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.
| Hazard | Records | Days | First, last | Killed | Injured | Damage | Rank 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.
| Date | Tornado | Rating | Path | Killed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1985-05-31 14:59, as SPC files it | AlbionCrossed OH, PA | F4 | 14 mi | 12 |
| 1985-05-31 15:05, as SPC files it | West Farmington | F3 | 15 mi | 0 |
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Ohio.
Every tornado record filed for Ashtabula County (16)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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).
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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).
| Hazard | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020-26 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 0 | 3 | 20 | 39 | 66 | 71 | 74 | 47 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 32 | 82 | 73 | 42 |
| Hail | 0 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 27 | 43 | 25 | 6 |
| High wind and dust storms | – | – | – | – | 12 | 36 | 22 | 6 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 17 | 19 | 9 | 7 |
| Extreme cold | – | – | – | – | 2 | 3 | 13 | 2 |
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).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020-03-31 | DR-4507 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020-03-13 | EM-3457 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2013-01-03 | DR-4098 | Hurricane | Severe Storms and Flooding Due to the Remnants of Hurricane Sandy |
| 2012-06-30 | EM-3346 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms |
| 2008-04-24 | EM-3286 | Snowstorm | Record Snow and Near Record Snow |
| 2006-08-01 | DR-1656 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight Line Winds, and Flooding |
| 2005-09-13 | EM-3250 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2004-09-19 | DR-1556 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 2003-09-23 | EM-3187 | Other | Power Outage |
| 1985-06-03 | DR-738 | Tornado | Severe Storms & Tornadoes |
| 1978-01-26 | EM-3055 | Snowstorm | Blizzards & Snowstorms |
| 1977-02-02 | EM-3029 | Snowstorm | Snowstorms |
| 1973-04-27 | DR-377 | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding |
| 1972-07-19 | DR-345 | Flood | Tropical Storm Agnes |
| 1969-07-15 | DR-266 | Tornado | Tornadoes, 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.
| Hazard | Risk rating | Expected annual loss | Modeled frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winter Weather | Relatively High | $319K | 25 a year (modeled) |
| Strong Wind | Relatively High | $1.5M | 1.6 a year (modeled) |
| Tornado | Relatively Moderate | $3.2M | once in about 3 years (modeled) |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Moderate | $176K | 1.2 a year (modeled) |
| Lightning | Relatively Moderate | $315K | 39 a year (modeled) |
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively Low | $12M | 1.5 a year (modeled) |
| Hail | Relatively Low | $458K | 3 a year (modeled) |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | $332K | 1.3 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
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 Ashtabula CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Ashtabula County's FEMA declarations (CSV)15 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis