Discover the Pennsylvania Town Most Likely to Be Hit by a Tornado

Natural disasters occur in many forms around the world. In the United States, more than 1,000 tornadoes strike every year and cause significant damage to infrastructure, property, and human life. One state subjected to such disasters is the Keystone State: Pennsylvania. Whether you are a storm chaser seeking a thrill or you are simply hoping to avoid bad weather, this article will investigate the Pennsylvania town most likely to be hit by a tornado.

What is a Tornado?

A tornado is a type of extreme weather event consisting of a violently rotating column of air that extends from the ground to a cumulonimbus cloud. Tornadoes happen more frequently in the United States and Canada than in any other countries. Most tornadoes occur in a region colloquially known as “Tornado Alley” which includes Texas, Louisiana, Kansas, Oklahoma, Iowa, Nebraska, South Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Missouri, Ohio, and the Canadian Prairies. On average, the state with the most annual tornadoes is Texas with 155.

The National Weather Service measures tornadoes using the Enhanced Fujita Scale. This measurement system is based on maximum wind speeds and resultant damage. An F0 tornado achieves wind speeds of 65-85 miles per hour. An F5, the highest classification, is a tornado with wind speeds over 200 miles per hour.

History of Tornadoes in Pennsylvania

Geography

In the United States, there is an indexing system for comparing the relative risk of tornado activity in different areas. The five states currently with the highest tornado index ratings and therefore at the highest risk for tornadoes are Oklahoma, Mississippi, Arkansas, Indiana, and Alabama. Pennsylvania is in 27^th place based on these statistics. The states with the lowest likelihood of tornado activity are Alaska, Nevada, Montana, Hawaii, and Oregon. In Pennsylvania, most tornadoes strike in the southeast corner of the state and along the western border. The counties with the highest tornado index ranking are Mercer County, Lancaster County, and Lawrence County.

Pennsylvania State Record: 1985 United States-Canada Tornado Outbreak

In 1985, there was a massive outbreak of tornadoes in the United States and Canada over the duration of 10 hours. The outbreak of 44 tornadoes affected Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, and Ontario, Canada. 21 tornadoes touched down in Pennsylvania alone, including an F5 tornado. The F5 tornado on May 31, 1985, in Wheatland, Pennsylvania is the only one of its kind to rip through the state and is the most severe in state history. It killed 18 people, injured 310 people, and lasted approximately an hour and fifteen minutes over 47 miles.

Increasing Tornado Activity

In 2021, more tornadoes touched down in Pennsylvania than any other year since 1998. There are typically 16 tornadoes in the state annually, but there were 50 tornadoes in 2021. Although climate change increases the frequency and intensity of many natural disasters, we are still learning about its impact on tornado activity. Scientists believe that climate change affects the range of areas with weather conducive to tornado activity, but research on frequency and severity is ongoing. Nevertheless, increasing trends in tornado occurrences do exist in portions of the Southeast, Midwest, and Northeast.

Pennsylvania Town Most Likely to Be Hit by a Tornado

Based on the United States tornado risk indexing system, the city in Pennsylvania with the highest risk for tornadoes is Farrell. Farrell is in Mercer County, Pennsylvania which is near the Ohio border. The more populous cities of Sharon and Hermitage are also among the top places in Pennsylvania prone to tornadoes. All these cities are in Mercer County and were affected by the F5 tornado during the infamous 1985 outbreak. There have been 78 tornadoes in the area since 1950.

Other Major Tornadoes in History

The most extreme tornado on record in the United States was the Tri-State tornado in 1925. It tore through Missouri, Illinois, and Indiana and was categorized as an F5 tornado. In fact, the Tri-State tornado had the longest path (219 miles) and longest duration (3 ½ hours) of any tornado in history. The deadliest tornado, however, was the Daulatpur-Saturia tornado in Bangladesh. This event occurred on April 26, 1989, and killed an estimated 1,300 people. Although this tornado was the deadliest ever, it was an F4 tornado and did not achieve the greatest wind speeds in history. That record was in Bridge Creek, Oklahoma, in 1999 clocking in at 302 miles per hour.

Where is Farrell Located on a Map?

Farrell is in Mercer County, Pennsylvania, in the western part of the state near the Ohio border. Nearby cities of Sharon and Hermitage are more populous, as Farrell only has 4,258 residents as of the 2020 census. Farrell sprang up practically overnight when a steel mill was constructed in 1901, which is why it is called the Magic City.

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