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.
FloodApril 3, 1999
Rock Island · 1 killed ·
Cold/Wind ChillJanuary 10, 1999
Cook · 1 killed ·
Heavy SnowJanuary 1, 1999
Cook · 1 killed ·
Heavy SnowJanuary 1, 1999
Moultrie · 1 killed · 1 injured ·
FloodAugust 4, 1998
Cook · 1 killed ·
HeatJune 26, 1998
Peoria · 1 killed ·
HeatJune 23, 1998
St. Clair · 1 killed · 34 injured ·
HeatJune 22, 1998
Williamson · 1 killed ·
Heavy SnowDecember 30, 1997
Effingham · 1 killed ·
Heavy SnowDecember 9, 1997
Peoria · 1 killed ·
HeatJuly 28, 1997
Cook · 1 killed ·
HeatJuly 26, 1997
Mclean · 1 killed ·
HeatJuly 26, 1997
Vermilion · 1 killed ·
HeatJuly 2, 1997
Hardin · 1 killed ·
HeatJune 25, 1997
Will · 1 killed ·
LightningJune 5, 1997
Mercer · 1 killed ·
FloodFebruary 20, 1997
Winnebago · 1 killed ·
Cold/Wind ChillJanuary 28, 1997
Cook · 1 killed ·
Cold/Wind ChillJanuary 28, 1997
Cook · 1 killed ·
Winter StormJanuary 15, 1997
Sangamon · 1 killed ·
Cold/Wind ChillJanuary 14, 1997
Cook · 1 killed ·
Cold/Wind ChillJanuary 14, 1997
Cook · 1 killed ·
Cold/Wind ChillJanuary 12, 1997
Cook · 1 killed ·
Cold/Wind ChillJanuary 10, 1997
Jefferson · 1 killed ·
Cold/Wind ChillJanuary 10, 1997
Mchenry · 1 killed ·
Cold/Wind ChillJanuary 4, 1997
Cook · 1 killed ·
LightningJune 17, 1996
Cook · 1 killed ·
LightningMay 9, 1996
Cook · 1 killed ·
Tornado (F3)April 19, 1996
Champaign · 1 killed · 13 injured ·
High WindMarch 25, 1996
Macon · 1 killed ·
Winter StormMarch 19, 1996
Clark · 1 killed ·
Cold/Wind ChillFebruary 2, 1996
Peoria · 1 killed ·
Cold/Wind ChillFebruary 2, 1996
Kankakee · 1 killed ·
Cold/Wind ChillFebruary 2, 1996
Sangamon · 1 killed ·
Flash FloodJuly 2, 2023
Cook · $500.0M damage
Flash FloodJuly 24, 2010
Cook · $253.4M damage
Flash FloodAugust 17, 2025
Cook · $230.0M damage
Flash FloodJuly 25, 2025
Cook · $200.0M damage
Thunderstorm WindMay 8, 2009
Williamson · 1 injured · $175.0M damage
Flash FloodJune 17, 2011
Morgan · $150.0M damage
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.