The greatest total monthly rainfall was 17.70 inches in August 1933, and the highest 24 hour rain was 8.48 inches on August 23rd of that same year. The return period for such a 24 hour rain is over 100 years. A 24 hour rainfall of 5 inches is likely once every 10 years. Rarely do hurricanes move far enough north along the east coast of the United States to affect the York area. Damaging winds associated with such storms are usually restricted to the extreme eastern portion of the state, and the chances of ever experiencing such winds in York are slight.
Heavy rains resulting from east coast hurricanes can occur, but are very infrequent.
Five tornadoes have been observed in the York area since 1854 when records were first kept on such storms in Pennsylvania. While over 100 persons have been killed and nearly 900 injured by Pennsylvania tornadoes, no fatalities have ever been recorded in York County and only 8 injuries have resulted. At least two of these injuries were associated with York area tornadoes which have for the most part touched only small sections with limited damages resulting. Edited with data current through December 1994.