On the average nine such storms are recorded in the spring and five in the fall which, combined with the summer statistics, gives an annual average of 37. The greatest total monthly rainfall was 12.91 inches in August 1867, and the highest 24-hour rain was 5.72 inches in August 23, 1933. The return period for such a 24-hour rain is about once every 25 years. Rarely do hurricanes move far enough north along the east coast of the United States ot affect the Lebanon area to any great extent. Damaging winds associated with hurricanes are usually restricted to the extreme eastern portion of the state, and the chances of ever experiencing these in Leban on are slight.
Heavy rains resulting from east coast hurricanes can occur but are very infrequent.
Since 1854 when records were first kept on such storms, only three tornadoes had been sighted in Lebanon County before 1970. The nearest to Lebanon occurred at Jonestown, seven miles to the north. While over 100 persons have been killed and nearly 900 injured by Pennsylvania tornadoes, no fatalities have ever been recorded and only two have been injured in Lebanon County. During the period 1950-1994, however, eleven tornadoes were recorded in the county. Edited with data current through December 1996.