Pennsylvania, 1996

Heavy Rain in Pennsylvania, September 7 to 30, 1996

September 7 to 30, 1996 · NWS CLE · 3 events in 3 counties and zones

Excessive and frequent rainfall occurred for much of the month over northwest Pennsylvania, starting with the remnants of Hurricane Fran on the 7th and included record rainfall and significant flooding on the 17th in the city of Erie (Erie County). 0 inches at Springboro (Crawford) and Union City (Erie).

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 3 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

  • Tornadoes
  • Tropical storms and surge
  • Floods
  • Wind
  • Hail
  • Winter weather
  • Heat and drought
  • Cold
  • Fire, smoke and dust
  • Marine and coastal
  • Other

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
3

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

What happened

The episode as NWS CLE wrote it up.

Excessive and frequent rainfall occurred for much of the month over northwest Pennsylvania, starting with the remnants of Hurricane Fran on the 7th and included record rainfall and significant flooding on the 17th in the city of Erie (Erie County). Monthly rainfall ranged from 7.69 inches at Meadville (Crawford County) to around 9.0 inches at Springboro (Crawford) and Union City (Erie). The city of Erie received 10.61 inches (6.22" above normal) and fell just short (.04 inches) of the all time September rainfall record. Crops were lost from the flooding and some crops could not be harvested since farm equipment could not get through the mud and water in the fields. The actual dollar amount of crop loss was not known but a 10 to 20 percent loss was expected.

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

3 heavy rain. Local standard time, as filed.

Heavy Rain, Northern Erie

When
September 7, 6:00 AM EST to September 30, 11:59 PM EST
Where
Northern Erie forecast zone
Coordinates
42.118, -80.098 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Rain, Southern Erie

When
September 7, 6:00 AM EST to September 30, 11:59 PM EST
Where
Southern Erie forecast zone
Coordinates
42.118, -80.098 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Rain, Crawford

When
September 7, 6:00 AM EST to September 30, 11:59 PM EST
Where
Crawford forecast zone
Coordinates
41.685, -80.106 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Heavy Rain
Rainfall totals unusual for the place and season that did not produce a flood.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Pennsylvania in 1996Every state in 1996This day in weather historyWarnings in Pennsylvania, September 1996

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5564073, 5564074, 5564075.