How Likely Is a Tornado in Montgomery County, PA?
How likely is a tornado in Montgomery County, PA?
Montgomery County has recorded 20 tornado touches in NOAA's 76-year database, a rate of roughly one every 3.8 years - our Moderate band. Put another way: Montgomery County sees more tornado activity than 51% of US counties. Within Pennsylvania alone, Montgomery County ranks 18 of 67 counties for tornado frequency.
Beyond the frequency band: violent history
14 weak and 6 significant tornadoes make up Montgomery County's 20-track record - none violent. NOAA has never logged an EF4 or EF5 crossing this county.
The dollar figure Montgomery County's rating leads to
Cost nationally: $2,890-$13,280, about $7,645 typical. Pennsylvania has no state rebate program confirmed here; FEMA's underlying 75% cost-share exists nationwide, but applying through a state program is what usually makes it real, and none was found for Pennsylvania this pass.
What a direct hit isn't required for
A direct hit is not required for Montgomery County to lose power - outbreak-wide outages across Pennsylvania regularly reach homes and businesses well outside the actual tracks. A battery bank covers that gap without a generator's fuel and venting needs.
What this number is, and is not
One caveat before relying on Montgomery County's number: it is county-wide, and it covers about 483 square miles, so a single touch counts the same as one in a county a fraction of that size. Weaker pre-1990s tornadoes are also documented as undercounted in NOAA's own record. Montgomery County has about 879,190 residents.