Knox County, Ohio
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 39083 · population 62,691 · 525 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 459 records for Knox County, Ohio from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 341 days; the most frequent are severe thunderstorm wind events (243 records). The deadliest single record is the July 29, 2002 thunderstorm wind: 1 death, 4 injuries and $82,000 in damage in 2025 dollars. FEMA has issued 13 declarations naming the county since 1977, 10 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
- 459on 341 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 125 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $1.1Bas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 14strongest F2
- FEMA declarations
- 13latest 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 Knox County most?
The most frequent records are severe thunderstorm wind events: 243 since 1968. 53% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1968 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 | 243 | 198 | 1968-2026 | 1 | 6 | $9.1M | 38 of 88 |
| Hail | 80 | 56 | 1961-2026 | 0 | 0 | $453K | 63 of 88 |
| High wind and dust storms | 37 | 37 | 1996-2020 | 0 | 0 | $9.2M | 26 of 88 |
| Winter storms | 34 | 34 | 1996-2024 | 0 | 2 | $1.1B | 85 of 88 |
| Floods | 31 | 27 | 1996-2024 | 0 | 0 | $23M | 79 of 88 |
| Tornadoes | 14 | 14 | 1957-2026 | 0 | 17 | $5.5M | 55 of 88 |
| Extreme cold | 9 | 9 | 1996-2022 | 0 | 0 | $47K | 37 of 88 |
| Drought | 5 | 5 | 1996-1999 | 0 | 0 | $8.9M | 43 of 88 |
| Heat | 2 | 2 | 1999-1999 | 0 | 0 | – | 63 of 88 |
| Heavy rain | 2 | 2 | 1996-1997 | 0 | 0 | $63K | 58 of 88 |
| Lightning | 2 | 2 | 1999-2001 | 0 | 0 | $282K | 38 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 Knox County had?
NOAA records 14 tornadoes in Knox County from 1957 to 2026, the strongest rated F2, with 0 deaths and 17 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 13 tornadoes whose track touched Knox County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 14: 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.
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Ohio.
Every tornado record filed for Knox County (14)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-26 | Fredericktown, Knox County | EF0 0.07 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | $8K |
| 2024-06-05 | Brandon, Knox County | EF0 3.26 mi x 80 yd | 0 | 0 | $28K |
| 2022-06-13 | Fredericktown, Knox County | EF1 3.94 mi x 25 yd | 0 | 0 | $30K |
| 2006-08-03 | Mt Vernon, Knox County | F0 0.1 mi x 17 yd | 0 | 1 | $476K |
| 2000-09-20 | Mt Vernon, Knox County | F1 10 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 0 | $317K |
| 1998-06-27 | Danville, Knox County | F0 0.5 mi x 70 yd | 0 | 0 | $18K |
| 1990-07-09 | Knox County | F0 1 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1982-04-03 | Knox County | F2 0.8 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 9 | $250K step |
| 1982-03-31 | Knox County | F2 1 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 4 | $250K step |
| 1981-06-21 | Knox County | F0 2 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 0 | $3K step |
| 1981-06-08 | Knox County | F2 3.8 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 2 | $250K step |
| 1970-09-03 | Knox County | F0 | 0 | 0 | $3K step |
| 1970-04-02 | Knox County | F2 2 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 1 | $250K step |
| 1957-06-11 | Knox County | F2 0.5 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K 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 Knox County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the June 6, 2026 thunderstorm wind ($25,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-06 | Thunderstorm WindAcademia, Knox County | 60 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $25K |
| 2026-06-06 | Thunderstorm WindAcademia, Knox County | 55 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $5K |
| 2026-03-26 | Thunderstorm WindFredericktown, Knox County | 55 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-03-26 | Thunderstorm WindMt Vernon, Knox County | 55 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-03-26 | HailNorth Liberty, Knox County | 1.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-03-26 | TornadoFredericktown, Knox County | EF0 0.07 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | $8K |
| 2026-03-22 | HailSouth Mt Vernon, Knox County | 0.75 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-03-22 | HailMt Vernon, Knox County | 1.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-03-22 | HailMt Liberty, Knox County | 1.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-06-26 | Thunderstorm WindMt Vernon, Knox County | 55 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-06-25 | Thunderstorm WindMillwood, Knox County | 55 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-05-16 | Thunderstorm WindMonroe Mills, Knox 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002-07-29 | Thunderstorm WindHoward, Knox County Thunderstorm winds downed many trees near Apple Valley Lake in northeastern Knox County. A vehicle travelling on U.S. 36 just west of Howard was struck by a falling tree. A two year old female inside the car was killed and four other occupants were seriously injured. | 1 | 4 | $82K | |
| 1982-04-03 | TornadoKnox County | F2 0.8 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 9 | $250K step |
| 1982-03-31 | TornadoKnox County | F2 1 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 4 | $250K step |
| 1999-01-02 | Winter StormKnox County · forecast zone Knox 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 | |
| 1981-06-08 | TornadoKnox County | F2 3.8 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 2 | $250K step |
| 2017-07-22 | Thunderstorm WindPipesville, Knox County Thunderstorm winds downed a large tree on Grove Church Road east of Gambier. The tree landed on a house causing extensive damage and injuring an 83 year old woman inside. The woman was transported to a hospital for treatment. | 50 kt wind | 0 | 1 | $90K |
| 2006-08-03 | TornadoMt Vernon, Knox County A F0 tornado touched down briefly on the west side of Mt. Vernon during the afternoon hours of August 3rd. The tornado touched down along Harcourt Road (State Route 3) around 4:25 pm and damaged four businesses. A lumber yard on the west side of the road saw the most significant damage. A pole building used for ... | F0 0.1 mi x 17 yd | 0 | 1 | $476K |
| 1995-06-07 | Thunderstorm WindMount Vernon, Knox County A downburst with winds as high as 90 mph downed hundreds of trees, some on structures and vehicles. Signs were blown down and some windows were broken and minor roof damage occurred to several buildings. A dog was electrocuted when a live power line fell onto the dogbox. A man was injured by a falling tree limb and ... | 0 | 1 | $1.4M |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008-03-07 | Winter StormKnox County · forecast zone Knox | 0 | 0 | $1.0B | |
| 2005-01-05 | Ice StormKnox County · forecast zone Knox | 0 | 0 | $10M | |
| 2004-12-22 | Winter StormKnox County · forecast zone Knox | 0 | 0 | $8.4M | |
| 1998-06-27 | Flash FloodCountywide, Knox County | 0 | 0 | $7.2M | |
| 1998-06-27 | Flash FloodCountywide, Knox County | 0 | 0 | $6.3M | |
| 2006-07-10 | Flash FloodNortheast Portion, Knox County | 0 | 0 | $5.1M | |
| 2012-06-29 | Thunderstorm WindWaterford, Knox County | 56 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1.8M |
| 1995-06-07 | Thunderstorm WindMount Vernon, Knox County | 0 | 1 | $1.4M |
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 $250K, in the dollars of the day) holds: April 3, 1982 (tornado, Knox County); March 31, 1982 (tornado, Knox County); June 8, 1981 (tornado, Knox 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 Knox 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 | 2 | 3 | 10 | 54 | 83 | 55 | 36 |
| Hail | 0 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 17 | 23 | 28 | 7 |
| High wind and dust storms | – | – | – | – | 8 | 23 | 4 | 2 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 8 | 16 | 5 | 5 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 9 | 11 | 8 | 3 |
| Tornadoes | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 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 1968 fell in June and July. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 21 · Feb 22 · Mar 32 · Apr 38 · May 55 · Jun 108 · Jul 79 · Aug 47 · Sep 20 · Oct 8 · Nov 14 · Dec 15 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Knox County
FEMA's register lists 13 declarations that include Knox County: 7 major disasters, 6 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for severe storm (7) 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 |
| 2004-09-19 | DR-1556 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 2004-06-03 | DR-1519 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 2003-09-23 | EM-3187 | Other | Power Outage |
| 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 |
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 Knox County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 31 flood or flash flood records for Knox County from 1996 to 2024, on 27 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Knox County ranks 1522nd of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $264,000 on 65 claims filed in Knox County; the most in one year was 22 in 1998. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1979: 4 · 1983: 1 · 1998: 22 · 1999: 1 · 2000: 2 · 2002: 2 · 2004: 1 · 2005: 4 · 2008: 1 · 2009: 1 · 2010: 3 · 2011: 3 · 2013: 2 · 2014: 3 · 2017: 5 · 2018: 3 · 2019: 1 · 2020: 2 · 2021: 1 · 2022: 3; 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 Knox County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Knox County Relatively Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $18.8 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hail | Relatively Moderate | $1.1M | 3.8 a year (modeled) |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate | $1.2M | 2.1 a year (modeled) |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Moderate | $320K | once in about 3 years (modeled) |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Moderate | $157K | 9.4 a year (modeled) |
| Lightning | Relatively Moderate | $347K | 42 a year (modeled) |
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively Low | $12M | about once a year (modeled) |
| Landslide | Relatively Low | $3K | once in about 4 years (modeled) |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | $1.8M | once in about 4 years (modeled) |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
Counties that share a border with Knox 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 Knox CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Knox County's FEMA declarations (CSV)13 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis