Allen County, Ohio
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 39003 · population 102,191 · 403 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 392 records for Allen County, Ohio from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 291 days; the most frequent are severe thunderstorm wind events (187 records). The deadliest single record is the April 11, 1965 tornado: 11 deaths and 100 injuries. FEMA has issued 10 declarations naming the county since 1965, 8 of them for natural hazards; the latest for a natural hazard was “Severe Storms and Straight-Line Winds” on August 20, 2012.
The record, 1950 to 2026
Storm records filed for the county each year (2026 to June 30, 2026). Before 1996 NOAA recorded only tornadoes (from 1950), thunderstorm wind and hail (from 1955).
- recorded, no damage figure
- under $100,000
- $100,000 or more
- $1 million or more
- $10 million or more, or a death
- $100 million or more, or 10 deaths
- a year's colour: its recorded damage or deaths
- a year with a death
- 1955: wind and hail recorded from 1955
- 1996: all 48 event types from 1996
- Storm records
- 392on 291 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 11135 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $63Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 23strongest F4
- FEMA declarations
- 10latest 2020
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records through June 30, 2026 (file revision 20260918); damage converted to 2025 dollars with the BLS CPI-U. Search the record at NCEI. BLS consumer price index.
What hazards hit Allen County most?
The most frequent records are severe thunderstorm wind events: 187 since 1955. 58% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1955 fell in June and July. The rank column places the county among Ohio's counties by days with a record per 1,000 square miles of land over each hazard's complete period.
| Hazard | Records | Days | First, last | Killed | Injured | Damage | Rank in state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 187 | 135 | 1955-2026 | 0 | 4 | $3.9M | 45 of 88 |
| Winter storms | 73 | 73 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 0 | $94K | 39 of 88 |
| Hail | 64 | 47 | 1959-2025 | 0 | 0 | $101K | 53 of 88 |
| Tornadoes | 23 | 19 | 1950-2023 | 11 | 131 | $57M | 19 of 88 |
| High wind and dust storms | 22 | 22 | 1997-2026 | 0 | 0 | $23K | 39 of 88 |
| Floods | 13 | 13 | 1996-2020 | 0 | 0 | $855K | 86 of 88 |
| Extreme cold | 6 | 6 | 1996-2024 | 0 | 0 | $38K | 45 of 88 |
| Lightning | 3 | 2 | 2006-2006 | 0 | 0 | $293K | 33 of 88 |
| Heavy rain | 1 | 1 | 2020-2020 | 0 | 0 | – | 68 of 88 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (county and forecast-zone records attributed to the county; a zone record shows its own totals on each county it covers). Days: dates with at least one record of the hazard in the county. Ranks: days with a record per 1,000 square miles of land (Census Bureau 2024 Gazetteer), since 1950 for tornadoes, 1955 for hail and thunderstorm wind, 1996 for the rest.
How many tornadoes has Allen County had?
NOAA records 23 tornadoes in Allen County from 1950 to 2023, the strongest rated F4, with 11 deaths and 131 injuries recorded in the county. That is 19th of 88 Ohio counties by days with tornadoes per 1,000 square miles since 1950. A tornado that crossed a county line is counted in each county it touched, with the length of its path inside the county.
Counted as whole tornadoes rather than county records, the Storm Prediction Center's database holds 23 tornadoes whose track touched Allen County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 23, the same count); along their whole tracks they killed 13 people, 11 of them in Allen County.
| Date | Tornado | Rating | Path | Killed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1965-04-11 20:30, as SPC files it | Bluffton | F4 | 32.5 mi | 13 |
| 1971-06-02 14:00, as SPC files it | Bluffton to Carey | F3 | 31.5 mi | 0 |
| 1950-07-19 15:15, as SPC files it | Lima | F3 | 9.7 mi | 0 |
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Ohio.
Every tornado record filed for Allen County (23)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-04-01 | Westminster, Allen County | EF0 0.62 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $19K |
| 2023-04-01 | Westminster, Allen County | EF0 0.23 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $10K |
| 2023-04-01 | Lafayette, Allen County | EF0 0.78 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2021-08-11 | Landeck, Allen County | EF0 3.87 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2011-04-19 | Spencerville, Allen County | EF0 1.94 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2011-04-19 | Cairo, Allen County | EF1 0.71 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2010-10-26 | Ft Shawnee, Allen County | EF0 1.39 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | $11K |
| 2010-06-11 | Lima, Allen County | EF0 0.13 mi x 25 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2006-06-22 | Beaverdam, Allen County | F1 0.1 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $37K |
| 2003-08-26 | Lima, Allen County | F0 0.1 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | $2K |
| 2002-09-20 | Delphos, Allen County | F1 0.1 mi x 25 yd | 0 | 0 | $82K |
| 1998-07-19 | Lima, Allen County | F0 0.1 mi x 25 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1992-02-18 | Allen County | F0 0.2 mi x 13 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1981-06-21 | Allen County | F1 2.7 mi x 33 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K step |
| 1980-04-08 | Allen County | F1 0.5 mi x 77 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K step |
| 1980-04-08 | Allen County | F1 1 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 1 | $250K step |
| 1979-07-30 | Allen County | F0 | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1973-06-26 | Allen County | F0 0.2 mi x 17 yd | 0 | 0 | $250 step |
| 1971-06-02 | Allen County | F3 31.5 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1970-08-22 | Allen County | 0 | 0 | $3K step | |
| 1965-05-26 | Allen County | F1 | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1965-04-11 | Allen County | F4 17.8 mi x 400 yd | 11 | 100 | $2.5M step |
| 1950-07-19 | Allen County | F3 9.7 mi x 300 yd | 0 | 30 | $2.5M step |
A damage figure marked "step" is a record from before 1993: NOAA then filed damage by category, and the figure is the category as entered, in the dollars of that year, not an estimate of the loss.
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, tornado records by county (path length in the county, maximum width); ratings as published: F scale before February 1, 2007, EF scale after. Whole-track figures: NOAA Storm Prediction Center tornado database (1950-2025). SPC severe weather database.
When was the last damaging storm in Allen County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the June 17, 2026 thunderstorm wind ($30,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-17 | Thunderstorm WindBluffton, Allen County | 61 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $30K |
| 2026-06-17 | Thunderstorm WindSpencerville, Allen County | 61 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2026-05-19 | Thunderstorm WindAllentown, Allen County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2026-03-13 | High WindAllen County · forecast zone Allen | 64 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-01-24 | Winter StormAllen County · forecast zone Allen | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-14 | Winter WeatherAllen County · forecast zone Allen | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-11-29 | Winter WeatherAllen County · forecast zone Allen | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-06-18 | Thunderstorm WindLima, Allen County | 61 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $20K |
| 2025-06-18 | Thunderstorm WindKemp, Allen County | 61 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $50K |
| 2025-05-16 | Thunderstorm WindHarrod, Allen County | 61 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2025-05-16 | Thunderstorm WindDelphos, Allen County | 61 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $10K |
| 2025-04-02 | Thunderstorm WindAllen Co Airport, Allen County | 55 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database; every record of 2025-2026 is listed, earlier ones when they caused deaths, injuries or $250,000 of damage (2025 dollars), and every tornado.
The deadliest and costliest records
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1965-04-11 | TornadoAllen County | F4 17.8 mi x 400 yd | 11 | 100 | $2.5M step |
| 1950-07-19 | TornadoAllen County | F3 9.7 mi x 300 yd | 0 | 30 | $2.5M step |
| 2006-06-22 | Thunderstorm WindLima, Allen County Widespread tree and power line damage throughout the city of Lima. Along a strech of Shawnee Rd. from Fort Amanda Rd. to Reed Rd., every power pole and traffic signal was blown over, completely blocking the road. The roof of an automotive shop at Jackson St. and Findlay Rd. collapsed. Numerous homes and businesses ... | 70 kt wind | 0 | 2 | $293K |
| 2008-06-09 | Thunderstorm WindLima, Allen County Emergency management officials reported that part of a wall from a building fell onto a man walking by, causing minor injuries. | 60 kt wind | 0 | 1 | – |
| 1989-07-27 | Thunderstorm WindAllen County | 0 | 1 | – | |
| 1980-04-08 | TornadoAllen County | F1 1 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 1 | $250K step |
A damage figure marked "step" is a record from before 1993: NOAA then filed damage by category, and the figure is the category as entered, in the dollars of that year, not an estimate of the loss.
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006-06-22 | Thunderstorm WindLima, Allen County | 70 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $2.3M |
| 2006-06-22 | Thunderstorm WindLima, Allen County | 70 kt wind | 0 | 2 | $293K |
| 2002-09-20 | TornadoDelphos, Allen County | F1 0.1 mi x 25 yd | 0 | 0 | $82K |
| 2006-06-22 | Thunderstorm WindLima, Allen County | 70 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $73K |
| 2006-06-22 | TornadoBeaverdam, Allen County | F1 0.1 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $37K |
| 2026-06-17 | Thunderstorm WindBluffton, Allen County | 61 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $30K |
| 2006-06-22 | Thunderstorm WindLima, Allen County | 70 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $29K |
| 2025-06-18 | Thunderstorm WindLima, Allen County | 61 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $20K |
Before 1993 NOAA filed damage by category, not amount, so the list above starts in 1993. The highest category filed here before then (entered as $2.5M, in the dollars of the day) holds: April 11, 1965 (tornado, Allen County, 11 killed); July 19, 1950 (tornado, Allen County).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database: deaths and injuries direct and indirect; damage is property plus crops as estimated by the National Weather Service, converted to 2025 dollars.
Is it getting more frequent?
Records per decade for Allen County's most frequent hazards. Counts rose everywhere after 1996, when NOAA began recording every event type, so compare decades within a hazard's complete period only (the shaded cells come before it).
| Hazard | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020-26 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 2 | 4 | 8 | 18 | 34 | 48 | 45 | 28 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 4 | 18 | 39 | 12 |
| Hail | 1 | 2 | 0 | 11 | 12 | 11 | 19 | 8 |
| Tornadoes | 1 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 4 |
| High wind and dust storms | – | – | – | – | 1 | 9 | 6 | 6 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 4 | 3 | 5 | 1 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
58% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1955 fell in June and July. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 27 · Feb 33 · Mar 30 · Apr 33 · May 49 · Jun 73 · Jul 73 · Aug 26 · Sep 11 · Oct 5 · Nov 14 · Dec 18 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Allen County
FEMA's register lists 10 declarations that include Allen County: 6 major disasters, 4 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for severe storm (5) and biological (2).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020-03-31 | DR-4507 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020-03-13 | EM-3457 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2012-08-20 | DR-4077 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Straight-Line Winds |
| 2012-06-30 | EM-3346 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms |
| 2007-08-27 | DR-1720 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes |
| 2005-09-13 | EM-3250 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2005-02-15 | DR-1580 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides |
| 2004-09-19 | DR-1556 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 1978-01-26 | EM-3055 | Snowstorm | Blizzards & Snowstorms |
| 1965-04-14 | DR-191 | Tornado | Tornadoes & Severe Storms |
Source: FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (v2), declarations through October 2, 2026; one declaration is counted once however many areas it names. OpenFEMA dataset page.
How many floods has Allen County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 13 flood or flash flood records for Allen County from 1996 to 2020, on 13 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Allen County ranks 815th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $4.1 million on 259 claims filed in Allen County; the most in one year was 47 in 2015. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1978: 3 · 1979: 10 · 1980: 2 · 1981: 26 · 1982: 4 · 1984: 1 · 1986: 4 · 1988: 1 · 1989: 1 · 1990: 2 · 1992: 9 · 1997: 10 · 2003: 1 · 2004: 2 · 2005: 3 · 2006: 1 · 2007: 25 · 2008: 10 · 2009: 7 · 2011: 33 · 2013: 5 · 2014: 1 · 2015: 47 · 2016: 3 · 2017: 11 · 2018: 3 · 2019: 27 · 2020: 2 · 2021: 1 · 2022: 2 · 2023: 2; the other years: 0.
Source: FEMA OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Claims, as of September 8, 2026; claims by year of loss, payments in the dollars of the year paid. OpenFEMA dataset page.
FEMA's modeled risk for Allen County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Allen County Relatively Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $31.9 million. These are FEMA's model estimates of future loss from 18 hazards, not a count of what happened; they can differ from the record above.
| Hazard | Risk rating | Expected annual loss | Modeled frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively Moderate | $23M | once in about 3 years (modeled) |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate | $1.4M | 3.1 a year (modeled) |
| Hail | Relatively Moderate | $834K | 3.3 a year (modeled) |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Moderate | $192K | 9.9 a year (modeled) |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Moderate | $356K | about once a year (modeled) |
| Tornado | Relatively Moderate | $3.0M | once in about 4 years (modeled) |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low | $2.3M | once in about 539 years (modeled) |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | $291K | 42 a year (modeled) |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
Counties that share a border with Allen County
Source: U.S. Census Bureau county adjacency file; NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records since 1950. The Census Bureau's adjacency file.
Next
- Tornadoes in OhioEvery Ohio tornado since 1950 and the counties with the most per square mile
- Severe thunderstorm wind in OhioThe state's severe thunderstorm wind events, by county, year and month
- The Ohio recordEvery hazard in the state, its deadliest events and its federal declarations
- FEMA's risk rating for each hazard in Allen CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Allen County's FEMA declarations (CSV)10 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis