Ashtabula County, Ohio

County storm and disaster record · FIPS 39007 · population 97,518 · 702 sq mi

NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 850 records for Ashtabula County, Ohio from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 581 days; the most frequent are severe thunderstorm wind events (320 records). The deadliest single record is the April 12, 1996 thunderstorm wind: 2 deaths and $188,000 in damage in 2025 dollars. FEMA has issued 15 declarations naming the county since 1969, 12 of them for natural hazards; the latest for a natural hazard was “Severe Storms and Flooding Due To the Remnants of Hurricane Sandy” on January 3, 2013.

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
850on 581 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
Deaths recorded
437 injuries
Damage, 2025 dollars
$167Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
Tornadoes
16strongest F4
FEMA declarations
15latest 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 Ashtabula County most?

The most frequent records are severe thunderstorm wind events: 320 since 1962. 44% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1962 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.

Ashtabula County: records by hazard, 1950 to June 30, 2026
HazardRecordsDaysFirst, lastKilledInjuredDamageRank in state
Severe thunderstorm wind 320 231 1962-2026 2 2 $8.3M 49 of 88
Winter storms 229 173 1996-2025 0 2 $50M 23 of 88
Hail 108 73 1972-2026 0 0 $466K 65 of 88
High wind and dust storms 76 58 1996-2024 0 0 $9.2M 19 of 88
Floods 52 45 1996-2025 0 0 $59M 75 of 88
Extreme cold 20 12 1996-2022 0 0 $4.6M 38 of 88
Tornadoes 16 14 1956-2017 0 29 $26M 69 of 88
Fog, smoke and funnel clouds 9 7 1996-2003 0 0 – 6 of 88
Lightning 8 7 1996-2005 0 4 $540K 17 of 88
Drought 6 6 1996-1999 0 0 $8.9M 47 of 88
Rip currents and high surf 2 2 2023-2024 2 0 – 4 of 88
Heat 2 2 1999-1999 0 0 – 70 of 88
Heavy rain 2 2 1996-1997 0 0 $63K 65 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 Ashtabula County had?

NOAA records 16 tornadoes in Ashtabula County from 1956 to 2017, the strongest rated F4, with 0 deaths and 29 injuries recorded in the county. 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 16 tornadoes whose track touched Ashtabula County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 16, the same count); along their whole tracks they killed 12 people, 0 of them in Ashtabula County.

The deadliest and strongest tornadoes that touched Ashtabula County, whole tracks
DateTornadoRatingPathKilled
1985-05-31 14:59, as SPC files itAlbionCrossed OH, PAF414 mi12
1985-05-31 15:05, as SPC files itWest FarmingtonF315 mi0

Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Ohio.

Every tornado record filed for Ashtabula County (16)
Every tornado recorded in Ashtabula County, newest first
DatePlaceCharacterKilledInjuredDamage
2017-11-05 Wick, Ashtabula County EF2 6.7 mi x 200 yd 0 0 $1.8M
2011-05-26 Pierpont, Ashtabula County EF0 1.2 mi x 100 yd 0 0 $262K
2010-06-27 Amboy, Ashtabula County EF1 2.27 mi x 100 yd 0 0 $406K
2010-06-06 West Andover, Ashtabula County EF1 4.47 mi x 100 yd 0 0 $677K
1987-07-25 Ashtabula County F1 0.5 mi x 23 yd 0 0 $25K step
1986-06-10 Ashtabula County F1 0.3 mi x 100 yd 0 0 $25K step
1985-06-22 Ashtabula County F2 27 mi x 40 yd 0 2 $250K step
1985-05-31 Ashtabula County F2 9 mi x 220 yd 0 15 $2.5M step
1985-05-31 Ashtabula County F3 6 mi x 440 yd 0 10 $2.5M step
1985-05-31 Ashtabula County F4 2 mi x 300 yd 0 0 $250K step
1972-08-07 Ashtabula County F1 1.8 mi x 200 yd 0 0 $25K step
1967-07-24 Ashtabula County F2 16.4 mi x 600 yd 0 2 $250K step
1963-04-19 Ashtabula County F2 0 0 $25K step
1961-04-16 Ashtabula County F1 7.9 mi x 33 yd 0 0 $250K step
1959-04-29 Ashtabula County F0 0 0 $3K step
1956-07-08 Ashtabula County F2 23.9 mi x 880 yd 0 0 $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.

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 Ashtabula County?

The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the June 18, 2026 thunderstorm wind ($1,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).

The 12 most recent records kept for Ashtabula County
DateRecordCharacterKilledInjuredDamage
2026-06-18 Thunderstorm WindRome, Ashtabula County 52 kt wind 0 0 $1K
2026-06-14 Thunderstorm WindGeneva On The Lake, Ashtabula County 52 kt wind 0 0 $15K
2026-06-14 Thunderstorm WindLakeshore, Ashtabula County 52 kt wind 0 0 –
2026-06-14 Thunderstorm WindJefferson, Ashtabula County 52 kt wind 0 0 –
2026-06-14 Thunderstorm WindPierpont, Ashtabula County 52 kt wind 0 0 –
2026-06-14 HailGageville, Ashtabula County 1.25 in hail 0 0 –
2026-03-31 Thunderstorm WindAshtabula Co Airport, Ashtabula County 55 kt wind 0 0 –
2025-11-27 Winter WeatherAshtabula County · forecast zone Ashtabula 0 0 –
2025-06-18 Flash FloodAshtabula County 0 0 $100K
2025-06-18 Flash FloodNorth Kingsville, Ashtabula County 0 0 –
2025-05-02 HailOrwell, Ashtabula County 1.00 in hail 0 0 –
2025-05-01 Thunderstorm WindEagleville, Ashtabula 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

Records with deaths or injuries in Ashtabula County, most deaths first
DateRecordCharacterKilledInjuredDamage
1996-04-12 Thunderstorm WindCountywide, Ashtabula County 2 0 $188K
2024-06-07 Rip CurrentAshtabula County · forecast zone Ashtabula An eleven-year-old boy drowned in a rip current at Conneaut Township Park Beach during the afternoon of June 7th. Since the news article stated the victim was swept away while visiting the park Friday afternoon, the time of the incident is estimated. 1 0 –
2023-07-29 Rip CurrentAshtabula County · forecast zone Ashtabula Lakeshore One male drowned due to rip current at Conneaut Township Park Beach. 1 0 –
1985-05-31 TornadoAshtabula County F2 9 mi x 220 yd 0 15 $2.5M step
1985-05-31 TornadoAshtabula County F3 6 mi x 440 yd 0 10 $2.5M step
1999-07-31 Thunderstorm WindCountywide, Ashtabula County Trees and power poles downed across the county with a 60 mph gust measured in Orwell. The library in Orwell lost some its siding and the Orwell Fire Department was damaged when fallen trees poked three 15 inch holes into its roof. Many trees were also downed in and around Jefferson. A large tent was blown down and ... 0 2 $106K
1999-07-03 LightningLakeshore, Ashtabula County A 26 year old male and a female of unknown age were struck by lightning while picnicking at Lakeshore Park in Ashtabula Township. Both people received minor injuries and were taken to a local hospital where they were treated and released. 0 2 –
1999-01-02 Winter StormAshtabula County · forecast zone Ashtabula Snow changed to freezing rain and sleet, with a brief change to rain as temperatures rose slightly above freezing, and then back to snow. Temperatures dropped quickly into the teens causing the wet snow and ice to refreeze and creating significant ice on the ground, roads and sidewalks. Snow accumulations generally ... 0 2 $27K

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.

The costliest records in Ashtabula County since 1993, damage in 2025 dollars
DateRecordCharacterKilledInjuredDamage
2006-07-28 Flash FloodCountywide, Ashtabula County 0 0 $20M
2020-02-01 FloodSullivan, Ashtabula County 0 0 $11M
2006-07-22 Flash FloodNorth Portion, Ashtabula County 0 0 $11M
1999-09-01 DroughtAshtabula County · forecast zone Ashtabula 0 0 $8.9M
2008-03-04 Winter StormAshtabula County · forecast zone Ashtabula 0 0 $6.9M
2020-03-01 FloodConneaut Harbor, Ashtabula County 0 0 $5.7M
1996-11-09 Heavy SnowAshtabula County · forecast zone Ashtabula 0 0 $3.8M
2008-03-04 Winter StormAshtabula County · forecast zone Ashtabula Lakeshore 0 0 $3.4M

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: May 31, 1985 (tornado, Ashtabula County); May 31, 1985 (tornado, Ashtabula 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 Ashtabula 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).

Ashtabula County: records per decade (the 2020s to June 30, 2026)
Hazard1950s1960s1970s1980s1990s2000s2010s2020-26
Severe thunderstorm wind03203966717447
Winter storms––––32827342
Hail00432743256
High wind and dust storms––––1236226
Floods––––171997
Extreme cold––––23132

Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).

What time of year?

44% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1962 fell in June and July. The two busiest months are in violet.

The values, month by month

Jan 97 · Feb 63 · Mar 52 · Apr 43 · May 85 · Jun 125 · Jul 95 · Aug 101 · Sep 42 · Oct 22 · Nov 46 · Dec 79 (records).

Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.

Federal disaster declarations for Ashtabula County

FEMA's register lists 15 declarations that include Ashtabula County: 8 major disasters, 7 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for severe storm (3) and snowstorm (3).

Declarations including Ashtabula County, newest first
DeclaredNumberTypeTitle
2020-03-31DR-4507BiologicalCovid-19 Pandemic
2020-03-13EM-3457BiologicalCovid-19
2013-01-03DR-4098HurricaneSevere Storms and Flooding Due to the Remnants of Hurricane Sandy
2012-06-30EM-3346Severe StormSevere Storms
2008-04-24EM-3286SnowstormRecord Snow and Near Record Snow
2006-08-01DR-1656Severe StormSevere Storms, Straight Line Winds, and Flooding
2005-09-13EM-3250HurricaneHurricane Katrina Evacuation
2004-09-19DR-1556Severe StormSevere Storms and Flooding
2003-09-23EM-3187OtherPower Outage
1985-06-03DR-738TornadoSevere Storms & Tornadoes
1978-01-26EM-3055SnowstormBlizzards & Snowstorms
1977-02-02EM-3029SnowstormSnowstorms
1973-04-27DR-377FloodSevere Storms & Flooding
1972-07-19DR-345FloodTropical Storm Agnes
1969-07-15DR-266TornadoTornadoes, Severe Storms & Flooding

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 Ashtabula County had?

NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 52 flood or flash flood records for Ashtabula County from 1996 to 2025, on 45 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Ashtabula County ranks 1101st of 2,942 U.S. counties.

The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $2.0 million on 146 claims filed in Ashtabula County; the most in one year was 19 in 2006. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.

The values, year by year

1978: 3 · 1979: 14 · 1980: 7 · 1981: 11 · 1982: 1 · 1984: 1 · 1985: 5 · 1986: 3 · 1987: 2 · 1988: 3 · 1989: 11 · 1990: 6 · 1991: 1 · 1992: 1 · 1994: 3 · 1996: 5 · 1997: 6 · 1998: 2 · 2001: 2 · 2002: 2 · 2003: 2 · 2004: 5 · 2006: 19 · 2008: 8 · 2009: 1 · 2011: 7 · 2012: 2 · 2013: 2 · 2015: 1 · 2018: 1 · 2020: 1 · 2021: 2 · 2022: 1 · 2024: 4 · 2025: 1; 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 Ashtabula County

FEMA's National Risk Index rates Ashtabula County Relatively Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $19.5 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.

National Risk Index ratings for Ashtabula County (December 2025 release), by FEMA's rating, then score
HazardRisk ratingExpected annual lossModeled frequency
Winter WeatherRelatively High$319K25 a year (modeled)
Strong WindRelatively High$1.5M1.6 a year (modeled)
TornadoRelatively Moderate$3.2Monce in about 3 years (modeled)
Ice StormRelatively Moderate$176K1.2 a year (modeled)
LightningRelatively Moderate$315K39 a year (modeled)
Riverine FloodingRelatively Low$12M1.5 a year (modeled)
HailRelatively Low$458K3 a year (modeled)
Heat WaveRelatively Low$332K1.3 modeled event-days a year

Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.

Counties that share a border with Ashtabula County

  1. Erie County, PA 1,264
  2. Crawford County, PA 1,053
  3. Trumbull County 855
  4. Geauga County 854
  5. Ashtabula County 850
  6. Lake County 620

Source: U.S. Census Bureau county adjacency file; NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records since 1950. The Census Bureau's adjacency file.

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