Union County, Ohio
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 39159 · population 62,265 · 432 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 433 records for Union County, Ohio from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 347 days; the most frequent are severe thunderstorm wind events (147 records). The deadliest single record is the October 25, 2000 dense fog, filed for the forecast zone Union, which covers the county: 2 deaths, 1 injury and $171,000 in damage in 2025 dollars. FEMA has issued 13 declarations naming the county since 1978, 11 of them for natural hazards; the latest for a natural hazard was “Tornadoes” on May 2, 2024.
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
- 433on 347 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 213 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $19Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 12strongest F3
- FEMA declarations
- 13latest 2024
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 Union County most?
The most frequent records are severe thunderstorm wind events: 147 since 1964. 47% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1964 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 | 147 | 125 | 1964-2026 | 0 | 0 | $1.3M | 66 of 88 |
| Winter storms | 118 | 118 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 1 | $49K | 21 of 88 |
| Hail | 67 | 49 | 1965-2026 | 0 | 0 | $108K | 56 of 88 |
| Floods | 59 | 43 | 1996-2024 | 0 | 0 | $5.7M | 57 of 88 |
| High wind and dust storms | 16 | 15 | 1997-2026 | 0 | 0 | $7.7M | 66 of 88 |
| Tornadoes | 12 | 11 | 1963-2024 | 0 | 11 | $3.0M | 59 of 88 |
| Heat | 5 | 5 | 1999-2019 | 0 | 0 | – | 29 of 88 |
| Extreme cold | 4 | 4 | 1996-2022 | 0 | 0 | $806K | 68 of 88 |
| Drought | 2 | 2 | 1999-1999 | 0 | 0 | – | 62 of 88 |
| Heavy rain | 2 | 2 | 2011-2012 | 0 | 0 | – | 46 of 88 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 1 | 1 | 2000-2000 | 2 | 1 | $171K | 37 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 Union County had?
NOAA records 12 tornadoes in Union County from 1963 to 2024, the strongest rated F3, 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 Union County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 12, the same count); along their whole tracks they killed 4 people, 0 of them in Union County.
| Date | Tornado | Rating | Path | Killed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1965-04-11 22:30, as SPC files it | Magnetic Springs to Fulton | F2 | 22.2 mi | 4 |
| 2002-11-10 15:38, as SPC files it | West Mansfield | F3 | 9 mi | 0 |
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Ohio.
Every tornado record filed for Union County (12)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-12-29 | West Marysville, Union County | EF0 0.35 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $14K |
| 2024-03-14 | Lunda, Union County | EF2 15.6 mi x 600 yd | 0 | 0 | $470K |
| 2010-06-06 | West Marysville, Union County | EF0 3.39 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $87K |
| 2002-11-10 | York Center, Union County | F1 0.5 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | $82K |
| 2002-11-10 | Raymond, Union County | F3 7 mi x 300 yd | 0 | 2 | $820K |
| 1981-06-21 | Union County | F1 1.9 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 3 | $250K step |
| 1973-06-28 | Union County | F0 0.3 mi x 167 yd | 0 | 0 | $30 step |
| 1973-06-19 | Union County | F0 0.3 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 1 | $3K step |
| 1966-07-10 | Union County | F1 2 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1965-04-11 | Union County | F2 | 0 | 5 | $25K step |
| 1964-03-08 | Union County | 0 | 0 | $3K step | |
| 1963-09-12 | Union County | F1 | 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 Union County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the April 14, 2026 thunderstorm wind ($1,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-04-14 | Thunderstorm WindLunda, Union County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2026-03-26 | Thunderstorm WindRichwood Grindell Ar, Union County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $4K |
| 2026-03-26 | Thunderstorm WindEssex, Union County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $2K |
| 2026-03-22 | HailNew California, Union County | 1.25 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-03-22 | HailUnionville Center, Union County | 1.50 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-03-15 | Strong WindUnion County · forecast zone Union | 45 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-03-13 | High WindUnion County · forecast zone Union | 61 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-03-11 | Thunderstorm WindMrysvll Union Co Arp, Union County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-01-24 | Winter StormUnion County · forecast zone Union | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-12-13 | Winter WeatherUnion County · forecast zone Union | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-12-01 | Winter StormUnion County · forecast zone Union | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-11-10 | Winter WeatherUnion County · forecast zone Union | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000-10-25 | Dense FogUnion County · forecast zone Union A tanker truck hauling 8,600 gallons of gasoline crashed into a car and three other commercial vehicles and exploded. Two people were killed and one injured. The accident occurred in fog that reduced visibility to near zero. | 2 | 1 | $171K | |
| 1965-04-11 | TornadoUnion County | F2 | 0 | 5 | $25K step |
| 1981-06-21 | TornadoUnion County | F1 1.9 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 3 | $250K step |
| 2002-11-10 | TornadoRaymond, Union County The tornado moved into the northwest part of the county from Logan County, tracking northeast across rural areas. Nine homes were damaged, four of which were completely destroyed. Half a dozen barn and sheds were destroyed. A 400-foot metal hi-tension cellular tower was toppled and destroyed and numerous cars were ... | F3 7 mi x 300 yd | 0 | 2 | $820K |
| 2007-02-13 | Heavy SnowUnion County · forecast zone Union Thirteen inches of snow was reported at the county garage with 11 inches measured in Marysville. A driver for FedEx suffered serious injuries on the 14th when ice from a vehicle ahead of him crashed through the windshield. | 0 | 1 | – | |
| 1973-06-19 | TornadoUnion County | F0 0.3 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 1 | $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.
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008-09-14 | High WindUnion County · forecast zone Union | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $7.5M |
| 1997-06-01 | Flash FloodCountywide, Union County | 0 | 0 | $5.5M | |
| 2002-11-10 | TornadoRaymond, Union County | F3 7 mi x 300 yd | 0 | 2 | $820K |
| 2000-10-25 | Dense FogUnion County · forecast zone Union | 2 | 1 | $171K | |
| 2010-06-06 | TornadoWest Marysville, Union County | EF0 3.39 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $87K |
| 2002-11-10 | TornadoYork Center, Union County | F1 0.5 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | $82K |
| 2024-12-29 | TornadoWest Marysville, Union County | EF0 0.35 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $14K |
| 2020-09-07 | Thunderstorm WindMagnetic Spgs, Union County | 65 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $11K |
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: June 21, 1981 (tornado, Union 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 Union 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 | 4 | 17 | 27 | 27 | 45 | 25 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 8 | 26 | 60 | 24 |
| Hail | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 9 | 15 | 27 | 12 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 5 | 17 | 29 | 8 |
| High wind and dust storms | – | – | – | – | 1 | 7 | 4 | 4 |
| Tornadoes | 0 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
47% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1964 fell in June and July. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 41 · Feb 36 · Mar 36 · Apr 31 · May 41 · Jun 80 · Jul 61 · Aug 32 · Sep 16 · Oct 4 · Nov 16 · Dec 39 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Union County
FEMA's register lists 13 declarations that include Union County: 7 major disasters, 6 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for severe storm (6) and snowstorm (3).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-05-02 | DR-4777 | Tornado | Tornadoes |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 2003-03-14 | DR-1453 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm and Record/Near Record Snow |
| 2002-11-18 | DR-1444 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Tornadoes |
| 1978-01-26 | EM-3055 | Snowstorm | Blizzards & 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 Union County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 59 flood or flash flood records for Union County from 1996 to 2024, on 43 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Union County ranks 1612th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $430,000 on 56 claims filed in Union County; the most in one year was 16 in 1997. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1979: 1 · 1980: 1 · 1981: 1 · 1982: 1 · 1983: 1 · 1985: 1 · 1987: 2 · 1993: 1 · 1997: 16 · 1999: 1 · 2002: 2 · 2003: 2 · 2004: 2 · 2005: 3 · 2007: 3 · 2008: 3 · 2011: 3 · 2013: 3 · 2015: 6 · 2016: 1 · 2019: 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 Union County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Union County Very Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $19.0 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 Moderate | $524K | about once a year (modeled) |
| Hail | Relatively Low | $722K | 3.5 a year (modeled) |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | $155K | 12 a year (modeled) |
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively Low | $13M | 1.5 a year (modeled) |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | $2.2M | once in about 4 years (modeled) |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | $647K | 3.6 modeled event-days a year |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | $255K | 45 a year (modeled) |
| Drought | Relatively Low | $78K | 0.3 modeled event-days a year |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
Counties that share a border with Union 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 Union CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Union County's FEMA declarations (CSV)13 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis