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Tornado in Fairfield County, Ohio
24 tornadoes events in the NCEI Storm Events record, 1950 to 2026. Event types counted: Tornado.
NCEI notes that Storm Data is compiled from a variety of sources including the National Weather Service, other federal, state and local agencies, the media and the public; that property and crop damage figures are estimates; and that some events are recorded by NWS forecast zone rather than by county. FEMA notes that NFIP claim records are redacted and aggregated to protect the privacy of policyholders. Storm records through 30 Jun 2026.
Fairfield County, Ohio, has 24 tornado events in the NCEI record since 1950, with at least one in 18 different years.
September is the busiest month, with 6 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 11 events against 4 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 1.5% of the 1,565 tornado events recorded in Ohio; its 4.8 per 100 square miles compares with 3.8 statewide.
By rating: 10 at (E)F0, 12 at (E)F1, 1 at (E)F2, 1 at (E)F3, 0 at (E)F4, 0 at (E)F5. Tornadoes before 2007 carry the original Fujita rating.
Compared with Ohio
| Measure | Fairfield County | Ohio | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tornado events since 1950 | 24 | 1,565 | 81,281 |
| Per 100 square miles | 4.8 | 3.8 | 2.3 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 1.5 | 1.3 | 2.4 |
| Deaths recorded | 0 | 200 | 6,410 |
| Busiest month | September | June | May |
By year
Seasonality
0Feb
2Mar
1Apr
4May
3Jun
4Jul
2Aug
0Sep
6Oct
0Nov
0Dec
2
Magnitude distribution
Enhanced Fujita scale wind estimates
- EF0/F0
- 65–85 mph (EF0)
- EF1/F1
- 86–110 mph (EF1)
- EF2/F2
- 111–135 mph (EF2)
- EF3/F3
- 136–165 mph (EF3)
- EF4/F4
- 166–200 mph (EF4)
- EF5/F5
- over 200 mph (EF5)
- Unrated
- no rating recorded
Tornado rating as recorded (Fujita scale before February 2007, Enhanced Fujita after).
Recorded events
All 24 events, most recent first. Magnitude is hail size, tornado rating or wind speed as recorded.
| Date | Event type | Magnitude | Property damage | Crop damage | Deaths | Injuries | Geography |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28 Feb 2024 | Tornado | EF0 | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Apr 2023 | Tornado | EF0 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Apr 2023 | Tornado | EF0 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jul 2022 | Tornado | EF0 | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Jun 2015 | Tornado | EF0 | $3K | $5K | — | — | County |
| 24 Dec 2014 | Tornado | EF0 | $15K | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Apr 2011 | Tornado | EF1 | $45K | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Feb 2011 | Tornado | EF1 | $100K | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Sep 2010 | Tornado | EF0 | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Sep 2010 | Tornado | EF1 | $60K | $2K | — | — | County |
| 2 Jun 2009 | Tornado | EF0 | — | $1K | — | — | County |
| 23 Sep 2000 | Tornado | F0 | $30K | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Sep 2000 | Tornado | F1 | $150K | — | — | — | County |
| 23 May 2000 | Tornado | F0 | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jun 1990 | Tornado | F1 | $250K | — | — | 1 | County |
| 13 Mar 1982 | Tornado | F1 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jul 1980 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Sep 1978 | Tornado | F1 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Dec 1973 | Tornado | F1 | $250K | — | — | 4 | County |
| 10 May 1973 | Tornado | F3 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 16 May 1971 | Tornado | F2 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jun 1969 | Tornado | F1 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Apr 1965 | Tornado | F1 | $250K | — | — | 2 | County |
| 12 Sep 1963 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | 9 | County |
Questions and answers
How many tornado events has Fairfield County had?
24 events in the NCEI Storm Events record between 1950 and 2026. Reporting of tornadoes became far more complete after 1996, so early decades undercount.
When was the last recorded tornado event in Fairfield County?
28 Feb 2024 (Tornado, EF0). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging tornado event recorded in Fairfield County?
The tornado of 11 Apr 1965, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $250K.
How does Fairfield County compare with Ohio for tornado?
4.8 events per 100 square miles against 3.8 statewide; the county holds 24 of the state's 1,565 recorded events.
Provenance
NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, yearly details files through 30 Jun 2026, public domain. County-recorded events plus zone-recorded events whose forecast zone is named for the county (marked "Forecast zone"). Population and area from the US Census Bureau (2021). Built 1 Oct 2026. See the methodology, the Tornado hub and the county page.