016 to 2025.
- Hail days since 2010
- 31
- Largest hail
- 1.75 in
- Highest gust
- 90 mph
Source: NOAA/NWS Storm Prediction Center
Data through November 1, 2026
31 hail days within 15 miles since 2010, largest 1.75 in
Source: NOAA/NWS Storm Prediction Center
Data through November 1, 2026
Hail days by year
Bar chart of hail days per year, 2010 to 2026. 31 hail days in total; the most was 6 in 2010.
Hail days by month
Hail days by month since 2010: Jan 0, Feb 1, Mar 0, Apr 0, May 7, Jun 12, Jul 8, Aug 1, Sep 2, Oct 0, Nov 0, Dec 0.
Most recent hail days
| Date | Largest hail | Nearest report |
|---|---|---|
| Jun 30, 2025 | 0.75 in | 9.3 mi |
| Jun 28, 2025 | 1.25 in | 7.4 mi |
| Jul 16, 2024 | 1.0 in | 7.2 mi |
| Jun 30, 2024 | 1.0 in | 13.0 mi |
| Jul 2, 2022 | 1.5 in | 7.1 mi |
| Jul 1, 2022 | 1.0 in | 13.1 mi |
| Jul 17, 2021 | 1.0 in | 5.9 mi |
| May 26, 2021 | 0.88 in | 11.1 mi |
| Jul 6, 2020 | 1.5 in | 5.4 mi |
| Jun 29, 2019 | 0.75 in | 11.5 mi |
About this data
- Distances are from the center of Lancaster, not from any one property. Look up a street address below for a single building.
- Reports come from trained spotters and the public, so they cluster near towns and roads.
- No report does not mean no hail. Hail can fall where no one is there to report it.
- This is not a damage or insurance assessment.
145 high-wind days within 15 miles since 2010, strongest gust 90 mph
Source: NOAA/NWS Storm Prediction Center
Data through November 1, 2026
Most recent high-wind days
| Date | Highest gust | Nearest report |
|---|---|---|
| Sep 2, 2026 | Not recorded | 1.0 mi |
| Sep 1, 2026 | Not recorded | 13.2 mi |
| Aug 27, 2026 | Not recorded | 12.4 mi |
| Aug 20, 2026 | Not recorded | 3.3 mi |
| Aug 10, 2026 | Not recorded | 1.6 mi |
| Aug 8, 2026 | Not recorded | 3.6 mi |
| Aug 7, 2026 | Not recorded | 1.2 mi |
| Jul 18, 2026 | Not recorded | 10.3 mi |
| Jul 5, 2026 | Not recorded | 6.8 mi |
| Jul 4, 2026 | 60 mph | 2.0 mi |
About this data
- Distances are from the center of Lancaster, not from any one property. Look up a street address below for a single building.
- Reports come from trained spotters and the public, so they cluster near towns and roads.
- No report does not mean no hail. Hail can fall where no one is there to report it.
- Wind speed is the highest reported gust; some reports have no speed.
- This is not a damage or insurance assessment.
Gusts, tornadoes and hurricanes in Lancaster
Estimated peak gusts
2 days since October 1, 2021 had an estimated peak gust of 58 mph or more at Lancaster.
| Day | Estimated peak gust |
|---|---|
| Mar 16, 2026 | 58 mph or more |
| Dec 29, 2025 | 50 mph or more |
| Dec 19, 2025 | 50 mph or more |
| Mar 16, 2025 | 50 mph or more |
| Apr 1, 2023 | 58 mph or more |
| Dec 23, 2022 | 50 mph or more |
| Feb 18, 2022 | 50 mph or more |
| Feb 17, 2022 | 50 mph or more |
Estimates: the highest gust of each storm day in NOAA’s hourly 2.5 km wind analysis (URMA), which fills in between weather stations. Analyses like this smooth out short thunderstorm gusts, so they are best for widespread wind (hurricanes, winter storms, high wind days); for thunderstorm wind, NOAA’s wind reports are the better record. Not a measurement at any building.
Tornadoes within 10 miles
NOAA recorded 19 tornadoes whose path came within 10 miles of Lancaster since 1950; the strongest was rated EF2.
| Day | Rating | Path length | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 20, 2026 | Not rated | 4.8 miles | |
| Aug 20, 2026 | Not rated | 5.3 miles | |
| Sep 29, 2015 | EF1 | 2.53 miles | 3.8 miles |
| Oct 19, 2012 | EF1 | 16.56 miles | 9.7 miles |
| Mar 29, 2009 | EF1 | 1.25 miles | 7.4 miles |
| Jul 27, 2004 | EF1 | 4 miles | 4.4 miles |
| Jun 17, 2004 | EF1 | 1 miles | 1.9 miles |
| Jun 18, 2000 | EF0 | 0.2 miles | 9.2 miles |
Show all 19Show fewer
| Day | Rating | Path length | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 10, 2000 | EF0 | 6 miles | 4.3 miles |
| May 29, 1995 | EF2 | 2.5 miles | 6.9 miles |
| Jun 15, 1989 | EF2 | 16 miles | 6 miles |
| Aug 30, 1985 | EF1 | 2 miles | 8.5 miles |
| Jun 7, 1980 | EF1 | 1 miles | 7.4 miles |
| Nov 26, 1979 | EF1 | 0.2 miles | 8.8 miles |
| Jun 18, 1970 | EF1 | 1 miles | 7.4 miles |
| Jul 28, 1961 | EF2 | 22.2 miles | 1.3 miles |
| May 26, 1961 | EF1 | 0.3 miles | 1.9 miles |
| Sep 17, 1956 | EF1 | 2.3 miles | 6.6 miles |
| Nov 22, 1953 | EF2 | 0.1 miles | 6.6 miles |
Source: NOAA/NWS Storm Prediction Center. Ratings before 2007 are on the original Fujita scale.
Hurricanes and tropical storms
9 storms in NOAA's records brought modeled tropical-storm-force winds (39 mph or more) to Lancaster.
| Storm | Modeled peak gust | Sustained | Closest pass |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sandy (2012) | 60 mph | 49 mph | 9 miles |
| Connie (1955) | 55 mph | 44 mph | 41 miles |
| Hazel (1954) | 81 mph | 66 mph | 49 miles |
| Unnamed storm, 1949 | 58 mph | 47 mph | 39 miles |
| Unnamed storm, 1933 | 55 mph | 45 mph | 40 miles |
| Unnamed storm, 1903 | 52 mph | 43 mph | 70 miles |
| Unnamed storm, 1893 | 60 mph | 49 mph | 86 miles |
| Unnamed storm, 1878 | 78 mph | 64 mph | 8 miles |
| Unnamed storm, 1876 | 52 mph | 42 mph | 81 miles |
Modeled from NOAA’s best tracks for open, flat ground; not measurements. How we model hurricane winds
45 radar hail days within 15 miles since 2020, largest 1.75 in or more
Source: NOAA MRMS radar (MESH), from October 14, 2020. Estimates of the largest hail in each 1 km cell, not measurements.
20 days with radar hail 1 inch or larger, 0 at 2 inches or larger, within 15 miles of Lancaster’s center.
Biggest radar hail days
- 0.75 in+
- 1.0 in+
- 1.5 in+
- 2.0 in+
- 2.5 in+
- 3.0 in+
Most recent radar hail days
| Date | Largest radar estimate |
|---|---|
| Sep 2, 2026 | 0.75 in or more |
| Sep 1, 2026 | 1.25 in or more |
| Aug 27, 2026 | 1.25 in or more |
| Jul 21, 2026 | 0.75 in or more |
| Jul 5, 2026 | 1.25 in or more |
| Jul 4, 2026 | 1.25 in or more |
Storms in Lancaster
A National Weather Service State College study of 50 years of Pennsylvania storm data found severe weather reports rise quickly in June and peak in July, with a minor second peak in November.1
Notable storms
- April 22, 2023Storms crossing the Susquehanna Valley brought a downburst with winds estimated near 80 mph near New Bridgeville in eastern York County, blowing down trees, wires and a shed. In Providence Township, winds near 60 mph brought down a large branch, and one person was killed.2,3
- February 25, 2017A microburst with winds of 70 to 90 mph cut a 9-mile path about half a mile wide near Lexington in northern Lancaster County. NOAA's storm records list about $6 million in property damage in the area.4
- February 24, 2016An EF2 tornado with peak winds estimated at 125 mph traveled about 5 miles northeast from near White Horse in Salisbury Township, damaging an estimated 50 buildings. Roofs were blown off barns and farm buildings along the path, and no one was hurt. NOAA's storm records list $8 million in property damage.5
- September 8, 2011Flooding from the remnants of Tropical Storm Lee pushed the Conestoga River at Lancaster to 21.30 feet, its second highest crest on record. Manheim, Mount Joy and Marietta had major flooding, and NOAA's storm records list three deaths and $800,000 in property damage in Lancaster County.6
- July 25, 2010Downburst winds estimated at 70 to 80 mph knocked 50 to 75 trees onto homes and vehicles around Lititz and Warwick Township. Winds near 70 mph were measured at WGAL in the Lancaster area.7,8
- March 29, 2009Downburst winds of 70 to 80 mph caused moderate to major damage to several hundred homes and structures from east-northeast of Lititz to Denver, and 1.75-inch hail fell a few miles northwest of Columbia. NOAA's storm records list about $1.1 million in property damage in the area.9,10
Warnings and alerts
The National Weather Service office in State College issues severe thunderstorm warnings for Lancaster County.11,4 Lancaster County's LANC-Alert system sends emergency alerts by phone call, text, email and app to residents who sign up.12
Sources
- 1. American Meteorological Society: The Climatology and Character of Pennsylvania Severe Weather
- 2. NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database: Thunderstorm Wind, Lancaster County, April 22, 2023
- 3. NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database: Thunderstorm Wind, York County, April 22, 2023
- 4. NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database: Thunderstorm Wind, Lancaster County, February 25, 2017
- 5. NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database: Tornado, Lancaster County, February 24, 2016
- 6. NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database: Flood, Lancaster County, September 7, 2011
- 7. NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database: Thunderstorm Wind, Lancaster County, July 25, 2010
- 8. NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database: Thunderstorm Wind, Lancaster County, July 25, 2010
- 9. NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database: Thunderstorm Wind, Lancaster County, March 29, 2009
- 10. NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database: Hail, Lancaster County, March 29, 2009
- 11. National Weather Service: NWS Forecast Office State College, PA
- 12. Lancaster County, PA: LANC-Alert
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Questions about hail in Lancaster
Source: NOAA/NWS Storm Prediction Center
Data through November 1, 2026
- How often does it hail in Lancaster?
- NOAA recorded hail within 15 miles of the center of Lancaster on 1.5 days a year on average from 2016 to 2025, 1.2 of them with hail 1 inch or larger. Since 2010 it recorded 31 hail days.
- When is hail season in Lancaster?
- June has the most hail days within 15 miles of the center of Lancaster, 12 since 2010, then July (8) and May (7).
- What is the largest hail recorded in Lancaster?
- 1.75 in, in 2010: the largest hail NOAA recorded within 15 miles of the center of Lancaster since 2010.
- When did it last hail in Lancaster?
- NOAA's most recent hail report within 15 miles of the center of Lancaster is from June 30, 2025, with hail up to 0.75 in reported 9.3 miles from the center. Data through November 1, 2026.