Paulding County, Ohio
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 39125 · population 18,790 · 416 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 320 records for Paulding County, Ohio from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 243 days; the most frequent are severe thunderstorm wind events (128 records). The deadliest single record is the February 5, 2013 dense fog, filed for the forecast zone Paulding, which covers the county: 1 death and 9 injuries. FEMA has issued 13 declarations naming the county since 1974, 11 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
- 320on 243 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 217 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $12Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 16strongest F3
- 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 Paulding County most?
The most frequent records are severe thunderstorm wind events: 128 since 1975. 44% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1975 fell in May and June. 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 | 128 | 87 | 1975-2026 | 0 | 1 | $1.1M | 84 of 88 |
| Winter storms | 84 | 84 | 1996-2026 | 1 | 0 | $137K | 33 of 88 |
| Hail | 49 | 37 | 1980-2024 | 0 | 0 | $470 | 73 of 88 |
| Floods | 20 | 16 | 1996-2017 | 0 | 0 | $4.9M | 82 of 88 |
| Tornadoes | 16 | 11 | 1974-2025 | 0 | 7 | $6.1M | 57 of 88 |
| High wind and dust storms | 15 | 15 | 1997-2026 | 0 | 0 | $27K | 64 of 88 |
| Extreme cold | 6 | 6 | 1996-2024 | 0 | 0 | $38K | 48 of 88 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 2 | 2 | 2005-2013 | 1 | 9 | – | 14 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 Paulding County had?
NOAA records 16 tornadoes in Paulding County from 1974 to 2025, the strongest rated F3, with 0 deaths and 7 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 16 tornadoes whose track touched Paulding County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 16, the same count); along their whole tracks they killed 4 people, 0 of them in Paulding County.
| Date | Tornado | Rating | Path | Killed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002-11-10 14:15, as SPC files it | Van Wert | F4 | 52.8 mi | 4 |
| 1974-04-03 18:45, as SPC files it | Melrose | F3 | 8.7 mi | 0 |
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Ohio.
Every tornado record filed for Paulding County (16)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-04-02 | Mandale, Paulding County | EF2 0.38 mi x 375 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2024-05-07 | Oakwood Bauer Field Ar, Paulding County | EF0 0.47 mi x 25 yd | 0 | 0 | $9K |
| 2024-05-07 | Broughton, Paulding County | EF1 6.16 mi x 300 yd | 0 | 0 | $188K |
| 2023-03-31 | Knoxdale, Paulding County | EF0 0.82 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 0 | $29K |
| 2016-08-24 | Knoxdale, Paulding County | EF2 2.8 mi x 250 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2013-11-17 | Mandale, Paulding County | EF1 0.02 mi x 440 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2010-10-26 | Oakwood, Paulding County | EF1 0.79 mi x 175 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2010-10-26 | Haviland, Paulding County | EF1 8.5 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2002-11-10 | Roselms, Paulding County | F3 9 mi x 440 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1989-06-03 | Paulding County | F1 1 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K step |
| 1980-07-05 | Paulding County | F1 1.3 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 6 | $250K step |
| 1977-06-30 | Paulding County | F1 4.1 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K step |
| 1974-04-03 | Paulding County | F1 6.4 mi x 90 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1974-04-03 | Paulding County | F1 1.3 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1974-04-03 | Paulding County | F3 8.7 mi x 177 yd | 0 | 1 | $250K step |
| 1974-04-03 | Paulding County | F2 9.2 mi x 350 yd | 0 | 0 | $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 Paulding County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the May 19, 2026 thunderstorm wind ($7,500 in damage in 2025 dollars).
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-11 | Thunderstorm WindPaulding Buehler Arp, Paulding County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-05-19 | Thunderstorm WindOakwood Bauer Field Ar, Paulding County | 61 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $8K |
| 2026-05-19 | Thunderstorm WindMelrose, Paulding County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2026-03-13 | High WindPaulding County · forecast zone Paulding | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $20K |
| 2026-01-24 | Winter StormPaulding County · forecast zone Paulding | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-14 | Winter WeatherPaulding County · forecast zone Paulding | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-11-29 | Winter StormPaulding County · forecast zone Paulding | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-04-02 | TornadoMandale, Paulding County | EF2 0.38 mi x 375 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-02-12 | Winter WeatherPaulding County · forecast zone Paulding | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-02-05 | Winter WeatherPaulding County · forecast zone Paulding | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2024-05-07 | TornadoOakwood Bauer Field Ar, Paulding County | EF0 0.47 mi x 25 yd | 0 | 0 | $9K |
| 2024-05-07 | TornadoBroughton, Paulding County | EF1 6.16 mi x 300 yd | 0 | 0 | $188K |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013-02-05 | Dense FogPaulding County · forecast zone Paulding A total of 14 vehicles were involved in a morning pile-up on US-24 near County Road 87 in Paulding County. Ohio State Highway Patrol troopers reported that a northbound SUV on County Road 87 failed to yield at the US-24 intersection. The vehicle, driven by a 28 year old female, was struck by a tanker truck carrying ... | 1 | 9 | – | |
| 2008-02-25 | Winter StormPaulding County · forecast zone Paulding Five to seven inches of snow fell across the county. Weather was at least partially to blame for a 37 year old man being killed when the vehicle he was driving went into the opposing lane and was struck by a semi on US 24 near Carryall Township Road 51. The driver of the semi was not injured. | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 1980-07-05 | TornadoPaulding County | F1 1.3 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 6 | $250K step |
| 2000-08-06 | Thunderstorm WindOakwood, Paulding County Mobile home blown over. | 0 | 1 | $17K | |
| 1974-04-03 | TornadoPaulding County | F3 8.7 mi x 177 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996-05-17 | FloodPaulding County · forecast zone Paulding | 0 | 0 | $1.9M | |
| 1996-05-16 | Flash FloodCountywide, Paulding County | 0 | 0 | $1.4M | |
| 1998-08-05 | Flash FloodPaulding County | 0 | 0 | $1.2M | |
| 2008-05-30 | Thunderstorm WindBatson, Paulding County | 65 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $55K |
| 2000-08-06 | Thunderstorm WindOakwood, Paulding County | 0 | 1 | $17K | |
| 2004-06-13 | Thunderstorm WindCountywide, Paulding County | 75 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $16K |
| 2026-05-19 | Thunderstorm WindOakwood Bauer Field Ar, Paulding County | 61 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $8K |
| 2023-04-05 | Thunderstorm WindHaviland, Paulding County | 65 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $2K |
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: July 5, 1980 (tornado, Paulding County); April 3, 1974 (tornado, Paulding County); April 3, 1974 (tornado, Paulding 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 Paulding 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 | 0 | 1 | 16 | 18 | 41 | 39 | 13 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 4 | 18 | 45 | 17 |
| Hail | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 24 | 15 | 1 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 7 | 7 | 6 | 0 |
| Tornadoes | 0 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 4 |
| High wind and dust storms | – | – | – | – | 1 | 7 | 4 | 3 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
44% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1975 fell in May and June. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 31 · Feb 38 · Mar 21 · Apr 21 · May 40 · Jun 59 · Jul 24 · Aug 37 · Sep 12 · Oct 3 · Nov 13 · Dec 21 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Paulding County
FEMA's register lists 13 declarations that include Paulding County: 8 major disasters, 5 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for severe storm (5) 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 |
| 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 |
| 2002-11-18 | DR-1444 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Tornadoes |
| 1996-06-24 | DR-1122 | Flood | Flooding |
| 1982-03-26 | DR-653 | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding |
| 1978-01-26 | EM-3055 | Snowstorm | Blizzards & Snowstorms |
| 1977-02-02 | EM-3029 | Snowstorm | Snowstorms |
| 1974-04-04 | DR-421 | Tornado | Tornadoes |
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 Paulding County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 20 flood or flash flood records for Paulding County from 1996 to 2017, on 16 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Paulding County ranks 1851st of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $239,000 on 34 claims filed in Paulding County; the most in one year was 6 in 1982. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1978: 1 · 1979: 1 · 1981: 2 · 1982: 6 · 1985: 4 · 1990: 1 · 1996: 1 · 1998: 1 · 1999: 1 · 2005: 2 · 2008: 4 · 2015: 4 · 2017: 3 · 2019: 1 · 2021: 2; 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 Paulding County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Paulding County Very Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $8.3 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 Low | $360K | 3.3 a year (modeled) |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | $1.4M | once in about 4 years (modeled) |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Low | $83K | 1.4 a year (modeled) |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | $549K | 4.3 a year (modeled) |
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively Low | $5.1M | once in about 2 years (modeled) |
| Earthquake | Very Low | $307K | once in about 699 years (modeled) |
| Landslide | Very Low | $514 | once in about 14 years (modeled) |
| Hurricane | Very Low | $19K | once in about 88 years (modeled) |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
Counties that share a border with Paulding 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 Paulding CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Paulding County's FEMA declarations (CSV)13 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis