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Wind in Jefferson County, Illinois
204 damaging wind events in the NCEI Storm Events record, 1950 to 2026. Event types counted: Thunderstorm Wind, High Wind, Strong Wind.
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.
NCEI records 204 wind events in Jefferson County, Illinois, between 1950 and 2026, spread over 48 years.
April is the busiest month, with 33 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 122 events against 59 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 0.8% of the 24,881 wind events recorded in Illinois; its 35.7 per 100 square miles compares with 44.8 statewide.
NCEI attributes 1 death in the county to damaging wind.
95 wind reports with a measured or estimated speed reached the 58 mph severe threshold, and 13 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
| Measure | Jefferson County | Illinois | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wind events since 1950 | 204 | 24,881 | 701,953 |
| Per 100 square miles | 35.7 | 44.8 | 19.9 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 55.3 | 19.6 | 21.1 |
| Deaths recorded | 1 | 54 | 2,166 |
| Busiest month | April | June | June |
By year
Seasonality
11Feb
18Mar
23Apr
33May
24Jun
27Jul
22Aug
17Sep
2Oct
8Nov
11Dec
8
Magnitude distribution
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 146 events kept for this page are the 120 most recent plus the 80 with the most damage, deaths or injuries out of 204. Magnitude is hail size, tornado rating or wind speed as recorded.
| Date | Event type | Magnitude | Property damage | Crop damage | Deaths | Injuries | Geography |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Apr 2026 | Strong Wind | 40 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 28 Mar 2025 | Strong Wind | 40 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 19 Mar 2025 | Strong Wind | 47 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 14 Mar 2025 | Strong Wind | 40 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 29 Jul 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $12K | — | — | — | County |
| 8 May 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 8 May 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 4 May 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Mar 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 85 mph | $30K | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Mar 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Jul 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Jul 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $6K | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Jun 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $30K | — | — | — | County |
| 7 May 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Apr 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Apr 2023 | Strong Wind | 47 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 1 Apr 2023 | Strong Wind | 40 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 31 Mar 2023 | Strong Wind | 44 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 3 Mar 2023 | Strong Wind | 41 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 27 Feb 2023 | Strong Wind | 51 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 22 Feb 2023 | Strong Wind | 41 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 14 Feb 2023 | Strong Wind | 46 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 9 Feb 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Feb 2023 | Strong Wind | 55 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 5 Nov 2022 | Strong Wind | 43 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 17 Jun 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Mar 2022 | Strong Wind | 45 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 27 May 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $6K | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Mar 2021 | Strong Wind | 41 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 27 Dec 2020 | Strong Wind | 43 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 15 Nov 2020 | Strong Wind | 41 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 10 Aug 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Aug 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Apr 2020 | Strong Wind | 40 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 19 Mar 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Nov 2019 | Strong Wind | 41 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 21 Aug 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $6K | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jul 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jun 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Apr 2019 | Strong Wind | 40 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 14 Mar 2019 | Strong Wind | 52 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 9 Mar 2019 | Strong Wind | 45 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 24 Feb 2019 | Strong Wind | 41 mph | $6K | — | — | 1 | Forecast zone |
| 27 Dec 2018 | Strong Wind | 40 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 25 Nov 2018 | Strong Wind | 40 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 5 Jul 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $4K | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jun 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Jun 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $18K | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Jun 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $15K | — | — | — | County |
| 31 May 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 78 mph | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Feb 2018 | Strong Wind | 47 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 15 Feb 2018 | Strong Wind | 41 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 22 Jan 2018 | Strong Wind | 45 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 18 Nov 2017 | Strong Wind | 40 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 23 Jul 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $6K | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Jul 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 59 mph | $6K | — | — | — | County |
| 27 May 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 17 May 2017 | Strong Wind | 44 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 5 May 2017 | Strong Wind | 40 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 26 Apr 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Apr 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Apr 2017 | Strong Wind | 40 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 6 Mar 2017 | Strong Wind | 53 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 1 Mar 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jan 2017 | Strong Wind | 52 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 13 Jul 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Jun 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 11 May 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $4K | — | — | — | County |
| 7 May 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Apr 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $4K | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Feb 2016 | Strong Wind | 45 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 19 Feb 2016 | Strong Wind | 45 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 23 Dec 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $15K | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Jun 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | $40K | — | — | — | County |
| 10 May 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $45K | — | 1 | — | County |
| 27 Apr 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Feb 2014 | Strong Wind | 45 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 26 Jan 2014 | Strong Wind | 45 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 17 Nov 2013 | Strong Wind | 45 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 5 Oct 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Jun 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $30K | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Jan 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $6K | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Jan 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Dec 2012 | Strong Wind | 48 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 13 Nov 2011 | Strong Wind | 47 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 12 Jul 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $40K | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Jul 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $4K | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jun 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 96 mph | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jun 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 25 May 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Apr 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $15K | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Apr 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 85 mph | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Apr 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $18K | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Apr 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $60K | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Apr 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $15K | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Apr 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Apr 2011 | Strong Wind | 53 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 28 Feb 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $6K | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Feb 2011 | Strong Wind | 45 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 26 Oct 2010 | Strong Wind | 45 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 12 Aug 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $40K | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jun 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Jun 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $30K | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Apr 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Apr 2010 | Strong Wind | 40 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 9 Dec 2009 | Strong Wind | 47 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 24 Mar 2009 | Strong Wind | 46 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 8 Mar 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Mar 2009 | Strong Wind | 43 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 5 Mar 2009 | Strong Wind | 46 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 27 Dec 2008 | Strong Wind | 45 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 27 Dec 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Dec 2008 | Strong Wind | 45 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 8 Jul 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $30K | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jun 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 11 May 2008 | Strong Wind | 49 mph | $10K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 17 Feb 2008 | Strong Wind | 52 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 5 Feb 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 85 mph | $180K | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Feb 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Jan 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $40K | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Aug 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jul 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | 90 mph | $13M | — | — | 5 | County |
| 10 Jun 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $4K | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Apr 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $100K | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Nov 2005 | Strong Wind | 46 mph | $7K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 10 Aug 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | 76 mph | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jan 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 30 May 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 25 May 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | $15K | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Apr 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | $100K | — | — | — | County |
| 9 May 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Oct 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Aug 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Aug 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Aug 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $30K | — | — | 1 | County |
| 16 Apr 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $40K | — | — | — | County |
| 17 May 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jan 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $30K | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Jun 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $7K | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jul 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $15K | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Apr 1997 | High Wind | 60 mph | $20K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 22 Oct 1996 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $40K | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Oct 1996 | High Wind | — | $3K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 26 Aug 1996 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Sep 1994 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Apr 1994 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
Questions and answers
How many wind events has Jefferson County had?
204 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 Jefferson 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 Jefferson County?
The thunderstorm wind of 21 Jul 2006, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $13M.
How does Jefferson County compare with Illinois for wind?
35.7 events per 100 square miles against 44.8 statewide; the county holds 204 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.