Columbus, Ohio tornadoes

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23confirmed tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Columbus since NOAA records began in 1950. Most recent: March 30, 2025, EF0.

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Map

Every tornado path within 10 miles

Tornado paths, 1950 to 2025
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(E)F0(E)F1(E)F2(E)F3(E)F4(E)F5Unrated

Each path is a straight line from where the tornado started to where it ended, which is all most NOAA records hold. Tap a path for its details.

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Recent warnings near Columbus

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The record

At a glance

Total23within 10 miles, 1950 to 2025
Per year0.3average since 1950
Peak monthJune5 of 23
StrongestF3Feb 22, 1971
Deaths0whole paths, see note
Injuries16whole paths, see note

Deaths and injuries are NOAA's totals for each tornado's whole path, which can run well beyond Columbus.

Seasons

When tornadoes hit here

By month

50 Jan: 0Feb: 3Mar: 1Apr: 3May: 2Jun: 5Jul: 0Aug: 3Sep: 3Oct: 3Nov: 0Dec: 0JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

June is the peak month, with 5 of 23 tornadoes.

By time of day

40 12 AM: 0: 0: 03 AM: 1: 2: 16 AM: 0: 0: 09 AM: 0: 0: 112 PM: 3: 2: 13 PM: 4: 3: 36 PM: 0: 0: 19 PM: 0: 1: 012 AM3 AM6 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PM9 PM

Most often around 3:00 PM. Times as recorded by NOAA, mostly Central Standard Time.

By year, 1950 to 2025

20 1950: 0: 0: 0: 0: 2: 0: 0: 0: 1: 01960: 0: 0: 0: 1: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 01970: 0: 1: 0: 2: 1: 1: 0: 0: 0: 01980: 0: 1: 0: 0: 1: 0: 0: 0: 0: 01990: 0: 1: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 02000: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 2: 0: 0: 02010: 2: 0: 0: 1: 0: 0: 1: 0: 2: 02020: 0: 0: 0: 0: 2: 119501960197019801990200020102020

The line is the five-year average. Tornadoes before about 1953 were under-reported, and better radar since the 1990s finds more weak ones.

By rating

EF0
11
EF1
7
EF2
3
EF3
2

Ratings before February 2007 use the original F scale; the numbers line up with today's EF scale. Unknown means NOAA could not assign a rating.

The record

Notable tornadoes

Strongest

F3, February 22, 1971

6.8 mile path Longest path

89.6 miles, F3

May 10, 1973, whole path Widest

300 yards, F3

May 10, 1973
Every tornado

All 23 tornadoes, newest first

DateRatingPath lengthWidthDeathsInjuries
Mar 30, 2025EF02.58 mi250 yd00
Feb 28, 2024EF214.04 mi300 yd00
Feb 28, 2024EF13.81 mi200 yd00
Sep 26, 2018EF13.73 mi150 yd00
Apr 3, 2018EF12.63 mi75 yd00
Jun 4, 2016EF00.3 mi135 yd00
Oct 31, 2013EF00.27 mi50 yd00
Oct 26, 2010EF00.21 mi100 yd00
Sep 22, 2010EF00.06 mi50 yd00
Aug 28, 2006F00.1 mi10 yd00
Aug 28, 2006F00.1 mi10 yd00
Jun 2, 1991F00.5 mi20 yd00
Aug 7, 1984F11 mi50 yd00
Jun 13, 1981F00.5 mi100 yd00
Jun 17, 1975F10.1 mi10 yd00
Apr 3, 1974F25.1 mi90 yd00
May 30, 1973F22 mi17 yd01
May 10, 1973F389.6 mi300 yd08
Feb 22, 1971F36.8 mi100 yd07
Sep 12, 1963F00.1 mi10 yd00
Apr 28, 1958F10.1 mi10 yd00
Oct 11, 1954F10.1 mi67 yd00
Jun 26, 1954F00.1 mi10 yd00
Nearby

Columbus and its county

Columbus spans 3 counties, each with its own record since 1950: Franklin County (41 tornadoes), Delaware County (15), and Fairfield County (23). A county's record counts every tornado inside its borders, while this page counts every path within 10 miles of the city, so the two overlap without matching.

Nearby cities

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Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather database, 1950 to 2025. City point and population: US Census Bureau, 2024. Each path is a straight line between NOAA's start and end points.