Marion County, Ohio
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 39101 · population 65,349 · 404 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 463 records for Marion County, Ohio from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 354 days; the most frequent are severe thunderstorm wind events (204 records). The deadliest single record is the December 23, 2022 extreme cold/wind chill, filed for the forecast zone Marion, which covers the county: 1 death. FEMA has issued 12 declarations naming the county since 1977, 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
- 463on 354 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 212 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $74Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 17strongest 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 Marion County most?
The most frequent records are severe thunderstorm wind events: 204 since 1959. 49% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1959 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 | 204 | 170 | 1959-2026 | 1 | 5 | $11M | 28 of 88 |
| Hail | 98 | 69 | 1957-2026 | 0 | 0 | $1.4M | 24 of 88 |
| Floods | 63 | 56 | 1996-2021 | 0 | 0 | $5.4M | 29 of 88 |
| High wind and dust storms | 34 | 33 | 1996-2021 | 0 | 2 | $17M | 20 of 88 |
| Winter storms | 29 | 29 | 1996-2022 | 0 | 2 | $23M | 81 of 88 |
| Tornadoes | 17 | 16 | 1960-2023 | 0 | 3 | $5.4M | 28 of 88 |
| Extreme cold | 9 | 9 | 1996-2022 | 1 | 0 | $103K | 27 of 88 |
| Drought | 5 | 5 | 1996-1999 | 0 | 0 | $11M | 24 of 88 |
| Heat | 2 | 2 | 1999-1999 | 0 | 0 | – | 48 of 88 |
| Heavy rain | 1 | 1 | 1997-1997 | 0 | 0 | $63K | 69 of 88 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 1 | 1 | 2001-2001 | 0 | 0 | – | 26 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 Marion County had?
NOAA records 17 tornadoes in Marion County from 1960 to 2023, the strongest rated F2, with 0 deaths and 3 injuries recorded in the county. That is 28th 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 17 tornadoes whose track touched Marion County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 17, the same count); along their whole tracks they killed 0 people.
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Ohio.
Every tornado record filed for Marion County (17)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-08-12 | Decliff, Marion County | EF1 0.14 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 0 | $22K |
| 2018-07-31 | Owens, Marion County | EF0 0.62 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | $29K |
| 2002-11-10 | Marion County | F0 0.1 mi x 25 yd | 0 | 0 | $16K |
| 2000-05-23 | Martel, Marion County | F2 3 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | $343K |
| 1998-08-25 | Marion County | F0 3 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | $543K |
| 1997-07-26 | Marion County | F0 0.5 mi x 33 yd | 0 | 0 | $138K |
| 1991-08-19 | Marion County | F0 0.1 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1989-07-12 | Marion County | F0 0.2 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1989-05-26 | Marion County | F1 0.8 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K step |
| 1979-08-08 | Marion County | F2 1.2 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K step |
| 1973-05-10 | Marion County | F2 13.9 mi x 267 yd | 0 | 0 | $3K step |
| 1971-05-06 | Marion County | F2 7.4 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 3 | $250K step |
| 1970-05-13 | Marion County | F1 1 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1969-05-10 | Marion County | F1 1 mi x 160 yd | 0 | 0 | $3K step |
| 1969-05-10 | Marion County | F1 2 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1963-04-19 | Marion County | F1 | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1960-08-21 | Marion County | F2 4.5 mi x 880 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 Marion County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the March 11, 2026 thunderstorm wind ($3,600 in damage in 2025 dollars).
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-05-19 | Thunderstorm WindMarion County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-04-03 | HailMarion County | 1.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-04-03 | HailMarion County | 1.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-03-26 | Thunderstorm WindWaldo, Marion County | 55 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-03-11 | Thunderstorm WindMarion County | 60 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $4K |
| 2025-06-18 | Thunderstorm WindClaridon, Marion County | 63 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-06-18 | Thunderstorm WindMarion County | 60 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-05-16 | Thunderstorm WindMarion Airport, Marion County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-05-16 | Thunderstorm WindMarion County | 61 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2023-08-12 | TornadoDecliff, Marion County | EF1 0.14 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 0 | $22K |
| 2023-04-01 | Thunderstorm WindBrush Ridge, Marion County | 65 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2022-12-23 | Extreme Cold/Wind ChillMarion County · forecast zone Marion | 1 | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022-12-23 | Extreme Cold/Wind ChillMarion County · forecast zone Marion Wind chills plunged below 0 by 4 AM December 23rd and did not rise above 0 until late in the evening on December 25th. A wind chill of -36F was recorded at 9:00 AM December 23rd on a mesonet station in Marion. Unfortunately, a 65 year old male lost his life due to prolonged exposure to this cold. A number of burst ... | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 2007-08-09 | Thunderstorm WindMarion County A severe thunderstorm moved into Marion around 4:10 pm. Numerous trees, large limbs, utility poles and power lines came down during the storm. Reports indicate that many trees fell onto homes, garages and cars throughout the city. One of the houses was damaged enough to be considered destroyed. Between 30 and 35 ... | 60 kt wind | 1 | 0 | $1.9M |
| 1997-07-18 | Thunderstorm WindMarion County Trees and large limbs were downed. A mother and daughter were struck by the limb of a falling tree in Lincoln Park. A second daughter was stung by bees that were disturbed in their nest in the tree. All three were treated and released from the hospital. | 0 | 3 | $6K | |
| 1971-05-06 | TornadoMarion County | F2 7.4 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 3 | $250K step |
| 1999-01-02 | Winter StormMarion County · forecast zone Marion 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 | |
| 2020-06-10 | Thunderstorm WindEspyville, Marion County Marion County Emergency Management provided evidence of significant wind damage across the Marion area due to severe thunderstorm winds of up to 80 mph. Numerous trees and power lines were downed across the city with several large trees falling onto residences. Winds ripped off a significant portion of a roof of an ... | 70 kt wind | 0 | 1 | $143K |
| 2014-11-24 | High WindMarion County · forecast zone Marion High winds of at least 60 mph downed trees and limbs throughout Marion County. Some homes and buildings lost sections of roofing or siding. A tractor trailer was blown over on U.S. Highway 23 just south of the Marion and Wyandot County line. The driver of the truck was transported to the hospital with non life ... | 52 kt wind | 0 | 1 | $249K |
| 2013-06-12 | Thunderstorm WindMeeker, Marion County Thunderstorm winds blew the roof off of a barn along State Route 309. The roof crashed into a nearby house slightly injuring a man inside. | 50 kt wind | 0 | 1 | $44K |
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 WindMarion County · forecast zone Marion | 56 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $14M |
| 1999-09-01 | DroughtMarion County · forecast zone Marion | 0 | 0 | $11M | |
| 2005-01-05 | Ice StormMarion County · forecast zone Marion | 0 | 0 | $8.6M | |
| 2012-06-29 | Thunderstorm WindMeeker, Marion County | 70 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $5.1M |
| 2007-08-09 | Thunderstorm WindMarion County | 60 kt wind | 1 | 0 | $1.9M |
| 2005-01-01 | FloodMarion County · forecast zone Marion | 0 | 0 | $1.8M | |
| 2008-03-07 | Winter StormMarion County · forecast zone Marion | 0 | 0 | $822K | |
| 2004-01-25 | Winter StormMarion County · forecast zone Marion | 0 | 0 | $781K |
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: May 6, 1971 (tornado, Marion County); August 8, 1979 (tornado, Marion County); May 26, 1989 (tornado, Marion 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 Marion 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 | 3 | 9 | 16 | 47 | 59 | 45 | 24 |
| Hail | 1 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 20 | 25 | 38 | 5 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 27 | 17 | 14 | 5 |
| High wind and dust storms | – | – | – | – | 5 | 18 | 9 | 2 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 7 | 13 | 6 | 3 |
| Tornadoes | 0 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
49% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1959 fell in June and July. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 28 · Feb 22 · Mar 29 · Apr 33 · May 73 · Jun 97 · Jul 72 · Aug 46 · Sep 15 · Oct 11 · Nov 19 · Dec 18 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Marion County
FEMA's register lists 12 declarations that include Marion County: 5 major disasters, 7 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for severe storm (4) and snowstorm (4).
| 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 |
| 2008-04-24 | EM-3286 | Snowstorm | Record Snow and Near Record Snow |
| 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 |
| 1987-07-17 | DR-796 | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding |
| 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 Marion County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 63 flood or flash flood records for Marion County from 1996 to 2021, on 56 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Marion County ranks 851st of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $3.2 million on 240 claims filed in Marion County; the most in one year was 59 in 2011. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1978: 2 · 1979: 2 · 1980: 2 · 1987: 11 · 1990: 6 · 1991: 4 · 1992: 2 · 1995: 21 · 1996: 1 · 1998: 3 · 1999: 1 · 2003: 1 · 2004: 1 · 2005: 14 · 2006: 1 · 2008: 15 · 2011: 59 · 2013: 57 · 2014: 2 · 2015: 20 · 2016: 1 · 2017: 1 · 2019: 6 · 2020: 4 · 2021: 1 · 2024: 1 · 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 Marion County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Marion County Relatively Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $19.7 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Strong Wind | Relatively High | $1.4M | 2.5 a year (modeled) |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Moderate | $4.6M | 4.4 a year (modeled) |
| Hail | Relatively Moderate | $855K | 3.6 a year (modeled) |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Moderate | $158K | 9.2 a year (modeled) |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Moderate | $259K | once in about 4 years (modeled) |
| Lightning | Relatively Moderate | $272K | 42 a year (modeled) |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low | $669K | once in about 779 years (modeled) |
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively Low | $9.5M | 2 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 Marion 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 Marion CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Marion County's FEMA declarations (CSV)12 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis