Morrow County

Every recorded tornado

1. Injuries and deaths are for the tornado’s whole path, which may extend beyond the county. Deaths recorded within Morrow County: 4.
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.

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 5, 2005Ice Storm, Morrow$4.8 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…

2. Dec 22, 2004Winter Storm, Morrow$3.8 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…

3. Sep 14, 2008High Wind, Morrow$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 nearly 70 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 ten days. 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 as…

4. Jun 29, 2012Thunderstorm Wind$2.0 million
   National Weather Service narrative

   An intense line of thunderstorms or Derecho moved across Marion County during the afternoon of June 29th causing extensive damage. Winds were estimated to be as much as 80 mph. Over 75 percent of residents lost power during this event. Power was not completely restored for almost a week. Hundreds, if not thousands of trees were downed across the county along with many utility poles forcing the closure of dozens of roads and streets. Damage to homes and buildings was also extensive. Hundreds of homes and buildings lost roofing or siding with many other homes damaged by fallen trees. Clean up costs were extensive. The clean up was hampered by an ongoing heat wave with afternoon…

5. Jun 27, 1998Flash Flood$1.5 million
   National Weather Service narrative

   Heavy rain and rapidly rising streams forced the closing of several roads throughout the county by 0430 AM Saturday. Major flooding continued until almost midnight on Sunday. Several people were trapped by the rising flood water and had to be rescued. More than 140 people were evacuated. Homes, other buildings and crops were damaged or destroyed.

6. Jun 27, 1998Flash Flood$1.5 million
   National Weather Service narrative

   Another round of torrential thunderstorm rains brought new flooding and exacerbated existing flooding. Numerous roads were closed or remained closed. 140 people had to be evacuated from rising water. A woman had to be rescued clinging from a tree branch after she escaped from her truck just before it was swept under a bridge. In some areas, flooding persisted for several days and total rainfall since early morning was 8 to 10 inches in some areas. The county was declared a state and federal disaster area.

7. Mar 7, 2008Winter Storm, Morrow$500,000
   National Weather Service narrative

   Snow began during the late morning hours of the 7th, and continued through most of the 8th. The snow lightened up a bit during the evening hours of the 7th, and by that time only around an inch fell across the area. However, the snow intensified during the overnight and morning hours where snowfall rates were moderate to heavy at times. Wind gusts between 20 and 30 mph on the 8th caused considerable blowing and drifting of snow. By the end of the event between 9.0 and 14.0 inches of snow fell. A spotter in northeast Morrow County measured 13.0 inches for a storm total. However, snow drifts in the area were reported to be as much as five feet high. Many accidents were reported…

8. Jan 1, 2005Flood, Morrow$500,000
   National Weather Service narrative

   Heavy rain and runoff from snowmelt caused widespread lowland flooding in Ashland, Knox, Morrow, Richland Counties during the first two-thirds of January. January 2005 was the wettest January ever at Mansfield Lahm Airport with 6.08 inches of precipitation during the month. Rainfall totals from Knox County included; 7.51 inches at Greer; 7.97 inches at Fredericktown; 8.28 inches at Danville and 9.99 inches at Centerburg all in Knox County. In addition to this rain, extensive snowpack existed over northern Ohio at the beginning of the month. Temperatures in the 50s the first three days of the month caused a rapid snowmelt and brought area streams and creeks to bankfull just in time…

9. Feb 28, 2011Flood$300,000
   National Weather Service narrative

   Heavy rain and rapid snow melt led to widespread flooding across Morrow County. Rainfall totals across the county ranged from one to three inches on February 27th and 28th. Up to ten inches of heavy snow was on the ground at the onset of the rain. This snow rapidly melted as temperatures warmed into the 50s on the 28th. Up to an additional inch of water equivalent rainfall was released from the melted snow. Several people had be rescued from stranded vehicles. Hundreds of homes in the county sustained damage, mainly from basement flooding. Many roads had to be closed because of the flooding.

10. Jul 9, 2013Flood$300,000
    National Weather Service narrative

    Several roads in Morrow County were closed due to high water. A swath of 2 to upwards of 3.5 inches of rain fell over portions of central Morrow County the night of the 8th. The rain fell over already saturated soil and the rivers and creeks were running high prior to the onset of new rain. By daybreak in Mt. Gilead 75 people were evacuated from apartments and 3 from trailers as flood waters inundated their property. In total 20 properties saw water inundate the first floor with a few inches of water. The fairgrounds flooded.

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

101°FJun 25, 1988

All-time low

−22°F2 times, most recently Jan 19, 1994

Warmest night

79°F2 times, most recently Jun 22, 1988

Coldest day

−7°F2 times, most recently Jan 20, 1985

Wettest day

4.34 inAug 21, 2007

Snowiest day

15.2 inDec 22, 2004

Hottest year

2024mean 54.0°F

Coldest year

1976mean 46.8°F

Wettest year

199067.22 in

Driest year

196321.81 in

Snowiest season

91.0 in1995-96

Station Mansfield Lahm Regional Airport (USW00014891), 1,289 ft elevation, 25.4 miles from the population centre. Daily records from 1948 to October 26, 2026; 99.9% 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 USW00014891.
• 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.