Lake County

Every recorded tornado

1. Injuries and deaths are for the tornado’s whole path, which may extend beyond the county. Deaths recorded within Lake 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.

Every earthquake of magnitude 4 or more within 50 miles

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.

Tsunamis

1. Places where NOAA's Global Historical Tsunami Database records a tsunami's water arriving, with the greatest height it reached above sea level at the time. Only tsunamis NOAA rates probable or definite are counted. Heights from eyewitness accounts and tide gauges are mixed, and older events are less completely recorded.

NOAA NCEI/WDS Global Historical Tsunami Database, retrieved October 30, 2026.

More event types since 1996

Costliest events since 1996

1. Jul 28, 2006Flash Flood$320 million
   National Weather Service narrative

   After a brief lull, heavy thunderstorm rains resumed just after midnight and devastating flash flood quickly developed. As much as three inches of rain fell between 12:30 and 2:30 a.m. By daybreak on the 28th, as much of 10 inches of rain had fallen on portions of Lake County since the first thunderstorms developed during the afternoon hours of the 27th. Rainfall totals included: 9.70 inches in Mentor; 7.95 inches in Concord; 6.89 inches in Kirtland; 6.30 inches just south of Painesville and 5.50 inches in Madison. Nearly every community in Lake County was hard hit by flooding. A 51 year old man disappeared around 2 a.m. while trying to move vehicles from flood waters at an…

2. Jul 27, 2006Flash Flood$20.0 million
   National Weather Service narrative

   Heavy thunderstorm rains fell on Lake County during the afternoon and evening hours of July 27th. Rainfall rates at times were in excess of three inches per hour. Rainfall totals through 10 p.m. ranged from 4 to 7 inches over much of the county. Runoff from this heavy rain caused widespread flooding and rapid rises in area streams and rivers. The Painesville area was especially hard hit by flooding. Street flooding began shortly after the rain did. By late afternoon roads throughout Lake County were under water. Over 120 children had to be evacuated from a day care center in Mentor around 4 p.m. after flood waters began to creep into the building. Nearly 3.5 inches of rain fell in…

3. Apr 29, 2012Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Lake$10.0 million
   National Weather Service narrative

   Temperatures dipped below freezing for several hours causing extensive damage to crops and produce. As much as 80 percent of the grape crop was destroyed and damage to fruit trees was also significant. A cooperative observer in Painesville reported a low of 28 degrees. Monetary losses from this freeze were significant.

4. Mar 4, 2008Winter Storm, Lake$7.5 million
   National Weather Service narrative

   A mixture of sleet and snow began in Lake County before daybreak on March 4th. This mixture quickly changed to freezing rain which then continued into the early morning hours of March 5th. Conditions quickly deteriorated after sunset as surface temperatures dropped off a few degrees. Over a quarter inch of ice accumulation was reported on roads and sidewalks by early evening. By the time the freezing rain changed to light snow during the early morning hours of the 5th, as much as three quarters of an inch of ice had accumulated on parts of the county. Thunder and lightning were reported between 7 and 9 pm. The snow tapered to flurries during the morning hours of the 5th after an…

5. Jul 20, 2013Flash Flood$7.0 million
   National Weather Service narrative

   During the early morning hours of the 20th, specifically between 230 am and 530 am, torrential rain fell over extreme northeast Cuyahoga County and most of Lake County. The showers were enhanced by the warm and moist air over Lake Erie, and subsequently produced rainfall rates that exceeded the storm drainage systems in any populated communities affected. Rainfall reports ranged from 3.44 in Madison to 6 inches in Fairport Harbor. In Kirtland, an observer measured 2.20 inches between 3 am and 5 am. The rain came after two previous weeks of wet weather which had raised the water table and saturated the ground. The rainfall produced flooding in over 500 basements with the majority…

6. Sep 14, 2008High Wind, Lake$5.0 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 7 and 9 pm. Damage in the county was extensive with thousands of trees and many utility poles downed. Widespread power outages occurred 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 flying…

7. Nov 9, 1996Heavy Snow, Lake$5.0 million
   National Weather Service narrative

   Heavy lake effect snow occurred over a seven day period. Total storm accumulations ranged from 6 inches in Elyria (Lorain County) to 69 inches in Chardon (Geauga County). Other significant storm totals were 50 inches in Shaker Heights (Cuyahoga County), 48 inches in Jefferson (Ashtabula County), 28 inches at Kirtland (Lake County), and 15 inches in Mesopotamia (Trumbull County). The storm wreaked havoc on power and telephone lines. Cleveland Electric Illuminating estimated 185,000 customers were without power, some for several days. Dozens of emergency shelters were opened for people who were without electricity. In Wickliffe and Willoughby (Lake County), motels and hotels that…

8. Oct 29, 2012High Wind, Lake$3.5 million
   National Weather Service narrative

   Winds in Lake County gusted over 60 mph for a few hours. A peak gust of 67 mph was measured by the Fairport Harbor Lighthouse. Hundreds of trees and utility poles were downed by the high winds. At least 31,500 electric customers lost power during the storms. There were reports of trees and limbs on houses and vehicles. Many homes also lost sections of roofing and siding. Some streets and roads had to be closed because of downed trees and utility lines.

9. Mar 7, 2008Winter Storm, Lake$2.5 million
   National Weather Service narrative

   Snow began during the morning hours of the 7th and continued for the next day and a half. Snow tapered off a bit during the evening hours of the 7th, but picked up again overnight and continued moderate to heavy at times through much of the day on the 8th. Gusty winds around 30 mph at times caused considerable blowing and drifting of snow which made some roads across the area nearly impassable. Numerous accidents and stranded vehicles were reported across the area. Storm totals reported from trained spotters throughout the county include 18.5 inches in Mentor, 19.0 inches in Painesville, 15.1 inches in Willoughby, and 14.5 inches in Kirtland.

10. Jan 27, 2009Winter Storm, Lake$750,000
    National Weather Service narrative

    Snow began during the early evening hours of the 27th, and continued through the overnight and morning hours of the 28th. The snow finally tapered off during the late afternoon hours. The snow was moderate to occasionally heavy during the morning and early afternoon hours of the 28th with visibilities dropped to one half mile or less at times. Snowfall totals ranged between 7.0 and 12.0 inches across the area. Trained spotters measured 12.0 inches in Perry, 10.0 inches in Leroy, 9.5 inches in Mentor, and 9.0 inches in Madison. West to northwest winds of 15 to 25 mph with occasional gusts in excess of 30 mph accompanied the snow. Widespread blowing and drifting was reported with…

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

98°FJun 25, 1988

All-time low

−19°FJan 19, 1994

Warmest night

82°FJul 29, 2025

Coldest day

−4°FJan 19, 1994

Wettest day

7.30 inJul 20, 2013

Snowiest day

21.0 inNov 24, 1950

Hottest year

2024mean 56.0°F

Coldest year

1963mean 47.4°F

Wettest year

202460.08 in

Driest year

196320.26 in

Snowiest season

98.3 in1950-51

Station Painesville 4 Nw (USC00336389), 600 ft elevation, 4.9 miles from the population centre. Daily records from 1950 to August 31, 2026; 96.5% 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 USC00336389.
• 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.
• Tsunamis NOAA NCEI/WDS Global Historical Tsunami Database.
• 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.