Ohio has a long and well-documented history of severe storms, with 1,519 confirmed tornadoes, 8,797 hailstorm events and 20,788 damaging-wind events recorded by the National Weather Service since 1950., and averages 20.3 tornadoes per year over the 75-year record. Ohio combines a continental severe-weather season with lake-effect winter storms, giving it one of the most varied weather climates in the country. The interactive map below plots every significant severe-weather event in Ohio from the official NOAA Storm Events Database (1950 through September 2025).
Use the map to find your county, click any marker for the date, magnitude, and casualty details of that event, and switch between tornadoes, hail and wind using the chips. For the national view across all 50 states, see our NOAA Storm Reports interactive map. For tornado tracks specifically, see the US Tornado Tracks map; for hail size and frequency, the US Hailstorms map.
Ohio Severe Weather by the Numbers (1950–2025)
- 1,519 tornadoes recorded between 1950 and 2025
- 357 violent tornadoes rated F2/EF2 or stronger
- 9 confirmed F5/EF5 tornadoes on record — the maximum rating on the Fujita and Enhanced Fujita scales
- 199 direct tornado deaths and 4,712 direct injuries
- 8,797 hailstorm events recorded by the NWS
- 20,788 damaging-wind events on record
- 20.3 tornadoes per year on average across the 75-year record
- June is the peak severe-weather month, accounting for roughly 19.9% of Ohio tornadoes
- 424 total direct deaths from all severe-weather event types tracked by the NWS
When Ohio Severe Weather Happens
Ohio tornado activity is heavily concentrated in spring. March, April, May and June account for 59% of all Ohio tornadoes, with June alone responsible for roughly 19.9%.
- June: 303 tornadoes (19.9%) — peak month
- May: 281 tornadoes (18.5%)
- July: 212 tornadoes (14%)
- April: 211 tornadoes (13.9%)
- August: 144 tornadoes (9.5%)
- March: 98 tornadoes (6.5%)
Top 10 Ohio Counties by Tornado Frequency
Tornado activity in Ohio is geographically broad, but a handful of counties have logged many times the state average. The combination of population density (more spotters and damage reports), county land area and local climatology drives the rankings below.
| County | Tornadoes since 1950 |
|---|---|
| Van Wert | 40 |
| Franklin | 39 |
| Huron | 36 |
| Lorain | 35 |
| Miami | 35 |
| Clark | 31 |
| Warren | 31 |
| Darke | 30 |
| Richland | 30 |
| Clinton | 29 |
The Deadliest Tornadoes in Ohio History
Ohio has lost 199 lives to tornadoes since the National Weather Service began systematic tornado record-keeping in 1950. The single deadliest event killed 36 people in Greene County in 1974, rated F5 on the Fujita scale.
| Date | Location | Rating | Direct deaths | Direct injuries |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| April 3, 1974 | Greene County | F5 | 36 | 1,150 |
| April 11, 1965 | Lorain County | F4 | 17 | 100 |
| April 11, 1965 | Lucas County | F4 | 16 | 207 |
| April 11, 1965 | Allen County | F4 | 11 | 100 |
| May 31, 1985 | Trumbull County | F5 | 10 | 250 |
| April 23, 1968 | Scioto County | F5 | 7 | 75 |
| June 5, 2010 | Wood County (near Moline) | EF4 | 7 | 28 |
| June 8, 1953 | Cuyahoga County | F4 | 6 | 300 |
| June 8, 1953 | Henry County | F4 | 5 | 1 |
| May 10, 1973 | Huron County | F3 | 5 | 100 |
Ohio Tornado Strength Distribution
Most Ohio tornadoes are weak: roughly 76% are rated F0/EF0 or F1/EF1. Violent tornadoes (F2+/EF2+) account for around 23.9% of rated tornadoes in the state. Ohio is one of the few states with a confirmed F5 or EF5 tornado on record.
- F0/EF0 (weak): 535 tornadoes — 35.9% of rated events
- F1/EF1: 599 tornadoes — 40.2% of rated events
- F2/EF2 (strong): 245 tornadoes — 16.4% of rated events
- F3/EF3: 69 tornadoes — 4.6% of rated events
- F4/EF4 (violent): 34 tornadoes — 2.3% of rated events
- F5/EF5 (incredible): 9 tornadoes — 0.6% of rated events
Record-Setting Severe Weather in Ohio
Largest hailstone: 5.00 inches in diameter, observed in Ross County near Chillicothe on May 1, 2012. The three largest hailstones on record in Ohio measured 5.00″, 4.50″, 4.50″.
Highest measured wind gust: 91 knots (105 mph) recorded in Portage County near Geauga Lake on November 5, 2017. Most damaging-wind events in Ohio are estimated rather than measured because anemometers are sparse across the rural areas where supercells most often produce destructive thunderstorm winds.
How Ohio Compares Nationally
Ohio ranks 22nd nationally for tornado frequency, in the middle of the pack of US states by severe-weather activity.
- Tornadoes (top 5): Texas (9,908), Kansas (4,890), Oklahoma (4,856), Florida (3,779), Iowa (3,417).
- Ohio tornado total: 1,519 — ranked 22nd nationally.
- Ohio hail total: 8,797 hail events on record since 1950.
- Ohio wind total: 20,788 damaging-wind events on record since 1950.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many tornadoes does Ohio have on average per year?
Ohio averages 20.3 tornadoes per year over the 1950–2025 period. Counts vary widely year to year, but the long-term mean over 75 years of NWS records is a reliable benchmark for typical activity.
What was the deadliest tornado in Ohio history?
The April 3, 1974 tornado, rated F5 on the Fujita scale, killed 36 people and injured 1,150 in Greene County. It remains the single deadliest tornado in the Ohio modern record.
Where in Ohio are tornadoes most common?
The single county with the most tornadoes on record is Van Wert County with 40 events. The three most active counties overall are Van Wert, Franklin, Huron.
How does Ohio compare to its neighbors?
Ohio shares a severe-weather climate with Michigan, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Kentucky, Indiana. Severe storms regularly cross state lines, so the same supercells, hail cores and wind events often appear in Ohio’s neighbors’ records on the same date.
How recent is the data on this map?
The map and statistics on this page are pulled from NOAA’s official Storm Events Database, which currently runs from January 1950 through September 2025. New records typically appear in the database within 30–90 days of the event date, once damage surveys and ratings are complete.
Compare Ohio to Neighboring States
Severe weather doesn’t stop at state lines. The same supercell systems that produce Ohio tornadoes regularly cross into neighboring states. Compare Ohio’s storm history to its land neighbors:
- Michigan severe storm history — ranked 25th nationally, Great Lakes severe-weather and lake-effect winters
- Pennsylvania severe storm history — ranked 26th nationally, Great Lakes severe-weather and lake-effect winters
- West Virginia severe storm history — ranked 38th nationally
- Kentucky severe storm history — ranked 23rd nationally, Dixie Alley state with frequent overnight tornadoes
- Indiana severe storm history — ranked 16th nationally, Great Lakes severe-weather and lake-effect winters
Explore the national NOAA Storm Reports map · US Tornado Tracks map · US Hailstorms map
