Historical Weather Events

This page will be updated with historical documented weather events throughout Licking County. This information can also be found in the CANHMP listed on the website

Follow this link for more Historical Weather data and history

https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/4fd04550c48f463b8637ad47fbc568fe

Licking County is susceptible to many natural hazards. Flooding, severe winter storms, severe summer storms, tornadoes, droughts, invasive species, and wildfire have all left their mark on the County. The primary natural hazard risk in Licking County is flooding. The main sources of flooding are the South Fork Licking River and its tributaries. Just like most of the United States, disaster costs are continuing to rise. The State of Ohio has had 38 federally declared major disasters or emergencies in the past 38 years. The chart below details the billion-dollar disasters for the State of Ohio from 1980-2019. In the US, severe storms are the most frequent cause of billion-dollar disasters, followed by tropical cyclones and flooding. In Licking County and its jurisdictions, severe storms and flooding are both frequent hazards.

The worst flood in Licking County history occurred in Newark of January 1929. The combination of a snowstorm and then a rainstorm resulted in the southside dike failing requiring an evacuation of the entire south side of the city. More than 2,500 people were displaced from their homes and 16 people lost their lives.

The late spring and summer are when Licking County traditionally experiences severe weather, to include severe thunderstorms, high winds and tornado activity. From 1950 to 2019 there have been 23 recorded tornadoes, resulting in one death and 26 injuries and over 30 million dollars of damage.  Since 1950, more accurate information regarding deaths, injuries to citizens and damage to property has been recorded. Twenty injuries and one death were reported from a category F3 tornado in Licking County on May 31, 1985, and four injuries and two deaths were reported from a thunderstorm/ high wind event occurring August 8, 2010.

Licking County Tornado Data 1958-2019

Past Presidential Declarations of Major Disasters in Licking County 2003-2019