Williams County, Ohio
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 39171 · population 37,098 · 421 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 286 records for Williams County, Ohio from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 223 days; the most frequent are severe thunderstorm wind events (138 records). The deadliest single record is the August 4, 2010 thunderstorm wind: 1 death. FEMA has issued 8 declarations naming the county since 1978, 6 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
- 286on 223 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 126 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $88Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 9strongest F3
- FEMA declarations
- 8latest 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 Williams County most?
The most frequent records are severe thunderstorm wind events: 138 since 1957. 54% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1957 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 | 138 | 102 | 1957-2025 | 1 | 6 | $1.1M | 77 of 88 |
| Winter storms | 71 | 71 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 0 | – | 45 of 88 |
| Hail | 43 | 28 | 1973-2026 | 0 | 0 | $969 | 84 of 88 |
| High wind and dust storms | 13 | 13 | 2002-2021 | 0 | 1 | – | 71 of 88 |
| Tornadoes | 9 | 9 | 1957-2001 | 0 | 19 | $81M | 66 of 88 |
| Floods | 6 | 6 | 1996-2015 | 0 | 0 | $6.0M | 88 of 88 |
| Extreme cold | 4 | 4 | 2014-2024 | 0 | 0 | – | 65 of 88 |
| Lightning | 1 | 1 | 2002-2002 | 0 | 0 | $246K | 52 of 88 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 1 | 1 | 2005-2005 | 0 | 0 | – | 33 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 Williams County had?
NOAA records 9 tornadoes in Williams County from 1957 to 2001, the strongest rated F3, with 0 deaths and 19 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 9 tornadoes whose track touched Williams County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 9, the same count); along their whole tracks they killed 1 person, 0 of them in Williams County.
| Date | Tornado | Rating | Path | Killed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1991-03-27 19:20, as SPC files it | AshleyCrossed IN, OH | F3 | 21 mi | 1 |
| 1961-05-06 20:02, as SPC files it | Wolcottville to HamiltonCrossed IN, OH | F3 | 33.4 mi | 0 |
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Ohio.
Every tornado record filed for Williams County (9)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001-05-26 | Edgerton, Williams County | F0 0.1 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | $7K |
| 1991-03-27 | Williams County | F3 6.4 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 18 | $25M step |
| 1986-10-01 | Williams County | F0 2 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1969-04-17 | Williams County | F1 | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1965-08-25 | Williams County | F2 9.4 mi x 880 yd | 0 | 1 | $2.5M step |
| 1964-08-22 | Williams County | F2 | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1961-05-06 | Williams County | F3 1.9 mi x 813 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1959-04-29 | Williams County | F1 | 0 | 0 | $3K step |
| 1957-07-04 | Williams County | F2 2.7 mi x 33 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 Williams County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the March 30, 2025 thunderstorm wind ($7,500 in damage in 2025 dollars).
Outbuilding lost its roof. Roof was toppled into adjacent field.
National Weather Service event narrative, NOAA Storm Events Database (search the full record, event 1241329)
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-04-22 | HailBryan, Williams County | 0.75 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-01-24 | Winter StormWilliams County · forecast zone Williams | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-14 | Winter WeatherWilliams County · forecast zone Williams | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-11-29 | Winter StormWilliams County · forecast zone Williams | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-03-30 | Thunderstorm WindMontpelier, Williams County | 65 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $8K |
| 2025-02-05 | Winter WeatherWilliams County · forecast zone Williams | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2020-06-10 | HailBryan, Williams County | 2.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2017-08-03 | Strong WindWilliams County · forecast zone Williams | 45 kt wind | 0 | 1 | – |
| 2010-08-04 | Thunderstorm WindEdgerton, Williams County | 55 kt wind | 1 | 0 | – |
| 2010-06-23 | Thunderstorm WindEdgerton, Williams County | 87 kt wind | 0 | 1 | $271K |
| 2001-05-26 | TornadoEdgerton, Williams County | F0 0.1 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | $7K |
| 1996-05-17 | Flash FloodWilliams County | 0 | 0 | $6.0M |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010-08-04 | Thunderstorm WindEdgerton, Williams County Local newspapers reported that a 18 year old male was killed as a result of strong winds blowing down a 12 foot high interior cinder block wall. The incident happened at a construction site at the Edgerton High School. No details were provided if the wall had been secured or was free standing. | 55 kt wind | 1 | 0 | – |
| 1991-03-27 | TornadoWilliams County | F3 6.4 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 18 | $25M step |
| 1992-05-17 | Thunderstorm WindWilliams County | 0 | 3 | – | |
| 1988-04-03 | Thunderstorm WindWilliams County | 0 | 2 | – | |
| 2017-08-03 | Strong WindWilliams County · forecast zone Williams Emergency management officials reported a large, but rotten tree fell onto a teenager, causing serious injury to his head and face. A full recovery is expected. No other trees in the area were damaged. | 45 kt wind | 0 | 1 | – |
| 2010-06-23 | Thunderstorm WindEdgerton, Williams County An intense microburst with estimated winds at 100 mph was surveyed in the town of Edgerton. A large portion of the upper story of the old town hall building next to the fire department was blown in with loss of much of the roof. Debris from this structure damaged nearby vehicles and the flea market building across the ... | 87 kt wind | 0 | 1 | $271K |
| 1965-08-25 | TornadoWilliams County | F2 9.4 mi x 880 yd | 0 | 1 | $2.5M 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 | Flash FloodWilliams County | 0 | 0 | $6.0M | |
| 2010-06-23 | Thunderstorm WindEdgerton, Williams County | 87 kt wind | 0 | 1 | $271K |
| 2025-03-30 | Thunderstorm WindMontpelier, Williams County | 65 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $8K |
| 2001-05-26 | TornadoEdgerton, Williams County | F0 0.1 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | $7K |
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 $25M, in the dollars of the day) holds: March 27, 1991 (tornado, Williams 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 Williams 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 | 1 | 2 | 18 | 27 | 29 | 33 | 27 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 2 | 17 | 35 | 17 |
| Hail | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 7 | 17 | 9 | 5 |
| High wind and dust storms | – | – | – | – | 0 | 6 | 5 | 2 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
54% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1957 fell in June and July. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 26 · Feb 28 · Mar 14 · Apr 15 · May 27 · Jun 59 · Jul 44 · Aug 33 · Sep 8 · Oct 3 · Nov 11 · Dec 18 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Williams County
FEMA's register lists 8 declarations that include Williams County: 4 major disasters, 4 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for biological (2) and severe storm (2).
| 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 |
| 2005-09-13 | EM-3250 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2004-09-19 | DR-1556 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 1996-06-24 | DR-1122 | Flood | Flooding |
| 1982-03-26 | DR-653 | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding |
| 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 Williams County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 6 flood or flash flood records for Williams County from 1996 to 2015, on 6 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Williams County ranks 1874th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $764,000 on 32 claims filed in Williams County; the most in one year was 5 in 2011. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1982: 1 · 1985: 2 · 1990: 1 · 1993: 1 · 1996: 2 · 1998: 4 · 1999: 1 · 2001: 1 · 2002: 2 · 2005: 1 · 2008: 3 · 2009: 2 · 2010: 2 · 2011: 5 · 2013: 1 · 2022: 2 · 2026: 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 Williams County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Williams County Relatively Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $12.5 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 Moderate | $1.2M | 5.1 a year (modeled) |
| Tornado | Relatively Moderate | $2.7M | once in about 5 years (modeled) |
| Hail | Relatively Moderate | $585K | 3.3 a year (modeled) |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Moderate | $135K | 1.6 a year (modeled) |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low | $480K | once in about 806 years (modeled) |
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively Low | $6.2M | once in about 5 years (modeled) |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | $761K | 3.3 a year (modeled) |
| Drought | Relatively Low | $90K | 1 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 Williams 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 Williams CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Williams County's FEMA declarations (CSV)8 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis