NWS Cleveland Local Weather Event Summaries

Thunderstorms & Tornadoes

2024

• March 14 Tornadoes and Large Hail - 3 tornadoes (1 EF-1, 1 EF-2, & 1 EF-U) and large hail across Northwest and North-Central Ohio
• April 17 Severe Weather - 3 tornadoes (2 EF-1, 1 EF-0) and strong winds across Central and Eastern Ohio.
• August 6 Tornadoes and Severe Winds - 5 tornadoes (5 EF-1) and the most power outages since the infamous July 1993 storms.

2023

• April 1 Severe Thunderstorms and High Winds
• June 15 Tornado Outbreak - 12 Tornadoes (3 EF-2) and large hail across Northwest and North-Central Ohio
• July 20 Severe Weather - Large hail up to 2 inches, 81 mph gust at Fairport Harbor, and urban flooding
• August 12 Severe Weather - A couple of tornadoes, hail, and damaging wind gusts
• August 23-24 Flooding and Severe - Significant flash flooding and severe weather
• August 24-25 Tornado Outbreak - 12 Tornadoes (2 EF-2) and extensive wind damage across the region

2022

• May 21 - Severe weather and heavy rainfall across the area, including golf ball-sized hail
• June 1 Severe Weather
• June 13-14 Derecho

2021

• August 11-13 severe weather with multiple rounds and the first 80 mph severe WEA activation
• October 21 Tornado Outbreak - 8 tornadoes occurred in the Cleveland forecast area

2020

• April 7-8 Nocturnal Severe Storms; Hail, Damaging Winds, and 3 Tornadoes
• June 10 Moderate Risk Severe Weather
• Labor Day Flooding and Severe Weather
• November 15 High Winds, Severe Winds, and Water Levels

2019

• January 8 - Rare January Tornado Hits Trumbull County
• March 14 - Two Tornadoes Strike Stark County
• April 14 - Severe Storms, Damaging Winds, and 3 Tornadoes
• June 16 - Cuyahoga. Portage and Trumbull Tornadoes Event Summary 

2018

• Two Tornadoes near Middlefield, OH September 20
• Tornadoes Hit Crawford County, PA - October 2

2017

• Boardman Microburst- April 30
• June 29- Stark County Microburst
• EF2 Tornado Crawford/Richland Counties Labor Day
• November 5 Tornado Outbreak

2016

• Severe Weather Strikes- June 4-6
• Wood County Tornado Aug. 24
• September 10: Severe Thunderstorms Roll Through with a Cold Front

2015

• May 11 Damaging Wind Event
• Back-to-Back Severe Weather Days in Northern Ohio- May 26-27
• May 30-31- Severe Weather and Flooding Hits Northeast Ohio and NW PA
• June Recap- Several Rounds of Severe Weather and Above Average Rainfall

2014

• April 30 Storm Survey
• May 12 Lorain & Medina County Tornadoes
• June 23 Medina County Tornado

2013

• May 28 Tornadoes in Erie County, PA
• Severe Weather Event June 12-13
• July 10: Widespread Severe Thunderstorms, Flooding, and 3 Tornadoes
• July 20 Tornado Confirmed in Cuyahoga County
• August 7 Tornado Confirmed Wayne County
• November 17 Tornadoes and High Wind

2012

• June 29, 2012 Derecho - 10 years later

2011

• April 20- Severe Weather
• May 23-26- Severe Weather Events

2010

• May 7-8: Severe Weather in North Coast Counties
• May 11: Two Tornadoes Impact North Central Ohio
• Conneautville, PA Tornado- June 2
   
• June 5-6 Tornadoes:
  • June 5- Wood/Ottawa County EF-4 Tornado
  • Millbury, OH EF-4 - June 5 - 10th Anniversary Webpage
  • 6 Tornadoes Confirmed- Northern Ohio and NW PA- June 5-6
• Tornadoes Touchdown in Conneaut, OH and Erie, PA- June 27
• September 16: Tornadoes in Wayne and Holmes Counties, Ohio

2009

• Wooster, Ohio Tornado- July 31

2008

• Arcadia - Fostoria EF2 Tornado May 31
• Hail from the Weekend 6/21-6/23

2007

• June 8: Large Hail in Akron, OH, Severe Weather Across Northern OH Story Map
  • Original CMS Page
• August 9: Three Tornadoes Confirmed

2006

• June 21-22 Severe Storms and Flooding (Northern OH)
• July 10 F1 Tornado (Richland/Ashland Counties)

2005

• July 26: Erie, PA Microburst

2004

• May 25: F2 Tornado Crawford County, PA

2002

• Veterans Day Tornado Outbreak Storymap, November 10, 2022
  • Original CMS Page 

Historic

• June 5, 2010 - Millbury, OH EF-4 Tornado - 10th Anniversary Webpage (2010)
• Ottawa County Tornado; June 24, 1998 (1998)
• July 28, 1993 - A Forest of Downed Trees, Remembering Cleveland's Big Summer Storm of '93
• May 31, 1985 Tornado Outbreak (1985)
• July 4, 1969 Fireworks Derecho and Flooding (50th Anniversary Page)
• July 4, 1969 Fireworks Derecho (SPC Page)
• June 28, 1924 - 100th Anniversary of the Deadly Lorain-Sandusky Tornado

Flooding

2024

• August 8 Flash Flooding  - Significant flash flooding across portions of Summit and Wayne Counties

2023

• August 23-24 Flooding and Severe - Significant flash flooding and severe weather

2022

• February 17-18 Rain, Snow, and Ice Storm Numerous river flooding, 0.10 to 0.25 inches of ice, and 2 to 6 inches of snow
• May 21 - Severe weather and heavy rainfall across the area, including golf ball-sized hail

2020

• Labor Day 2020 Flooding and Severe Weather

2015

• Rain, Rain, Go Away! June 2015 Produces Top 10 Rainfall Totals Across Northern Ohio

2014

• January Ice Jams
• Vermilion River Ice Jam Feb. 21-24, 2014
• May 12, 2014 Flash Flooding

2013

• December 21-22, 2013 Heavy Rainfall, Flooding, and Convective Wind Damage

2011

• February 27-28- Major Flooding in Northern Ohio
• Rainfall Through May 2011: How Much Above Normal Are We?
• Spring 2011 Climate Update- Rain, Rain, Go Away
• July 19 Rainfall Leads to Flash Flooding
• Cleveland Breaks Annual Rainfall Record on October 19
• Toledo and Youngstown Break Annual Rainfall Records

2009

• June 30 Rainfall Totals and Erie Flash Flood

2008

• Rainfall from Toledo, OH Exceeds 3 Inches

2007

• August 19-21: Flash Flooding, River Flooding, and Severe Weather

2006

• July 27-28, 2006 Flood Event Summary (Lake County)
• High Winds and Flooding December 1, 2006
• The Flash Floods of June and July 2006- 10 Years Later

2003

• July 21-28 - Akron, Canton, and the Mahoning Valley Under Water StoryMap​

Historic

• Oil Creek Flood of 1892 (1892)

Winter Storms

2024

• January 18-21 synoptic/lake effect event Up to a foot of snow to the Cleveland metro and up to 2 feet across portions of the primary snowbelt. 
• March 10 lake effect snow Up to a foot of snow across Northwest Pennsylvania with generally 3 to 6 inches elsewhere.
• November 28 to December 3 historic lake effect snow storm Snow totals over 4 to 5 feet across portions of Ashtabula (OH) and Erie (PA) Counties

2023

2022

• January 16-17 Snow Storm 1 to 2 feet of snow across much of Northeast Ohio and Northwest Pennsylvania 
• February 2-4 Winter Storm Widespread 1 foot of snow across the region in addition to sleet and ice. Reduced visibilities and blowing and drifting snow were also observed along the lakeshore.
• February 17-18 Rain, Snow, and Ice Storm Numerous river flooding, 0.10 to 0.25 inches of ice, and 2 to 6 inches of snow
• December 23-24 Blizzard Extreme cold, high winds, and 2 to 4 inches of snow leading to widespread blowing and drifting

2021

• February 15 Snow and Sleet Winter Storm A foot or more across Northwest Ohio

2020

• November 30 - December 2 Winter Storm up to 24 inches of snow and widespread tree/wire damage
• Christmas Snow Storm and Lake Effect Snow up to 30 to 36 inches of snow along the Lake, Ashtabula, Erie lakeshore Counties

2019

• January 19-20 - Winter Storm
• Mid-November Snow, Lake Effect, and Cold Temperatures

2017

• March 13-15 Winter Storm
• Erie PA Record Snowfall December 25-27, 2017

2016

• January 17-19, 2016 Lake-Effect Snow Event
• February 9-11: Lake Effect Snow
• Snowfall Event: Feb 15-16
• April 8-9: Late Season Snow
• Impressive Lake Effect Snow Event: December 8-10

2015

• Jan 31 - Feb 2, 2015  Snow + Wintry Mix
• 2014-2015 Winter Season Review

2014

• December 31, 2013- January 3, 2014 Snowfall Totals
• January 5-7, 2014 Heavy Snow and Cold Outbreak
• January 27, 2014 Wind and Snow
• February 1-2, 2014 Mixed Precipitation
• Winter 2013-2014 Review
• Seasonal Snow Totals
• November 13-14 Lake Effect Snow
• Thanksgiving/Black Friday Snow

2013

• November 26-28, 2013 Snowfall
• December 14, 2013 Snowfall

2012

• January 12-15 Lake Effect Snow Event

2011

• Winter Storm Produces Strong Winds- February 25

2010

• February 9-10: Heavy Snowfall for Toledo and Meadville
• February 2010 Record Snow
• Early December Heavy Lake Effect Snow

2009

• Snowy and Cold January...How did it rank?

2008

• Historic Snowstorm of March 2008 StoryMap
  • Original CMS Page
• Lake Effect Snow - Storm Totals 11/16-11/19

2007

• Snow Totals from Feb 13/14
• Feb. 25th Ice Reports
• Storm Totals from April 5-8: Easter Lake Effect Snow Event

2006

• Lake Effect Snow Affects Primary and Secondary Snowbelts (12/7/06)

2005

• January 5, 2005: Historic Ice Storm and Significant Flooding

Historic

• The Brutal Winter of '93-'94
• Blizzard of '78 (44yr anniversary)
• Blizzard of '78 (42yr anniversary)

High Wind

2024

• January 9, 2024 Strong Wind Gusts
• January 13, 2024 Strong Wind Gusts

2023

• April 1 Severe Thunderstorms and High Winds

2022

2021

2020

• November 15, 2020 High Winds, Severe Winds, and Water Levels

2019

• February 24 - High Wind Event

2017

• January 10-11: High Wind Event

2016

• February 19-20: Strong Winds & Record Highs

2015

• April 21 Wind Gusts
• November 12 Strong Winds

2014

• November 24 - Strong Wind Gusts Cause Damage
• Strong Winds on Christmas Eve

2012

• January 17 Wind Gusts 
• March 2-3 High Wind Reports and Damage 
• April 16 Wind Gusts 
• April 23 Wind Gusts 
• Impacts from Sandy October 29-31
  • Legacy CMS page

2011

• Early Morning High Winds- April 28 
• Wind Gusts from October 15 

2009

• February 11-12: High Wind Reports 
• High Wind Reports from September 28, 2009 
• December 9 Peak Wind Reports r

2008

• Wind Gusts in Excess of 60 MPH Tuesday Night Jan 8th & 9th 
• Wind Gust and Storm Damage Summary from 1/30/08 
• Peak Wind Gusts from Sunday, Sept. 14 (remnants of Hurricane Ike)
• Wind Gusts from Dec. 23

Extreme Heat & Cold

The following summaries cover "significant" or widespread high heat or extreme cold. Dangerous wind chills and life threatening heat indices can be found in these summaries. If the extreme temperatures were associated with a summer or winter storm, it may be found under the "Thunderstorms & Tornadoes" or "Winter" sections. These events tend to more "rare" compared to others, and has not been broken into yearly sections. If wished, that can be done here also (copy and past a snippet of yearly code from another section, then repeat as needed).

• May Warmth Makes Record Books (2018)
• February Monthly, Seasonal Records (2017)
• Winter 2015-2016 Review- A Warm El Nino Winter (2016)
• August 2016 Record Warmth (2016)
• Record Warmest Summer for Several Climate Sites (2016)
• November 18-21: Record warmth followed by lake effect snow (2016)
• Top 5 Warmest Fall Across Northern Ohio and Northwest Pennsylvania (2016)
• 2016 Annual Summary and  Records (2016)
• February Record Cold (2015)
• Early May High Temperature Records (2015)
• December Warmth and Limited Snowfall Make it into the Record Books (2015)
• January Climate Notes (2014)
• June 29, 2012 Derecho and Heat Wave (2012)
• Leap Day Record High Temperatures (2012)
• Winter 2011 & 2012 Climate Narrative (2012)
• July 21: Hottest Day Across Region in Several Years (2011)
• Record Breaking July 2011 (2011)
• Record Cold Temperatures and Gusty Winds- April 2010 (2010)
• Summer 2010: Above Average Temperatures (2010)
• The Heat Goes On... September 2010 Temperatures (2010)
• Coldest Temperatures in 15 Years (2009)
• Coldest July on Record for Ohio and Pennsylvania (2009)
• July 2009: Below Average Temperatures (2009)
• Warm and Dry November (2009)
• January: A Tale of Two Seasons (2007)

Other Events

The following summaries cover events that don't fall under the other categories. Other atmospheric events, such as auroras and yearly summaries, may be found here.

• Sept. 11-12: Lake Enhanced Rainfall, Cold Air Funnels, and Waterspouts (2015)
• 2015 Notable Weather Events (2015)
• 2014 Notable Weather Events (2014)
• 2013 Notable Weather Events (2013)
• 2012 Notable Weather Events (2012)
• 2011 Notable Weather Events (2011)
• Lake Erie Ice Break-Up: March 2010 (2010)
• 2010 Notable Weather Events (2010)
• 2009 Notable Weather Events (2009)
• 2008 Notable Weather Events (2008)
• 2007 Notable Weather Events (2007)
• 2006 Notable Weather Events (2006)
• Climatological Effects of the El Nino - Southern Oscillation on the Lower Great Lakes and Ohio Valley
• History of the National Weather Service in Cleveland