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Tornado in Wayne County, Ohio
25 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.
Wayne County, Ohio, has 25 tornado events in the NCEI record since 1950, with at least one in 21 different years.
July is the busiest month, with 7 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 7 events against 8 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 1.6% of the 1,565 tornado events recorded in Ohio; its 4.5 per 100 square miles compares with 3.8 statewide.
By rating: 4 at (E)F0, 14 at (E)F1, 7 at (E)F2, 0 at (E)F3, 0 at (E)F4, 0 at (E)F5. Tornadoes before 2007 carry the original Fujita rating.
Compared with Ohio
| Measure | Wayne County | Ohio | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tornado events since 1950 | 25 | 1,565 | 81,281 |
| Per 100 square miles | 4.5 | 3.8 | 2.3 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 2.1 | 1.3 | 2.4 |
| Deaths recorded | 0 | 200 | 6,410 |
| Busiest month | July | June | May |
By year
Seasonality
1Feb
0Mar
2Apr
1May
6Jun
3Jul
7Aug
1Sep
1Oct
0Nov
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 25 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31 Mar 2026 | Tornado | EF0 | $45K | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jul 2022 | Tornado | EF1 | $117K | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Nov 2017 | Tornado | EF1 | $75K | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Aug 2013 | Tornado | EF1 | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Sep 2010 | Tornado | EF2 | $35M | — | — | — | County |
| 31 Jul 2009 | Tornado | EF1 | $35K | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jun 2009 | Tornado | EF0 | $60K | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Nov 2003 | Tornado | F2 | $21M | — | — | 3 | County |
| 10 Nov 2002 | Tornado | F2 | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Apr 2002 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Jul 1999 | Tornado | F1 | $150K | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jan 1997 | Tornado | F1 | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jul 1996 | Tornado | F1 | $30K | — | — | — | County |
| 1 May 1996 | Tornado | F1 | $300K | — | — | 2 | County |
| 30 Jul 1992 | Tornado | F0 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Mar 1985 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jun 1981 | Tornado | F1 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 13 May 1980 | Tornado | F1 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 31 Jul 1976 | Tornado | F2 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 10 May 1973 | Tornado | F2 | $250K | — | — | 2 | County |
| 9 Jul 1972 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Jun 1970 | Tornado | F1 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 15 May 1968 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 15 May 1968 | Tornado | F2 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 14 May 1957 | Tornado | F2 | $250K | — | — | 3 | County |
Questions and answers
How many tornado events has Wayne County had?
25 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 Wayne County?
31 Mar 2026 (Tornado, EF0). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging tornado event recorded in Wayne County?
The tornado of 16 Sep 2010, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $35M.
How does Wayne County compare with Ohio for tornado?
4.5 events per 100 square miles against 3.8 statewide; the county holds 25 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 30 Sep 2026. See the methodology, the Tornado hub and the county page.