Brunswick
Population 35,114 (2025)
98 tornadoes have tracked within 25 miles of Brunswick since 1950, 7 of them rated EF3 or F3 or stronger; the most recent was on July 28, 2025.
Hazard fingerprint Each spoke is this county’s percentile among U.S. counties where that hazard occurs. How it is computed
- Tornado damage paths within 25 miles since 195098
- Tropical cyclone tracks within 100 miles since 1851, wider where stronger1
- Major flood years since 1978, Medina County2
At a glance
Tornado paths within 25 miles, tropical cyclone tracks within 100 miles and wildfire perimeters within 25 miles of the city centre. Storm events, flood insurance claims and disaster declarations are for Medina County. Earthquakes within 50 miles, volcanoes within 100 miles and smoke days are measured from the city centre; river and tide gauges, tsunami and landslide records and the drought index are for Medina County.
Strongest tornado
F4
June 8, 1953, 118.0 mile path
Tornadoes
About one tornado a year since 1950, 7 of them rated F3/EF3 or stronger.
Strongest
June 8, 1953
F4, 118.0 mile path
100 yards wide; 17 killed along the whole path.
Deadliest
April 11, 1965
18 killed, F4
200 injured along the whole path.
Most recent
Monday, July 28, 2025
EF0, 0.7 mile path
Within the past year.
Every recorded tornado
| Jul 28, 2025 | EF0 | 0.7 | 0 | 0 |
| Jul 7, 2025 | EF0 | 1.3 | 0 | 0 |
| Aug 6, 2024 | EF1 | 3.3 | 0 | 0 |
| Aug 6, 2024 | EF1 | 16.9 | 0 | 0 |
| Aug 6, 2024 | EF1 | 1.8 | 0 | 0 |
| Aug 6, 2024 | EF1 | 11.9 | 0 | 0 |
| Aug 24, 2023 | EF1 | 1.5 | 0 | 0 |
| Aug 24, 2023 | EF2 | 1.5 | 0 | 0 |
| Aug 24, 2023 | EF0 | 1.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Aug 24, 2023 | EF0 | 0.2 | 0 | 0 |
| Aug 24, 2023 | EF1 | 0.8 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 25, 2022 | EF0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Oct 21, 2021 | EF0 | 0.8 | 0 | 0 |
| Oct 21, 2021 | EF0 | 0.3 | 0 | 0 |
| Oct 21, 2021 | EF1 | 2.6 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 7, 2020 | EF1 | 9.8 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 7, 2020 | EF1 | 11.4 | 0 | 0 |
| Jun 16, 2019 | EF1 | 2.2 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 15, 2018 | EF1 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Sep 10, 2014 | EF0 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Sep 10, 2014 | EF0 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 |
| Jul 8, 2014 | EF1 | 1.6 | 0 | 0 |
| Jul 8, 2014 | EF1 | 8.3 | 0 | 0 |
| Jun 23, 2014 | EF1 | 1.7 | 0 | 0 |
| May 12, 2014 | EF0 | 0.2 | 0 | 0 |
| May 12, 2014 | EF0 | 1.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Jul 20, 2013 | EF1 | 1.3 | 0 | 0 |
| May 25, 2011 | EF0 | 4.2 | 0 | 0 |
| Jun 17, 2009 | EF0 | 3.8 | 0 | 0 |
| Aug 9, 2007 | EF1 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Aug 9, 2007 | EF1 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 |
| Mar 14, 2007 | EF0 | 2.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Aug 20, 2005 | F1 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Aug 3, 2003 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Nov 10, 2002 | F2 | 10.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Nov 10, 2002 | F2 | 5.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Nov 10, 2002 | F2 | 9.5 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 19, 2002 | F0 | 0.2 | 0 | 0 |
| May 21, 2001 | F2 | 7.5 | 0 | 0 |
| Jul 28, 1999 | F1 | 4.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jul 9, 1999 | F0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jul 1, 1999 | F1 | 7.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Aug 24, 1998 | F1 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 9, 1998 | F0 | 0.3 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 9, 1998 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Aug 16, 1997 | F1 | 0.3 | 0 | 0 |
| Aug 16, 1997 | F0 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 |
| Aug 4, 1997 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Jul 7, 1996 | F1 | 1.3 | 0 | 0 |
| May 28, 1995 | F1 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 |
| May 28, 1995 | F1 | 0.7 | 0 | 0 |
| Jun 28, 1994 | F1 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jun 28, 1994 | F1 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 |
| Jul 30, 1992 | F0 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jul 12, 1992 | F0 | 5.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jul 12, 1992 | F3 | 8.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jul 12, 1992 | F3 | 7.0 | 4 | 0 |
| Jul 12, 1992 | F2 | 2.0 | 3 | 0 |
| Jul 12, 1992 | F0 | 1.8 | 2 | 0 |
| Jul 12, 1992 | F0 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jul 12, 1992 | F1 | 2.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jun 18, 1992 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Jul 25, 1987 | F1 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Sep 24, 1986 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Aug 26, 1986 | F2 | 3.0 | 2 | 0 |
| Mar 31, 1985 | F0 | 0.2 | 0 | 0 |
| May 2, 1983 | F3 | 12.0 | 25 | 1 |
| Jun 7, 1978 | F1 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jun 30, 1977 | F1 | 2.0 | 3 | 0 |
| Apr 2, 1977 | F1 | 1.5 | 0 | 0 |
| Mar 20, 1976 | F0 | 0.7 | 0 | 0 |
| Aug 26, 1975 | F1 | 0.3 | 2 | 0 |
| Aug 26, 1975 | F0 | 0.2 | 0 | 0 |
| Jul 13, 1975 | F2 | 4.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Aug 20, 1973 | F0 | 0.2 | 0 | 0 |
| Jun 3, 1973 | F3 | 12.9 | 1 | 0 |
| May 10, 1973 | F2 | 40.4 | 8 | 0 |
| May 8, 1973 | F0 | 0.3 | 0 | 0 |
| Oct 13, 1971 | F1 | 0.5 | 1 | 0 |
| Sep 18, 1970 | F1 | 0.3 | 2 | 0 |
| Sep 3, 1970 | F1 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Jul 15, 1970 | F2 | 0.1 | 1 | 0 |
| Apr 2, 1970 | F1 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Sep 29, 1966 | F3 | 4.5 | 20 | 0 |
| Apr 11, 1965 | F1 | 8.2 | 6 | 0 |
| Apr 11, 1965 | F4 | 22.0 | 200 | 18 |
| Jul 1, 1963 | F1 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 19, 1963 | F2 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 19, 1963 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Aug 20, 1962 | F2 | 0.5 | 20 | 4 |
| May 23, 1962 | F1 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| May 30, 1960 | F1 | 1.5 | 0 | 0 |
| May 11, 1959 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Jun 20, 1958 | F1 | 4.5 | 3 | 0 |
| Jul 20, 1956 | F1 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jun 8, 1953 | F4 | 118.0 | 379 | 17 |
| May 24, 1952 | F1 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Jun 22, 1951 | F2 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 |
- Injuries and deaths are for the tornado’s whole path, which may extend beyond this area.
- Weak tornadoes were under-recorded before Doppler radar coverage became national in the early 1990s, so earlier decades read low. Ratings use the Fujita scale before February 2007 and the Enhanced Fujita scale after.
Storm Prediction Center severe weather database, 1950 to 2025.
Hurricanes and tropical storms
1 tropical cyclone passed within 100 miles since 1851, none within 50.
Most recent
September 19, 2003
Isabel, Post-tropical
74.3 miles at closest approach.
Every storm within 100 miles
- Tropical storms and hurricanes (34 kt or more, still tropical) at closest approach. Post-tropical remnants with gale-force winds are listed but not counted. Direct: track within 50 miles; near: within 100 miles. Distance is measured to the county boundary for counties and to the city centre for cities, using positions interpolated hourly between HURDAT2 fixes.
National Hurricane Center HURDAT2, 1851 to 2025.
Wildfire and smoke
No large wildfire has been mapped within 25 miles since satellite mapping began in 1984.
Smoke overhead
Smokiest year
2023: 57 days
Heavy smoke on 16 days in 2023, the most of any year.
Last 10 years
17.1 days a year
Medium or heavy smoke, 2016 to 2025.
2025
18 days
Medium or heavy smoke. 33 so far in 2026.
- A smoke day is a date on which a smoke plume traced by NOAA Hazard Mapping System analysts from satellite imagery covered this place's point (the county's population centre or the city centre). Counts here are of medium or heavy smoke. Since 2018 analysts have often drawn light smoke as one area over most of the continent, so light-smoke counts are not comparable from year to year. The plumes show smoke anywhere in the air above, not air quality at the ground, and smoke hidden by cloud is missed.
NOAA Hazard Mapping System smoke analysis, 2011 to 2026, retrieved October 30, 2026.
Floods and flood insurance
290 federal flood insurance claims since 1978, with $4.7 million paid.
Flood insurance figures are for Medina County, the county that contains Brunswick.
Most claims in one year
2014: 45 claims
$1.9 million paid.
2nd most
2003: 27 claims
$423,000 paid.
3rd most
2013: 18 claims
$1.0 million paid.
Claims by ZIP code
| 44215 | 118 | $705,000 |
| 44256 | 79 | $2.2 million |
| 44212 | 43 | $499,000 |
| 44281 | 14 | $114,000 |
| 44280 | 11 | $160,000 |
| 44254 | 7 | $21,000 |
| 44273 | 6 | $16,000 |
| 44274 | 5 | $847,000 |
Flood events since 1996
- Flash Flood40
- Flood11
- Heavy Rain2
This product uses the Federal Emergency Management Agency's OpenFEMA API, but is not endorsed by FEMA. The Federal Government or FEMA cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from the Agency's website(s).
OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Claims v3, refreshed August 4, 2026. NOAA Storm Events through 2026.
Drought
In severe drought or worse for 132 of 1,581 months since 1895 (8%); the longest spell lasted 23 months.
The drought index is for Medina County, the county that contains Brunswick.
132
Months in severe drought or worse since 1895
65
Months in extreme drought
8%
Share of all months, severe or worse
5
Drought reports to the Weather Service since 1996
Lowest reading
February 1964
−7.34, extreme drought
Longest severe spell
23 months
July 1933 to May 1935.
Latest month
September 2026
+0.85, incipient wet spell
Last severe month: January 2025.
- The Palmer Drought Severity Index is computed by NOAA each month from the county's average temperature and precipitation, relative to the county's own climate. Zero is normal; -3 or lower is severe drought and -4 or lower extreme drought. It describes the long-term balance of moisture, not water supply or crop losses.
NOAA NCEI nClimDiv county Palmer Drought Severity Index, 1895 to September 2026, issued October 6, 2026.
Earthquakes
3 earthquakes of magnitude 4 or more within 50 miles since 1900; the largest was magnitude 5.0 in 1986.
11
Magnitude 3+ within 50 miles since 1973
3
Magnitude 4+ within 50 miles since 1900
1
Magnitude 5+ within 50 miles since 1900
Largest within 50 miles
January 31, 1986
4 km NNW of Chardon, Ohio; 43.9 miles away, 6.2 miles deep.
Most recent, magnitude 3 or more
March 30, 2024
Magnitude 3.0
2 km SSW of Maple Ridge, Ohio; 46.2 miles away.
Every earthquake of magnitude 4 or more within 50 miles
| Jun 10, 2019 | 4.0 | 35.3 |
| Jan 31, 1986 | 5.0 | 43.9 |
| Mar 8, 1943 | 4.5 | 37.3 |
- Earthquakes of magnitude 2.5 or more in the USGS Comprehensive Catalog since 1900. Within 50 miles means the epicentre lies within 50 miles of the city centre.
- Small earthquakes were under-recorded before the modern seismic networks of the 1970s and are still missed in remote areas, so early decades read low. Magnitudes are as the catalogue reports them and mix scales (moment, local and body-wave).
USGS ANSS Comprehensive Earthquake Catalog, 1900 to present, retrieved October 30, 2026.
Severe weather and other events
658 events in the National Weather Service record for Medina County, 550 of them since 1996.
66
Hail reports, 1 inch or larger
6
Hail, 2 inches or larger
179
Damaging gusts, 58 mph+
63
Winter weather events since 1996
2
Heat events since 1996
11
Cold events since 1996
Largest hail
March 28, 2020
2.25 inches
Strongest measured or estimated gust
April 12, 1996
92 mph
More event types since 1996
| Lightning | 4 | 0 |
Costliest events since 1996
- Jun 17, 2019Flood$12.0 million
National Weather Service narrative
The Chippewa Creek, a tributary for the Tuscarawas River measured an estimated 7.34��� between the 11th and 17th of June, again with 3 to 5 inches falling on the 16th and 17th. Heavy rain over the headwaters of the Tuscarwas River were averaged 7.65��� for from June 11 through the 17th, with 3 to 5 inches falling on the 16th and 17th. The Tuscarawas River basin average rainfall for June 11 through June 17th was 7.58��� with 3 to 5��� falling during the 16th and 17th. As a result of concurrent major flooding on the tributary Chippewa Creek and the headwaters of the Tuscarawas River resulted in a flood near the 0.2 percent or 500 year flood level at the…
- Sep 14, 2008High Wind, Medina$10.0 million
National Weather Service narrative
High winds associated with the remnants of Hurricane Ike began during the early evening hours of September 14th and continued through late evening. Peak wind gusts were estimated to be around 60 mph with the strongest winds occurring between 6 and 8 pm. Damage in the county was extensive with thousands of trees and many utility poles downed. Widespread power outages occurred as well with some customers without power for several days. Homes and buildings were damaged throughout the county. The damage ranged from a few shingles torn off to significant structural damage caused by fallen trees landing on roofs. Numerous vehicles were damaged by fallen trees and limbs and also from…
- Jul 21, 2003Flash Flood$8.0 million
National Weather Service narrative
Thunderstorms dumped two to four inches of rain on Medina County on the 21st. Flash flooding occurred in portions of the county during the evening hours. 3.91 inches of rain fell in Chippewa Lake during with around 3.5 inches in the City of Medina. Over two inches of rain was measured between 6 and 7 p.m. in Medina. The flooding was most severe in Medina, Montville and Granger Townships. In Montville Township, the west branch of the Rocky River left it's bank and flooded several homes along River Styx Road. The river rose nine feet above normal causing a basement wall in the one of the houses to collapse. Several people were evacuated from homes nearby. At 9:05 p.m. a small child…
- Jan 5, 2005Ice Storm, Medina$4.2 million
National Weather Service narrative
For the second time in just over two weeks, a devastating and historic winter storm affected Northern Ohio. Significant ice accumulations occurred over most of the area downing thousands of trees, causing widespread power outages and making travel nearly impossible. Low pressure over Missouri moved rapidly northeast on January 5th. This low moved across eastern Ohio early on January 6th and was responsible for producing a prolonged period of freezing rain. A mixture of rain and snow changed to freezing rain from west to east during the early morning hours of the 5th. Periods of freezing rain then continued for the remainder of the 5th and through the early morning hours of the…
- Dec 22, 2004Winter Storm, Medina$4.2 million
National Weather Service narrative
A record setting winter storm affected northern Ohio on December 22nd and 23rd. The impact and damage caused by this storm has been compared to the Blizzard of January 1978. Low pressure developed over eastern Texas early on the 22nd and then moved quickly northeast. The low eventually tracked across eastern Ohio during the morning hours of the 23rd after dumping nearly two feet of snow on portions of Ohio. The snow began around daybreak on the 22nd and then intensified around midday. Heavy snow with visibilities of a quarter mile or less then persisted into the early morning hours of the 23rd. Snowfall rates much of this time ranged from one to two inches per hour. Winds…
- May 21, 2004Flash Flood$4.2 million
National Weather Service narrative
Thunderstorms dumped torrential rains on Medina County during the early morning hours of May 21st resulting in the worst flooding seen in the county since 1969. The northern portion of the county including the Brunswick area was especially hard hit. Heavy rain fell between 2 and 5 a.m. and caused several small streams to leave their banks. Rainfall rates were between one and two inches per hour with storm totals of up to three inches measured by spotters in both Brunswick and Hinckley. Bucket surveys indicate that as much as 4 to 5 inches of rain may have fallen in some areas. This rainfall combined with ground already saturated from heavy rains the previous few days led to…
- May 12, 2014Flash Flood$2.5 million
National Weather Service narrative
Doppler Radar estimated between 2 and 4.5 inches of rain fell over Medina County on the evening of May 12th between 9 and 11 pm. The rainfall intensity caused rapid runoff and widespread flash flooding in the western and central parts of the county. In North Royalton the Cambridge Village properties were flooded. There was water reported over the Akins Road Bridge and dozens of roads and intersections were flooded from overflowing creeks. Flowing water removed pavement from main and side streets in North Royalton, Strongsville, Medina, and Brunswick Hills. State Route 162, between the Interstate 71 overpass and River Styx Road in Montville Township, sustained major damage when a…
- Mar 7, 2008Winter Storm, Medina$1.5 million
National Weather Service narrative
Snow began during the morning hours of the 7th, and continued for the next day and a half before ending during the evening hours of the 8th.|On the evening of the 7th, the snow tapered to flurries for a short period of time, but then redeveloped overnight. Through the day on the 8th, visibilities less than two miles were common, and even a few hours of heavy snow occurred across the area with visibilities down to a quarter mile. Wind gusts between 20 and 30 mph were common, especially throughout the 8th, that caused considerable blowing and drifting of snow. By the end of the event, trained spotters measured 16.0 inches in Medina, 14.8 inches in Hinkley, and 12.0 inches in…
- Jul 9, 1999Thunderstorm Wind$1.1 million
National Weather Service narrative
A series of macrobursts began on the west side of Chippewa Lake and moved east to Wadsworth resulting in a nearly continuous line of damage. Two homes were destroyed, 16 others suffered major damage and 40 homes suffered minor damage. Of the two homes that were destroyed, one was cut in half by a falling tree and the other was blown off its foundation. Another 200 homes received minimal damage from such things as broken windows and damaged rain gutters. Baseball and softball dugouts at a local ball field were also destroyed. Hundreds of trees were reported down in the southeastern portion of the county. Approximately 10 vehicles were damaged or destroyed by falling trees and at…
- Nov 5, 2017Thunderstorm Wind$1.1 million
National Weather Service narrative
A thunderstorm downbust with winds estimated to be as much as 85 mph caused extensive damage across the northern end of Medina County. The damage began west of Valley City along the county line and continued east across the Brunswick and Hinckley areas. The damage was most concentrated in Liverpool township where there was significant tree and power pole damage. Hundreds of trees were also downed in Brunswick and Hinckley. Many homes lost roofing or siding and a few were damaged by fallen trees. In Brunswick alone, there were 300 reports of damage with four homes sustaining structural damage and a fifth destroyed from a complete roof collapse caused by a fallen tree. There was…
- Storm Events records before 1996 cover only tornadoes, thunderstorm wind and hail. Damage figures are as reported by the National Weather Service at the time, not adjusted for inflation.
NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, 1950 to 2026, issued October 26, 2026.
Weather records
From Cleveland, 11.8 miles from the city centre, with records from 1938.
- All-time high
- 104°FJun 25, 1988
- All-time low
- −20°FJan 19, 1994
- Warmest night
- 80°F2 times, most recently Jun 20, 1949
- Coldest day
- −5°FJan 20, 1985
- Wettest day
- 4.59 inSep 7, 1996
- Snowiest day
- 13.6 inFeb 23, 1993
- Hottest year
- 2024mean 55.2°F
- Coldest year
- 1963mean 47.6°F
- Wettest year
- 201165.32 in
- Driest year
- 196318.63 in
- Snowiest season
- 117.9 in2004-05
Median first snow
November 11
Earliest: October 2, 1974
Median last snow
April 10
Latest: May 11, 2020
0 of 86 winters had no measurable snow.
Station Cleveland (USW00014820), 860 ft elevation, 11.8 miles from the city centre. Daily records from 1938 to October 27, 2026; 100.0% of days in the last 30 years are complete. Records at a single station can differ from a city’s official threaded record, which may combine several stations.
NOAA NCEI Global Historical Climatology Network Daily.
Federal disaster declarations
14 since 1953. The most recent: Covid-19 Pandemic, March 31, 2020.
Declarations for Medina County.
| Mar 31, 2020 | Biological | DR-4507-OH |
| Mar 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3457-OH |
| Jun 30, 2012 | Severe Storm | EM-3346-OH |
| Sep 13, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3250-OH |
| Feb 15, 2005 | Severe Storm | DR-1580-OH |
| Sep 19, 2004 | Severe Storm | DR-1556-OH |
| Jun 3, 2004 | Severe Storm | DR-1519-OH |
| Aug 1, 2003 | Tornado | DR-1484-OH |
| Nov 18, 2002 | Severe Storm | DR-1444-OH |
| Aug 4, 1992 | Severe Storm | DR-951-OH |
| Jan 26, 1978 | Snowstorm | EM-3055-OH |
| Feb 2, 1977 | Snowstorm | EM-3029-OH |
| Jul 15, 1969 | Tornado | DR-266-OH |
| Apr 14, 1965 | Tornado | DR-191-OH |
This product uses the Federal Emergency Management Agency's OpenFEMA API, but is not endorsed by FEMA. The Federal Government or FEMA cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from the Agency's website(s).
OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries, retrieved October 30, 2026. Statewide declarations are not listed.
Sources and vintage
Every number on this page comes from these public records.
- Tornadoes NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather database, through 2025.
- Tropical cyclones NOAA National Hurricane Center HURDAT2 (Atlantic; Northeast and Central Pacific), through 2025.
- Wildfire USGS/USFS Monitoring Trends in Burn Severity, through 2026.
- Storm events NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, through 2026.
- Flood insurance OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Claims v3, refreshed August 4, 2026.
- Declarations OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2, retrieved October 30, 2026.
- Weather records NOAA NCEI Global Historical Climatology Network Daily, station USW00014820.
- River crests NOAA National Weather Service, National Water Prediction Service river gauges, retrieved October 30, 2026.
- Drought NOAA NCEI nClimDiv county Palmer Drought Severity Index, through September 2026.
- Smoke NOAA NESDIS Hazard Mapping System smoke analysis, retrieved October 30, 2026.
- Earthquakes USGS ANSS Comprehensive Earthquake Catalog (ComCat), retrieved October 30, 2026.
Joins, thresholds and known limits are set out in the methodology. Found an error? Report it. Page built October 30, 2026.