Illinois Storm & Severe Weather History
Since 1996, Illinois has logged 58,918 severe-weather events — about 1,901 a year — with 855 direct deaths, 2,102 injuries and $5.5B in reported property damage.
By event type
Thunderstorm Wind17,54619 d$599.5M
Hail10,498—$216.5M
Flash Flood3,23925 d$2.5B
Flood3,17630 d$274.9M
Winter Storm2,92711 d$81.8M
Winter Weather2,9172 d$1.9M
Tornado2,27754 d$1.7B
Dense Fog2,188—$219K
Heat2,030363 d$25K
Drought1,586——
Heavy Snow1,5128 d$460K
Strong Wind1,5036 d$2.8M
High Wind1,3009 d$37.3M
Excessive Heat1,22460 d$750K
Frost/Freeze1,143——
Cold/Wind Chill903159 d$8K
Events by year
19962026
Notable events (532)
Events with deaths, major damage, or a strong tornado — deadliest first.
HeatJune 24, 2003
Cook · 1 killed ·
Flash FloodMay 8, 2003
Jersey · 1 killed ·
Cold/Wind ChillMarch 9, 2003
Cook · 1 killed ·
Cold/Wind ChillFebruary 16, 2003
Cook · 1 killed ·
Cold/Wind ChillJanuary 30, 2003
Cook · 1 killed ·
Cold/Wind ChillJanuary 23, 2003
Cook · 1 killed ·
HeatAugust 3, 2002
Cook · 1 killed ·
LightningJune 3, 2002
Lake · 1 killed · 1 injured ·
HeatJune 1, 2002
Cook · 1 killed ·
FloodMay 12, 2002
Mason · 1 killed ·
Thunderstorm WindMarch 9, 2002
Knox · 1 killed ·
Flash FloodJanuary 31, 2002
Union · 1 killed ·
LightningSeptember 6, 2001
Macoupin · 1 killed ·
LightningAugust 9, 2001
Boone · 1 killed ·
HeatAugust 1, 2001
Cook · 1 killed ·
LightningJuly 22, 2001
Cook · 1 killed ·
FloodJuly 9, 2001
Coles · 1 killed ·
HeatJuly 4, 2001
Cook · 1 killed ·
HeatJune 19, 2001
St. Clair · 1 killed ·
HeatJune 17, 2001
Cook · 1 killed ·
LightningApril 10, 2001
Macoupin · 1 killed ·
High WindApril 7, 2001
Mchenry · 1 killed · 1 injured ·
LightningFebruary 24, 2001
St. Clair · 1 killed ·
Extreme Cold/Wind ChillDecember 22, 2000
Madison · 1 killed ·
Extreme Cold/Wind ChillDecember 16, 2000
Macoupin · 1 killed ·
Winter StormDecember 13, 2000
Crawford · 1 killed · 1 injured ·
FloodAugust 3, 2000
Williamson · 1 killed ·
Thunderstorm WindMay 18, 2000
Cook · 1 killed ·
Heavy SnowMarch 11, 2000
Coles · 1 killed ·
HeatAugust 16, 1999
Will · 1 killed ·
HeatAugust 16, 1999
Cook · 1 killed ·
HeatJuly 28, 1999
Vermilion · 1 killed ·
HeatJuly 21, 1999
Kane · 1 killed ·
HeatJuly 20, 1999
Sangamon · 1 killed ·
HeatJuly 20, 1999
Peoria · 1 killed ·
HeatJuly 19, 1999
Henry · 1 killed ·
HeatJuly 18, 1999
Massac · 1 killed ·
HeatJuly 18, 1999
Gallatin · 1 killed ·
HeatJuly 18, 1999
Madison · 1 killed · 10 injured ·
Tornado (F3)June 1, 1999
Montgomery · 1 killed · 4 injured ·
Source: NOAA/NCEI Storm Events Database. Counts are every logged event since 1996; the "notable" list is filtered to events with fatalities, major damage or a strong tornado. Damage is the reporting office's estimate. A record of past weather is not a forecast. See About the Data.