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Solon, OH Tornado History — 75 Tornadoes Since 1950

Ohio · 25-mile radius · NOAA Storm Prediction Center

How many tornadoes has Solon, OH had?

Solon has had 75 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 8 violent (EF3+) tornadoes.

When was the most recent tornado near Solon?

The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Solon was an EF0 on August 12, 2025.

When is tornado season in Solon?

August is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Solon, with 15 on record. Spring through early summer (April–June) generally sees the highest activity across most of the central and southern United States.

At a Glance

Tornadoes Since 1950
75
Within search radius
Violent (EF3+)
8
10.7% of total
Peak Month
August
15 on record
Per Year Avg
1.0
Across 76 years

Recent Tornado Activity Near Solon

The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 32 total, averaging 1.6 per year over this window.

2026 0+1 prelim
2025 1
2024 6
2023 6
2022 0
2021 4
2020 0
2019 3
2018 2
2017 0
2016 0
2015 0
2014 7
2013 1
2012 0
2011 2
2010 0
2009 0
2008 0
2007 0

Striped bars mark preliminary reports not yet confirmed by NWS survey — excluded from the confirmed counts.

Preliminary tornado reports near Solon since December 29, 2025

These is a preliminary report, not confirmed tornadoes. It has not yet been through an NWS damage survey, and is not counted in the confirmed totals above.

Preliminary reports are revised, merged, and sometimes withdrawn — historically about 23% are consolidated downward once surveys complete. Ratings are omitted until a survey assigns one.

Confirmed records above are complete through December 29, 2025. NOAA publishes the confirmed archive annually, so tornadoes after that date appear here first and move into the totals above once finalized.

Preliminary EF1° March 31, 2026
3 SE Chesterland, Geauga County, OH

Within 25 miles of Solon. Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center preliminary storm reports, updated daily.

Tornadoes by Decade

1950s 4
1960s 9
1970s 9
1980s 5
1990s 13
2000s 3
2010s 15
2020s 17

Tornadoes by Enhanced Fujita Rating

F0–F5 ratings (pre-2007) are grouped with their EF equivalents. The Enhanced Fujita scale replaced the original Fujita scale in February 2007.

EF0 20
EF1 38
EF2 9
EF3 5
EF4 2
EF5 1

Tornadoes by Month

Jan 0
Feb 0
Mar 2
Apr 8
May 13
Jun 10
Jul 13
Aug 15
Sep 8
Oct 5
Nov 1
Dec 0

Casualties on Record Near Solon

58 fatalities have been recorded within 25 miles of Solon since 1950, across 5 events. 996 injuries have been reported across all events. 1985 was the deadliest year on record.

The deadliest single event was a F5 on May 31, 1985, which caused 18 fatalities along a 47.0-mile track.

Notable Tornadoes Near Solon

Deadliest Tornado
F5 on May 31, 1985 — 18 fatalities, 47.0 mi path, 450 yd wide.
Costliest Tornado
F5 on May 31, 1985 — est. ~$275.0M (NOAA damage class, pre-1996 estimate).
Widest Tornado
F2 on August 20, 1962 — 500 yards wide.
Longest Path
F4 on June 8, 1953 — 118.0 mile track.
Most Recent
EF0 on August 12, 2025.

About Tornadoes in Solon

This overview was written April 23, 2026. The tornado counts and notable-event figures elsewhere on this page reflect the latest data and may differ from this summary.

Solon, Ohio, sits in a region where 71 tornadoes have been documented within 25 miles since 1950, according to the NOAA Storm Prediction Center. While northeastern Ohio experiences fewer tornadoes than the nation's central plains, the area has seen notable activity across seven decades, with the 2020s already recording 16 events through 2025 and the 2010s tallying 14. The 1990s previously held the highest count with 13 tornadoes, while the 2000s saw a relative lull with only 3 recorded events.

The majority of tornadoes near Solon have been relatively weak, with 20 rated EF0 and 36 rated EF1 on the Enhanced Fujita scale, which measures tornado intensity based on damage. Nine tornadoes reached EF2 strength, and five attained EF3 status. However, the region experienced one F5 tornado on May 31, 1985, which remains the deadliest, costliest, and longest-tracked tornado on record for the area. This violent tornado carved a 47-mile path with a maximum width of 450 yards, caused $275 million in property damage, and tragically claimed 18 lives.

August stands out as the peak month for tornado activity in the Solon vicinity, with 14 events recorded during this late-summer period. The most recent tornado occurred on August 13, 2025, when an EF0 twister with a 75-yard width traveled two-tenths of a mile, causing $50,000 in property damage but no injuries. The widest tornado on record struck on August 21, 1962, when an F2 tornado reached 500 yards across during its half-mile path, resulting in 4 fatalities and $2.75 million in damage.

Tornado formation in Ohio typically occurs when warm, moist air from the Gulf of Mexico collides with cooler air masses, creating the atmospheric instability necessary for severe thunderstorms. While tornadoes can occur in any month, the concentration of August events near Solon reflects regional patterns where late summer can still produce favorable conditions for rotating thunderstorms.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many tornadoes has Solon, OH had?
Since 1950, 75 tornadoes have been recorded within 25 miles of Solon. Data source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center.
What was the deadliest tornado near Solon?
The deadliest tornado on record within 25 miles of Solon was a F5 on May 31, 1985, which caused 18 fatalities.
When is tornado season in Solon?
August is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Solon, with 15 tornadoes on record. Tornadoes can occur any time of year, but spring months (April–June) generally see the highest activity across most of the central and southern United States.
Has Solon been hit by an EF4 or EF5 tornado?
Within 25 miles of Solon, there have been 1 EF5 and 2 EF4 tornadoes recorded since 1950. EF4 and EF5 tornadoes are the most destructive ratings on the Enhanced Fujita scale, with winds above 166 mph.
When was the most recent tornado near Solon?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Solon was an EF0 on August 12, 2025.
How do I get tornado warnings for Solon?
Vortex delivers real-time tornado warnings, severe thunderstorm alerts, and SPC outlook updates for any US location via push notification and phone call. Alerts are sourced directly from the National Weather Service and updated within seconds of issuance.

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