Morgan County, Ohio
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 39115 · population 13,787 · 416 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 377 records for Morgan County, Ohio from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 321 days; the most frequent are severe thunderstorm wind events (126 records). The deadliest single record is the May 2, 2010 flood: 2 deaths and $20,000 in damage in 2025 dollars. FEMA has issued 18 declarations naming the county since 1968, 16 of them for natural hazards; the latest for a natural hazard was “Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, and Landslides” on October 2, 2026.
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
- 377on 321 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 30 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $12Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 1strongest EF0
- FEMA declarations
- 18latest 2026
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 Morgan County most?
The most frequent records are severe thunderstorm wind events: 126 since 1961. 48% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1961 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 | 126 | 94 | 1961-2026 | 0 | 0 | $1.3M | 81 of 88 |
| Winter storms | 70 | 70 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 0 | $46K | 46 of 88 |
| Floods | 47 | 41 | 1997-2026 | 3 | 0 | $10M | 58 of 88 |
| Hail | 35 | 29 | 1989-2025 | 0 | 0 | $1K | 82 of 88 |
| Extreme cold | 34 | 34 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 0 | $95K | 3 of 88 |
| High wind and dust storms | 28 | 28 | 1999-2026 | 0 | 0 | $109K | 32 of 88 |
| Heat | 18 | 18 | 1997-2011 | 0 | 0 | – | 3 of 88 |
| Drought | 10 | 10 | 1999-2025 | 0 | 0 | – | 7 of 88 |
| Heavy rain | 8 | 8 | 1998-2011 | 0 | 0 | – | 6 of 88 |
| Tornadoes | 1 | 1 | 2010-2010 | 0 | 0 | $81K | 88 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 Morgan County had?
NOAA records 1 tornado in Morgan County from 2010 to 2010, the strongest rated EF0, with 0 deaths and 0 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 1 tornado whose track touched Morgan County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 1, the same count); along their whole tracks they killed 0 people.
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Ohio.
Every tornado record filed for Morgan County (1)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010-09-16 | Rose Farm, Morgan County | EF0 0.54 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 0 | $81K |
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 Morgan County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the May 19, 2026 thunderstorm wind ($5,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-05-24 | Flash FloodDeavertown, Morgan County | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-05-19 | Thunderstorm WindRinggold, Morgan County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $5K |
| 2026-03-16 | Winter WeatherMorgan County · forecast zone Morgan | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-03-13 | Strong WindMorgan County · forecast zone Morgan | 41 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $500 |
| 2026-03-11 | Thunderstorm WindBristol, Morgan County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-03-02 | Winter WeatherMorgan County · forecast zone Morgan | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-02-01 | Cold/Wind ChillMorgan County · forecast zone Morgan | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-24 | Winter StormMorgan County · forecast zone Morgan | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-20 | Cold/Wind ChillMorgan County · forecast zone Morgan | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-01 | Winter WeatherMorgan County · forecast zone Morgan | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-12-29 | Strong WindMorgan County · forecast zone Morgan | 35 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $500 |
| 2025-12-19 | Strong WindMorgan County · forecast zone Morgan | 30 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010-05-02 | FloodBishopville, Morgan County Roads were flooded, but damage to dwellings was minimal. Two brothers from Athens County died while on a fishing trip. Their flooded vehicle was found along the East Branch of Sunday Creek above Burr Oak Reservoir. Apparently, they drove into the high water at night, during the early morning hours on the 3rd. One body ... | 2 | 0 | $20K | |
| 2005-01-05 | FloodMorgan County · forecast zone Morgan Separate waves of rain moved along a strong west to east frontal zone in the Ohio Valley, from late on the 3rd into the early morning hours of the 8th. To the south of the boundary, dew points were in the 50 to 55 degree range. The heaviest rain amounts were from Perry County on north and east into eastern Ohio and ... | 1 | 0 | $3.0M |
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005-01-05 | FloodMorgan County · forecast zone Morgan | 1 | 0 | $3.0M | |
| 2005-01-11 | FloodMorgan County · forecast zone Morgan | 0 | 0 | $2.3M | |
| 2004-09-08 | FloodMorgan County · forecast zone Morgan | 0 | 0 | $1.2M | |
| 2004-01-04 | FloodMorgan County · forecast zone Morgan | 0 | 0 | $1.0M | |
| 2004-09-17 | FloodMorgan County · forecast zone Morgan | 0 | 0 | $781K | |
| 1998-06-28 | Flash FloodCountywide, Morgan County | 0 | 0 | $724K | |
| 2008-07-22 | Thunderstorm WindStockport, Morgan County | 74 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $103K |
| 2010-09-16 | TornadoRose Farm, Morgan County | EF0 0.54 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 0 | $81K |
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 Morgan 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 | 1 | 2 | 11 | 18 | 22 | 39 | 33 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 8 | 16 | 25 | 21 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 7 | 10 | 17 | 13 |
| Hail | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 14 | 10 | 5 |
| Extreme cold | – | – | – | – | 12 | 12 | 8 | 2 |
| High wind and dust storms | – | – | – | – | 1 | 12 | 4 | 11 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
48% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1961 fell in June and July. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 55 · Feb 44 · Mar 30 · Apr 32 · May 31 · Jun 49 · Jul 40 · Aug 29 · Sep 18 · Oct 12 · Nov 15 · Dec 22 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Morgan County
FEMA's register lists 18 declarations that include Morgan County: 14 major disasters, 4 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for severe storm (9) and flood (4).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-10-02 | DR-4945 | Flood | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, and Landslides |
| 2020-03-31 | DR-4507 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020-03-13 | EM-3457 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2019-04-08 | DR-4424 | Flood | Severe Storms, Flooding, and Landslides |
| 2018-04-17 | DR-4360 | Flood | Severe Storms, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| 2012-08-20 | DR-4077 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Straight-Line Winds |
| 2012-06-30 | EM-3346 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms |
| 2011-07-13 | DR-4002 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 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 |
| 2004-01-26 | DR-1507 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, Mudslides, and Landslides |
| 2003-03-14 | DR-1453 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm and Record/Near Record Snow |
| 1998-06-30 | DR-1227 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes |
| 1997-03-04 | DR-1164 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 1978-01-26 | EM-3055 | Snowstorm | Blizzards & Snowstorms |
| 1969-07-15 | DR-266 | Tornado | Tornadoes, Severe Storms & Flooding |
| 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 Morgan County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 47 flood or flash flood records for Morgan County from 1997 to 2026, on 41 days, with 3 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Morgan County ranks 984th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $2.0 million on 185 claims filed in Morgan County; the most in one year was 46 in 2005. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1978: 1 · 1979: 3 · 1980: 15 · 1981: 12 · 1983: 1 · 1985: 2 · 1996: 1 · 1997: 1 · 1998: 31 · 2000: 2 · 2003: 2 · 2004: 35 · 2005: 46 · 2008: 5 · 2011: 3 · 2013: 1 · 2014: 1 · 2015: 1 · 2016: 1 · 2017: 1 · 2018: 1 · 2019: 6 · 2022: 3 · 2024: 7 · 2026: 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 Morgan County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Morgan County Very Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $6.6 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Landslide | Relatively Low | $24K | 1 a year (modeled) |
| Drought | Relatively Low | $182K | 6.1 modeled event-days a year |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Low | $78K | about once a year (modeled) |
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively Low | $5.5M | 1.3 a year (modeled) |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | $105K | 45 a year (modeled) |
| Hurricane | Very Low | $23K | once in about 87 years (modeled) |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | $148K | 2.9 modeled event-days a year |
| Hail | Very Low | $90K | 2.7 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 Morgan 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 Morgan CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Morgan County's FEMA declarations (CSV)18 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis