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Tornado in Seneca County, Ohio
23 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 23 tornado events in Seneca County, Ohio, between 1950 and 2026, spread over 17 years.
May is the busiest month, with 5 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 7 events against 6 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 4.2 per 100 square miles compares with 3.8 statewide.
NCEI attributes 6 deaths in the county to tornadoes.
By rating: 6 at (E)F0, 9 at (E)F1, 4 at (E)F2, 3 at (E)F3, 0 at (E)F4, 0 at (E)F5 and 1 unrated. Tornadoes before 2007 carry the original Fujita rating.
Compared with Ohio
| Measure | Seneca County | Ohio | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tornado events since 1950 | 23 | 1,565 | 81,281 |
| Per 100 square miles | 4.2 | 3.8 | 2.3 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 4.2 | 1.3 | 2.4 |
| Deaths recorded | 6 | 200 | 6,410 |
| Busiest month | May | June | May |
By year
Seasonality
0Feb
1Mar
1Apr
2May
5Jun
4Jul
3Aug
1Sep
1Oct
0Nov
5Dec
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 23 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 Mar 2024 | Tornado | EF unrated | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Nov 2017 | Tornado | EF2 | $150K | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Nov 2017 | Tornado | EF1 | $200K | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jul 2013 | Tornado | EF0 | $150K | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jul 2013 | Tornado | EF0 | $75K | — | — | — | County |
| 31 May 2008 | Tornado | EF1 | $750K | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Aug 2007 | Tornado | EF0 | $60K | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Nov 2002 | Tornado | F1 | $1.1M | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Nov 2002 | Tornado | F3 | $13M | — | 1 | 2 | County |
| 13 Jul 1992 | Tornado | F2 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Jun 1991 | Tornado | F0 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 30 May 1991 | Tornado | F1 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jun 1989 | Tornado | F0 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Apr 1981 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 11 May 1974 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Jun 1973 | Tornado | F0 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 10 May 1973 | Tornado | F3 | $2.5M | — | 1 | — | County |
| 11 Sep 1971 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Nov 1965 | Tornado | F2 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Apr 1965 | Tornado | F3 | $250K | — | 4 | 30 | County |
| 19 May 1964 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Feb 1961 | Tornado | F2 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jun 1960 | Tornado | F1 | $250 | — | — | — | County |
Questions and answers
How many tornado events has Seneca County had?
23 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 Seneca County?
14 Mar 2024 (Tornado, EF unrated). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging tornado event recorded in Seneca County?
The tornado of 10 Nov 2002, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $13M; 1 death recorded.
How does Seneca County compare with Ohio for tornado?
4.2 events per 100 square miles against 3.8 statewide; the county holds 23 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.