Holmes County

Every recorded tornado

1. Injuries and deaths are for the tornado’s whole path, which may extend beyond the county. Deaths recorded within Holmes County: 0.
2. 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.

Every storm within 100 miles

1. 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.

Smoke overhead

1. 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.

Claims by ZIP code

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.

River crests

River gauges

1. Crests are the highest and the recent crests the National Weather Service lists for each river gauge in the county that has a flood stage, not every flood. Flood categories use each gauge's current flood stages; crests from before levees, dams or channel changes may not be comparable. Crests measured on an old datum are left out of the rankings.

NOAA National Water Prediction Service gauge records, retrieved October 30, 2026.

1. 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.

1. 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 county boundary (or inside the county).
2. 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.

More event types since 1996

Costliest events since 1996

1. Jan 3, 2005Flood, Holmes$6.5 million
   National Weather Service narrative

   Heavy rain and runoff from snowmelt caused extensive flooding in Holmes and Wayne Counties during the first half of January. The flooding was most severe along and near Killbuck Creek which went into flood around midday on January 3rd. Heavy rain and freezing rain fell on the 5th and 6th causing the creek to reach it's highest level in 26 years at Killbuck. A peak crest of 18.17 feet was reached late in the evening on the 6th. Rainfall totals for the two day storm included 2.16 inches at Millersburg; 2.64 inches at Nashville and 1.88 inches at Berlin, all in Holmes County. Flooding at Killbuck was classified as major with evacuations beginning along Water Street around sunset on…

2. Jan 5, 2005Ice Storm, Holmes$5.1 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…

3. Dec 22, 2004Winter Storm, Holmes$4.3 million
   National Weather Service narrative

   A record setting winter storm affected northern Ohio on December 22nd and 23rd and dumped both heavy snow and freezing rain on Knox, Holmes, Wayne and Stark Counties. 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 during the afternoon. During the evening, warmer air spread into the area as the low approached from the southwest. This caused…

4. Sep 14, 2008High Wind, Holmes$2.5 million
   National Weather Service narrative

   High winds associated with the remnants of Hurricane Ike began late in the afternoon of September 14th and then continued through much of the evening. Wind gusts were estimated to be as much as 60 mph. 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 as much as a week. Home and building damage across the county was also extensive. 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 flying debris. This storm hampered travel…

5. Jun 16, 2004Flash Flood$1.5 million
   National Weather Service narrative

   Another round of heavy rain producing thunderstorms moved across Holmes County late on June 16th and early on the 17th. Spotters near Berlin measured two inches of rain between 11 p.m. and midnight with storm totals of four to five inches. This rain combined with ground already saturated from earlier rains led to devastating flooding in portions of Holmes County. The Walnut Creek area was among the hardest hit in the county. Rapid rises in streams and creeks damaged many roads and buildings. Over 14,000 chickens perished at a Walnut Creek Township farm after flood waters surged into a barn. Two motorists were injured when their car was swept off a flooded county road and…

6. Aug 21, 2007Flash Flood$1.5 million
   National Weather Service narrative

   Heavy rain producing thunderstorms affected Holmes County County during the late evening hours of August 20th and early morning hours of August 21st. Rainfall totals from across the county included: 4.30 inches at Nashville; 3.74 inches at Millersburg; 3.08 inches at Holmesville and 2.40 inches at Stillwell. Runoff from this rain combined with ground already saturated from earlier rains led to significant flooding across portions of Holmes County. Widespread lowland flooding occurred across the county and many roads had to be closed because of flooding. Some of the worst flooding occurred in and around Millersburg and also near Glenmont. Killbuck Creek left it's banks in…

7. Jul 10, 2006Flash Flood$1.1 million
   National Weather Service narrative

   Heavy thunderstorm rains fell on the northwestern corner of Holmes County during the late afternoon and early evening hours of July 10th. Rainfall rates with these storms were in excess of three inches per hour. Automated gages measured storm totals of 6.52 inches in Nashville and 3.96 inches at Stillwell. Significant flooding occurred in the northwestern portion of the county along the Mohican River. Flooding occurred as much as 300 feet away from the river, and campgrounds along Wally Road sustained significant damage. Hundreds of campers had to be evacuated, many by boat. The evacuations continued through 10 p.m. and were hampered by mudslides along Wally Road. State Route 520…

8. Jun 24, 2014Flash Flood$800,000
   National Weather Service narrative

   Heavy rain on the evening of June 23rd brought widespread flooding to Holmes County. The torrential rain with rates estimated around 4 inches per hour between 9 and 10 PM caused streams and creeks to rise. At 1 a.m. Tuesday, the Holmes County Sheriff's Office declared a Level 3 state of emergency, restricting travel to emergencies only, because of flooding. The town of Glenmont was evacuated with 3-4 homes inundated to the first floor from the Black Creek. A trailerpark was evacuated in Millersburg due to flooding from the Killbuck Creek. There was significant losses in county infrastructure as three bridges were washed out as well as numerous state and county roads. A fire truck…

9. Jun 22, 2006Tornado$750,000
   National Weather Service narrative

   During the late afternoon hours of June 22nd, a severe thunderstorm moved across eastern Holmes County and produced a tornado. This tornado touched down at 5:30 pm just west of Mt Hope and tracked east through Winesburg and then exited the county. The tornado had a damage path in Holmes County roughly six miles in length and 50 to 100 yards in width. The majority of the damage was classified as F1, but there were several areas of F2 damage evident. Along the path, numerous structures were damaged and hundreds of trees toppled or snapped. A barn was heavily damaged near where the tornado first touched down. Two houses nearby sustained siding and roof damage. A home on State Route…

10. Jun 5, 2002Flash Flood$750,000
    National Weather Service narrative

    Thunderstorms dumped three and one half inches of rain on Millersburg and over 5 inches of rain elsewhere in Holmes County during the evening hours of the 4th and early morning hours of the 5th. Widespread flooding occurred across the county with numerous roads and bridges washed out. Hardest hit was the south side of Millersburg where flood waters up to five feet in depth washed out sections of State Route 83 and US Highway 62 and damaged many homes and businesses. Near Killbuck, State Route 520 was washed out and a bridge over State Route 60 north of town was severely damaged. State Route 514 was damaged near Nashville and Township Road 264 was also washed out. A trained spotter…

1. 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.

All-time high

104°FJul 20, 1930

All-time low

−35°FJan 20, 1994

Warmest night

78°F2 times, most recently Jul 20, 1980

Coldest day

−4°FJan 19, 1994

Wettest day

6.79 inAug 7, 1935

Snowiest day

18.0 inDec 2, 1974

Hottest year

1921mean 54.0°F

Coldest year

1996mean 47.0°F

Wettest year

201854.04 in

Driest year

196324.49 in

Snowiest season

53.8 in1935-36

Station Millersburg (USC00335297), 819 ft elevation, 3.4 miles from the population centre. Daily records from 1919 to August 31, 2026; 96.7% 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.

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.

Neighbouring counties

• 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 USC00335297.
• 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.