Champaign County, Ohio
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 39021 · population 38,673 · 429 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 444 records for Champaign County, Ohio from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 359 days; the most frequent are severe thunderstorm wind events (173 records). The deadliest single record is the July 12, 2008 flash flood: 1 death and $21,000 in damage in 2025 dollars. FEMA has issued 11 declarations naming the county since 1978, 9 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
- 444on 359 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 18 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $14Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 8strongest F3
- FEMA declarations
- 11latest 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 Champaign County most?
The most frequent records are severe thunderstorm wind events: 173 since 1958. 53% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1958 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 | 173 | 139 | 1958-2026 | 0 | 1 | $1.7M | 51 of 88 |
| Winter storms | 124 | 124 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 0 | $990K | 15 of 88 |
| Hail | 61 | 44 | 1960-2026 | 0 | 0 | $65K | 66 of 88 |
| Floods | 47 | 42 | 1996-2026 | 1 | 0 | $273K | 60 of 88 |
| High wind and dust storms | 13 | 13 | 1997-2026 | 0 | 0 | $6.5M | 72 of 88 |
| Tornadoes | 8 | 8 | 1958-2024 | 0 | 4 | $3.6M | 72 of 88 |
| Heat | 5 | 5 | 1999-2019 | 0 | 0 | – | 28 of 88 |
| Heavy rain | 5 | 3 | 2011-2015 | 0 | 0 | $1K | 31 of 88 |
| Extreme cold | 4 | 4 | 1996-2022 | 0 | 0 | $806K | 67 of 88 |
| Drought | 2 | 2 | 1999-1999 | 0 | 0 | – | 61 of 88 |
| Lightning | 1 | 1 | 2002-2002 | 0 | 3 | – | 55 of 88 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 1 | 1 | 2019-2019 | 0 | 0 | – | 36 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 Champaign County had?
NOAA records 8 tornadoes in Champaign County from 1958 to 2024, the strongest rated F3, with 0 deaths and 4 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 9 tornadoes whose track touched Champaign County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 8: they file a crossing tornado once per county segment, and the two databases differ on some tracks); along their whole tracks they killed 0 people.
| Date | Tornado | Rating | Path | Killed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1973-05-10 16:49, as SPC files it | Columbus | F3 | 89.6 mi | 0 |
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Ohio.
Every tornado record filed for Champaign County (8)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-04-17 | Cable, Champaign County | EF0 3 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 0 | $24K |
| 2023-06-11 | Christiansburg, Champaign County | EF0 0.83 mi x 125 yd | 0 | 0 | $19K |
| 2022-06-08 | Lippincotts, Champaign County | EF0 5.69 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 0 | $151K |
| 2014-07-27 | Mutual, Champaign County | EF0 0.07 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $19K |
| 1999-04-09 | Middletown, Champaign County | F1 0.5 mi x 220 yd | 0 | 0 | $531K |
| 1973-05-10 | Champaign County | F3 19.2 mi x 300 yd | 0 | 0 | $3K step |
| 1965-11-16 | Champaign County | F2 0.2 mi x 33 yd | 0 | 4 | $25K step |
| 1958-06-13 | Champaign County | F2 5.1 mi x 33 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 Champaign County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the June 6, 2026 thunderstorm wind ($8,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-06 | Thunderstorm WindUrbana, Champaign County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $8K |
| 2026-05-23 | FloodEris, Champaign County | 0 | 0 | $5K | |
| 2026-05-16 | HailCable, Champaign County | 0.88 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-05-16 | HailUrbana, Champaign County | 1.25 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-03-13 | Strong WindChampaign County · forecast zone Champaign | 49 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-03-11 | Thunderstorm WindUrbana, Champaign County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $3K |
| 2026-03-02 | Winter WeatherChampaign County · forecast zone Champaign | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-02-06 | Winter WeatherChampaign County · forecast zone Champaign | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-24 | Winter StormChampaign County · forecast zone Champaign | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-14 | Winter WeatherChampaign County · forecast zone Champaign | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-12-13 | Winter WeatherChampaign County · forecast zone Champaign | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-12-01 | Winter WeatherChampaign County · forecast zone Champaign | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008-07-12 | Flash FloodWestville, Champaign County A twelve year old boy drowned when he was swept into a flooded culvert. Several roads were flooded and a number of homes in Urbana had high water in basements. | 1 | 0 | $21K | |
| 1965-11-16 | TornadoChampaign County | F2 0.2 mi x 33 yd | 0 | 4 | $25K step |
| 2002-05-12 | LightningUrbana, Champaign County A 12-year old boy was seriously injured by a lightning strike. Two other boys with him, ages 8 and 11, also complained of minor muscle spasms in their legs. | 0 | 3 | – | |
| 2006-08-03 | Thunderstorm WindCountywide, Champaign County Large tree limbs were knocked down. One woman was injured in Urbana when a tree limb fell on her vehicle. | 50 kt wind | 0 | 1 | $12K |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008-09-14 | High WindChampaign County · forecast zone Champaign | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $6.4M |
| 1999-04-09 | TornadoMiddletown, Champaign County | F1 0.5 mi x 220 yd | 0 | 0 | $531K |
| 2022-06-08 | TornadoLippincotts, Champaign County | EF0 5.69 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 0 | $151K |
| 2011-08-07 | Thunderstorm WindNorthville, Champaign County | 78 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $92K |
| 2024-04-17 | TornadoCable, Champaign County | EF0 3 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 0 | $24K |
| 2008-07-12 | Flash FloodWestville, Champaign County | 1 | 0 | $21K | |
| 2023-06-11 | TornadoChristiansburg, Champaign County | EF0 0.83 mi x 125 yd | 0 | 0 | $19K |
| 2014-07-27 | TornadoMutual, Champaign County | EF0 0.07 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $19K |
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 $250K, in the dollars of the day) holds: June 13, 1958 (tornado, Champaign 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 Champaign 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 | 0 | 6 | 20 | 29 | 40 | 45 | 31 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 10 | 24 | 66 | 24 |
| Hail | 0 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 9 | 11 | 28 | 4 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 5 | 17 | 18 | 7 |
| High wind and dust storms | – | – | – | – | 1 | 7 | 2 | 3 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
53% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1958 fell in June and July. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 51 · Feb 39 · Mar 39 · Apr 29 · May 60 · Jun 70 · Jul 71 · Aug 22 · Sep 12 · Oct 3 · Nov 14 · Dec 34 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Champaign County
FEMA's register lists 11 declarations that include Champaign County: 6 major disasters, 5 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for severe storm (6) 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 |
| 2008-10-24 | DR-1805 | Severe Storm | Severe Wind Storm Associated With Tropical Depression Ike |
| 2005-09-13 | EM-3250 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2005-02-15 | DR-1580 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides |
| 2005-01-11 | EM-3198 | Snowstorm | Snow |
| 2004-09-19 | DR-1556 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 1995-08-25 | DR-1065 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 1978-01-26 | EM-3055 | Snowstorm | Blizzards & Snowstorms |
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 Champaign County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 47 flood or flash flood records for Champaign County from 1996 to 2026, on 42 days, with 1 death. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Champaign County ranks 1800th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $252,000 on 38 claims filed in Champaign County; the most in one year was 5 in 1999. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1979: 1 · 1980: 1 · 1990: 1 · 1993: 1 · 1995: 4 · 1999: 5 · 2000: 3 · 2004: 1 · 2005: 3 · 2007: 1 · 2008: 4 · 2009: 1 · 2012: 1 · 2013: 1 · 2014: 1 · 2015: 1 · 2017: 3 · 2018: 1 · 2019: 2 · 2020: 1 · 2024: 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 Champaign County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Champaign County Very Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $10.5 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ice Storm | Relatively Low | $145K | about once a year (modeled) |
| Hail | Relatively Low | $385K | 3.4 a year (modeled) |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | $78K | 12 a year (modeled) |
| Drought | Relatively Low | $176K | 0.6 modeled event-days a year |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | $1.3M | once in about 4 years (modeled) |
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively Low | $6.5M | 1.4 a year (modeled) |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | $205K | 45 a year (modeled) |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | $741K | 4.7 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 Champaign 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 Champaign CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Champaign County's FEMA declarations (CSV)11 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis