Ohio recorded 1,372 tornadoes from 1950 through 2024, an average of 18 a year, in NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center database. They killed 199 people. The busiest year was 2024, with 73.
Tornadoes per 1,000 square miles since 1950: none under 10 10 to 25 25 to 50 50 to 75 75 to 100 over 100. Tap a county for its history.
Tornadoes by year
The rise since the 1990s is mostly better detection of weak tornadoes, not a jump in strong ones.
Tornado season in Ohio
June is the peak, with 288 tornadoes since 1950 (21% of the total).
How strong
| Rating | Estimated 3-second gust | Tornadoes |
|---|---|---|
| F0 / EF0 | Light damage: 65 to 85 mph (EF scale) | 501 |
| F1 / EF1 | Moderate: 86 to 110 mph | 569 |
| F2 / EF2 | Considerable: 111 to 135 mph | 222 |
| F3 / EF3 | Severe: 136 to 165 mph | 50 |
| F4 / EF4 | Devastating: 166 to 200 mph | 19 |
| F5 / EF5 | Incredible: over 200 mph | 4 |
| EF-U | Unknown: no damage to rate (mostly since 2016) | 7 |
Ohio has had 4 F5 or EF5 tornadoes, the top of the scale.
The deadliest tornadoes in Ohio
| Date | Rating | Deaths in Ohio | Counties |
|---|---|---|---|
| April 3, 1974 | F5 (the Xenia tornado) | 36 | Clark County, Greene County |
| April 11, 1965 | F4 | 18 | Cuyahoga County, Lorain County |
| June 8, 1953 | F4 | 17 | Cuyahoga County, Erie County, Henry County, Lorain County, Sandusky County, Wood County |
| April 11, 1965 | F4 | 16 | Lucas County |
| April 11, 1965 | F4 | 13 | Allen County, Hancock County |
| May 31, 1985 | F5 | 10 | Portage County, Trumbull County |
| April 23, 1968 | F5 | 7 | Gallia County, Lawrence County, Scioto County |
| June 5, 2010 | EF4 | 7 | Ottawa County, Wood County |
| May 10, 1973 | F3 | 6 | Huron County, Seneca County |
| August 20, 1962 | F2 | 4 | Cuyahoga County |
Counties with the most tornadoes
| County | Tornadoes since 1950 | Per 1,000 sq mi | Strongest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Franklin County | 40 | 73 | F3 |
| Van Wert County | 38 | 93 | F4 |
| Miami County | 36 | 88 | EF3 |
| Huron County | 36 | 73 | F3 |
| Lorain County | 34 | 69 | F4 |
| Clinton County | 33 | 80 | F4 |
| Darke County | 32 | 53 | EF3 |
| Clark County | 32 | 80 | F5 |
| Warren County | 31 | 77 | F4 |
| Medina County | 30 | 71 | F3 |
| Richland County | 30 | 60 | EF2 |
| Pickaway County | 29 | 57 | F3 |
| Licking County | 29 | 42 | F3 |
| Mercer County | 29 | 61 | F4 |
| Wood County | 28 | 45 | EF4 |
Big counties collect more tornadoes simply because they are big. By area, the most tornado-dense counties are Van Wert County (93 per 1,000 sq mi), Miami County (88 per 1,000 sq mi), Clinton County (80 per 1,000 sq mi), Clark County (80 per 1,000 sq mi), Warren County (77 per 1,000 sq mi).
Every county in Ohio
Staying safe
When a tornado warning is issued, act at once. Go to a basement, storm shelter or safe room. With none, use a small windowless room on the lowest floor, as far from outside walls as you can, and cover your head and neck. Mobile homes and cars are not safe places to ride out a tornado: leave early for a sturdy building or shelter. Read the full tornado safety guide and the National Weather Service advice linked below.
Sources
- NOAA Storm Prediction Center: Severe Weather Database, tornadoes 1950 to 2024 (public domain)
- NOAA Storm Prediction Center: The Enhanced Fujita Scale (EF scale)
- National Weather Service: Tornado safety
Sources last checked 1 November 2026.
Frequently asked questions
How many tornadoes does Ohio get a year?
About 18 on average from 1950 to 2024; recent years run higher because weak tornadoes are better detected.
When is tornado season in Ohio?
June has had the most. Spring and early summer bring most of them.
What was the deadliest tornado in Ohio?
April 3, 1974: 36 deaths in Ohio (the Xenia tornado).