Holmes County, Ohio
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 39075 · population 44,196 · 423 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 469 records for Holmes County, Ohio from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 343 days; the most frequent are severe thunderstorm wind events (227 records). The most damaging was the September 1, 1999 drought ($14.2 million in 2025 dollars). FEMA has issued 12 declarations naming the county since 1969, 10 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
- 469on 343 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 046 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $85Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 12strongest F2
- FEMA declarations
- 12latest 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 Holmes County most?
The most frequent records are severe thunderstorm wind events: 227 since 1962. 53% 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 | 227 | 184 | 1962-2026 | 0 | 33 | $7.3M | 22 of 88 |
| Hail | 92 | 60 | 1965-2026 | 0 | 0 | $424K | 37 of 88 |
| Floods | 43 | 37 | 1996-2025 | 0 | 0 | $23M | 64 of 88 |
| High wind and dust storms | 41 | 41 | 1996-2021 | 0 | 0 | $6.3M | 12 of 88 |
| Winter storms | 34 | 34 | 1996-2022 | 0 | 2 | $20M | 75 of 88 |
| Tornadoes | 12 | 11 | 1969-2025 | 0 | 11 | $14M | 58 of 88 |
| Extreme cold | 10 | 10 | 1996-2022 | 0 | 0 | $475K | 23 of 88 |
| Drought | 5 | 5 | 1996-1999 | 0 | 0 | $14M | 33 of 88 |
| Heat | 2 | 2 | 1999-1999 | 0 | 0 | – | 56 of 88 |
| Heavy rain | 2 | 2 | 1996-1997 | 0 | 0 | $63K | 44 of 88 |
| Lightning | 1 | 1 | 1996-1996 | 0 | 0 | $14K | 54 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 Holmes County had?
NOAA records 12 tornadoes in Holmes County from 1969 to 2025, the strongest rated F2, with 0 deaths and 11 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 12 tornadoes whose track touched Holmes County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 12, the same count); along their whole tracks they killed 0 people.
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Ohio.
Every tornado record filed for Holmes County (12)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-06-09 | Clark, Holmes County | EF1 1.32 mi x 80 yd | 0 | 0 | $100K |
| 2023-08-12 | Nashville, Holmes County | EF0 1.61 mi x 25 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2022-07-20 | Hard, Holmes County | EF1 0.33 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2010-09-16 | Farmerstown, Holmes County | EF1 3.13 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 0 | $677K |
| 2010-06-05 | Berlin, Holmes County | EF1 8.83 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $271K |
| 2006-06-22 | Mt Hope, Holmes County | F2 6 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $1.1M |
| 1999-07-28 | Nashville, Holmes County | F1 5 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 4 | $133K |
| 1981-06-08 | Holmes County | F2 2.3 mi x 500 yd | 0 | 5 | $250K step |
| 1981-06-08 | Holmes County | F1 2.3 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1980-06-07 | Holmes County | F1 0.3 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 1 | $2.5M step |
| 1973-05-10 | Holmes County | F2 6.2 mi x 17 yd | 0 | 1 | $250K step |
| 1969-07-27 | Holmes County | F1 | 0 | 0 | $3K 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 Holmes County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the June 26, 2025 flash flood ($25,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-04-03 | Thunderstorm WindBecks Mills, Holmes County | 55 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-03-22 | HailGlenmont, Holmes County | 1.25 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-03-22 | HailBerlin, Holmes County | 1.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-03-22 | HailBenton, Holmes County | 0.75 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-03-22 | HailMillersburg, Holmes County | 1.50 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-06-26 | Flash FloodBig Prairie, Holmes County | 0 | 0 | $25K | |
| 2025-06-09 | TornadoClark, Holmes County | EF1 1.32 mi x 80 yd | 0 | 0 | $100K |
| 2025-06-05 | Thunderstorm WindBig Prairie, Holmes County | 55 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-05-05 | HailBerlin, Holmes County | 1.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-05-05 | HailCharm, Holmes County | 1.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-05-04 | Thunderstorm WindClark, Holmes County | 55 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $5K |
| 2025-05-02 | HailPaint Vly, Holmes County | 1.00 in hail | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1991-08-17 | Thunderstorm WindHolmes County | 0 | 31 | – | |
| 1981-06-08 | TornadoHolmes County | F2 2.3 mi x 500 yd | 0 | 5 | $250K step |
| 1999-07-28 | TornadoNashville, Holmes County A tornado touched down just north of Nashville near a campground and then traveled east along County Roads 316 and 329 to near Holmesville. From the initial touchdown eastward, the damage path was intermittent. Four females, ages 12, 14, 17 and 50 were injured by flying debris while standing inside of an 80 by 100 ... | F1 5 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 4 | $133K |
| 1999-01-02 | Winter StormHolmes County · forecast zone Holmes 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 | |
| 2000-07-14 | Thunderstorm WindCountywide, Holmes County Thunderstorm winds downed many trees in the central and southeast portions of the county. A 43 year old female was injured when her minivan was struck by a large tree. The woman suffered minor injuries and was taken to a local hospital for treatment. | 0 | 1 | $60K | |
| 1994-06-16 | Thunderstorm WindHolmesville And Lakev, Holmes County Numerous trees were downed, some on power lines, and some on homes which caused significant damage. A man was struck by a large falling limb and injured. | 0 | 1 | $995K | |
| 1980-06-07 | TornadoHolmes County | F1 0.3 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 1 | $2.5M step |
| 1973-05-10 | TornadoHolmes County | F2 6.2 mi x 17 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999-09-01 | DroughtHolmes County · forecast zone Holmes | 0 | 0 | $14M | |
| 2005-01-03 | FloodHolmes County · forecast zone Holmes | 0 | 0 | $9.8M | |
| 2005-01-05 | Ice StormHolmes County · forecast zone Holmes | 0 | 0 | $7.7M | |
| 2004-12-22 | Winter StormHolmes County · forecast zone Holmes | 0 | 0 | $6.7M | |
| 2008-09-14 | High WindHolmes County · forecast zone Holmes | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $4.1M |
| 2007-08-21 | Flash FloodMillersburg, Holmes County | 0 | 0 | $3.2M | |
| 2004-06-16 | Flash FloodCountywide, Holmes County | 0 | 0 | $2.3M | |
| 2006-07-10 | Flash FloodWest Portion, Holmes County | 0 | 0 | $2.0M |
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: June 7, 1980 (tornado, Holmes 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 Holmes 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 | 6 | 27 | 46 | 64 | 50 | 31 |
| Hail | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 14 | 24 | 35 | 13 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 17 | 19 | 4 | 3 |
| High wind and dust storms | – | – | – | – | 10 | 23 | 6 | 2 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 5 | 17 | 7 | 5 |
| Tornadoes | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 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 1962 fell in June and July. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 22 · Feb 26 · Mar 31 · Apr 41 · May 56 · Jun 120 · Jul 70 · Aug 42 · Sep 19 · Oct 9 · Nov 13 · Dec 20 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Holmes County
FEMA's register lists 12 declarations that include Holmes County: 7 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 |
| 2012-06-30 | 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 |
| 2004-09-19 | DR-1556 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 2004-06-03 | DR-1519 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 1998-06-30 | DR-1227 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes |
| 1978-01-26 | EM-3055 | Snowstorm | Blizzards & Snowstorms |
| 1977-02-02 | EM-3029 | Snowstorm | Snowstorms |
| 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 Holmes County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 43 flood or flash flood records for Holmes County from 1996 to 2025, on 37 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Holmes County ranks 1209th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $657,000 on 120 claims filed in Holmes County; the most in one year was 49 in 1979. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1978: 2 · 1979: 49 · 1980: 1 · 1981: 12 · 1985: 1 · 1986: 2 · 1990: 2 · 2002: 2 · 2003: 1 · 2004: 3 · 2005: 11 · 2006: 4 · 2007: 4 · 2008: 2 · 2011: 14 · 2013: 1 · 2014: 5 · 2017: 1 · 2018: 1 · 2019: 1 · 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 Holmes County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Holmes County Relatively Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $11.7 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 High | $279K | once in about 3 years (modeled) |
| Hail | Relatively Moderate | $824K | 4.1 a year (modeled) |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Moderate | $126K | 9.5 a year (modeled) |
| Lightning | Relatively Moderate | $260K | 41 a year (modeled) |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate | $492K | 2.3 a year (modeled) |
| Tornado | Relatively Moderate | $1.2M | once in about 5 years (modeled) |
| Landslide | Relatively Low | $13K | once in about 2 years (modeled) |
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively Low | $7.6M | 1.3 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 Holmes 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 Holmes CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Holmes County's FEMA declarations (CSV)12 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis