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Wind in Franklin County, Illinois

244 damaging wind events in the NCEI Storm Events record, 1950 to 2026. Event types counted: Thunderstorm Wind, High Wind, Strong Wind.

244 events · 0 deaths recorded · peak month July · county share of state 1.0%

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Wind event locations in and around Franklin County. Dots: Wind event locations in the kept record. Boundaries: US Census Bureau.

NCEI notes that Storm Data is compiled from a variety of sources including the National Weather Service, other federal, state and local agencies, the media and the public; that property and crop damage figures are estimates; and that some events are recorded by NWS forecast zone rather than by county. FEMA notes that NFIP claim records are redacted and aggregated to protect the privacy of policyholders. Storm records through 30 Jun 2026.

Franklin County, Illinois, has 244 wind events in the NCEI record since 1950, with at least one in 47 different years.

July is the busiest month, with 35 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 152 events against 74 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.

The county holds 1% of the 24,881 wind events recorded in Illinois; its 59.7 per 100 square miles compares with 44.8 statewide.

122 wind reports with a measured or estimated speed reached the 58 mph severe threshold, and 33 reached hurricane force (74 mph).

Some winter weather and high wind events are recorded by NWS forecast zone rather than by county; zone-recorded events whose zone is named for the county are included and marked "Forecast zone" in the table.

Compared with Illinois

MeasureFranklin CountyIllinoisUS
Wind events since 195024424,881701,953
Per 100 square miles59.744.819.9
Per 10,000 residents65.219.621.1
Deaths recorded0542,166
Busiest monthJulyJuneJune

By year

195019882026
Wind events recorded in Franklin County per year, 1950 to 2026 (2026 is partial).

Seasonality

Jan
15
Feb
19
Mar
25
Apr
34
May
25
Jun
34
Jul
35
Aug
15
Sep
10
Oct
11
Nov
9
Dec
12
Wind events in Franklin County by month of occurrence, all years.

Magnitude distribution

under 58 mph109
58–73 mph89
74–95 mph33
96 mph and over0
NWS wind thresholds
under 58 mph
below severe threshold
58–73 mph
severe
74–95 mph
hurricane-force
96 mph and over
extreme

Wind speed converted from the knots NCEI records; estimated and measured gusts are combined. Events without a speed are not binned.

Recorded events

The 163 events kept for this page are the 120 most recent plus the 80 with the most damage, deaths or injuries out of 244. Magnitude is hail size, tornado rating or wind speed as recorded.

DateEvent typeMagnitudeProperty damageCrop damageDeathsInjuriesGeography
2 Apr 2026Strong Wind40 mph$1K———Forecast zone
8 Jan 2026Strong Wind40 mph$1K———Forecast zone
19 Oct 2025Thunderstorm Wind96 mph$3K———County
19 Oct 2025Thunderstorm Wind96 mph$35K———County
14 Sep 2025Thunderstorm Wind81 mph$25K———County
14 Sep 2025Thunderstorm Wind60 mph$3K———County
28 Mar 2025Strong Wind41 mph$1K———Forecast zone
19 Mar 2025Strong Wind46 mph$1K———Forecast zone
18 Mar 2025Strong Wind44 mph$10K———Forecast zone
14 Mar 2025Strong Wind44 mph$5K———Forecast zone
5 Mar 2025Strong Wind41 mph$1K———Forecast zone
27 Sep 2024Strong Wind55 mph$4K———Forecast zone
30 Jul 2024Thunderstorm Wind75 mph$25K———County
30 Jul 2024Thunderstorm Wind64 mph$10K———County
30 Jul 2024Thunderstorm Wind60 mph$1K———County
12 Jul 2024Thunderstorm Wind64 mph$40K———County
11 Jul 2024Thunderstorm Wind75 mph$75K———County
11 Jul 2024Thunderstorm Wind75 mph$65K———County
5 Jul 2024Thunderstorm Wind60 mph—$1K——County
26 May 2024Thunderstorm Wind81 mph$25K———County
26 May 2024Thunderstorm Wind70 mph$5K———County
18 Apr 2024Thunderstorm Wind64 mph$2K———County
25 Mar 2024Strong Wind45 mph$1K———Forecast zone
29 Jul 2023Thunderstorm Wind64 mph$50K———County
24 Jul 2023Thunderstorm Wind60 mph$7K———County
2 Jul 2023Thunderstorm Wind64 mph————County
1 Jul 2023Thunderstorm Wind64 mph$6K———County
1 Jul 2023Thunderstorm Wind64 mph$20K———County
5 Apr 2023Strong Wind45 mph$1K———Forecast zone
1 Apr 2023Strong Wind45 mph$1K———Forecast zone
31 Mar 2023Strong Wind45 mph$1K———Forecast zone
3 Mar 2023Strong Wind43 mph$1K———Forecast zone
27 Feb 2023Strong Wind49 mph$1K———Forecast zone
22 Feb 2023Strong Wind40 mph$1K———Forecast zone
14 Feb 2023Strong Wind45 mph$1K———Forecast zone
9 Feb 2023Thunderstorm Wind64 mph$2K———County
9 Feb 2023Strong Wind45 mph$1K———Forecast zone
5 Nov 2022Strong Wind45 mph$1K———Forecast zone
20 Aug 2022Thunderstorm Wind64 mph$9K———County
8 Jul 2022Thunderstorm Wind75 mph$4K———County
17 Jun 2022Thunderstorm Wind60 mph————County
17 Jun 2022Thunderstorm Wind75 mph$25K———County
30 Mar 2022Strong Wind45 mph$1K———Forecast zone
5 Dec 2021Thunderstorm Wind81 mph$7K———County
5 Dec 2021Thunderstorm Wind60 mph$2K———County
16 Jul 2021Thunderstorm Wind60 mph$2K———County
15 Jul 2021Thunderstorm Wind64 mph$3K———County
25 Mar 2021Strong Wind45 mph$1K———Forecast zone
10 Mar 2021Strong Wind40 mph$1K———Forecast zone
27 Dec 2020Strong Wind40 mph$1K———Forecast zone
14 Nov 2020Strong Wind45 mph$1K———Forecast zone
10 Aug 2020Thunderstorm Wind64 mph$15K———County
10 Aug 2020Thunderstorm Wind70 mph$60K———County
25 May 2020Thunderstorm Wind60 mph$2K———County
25 May 2020Thunderstorm Wind70 mph$3K———County
24 May 2020Thunderstorm Wind58 mph$1K———County
13 Apr 2020Strong Wind40 mph$1K———Forecast zone
12 Mar 2020Thunderstorm Wind75 mph$15K———County
26 Nov 2019Strong Wind41 mph$1K———Forecast zone
21 May 2019Thunderstorm Wind64 mph$5K———County
11 Apr 2019Strong Wind40 mph$1K———Forecast zone
24 Mar 2019Thunderstorm Wind70 mph$25K———County
14 Mar 2019Strong Wind49 mph$1K———Forecast zone
9 Mar 2019Strong Wind45 mph$1K———Forecast zone
24 Feb 2019Strong Wind49 mph$1K———Forecast zone
7 Feb 2019Thunderstorm Wind75 mph$20K———County
27 Dec 2018Strong Wind40 mph$1K———Forecast zone
25 Nov 2018Strong Wind45 mph$1K———Forecast zone
28 Jun 2018Thunderstorm Wind75 mph$70K———County
26 Jun 2018Thunderstorm Wind64 mph$5K———County
31 May 2018Thunderstorm Wind64 mph$8K———County
15 Feb 2018Strong Wind45 mph$1K———Forecast zone
22 Jan 2018Strong Wind40 mph$1K———Forecast zone
18 Nov 2017Strong Wind41 mph$1K———Forecast zone
17 May 2017Strong Wind40 mph$1K———Forecast zone
5 May 2017Strong Wind40 mph$1K———Forecast zone
26 Apr 2017Thunderstorm Wind64 mph$10K———County
9 Apr 2017Strong Wind40 mph$1K———Forecast zone
6 Mar 2017Strong Wind40 mph$1K———Forecast zone
10 Jan 2017Strong Wind49 mph$1K———Forecast zone
13 Jul 2016Thunderstorm Wind85 mph$60K———County
13 Jul 2016Thunderstorm Wind75 mph$10K———County
22 Mar 2016Strong Wind45 mph$1K———Forecast zone
28 Feb 2016Strong Wind45 mph$15K———Forecast zone
19 Feb 2016Strong Wind45 mph$1K———Forecast zone
23 Dec 2015Thunderstorm Wind70 mph$30K———County
13 Dec 2015Strong Wind49 mph$40K———Forecast zone
21 Jun 2015Thunderstorm Wind60 mph$2K———County
25 Apr 2015Thunderstorm Wind64 mph$5K———County
25 Apr 2015Thunderstorm Wind60 mph$4K———County
8 Apr 2015Strong Wind49 mph$5K———Forecast zone
20 Jun 2014Thunderstorm Wind70 mph$10K———County
20 Feb 2014Strong Wind45 mph$1K———Forecast zone
26 Jan 2014Strong Wind45 mph$1K———Forecast zone
21 Jan 2014Strong Wind45 mph$1K———Forecast zone
29 Jun 2013Thunderstorm Wind60 mph$15K———County
23 Jun 2013Thunderstorm Wind60 mph$16K———County
17 Jun 2013Thunderstorm Wind60 mph$20K———County
29 Jan 2013Thunderstorm Wind75 mph$40K———County
29 Jan 2013Thunderstorm Wind70 mph————County
29 Jan 2013Thunderstorm Wind85 mph$50K———County
20 Dec 2012Strong Wind48 mph$1K———Forecast zone
1 Jul 2012Thunderstorm Wind70 mph$20K———County
1 Jul 2012Thunderstorm Wind75 mph$200K———County
1 Jul 2012Thunderstorm Wind64 mph$10K———County
13 Nov 2011Strong Wind47 mph$4K———Forecast zone
21 Jun 2011Thunderstorm Wind90 mph$250K——2County
19 Jun 2011Thunderstorm Wind96 mph$180K———County
19 Jun 2011Thunderstorm Wind81 mph$200K———County
19 Jun 2011Thunderstorm Wind70 mph$75K———County
17 Jun 2011Thunderstorm Wind58 mph————County
25 May 2011Thunderstorm Wind60 mph$9K———County
25 May 2011Thunderstorm Wind81 mph————County
25 May 2011Thunderstorm Wind81 mph————County
19 Apr 2011Thunderstorm Wind64 mph$10K———County
19 Apr 2011Thunderstorm Wind75 mph$100K———County
19 Apr 2011Thunderstorm Wind75 mph$100K———County
19 Apr 2011Thunderstorm Wind90 mph$70K———County
15 Apr 2011Thunderstorm Wind60 mph$6K———County
3 Apr 2011Strong Wind53 mph$1K———Forecast zone
26 Oct 2010Thunderstorm Wind70 mph$25K———County
15 Aug 2010Thunderstorm Wind60 mph$25K———County
12 Aug 2010Thunderstorm Wind60 mph$50K———County
12 Aug 2010Thunderstorm Wind70 mph$40K———County
14 Jun 2010Thunderstorm Wind60 mph$10K———County
24 May 2010Thunderstorm Wind60 mph$30K———County
8 Jun 2009Thunderstorm Wind64 mph$10K———County
8 May 2009Thunderstorm Wind85 mph$6.0M———County
14 Sep 2008High Wind58 mph$200K———Forecast zone
27 Jun 2008Thunderstorm Wind60 mph$10K———County
11 May 2008Strong Wind49 mph$18K———Forecast zone
29 Jan 2008Thunderstorm Wind70 mph$15K———County
18 Oct 2007Thunderstorm Wind60 mph$50K———County
8 Jun 2007Thunderstorm Wind60 mph$20K———County
10 Aug 2006Thunderstorm Wind64 mph$100K———County
29 Jul 2006Thunderstorm Wind60 mph$20K———County
21 Jul 2006Thunderstorm Wind64 mph$25K———County
2 Apr 2006Thunderstorm Wind70 mph$150K———County
27 May 2004Thunderstorm Wind75 mph$70K——2County
27 Apr 2002Thunderstorm Wind85 mph$250K———County
24 Oct 2001Thunderstorm Wind81 mph$75K——1County
24 Oct 2001Thunderstorm Wind—$50K——1County
18 Jul 2001Thunderstorm Wind58 mph$10K———County
3 Jul 2001Thunderstorm Wind58 mph$25K———County
24 Feb 2001Thunderstorm Wind—$10K———County
7 Aug 2000Thunderstorm Wind60 mph$15K———County
3 Aug 2000Thunderstorm Wind—$20K———County
18 Jul 2000Thunderstorm Wind—$10K———County
4 Jun 1999Thunderstorm Wind60 mph$10K———County
21 Jan 1999Thunderstorm Wind—$50K———County
17 Jan 1999Thunderstorm Wind—$30K———County
20 Jun 1998Thunderstorm Wind58 mph$10K———County
9 Jun 1998Thunderstorm Wind63 mph$40K———County
23 May 1998Thunderstorm Wind63 mph$30K———County
15 Apr 1998Thunderstorm Wind75 mph$80K———County
13 Jun 1997Thunderstorm Wind58 mph$30K———County
22 Oct 1996High Wind—$25K———Forecast zone
22 Oct 1996Thunderstorm Wind—$10K———County
19 Apr 1996Thunderstorm Wind—$100K———County
20 Jun 1995Thunderstorm Wind60 mph$10K———County
7 Jun 1995Thunderstorm Wind60 mph$15K———County
15 Apr 1994Thunderstorm Wind0 mph$50K——1County
15 Apr 1994Thunderstorm Wind0 mph$50K———County

Questions and answers

How many wind events has Franklin County had?

244 events in the NCEI Storm Events record between 1950 and 2026. Reporting of damaging wind became far more complete after 1996, so early decades undercount.

When was the last recorded wind event in Franklin County?

2 Apr 2026 (Strong Wind, 40 mph). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.

What was the most damaging wind event recorded in Franklin County?

The thunderstorm wind of 8 May 2009, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $6.0M.

How does Franklin County compare with Illinois for wind?

59.7 events per 100 square miles against 44.8 statewide; the county holds 244 of the state's 24,881 recorded events.

Provenance

NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, yearly details files through 30 Jun 2026, public domain. County-recorded events plus zone-recorded events whose forecast zone is named for the county (marked "Forecast zone"). Population and area from the US Census Bureau (2021). Built 1 Oct 2026. See the methodology, the Wind hub and the county page.