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Tornado in Putnam County, Ohio
26 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.
NCEI records 26 tornado events in Putnam County, Ohio, between 1950 and 2026, spread over 20 years.
May is the busiest month, with 4 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 10 events against 7 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 1.7% of the 1,565 tornado events recorded in Ohio; its 5.4 per 100 square miles compares with 3.8 statewide.
NCEI attributes 2 deaths in the county to tornadoes.
By rating: 7 at (E)F0, 11 at (E)F1, 3 at (E)F2, 3 at (E)F3, 0 at (E)F4, 0 at (E)F5 and 2 unrated. Tornadoes before 2007 carry the original Fujita rating.
Compared with Ohio
| Measure | Putnam County | Ohio | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tornado events since 1950 | 26 | 1,565 | 81,281 |
| Per 100 square miles | 5.4 | 3.8 | 2.3 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 7.6 | 1.3 | 2.4 |
| Deaths recorded | 2 | 200 | 6,410 |
| Busiest month | May | June | May |
By year
Seasonality
0Feb
0Mar
1Apr
3May
4Jun
4Jul
4Aug
3Sep
2Oct
2Nov
3Dec
0
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 26 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Apr 2025 | Tornado | EF2 | $500K | — | — | 2 | County |
| 2 Apr 2025 | Tornado | EF1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 May 2024 | Tornado | EF unrated | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Mar 2024 | Tornado | EF0 | $75K | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Aug 2016 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Aug 2016 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Nov 2013 | Tornado | EF2 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Nov 2013 | Tornado | EF1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Oct 2010 | Tornado | EF1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 May 2008 | Tornado | EF0 | $1.2M | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Aug 2006 | Tornado | F1 | $15K | $10K | — | — | County |
| 10 Nov 2002 | Tornado | F3 | — | — | 2 | — | County |
| 24 Oct 2001 | Tornado | F3 | $1.0M | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Jun 2000 | Tornado | F1 | $40K | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jul 1998 | Tornado | F1 | $40K | — | — | — | County |
| 31 May 1998 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Sep 1990 | Tornado | F1 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Apr 1980 | Tornado | F1 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jul 1978 | Tornado | F1 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jun 1978 | Tornado | F1 | $2.5M | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Sep 1976 | Tornado | F0 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jul 1973 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Jun 1971 | Tornado | F3 | $2.5M | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Jul 1965 | Tornado | F0 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Jun 1964 | Tornado | F2 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 2 May 1954 | Tornado | — | — | — | — | — | County |
Questions and answers
How many tornado events has Putnam County had?
26 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 Putnam County?
2 Apr 2025 (Tornado, EF1). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging tornado event recorded in Putnam County?
The tornado of 2 Jun 1971, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $2.5M.
How does Putnam County compare with Ohio for tornado?
5.4 events per 100 square miles against 3.8 statewide; the county holds 26 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.