Erie Metro Area Natural Disasters and Weather Extremes
The chance of earthquake damage in Erie Area is about the same as Pennsylvania average and is much lower than the national average. The risk of tornado damage in Erie Area is about the same as Pennsylvania average and is lower than the national average.
Earthquake Index, #704
| Erie Area | 0.01 |
| Pennsylvania | 0.17 |
| U.S. | 1.81 |
The earthquake index value is calculated based on historical earthquake events data using USA.com algorithms. It is an indicator of the earthquake level in a region. A higher earthquake index value means a higher chance of an earthquake.
Volcano Index, #129
| Erie Area | 0.0000 |
| Pennsylvania | 0.0000 |
| U.S. | 0.0023 |
The volcano index value is calculated based on the currently known volcanoes using USA.com algorithms. It is an indicator of the possibility of a region being affected by a possible volcano eruption. A higher volcano index value means a higher chance of being affected.
Tornado Index, #598
| Erie Area | 100.60 |
| Pennsylvania | 109.77 |
| U.S. | 136.45 |
The tornado index value is calculated based on historical tornado events data using USA.com algorithms. It is an indicator of the tornado level in a region. A higher tornado index value means a higher chance of tornado events.
Other Weather Extremes Events
A total of 8,693 other weather extremes events within 50 miles of Erie Area were recorded from 1950 to 2010. The following is a break down of these events:
| Type | Count | Type | Count | Type | Count | Type | Count | Type | Count |
| Avalanche: | 0 | Blizzard: | 8 | Cold: | 85 | Dense Fog: | 1 | Drought: | 39 |
| Dust Storm: | 0 | Flood: | 1,158 | Hail: | 1,668 | Heat: | 37 | Heavy Snow: | 442 |
| High Surf: | 0 | Hurricane: | 0 | Ice Storm: | 59 | Landslide: | 0 | Strong Wind: | 274 |
| Thunderstorm Winds: | 4,500 | Tropical Storm: | 1 | Wildfire: | 0 | Winter Storm: | 134 | Winter Weather: | 22 |
| Other: | 265 | ||||||||
Volcanos Nearby
No volcano is found in or near Erie Area.
Historical Earthquake Events
No historical earthquake events that had recorded magnitudes of 3.5 or above found in or near Erie Area.
No historical earthquake events found in or near Erie Area.
Historical Tornado Events
A total of 39 historical tornado events that had recorded magnitude of 2 or above found in or near Erie Area.
| Distance (miles) | Date | Magnitude | Start Lat/Log | End Lat/Log | Length | Width | Fatalities | Injuries | Property Damage | Crop Damage | Affected County |
| 4.8 | 1983-05-02 | 2 | 42°04'N / 80°02'W | 1.00 Mile | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Erie | |
| 12.3 | 1977-09-18 | 2 | 42°01'N / 80°21'W | 42°02'N / 80°15'W | 4.50 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 7 | 2.5M | 0 | Erie |
| 19.1 | 1985-05-31 | 4 | 41°56'N / 79°57'W | 41°59'N / 79°38'W | 16.00 Miles | 300 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Erie |
| 19.7 | 1971-06-02 | 3 | 41°52'N / 80°08'W | 41°56'N / 79°34'W | 29.30 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Erie |
| 19.7 | 1997-08-16 | 2 | 41°54'N / 79°51'W | 41°54'N / 79°51'W | 2.00 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 500K | 3K | Erie |
| Brief Description: A tornado touched down and skipped along its path for several minutes. Twenty mobile homes were damaged and one was destroyed at the Maple Heights Trailer Court. A sixty by eighty foot block building was destroyed. Three houses and one business were damaged. A cornfield was flattened and several trees were downed. | |||||||||||
| 22.5 | 1985-05-31 | 4 | 41°51'N / 80°31'W | 41°55'N / 80°17'W | 12.00 Miles | 400 Yards | 12 | 82 | 25.0M | 0 | Erie |
| 23.2 | 1986-09-30 | 2 | 41°48'N / 79°57'W | 0.50 Mile | 60 Yards | 0 | 1 | 2.5M | 0 | Crawford | |
| 24.7 | 1952-07-19 | 2 | 41°56'N / 79°45'W | 41°55'N / 79°38'W | 5.60 Miles | 27 Yards | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Erie |
| 25.5 | 1985-06-22 | 2 | 41°48'N / 80°31'W | 41°50'N / 80°15'W | 14.00 Miles | 40 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Crawford |
| 26.1 | 1985-05-31 | 4 | 41°59'N / 79°38'W | 42°00'N / 79°36'W | 2.00 Miles | 300 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Erie |
| 27.4 | 1985-05-31 | 4 | 42°00'N / 79°36'W | 42°01'N / 79°34'W | 2.00 Miles | 300 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Warren |
| 27.5 | 1953-11-22 | 2 | 41°55'N / 79°38'W | 2.00 Miles | 67 Yards | 0 | 2 | 25K | 0 | Erie | |
| 28.0 | 1955-07-01 | 2 | 41°45'N / 80°22'W | 41°46'N / 80°20'W | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Crawford | ||
| 28.3 | 1985-05-31 | 3 | 41°42'N / 80°09'W | 41°45'N / 79°44'W | 23.00 Miles | 277 Yards | 2 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Crawford |
| 29.4 | 1985-05-31 | 4 | 41°50'N / 80°33'W | 41°51'N / 80°31'W | 2.00 Miles | 300 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Ashtabula |
| 31.1 | 1985-05-31 | 4 | 42°01'N / 79°34'W | 42°03'N / 79°26'W | 8.00 Miles | 440 Yards | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | Chautauqua |
| 31.2 | 2010-07-24 | 2 | 42°17'N / 79°35'W | 42°14'N / 79°27'W | 8.00 Miles | 150 Yards | 0 | 0 | 5.0M | 0K | Chautauqua |
| Brief Description: EVENT NARRATIVE: An NWS ground and aerial survey confirmed an EF2 tornado. EPISODE NARRATIVE: A tornado touched down in the Town of Chautauqua in Chautauqua County at 440 pm EDT. Initial touchdown occurred near the Chautauqua Gorge State Forest. The along the first half of the damage path the primary damage was done to trees. As the tornado neared Mayville substantial structural damage occurred to homes and businesses. Some of the affected streets included: McKay Road, Morris Street, Valley Street, and Erie Street. The tornado then crossed Chautauqua Lake. During the aerial survey debris from the structures could be seen floating in the lake. The tornado continued across the lake into Dewittville. There is caused damage at the Camelot Golf Course. Dozens of golf carts were lost. Structural damage was done to several buildings on the course. Also in Dewittville, the tornado severely damaged three condominium buildings, including 18 condominium units, at the Chautauqua Lake Estates. This was also the final touchdown of the tornado although debris was visible for about another three-quarter mile downstream. A NWS survey concluded an EF2 rating with winds estimated at 125 mph. The county emergency manager estimated damage at $5 million. | |||||||||||
| 31.9 | 1965-05-16 | 2 | 42°06'N / 79°30'W | 42°06'N / 79°27'W | 0 | 3 | 250K | 0 | Chautauqua | ||
| 32.5 | 1985-05-31 | 3 | 41°43'N / 79°48'W | 41°45'N / 79°40'W | 8.00 Miles | 427 Yards | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | Crawford |
| 34.0 | 1985-05-31 | 2 | 41°44'N / 80°31'W | 41°44'N / 80°30'W | 1.00 Mile | 127 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Crawford |
| 34.5 | 1985-05-31 | 2 | 41°39'N / 80°25'W | 41°41'N / 80°21'W | 4.00 Miles | 200 Yards | 1 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Crawford |
| 37.3 | 1952-01-17 | 2 | 41°36'N / 80°18'W | 0.50 Mile | 400 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Crawford | |
| 38.5 | 1981-07-28 | 2 | 41°37'N / 79°46'W | 2.00 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 4 | 250K | 0 | Crawford | |
| 38.9 | 1985-05-31 | 2 | 41°41'N / 80°43'W | 41°44'N / 80°31'W | 9.00 Miles | 220 Yards | 0 | 15 | 2.5M | 0 | Ashtabula |
| 39.0 | 1983-05-02 | 3 | 42°09'N / 79°37'W | 42°19'N / 79°05'W | 28.00 Miles | 450 Yards | 2 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | Chautauqua |
| 40.9 | 2004-05-25 | 2 | 41°32'N / 80°10'W | 41°31'N / 80°03'W | 7.00 Miles | 50 Yards | 0 | 0 | 3.5M | 0 | Crawford |
| Brief Description: An F2 tornado touched down three miles west of Custards and then tracked east for seven miles. The tornado finally lifted just west of Cochranton near U.S Highway 322. The damage path was continuous, up to 50 yards in width and roughly parallel to State Route 285. Significant damage occurred along the damage path. At least ten homes were damaged with two large farm buildings destroyed. Two factories west of Custards along Delano Road were also heavily damaged. One factory lost over 16,000 square feet of roofing and had much of it's inventory destroyed. The second factory was also heavily damaged on one side. Twelve semi trailers parked outside this factory were overturned and destroyed. Several dozen workers inside the factories had sought shelter prior to the arrival of the tornado and were uninjured. Hundreds of trees and dozens of power poles were downed along the damage path. | |||||||||||
| 41.6 | 1972-05-02 | 3 | 41°29'N / 80°12'W | 41°33'N / 80°04'W | 7.90 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 3 | 25K | 0 | Crawford |
| 42.4 | 1985-06-22 | 2 | 41°43'N / 81°01'W | 41°48'N / 80°31'W | 27.00 Miles | 40 Yards | 0 | 2 | 250K | 0 | Ashtabula |
| 42.9 | 1985-05-31 | 4 | 41°29'N / 80°25'W | 41°31'N / 79°56'W | 22.50 Miles | 350 Yards | 8 | 75 | 25.0M | 0 | Crawford |
| 43.7 | 1969-05-17 | 2 | 42°16'N / 79°16'W | 2.00 Miles | 250 Yards | 0 | 1 | 250K | 0 | Chautauqua | |
| 44.6 | 1956-07-08 | 2 | 41°36'N / 80°57'W | 41°48'N / 80°34'W | 23.90 Miles | 880 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Ashtabula |
| 44.8 | 1972-05-02 | 3 | 41°28'N / 80°13'W | 41°29'N / 80°12'W | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Mercer | ||
| 45.1 | 1969-06-20 | 3 | 42°01'N / 79°38'W | 42°15'N / 78°48'W | 45.60 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | Chautauqua |
| 46.4 | 1985-05-31 | 3 | 42°02'N / 79°14'W | 42°08'N / 79°09'W | 13.00 Miles | 177 Yards | 0 | 10 | 2.5M | 0 | Chautauqua |
| 47.0 | 1992-07-12 | 2 | 42°26'N / 79°20'W | 42°29'N / 79°16'W | 4.00 Miles | 23 Yards | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | Chautauqua |
| 47.8 | 1985-05-31 | 4 | 41°29'N / 80°31'W | 41°29'N / 80°25'W | 7.00 Miles | 350 Yards | 0 | 5 | 25.0M | 0 | Mercer |
| 48.3 | 1967-07-24 | 2 | 41°36'N / 80°57'W | 41°45'N / 80°42'W | 16.40 Miles | 600 Yards | 0 | 2 | 250K | 0 | Ashtabula |
| 48.5 | 1985-05-31 | 4 | 41°33'N / 79°37'W | 41°31'N / 79°32'W | 4.00 Miles | 800 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Venango |
| 48.9 | 1985-05-31 | 4 | 41°29'N / 80°31'W | 41°29'N / 80°31'W | 0.20 Mile | 300 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Trumbull |
* The information on this page is based on the global volcano database, the U.S. earthquake database of 1638-1985, and the U.S. Tornado and Weather Extremes database of 1950-2010.