Ohio’s location, south of Lake Erie, plays a role in seasonal temperature ranges, various types of precipitation throughout the year, and four distinct seasons. Areas that are closest to Lake
Erie experience more snow due to the lakefront effect.
Heavy snowfalls and high winds result in drifting, which not only make for treacherous roadways but significant damage to homes and other structures, such as roof collapses or power outages.
A blizzard in January of 1978 caused power, water, and other utilities to be out of service for up to five days throughout the Buckeye State and some snowdrifts covered homes resulting in collapsed roofs.
Despite snowy and cold winters, residents of Ohio are familiar with other severe weather events like drought, tornadoes, and flooding.
Since 1940, there have been 1,134 documented tornadoes in Ohio. While the peak season for tornadic activity is from April to July, a tornado is possible any month of the year.
In April 2019, half of Ohio’s tornadoes took place in Clark County over a short period. Although the damage was minor in comparison to some of Ohio’s other twisters over the last few decades, four small tornadoes in a weekend remind all residents to be alert and move fast when a tornado is imminent.
In the state’s history, Ohio has had numerous damaging floods, such as the March Flood of 1913 and the Shadyside Flooding in 1990. Ohio floods may be a result of flash flooding, snowmelt, ice or debris jams, or river flooding.
Nearly 314,000 Ohio residents live in flood-risk parts of the state, and with the severity of floods increasing every year, more residents are expected to be directly affected by rising water.
Despite Ohio’s vulnerability to flooding, the state also experiences drought about every ten years. While many of the more recent Ohio drought events were short-lived, the threat of a water shortage is likely.
Some weather experts expect summer droughts to increase by 50 percent by 2050, which may increase the risk of structural fires.
As a resident of Ohio, there’s a good chance that you live in a high-risk area which may make it more difficult for you to find affordable homeowners’ insurance with adequate coverage. The Ohio FAIR Plan offers basic property and casualty insurance for at-risk homeowners.
If you are looking for an alternative to the Ohio FAIR Plan, the private insurance marketplace may have budget-friendly plans that offer more than basic coverage to cover your valuable high-
risk assets.