Fayette County, Ohio
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 39047 · population 28,951 · 406 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 452 records for Fayette County, Ohio from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 352 days; the most frequent are severe thunderstorm wind events (169 records). The deadliest single record is the March 10, 1986 tornado: 1 death. FEMA has issued 11 declarations naming the county since 1968, 9 of them for natural hazards; the latest for a natural hazard was “Severe Storms” on June 30, 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
- 452on 352 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 18 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $25Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 18strongest 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 Fayette County most?
The most frequent records are severe thunderstorm wind events: 169 since 1958. 45% 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 | 169 | 135 | 1958-2026 | 0 | 3 | $1.6M | 46 of 88 |
| Winter storms | 116 | 115 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 0 | $1.1M | 16 of 88 |
| Hail | 67 | 50 | 1967-2025 | 0 | 0 | $218K | 47 of 88 |
| Floods | 51 | 35 | 1997-2026 | 0 | 0 | $145K | 65 of 88 |
| High wind and dust storms | 18 | 17 | 2000-2026 | 0 | 0 | $4.6M | 52 of 88 |
| Tornadoes | 18 | 15 | 1965-2025 | 1 | 5 | $16M | 36 of 88 |
| Heat | 6 | 6 | 1999-2023 | 0 | 0 | – | 15 of 88 |
| Extreme cold | 4 | 4 | 1996-2022 | 0 | 0 | $806K | 61 of 88 |
| Drought | 2 | 2 | 1999-1999 | 0 | 0 | – | 54 of 88 |
| Heavy rain | 1 | 1 | 2011-2011 | 0 | 0 | $1K | 72 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 Fayette County had?
NOAA records 18 tornadoes in Fayette County from 1965 to 2025, the strongest rated F3, with 1 death and 5 injuries recorded in the county. That is 36th 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 18 tornadoes whose track touched Fayette County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 18, the same count); along their whole tracks they killed 1 person.
| Date | Tornado | Rating | Path | Killed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1986-03-10 15:25, as SPC files it | Washington Court House | F2 | 28 mi | 1 |
| 1965-11-16 17:50, as SPC files it | Washington Court House | F3 | 3.8 mi | 0 |
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Ohio.
Every tornado record filed for Fayette County (18)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-04-03 | Good Hope, Fayette County | EF0 4.25 mi x 350 yd | 0 | 0 | $15K |
| 2025-03-30 | Jeffersonville, Fayette County | EF1 3.91 mi x 250 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K |
| 2019-05-27 | Pleasant View, Fayette County | EF0 0.71 mi x 250 yd | 0 | 0 | $3K |
| 2017-05-24 | Luttrell, Fayette County | EF0 0.72 mi x 25 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2016-06-23 | Milledgeville, Fayette County | EF1 3.8 mi x 300 yd | 0 | 0 | $148K |
| 2011-05-26 | Yatesville, Fayette County | EF0 0.99 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 0 | $66K |
| 2011-05-26 | Bloomingburg, Fayette County | EF0 0.46 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 0 | $46K |
| 2010-10-26 | Good Hope, Fayette County | EF0 0.14 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2010-10-26 | Good Hope, Fayette County | EF0 5.51 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | $102K |
| 2004-05-27 | Rock Mills, Fayette County | F1 2.5 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 1 | $78K |
| 2004-05-27 | Washington Court Hou, Fayette County | F0 0.1 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1999-10-13 | Pancoastburg, Fayette County | F0 0.1 mi x 25 yd | 0 | 0 | $53K |
| 1997-05-14 | Jasper Mills, Fayette County | F1 3 mi x 500 yd | 0 | 0 | $55K |
| 1990-09-14 | Fayette County | F2 7 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | $2.5M step |
| 1986-03-10 | Fayette County | F2 22 mi x 100 yd | 1 | 0 | $2.5M step |
| 1983-05-02 | Fayette County | F1 10 mi x 83 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K step |
| 1971-02-22 | Fayette County | F2 2 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1965-11-16 | Fayette County | F3 3.8 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 4 | $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 Fayette County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the June 12, 2026 thunderstorm wind ($1,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-12 | Thunderstorm WindWashington Court Hou, Fayette County | 45 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2026-03-15 | Strong WindFayette County · forecast zone Fayette | 41 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-03-13 | Strong WindFayette County · forecast zone Fayette | 40 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-03-13 | High WindFayette County · forecast zone Fayette | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-03-05 | Flash FloodJasper Mills, Fayette County | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-03-05 | FloodStaunton, Fayette County | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-02-06 | Winter WeatherFayette County · forecast zone Fayette | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-24 | Winter StormFayette County · forecast zone Fayette | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-14 | Winter WeatherFayette County · forecast zone Fayette | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-12-01 | Winter StormFayette County · forecast zone Fayette | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-11-10 | Winter WeatherFayette County · forecast zone Fayette | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-07-27 | Thunderstorm WindWhite Oak, Fayette County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $500 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1986-03-10 | TornadoFayette County | F2 22 mi x 100 yd | 1 | 0 | $2.5M step |
| 1965-11-16 | TornadoFayette County | F3 3.8 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 4 | $250K step |
| 1999-10-13 | Thunderstorm WindBloomingburg, Fayette County A downburst from a thunderstorm blew a mobile home on its side causing minor injuries to the two occupants. Trees and utility poles were also uprooted and knocked across main roads and railroad tracks. | 0 | 2 | $89K | |
| 2014-07-13 | Thunderstorm WindJeffersonville, Fayette County A camper was rolled over and heavily damaged due to thunderstorm winds, injuring a man inside the camper. A semi-trailer truck was blown over on Interstate 71 near the intersection of SR 41. Numerous trees were also downed in the area. | 65 kt wind | 0 | 1 | $25K |
| 2004-05-27 | TornadoRock Mills, Fayette County A tornado touched down near Ghormley and traveled east into western Ross County. Three barns were severely damaged, with one man suffering injuries from being trapped in one of the damaged barns. | F1 2.5 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 1 | $78K |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016-06-23 | TornadoMilledgeville, Fayette County | EF1 3.8 mi x 300 yd | 0 | 0 | $148K |
| 1999-10-13 | Thunderstorm WindBloomingburg, Fayette County | 0 | 2 | $89K | |
| 2004-05-27 | TornadoRock Mills, Fayette County | F1 2.5 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 1 | $78K |
| 2011-05-26 | TornadoYatesville, Fayette County | EF0 0.99 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 0 | $66K |
| 1997-05-14 | TornadoJasper Mills, Fayette County | F1 3 mi x 500 yd | 0 | 0 | $55K |
| 1999-10-13 | TornadoPancoastburg, Fayette County | F0 0.1 mi x 25 yd | 0 | 0 | $53K |
| 2011-05-26 | TornadoBloomingburg, Fayette County | EF0 0.46 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 0 | $46K |
| 2025-03-30 | Thunderstorm WindJeffersonville, Fayette County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $30K |
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: March 10, 1986 (tornado, Fayette County, 1 killed); September 14, 1990 (tornado, Fayette 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 Fayette 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 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 10 | 29 | 41 | 45 | 38 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 10 | 17 | 62 z | 27 |
| Hail | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 7 | 20 | 27 | 6 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 1 | 24 | 15 | 11 |
| High wind and dust storms | – | – | – | – | 0 | 7 | 4 | 7 |
| Tornadoes | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 7 | 2 |
Winter storms in the 2010s: 62 records against 17 in the decade before, 62 of them forecast-zone records. Cells marked z rose mostly through zone records. The local National Weather Service office files these once per forecast zone, so a change in how it draws its zones or splits a storm into records moves this count as much as the weather does; read it beside the Fayette County days with a record above.
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
45% 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 49 · Feb 49 · Mar 45 · Apr 45 · May 72 · Jun 62 · Jul 50 · Aug 21 · Sep 12 · Oct 10 · Nov 13 · Dec 24 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Fayette County
FEMA's register lists 11 declarations that include Fayette County: 6 major disasters, 5 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for severe storm (4) and biological (2).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020-03-31 | DR-4507 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020-03-13 | EM-3457 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2012-06-30 | EM-3346 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms |
| 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 |
| 2003-03-14 | DR-1453 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm and Record/Near Record Snow |
| 1978-01-26 | EM-3055 | Snowstorm | Blizzards & Snowstorms |
| 1977-02-02 | EM-3029 | Snowstorm | Snowstorms |
| 1974-04-04 | DR-421 | Tornado | Tornadoes |
| 1968-06-05 | DR-243 | Flood | Heavy Rains & 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 Fayette County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 51 flood or flash flood records for Fayette County from 1997 to 2026, on 35 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Fayette County ranks 2085th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $24,000 on 20 claims filed in Fayette County; the most in one year was 3 in 2017. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1978: 1 · 1979: 2 · 1981: 1 · 1985: 1 · 1989: 1 · 1996: 1 · 1998: 1 · 2004: 2 · 2005: 2 · 2006: 1 · 2017: 3 · 2019: 1 · 2020: 2 · 2022: 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 Fayette County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Fayette County Very Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $9.5 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 Moderate | $198K | 1.1 a year (modeled) |
| Drought | Relatively Moderate | $451K | 3.1 modeled event-days a year |
| Hail | Relatively Low | $280K | 3.4 a year (modeled) |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | $341K | 4.5 modeled event-days a year |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | $1.1M | once in about 4 years (modeled) |
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively Low | $5.8M | 1.2 a year (modeled) |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | $190K | 47 a year (modeled) |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | $367K | 2.1 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 Fayette 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 Fayette CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Fayette County's FEMA declarations (CSV)11 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis