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Wind in Knox County, Illinois
220 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 220 wind events in Knox County, Illinois, between 1950 and 2026, spread over 47 years.
June is the busiest month, with 70 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 135 events against 73 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 0.9% of the 24,881 wind events recorded in Illinois; its 30.7 per 100 square miles compares with 44.8 statewide.
NCEI attributes 2 deaths in the county to damaging wind.
151 wind reports with a measured or estimated speed reached the 58 mph severe threshold, and 8 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 | Knox County | Illinois | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wind events since 1950 | 220 | 24,881 | 701,953 |
| Per 100 square miles | 30.7 | 44.8 | 19.9 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 44.7 | 19.6 | 21.1 |
| Deaths recorded | 2 | 54 | 2,166 |
| Busiest month | June | June | June |
By year
Seasonality
0Feb
2Mar
16Apr
14May
30Jun
70Jul
36Aug
25Sep
10Oct
5Nov
11Dec
1
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 134 events kept for this page are the 120 most recent plus the 80 with the most damage, deaths or injuries out of 220. Magnitude is hail size, tornado rating or wind speed as recorded.
| Date | Event type | Magnitude | Property damage | Crop damage | Deaths | Injuries | Geography |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17 Jun 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jun 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 May 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Mar 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Mar 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Mar 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Aug 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 May 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Apr 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Mar 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Aug 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Jul 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 100 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Jul 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Jul 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Jul 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Jun 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Jun 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Jun 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Jun 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Aug 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Aug 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jul 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jul 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Jun 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Jun 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Jun 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Jun 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 May 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 May 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 31 Mar 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Nov 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Aug 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jul 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Mar 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Jun 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Jun 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | $75K | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Jun 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | $60K | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Jun 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Aug 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $100K | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jul 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $40K | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jul 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jul 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | $50K | — | — | County |
| 22 Jun 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $15K | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jun 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 25 May 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 May 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $70K | — | — | — | County |
| 14 May 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Nov 2019 | High Wind | 40 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 20 Aug 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $80K | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Aug 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | $80K | — | — | County |
| 30 Jun 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Jun 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Jun 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jun 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $55K | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jun 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jun 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Oct 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $15K | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Oct 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $30K | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jul 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jun 2017 | Strong Wind | 55 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 17 May 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $15K | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Mar 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $14K | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Mar 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Mar 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $7K | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Sep 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $18K | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Sep 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 90 mph | $100K | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jul 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jul 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jul 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jul 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $60K | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Jul 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $6K | — | — | — | County |
| 28 May 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Nov 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $30K | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Nov 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $35K | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Nov 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $15K | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Nov 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $45K | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jul 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $15K | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jul 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jun 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $15K | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jun 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $7K | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jun 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jun 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $45K | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jun 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jun 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $30K | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Sep 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $8K | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jun 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $4K | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jun 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $12K | — | — | — | County |
| 8 May 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Sep 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $30K | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jun 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jun 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $8K | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jun 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jun 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Sep 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 68 mph | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Jul 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Jul 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | $75K | — | — | County |
| 29 May 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 29 May 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 25 May 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 May 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 May 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 22 May 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $4K | — | — | — | County |
| 22 May 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 11 May 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $30K | — | — | — | County |
| 11 May 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Nov 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Nov 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Jun 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Jun 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Jun 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $75K | — | — | — | County |
| 7 May 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Aug 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jul 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jun 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jun 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $40K | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jun 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $65K | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jun 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $12K | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Jun 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $75K | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Jun 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $75K | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Jun 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $300K | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Jun 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $7K | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Mar 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $8K | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Dec 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Aug 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jun 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Aug 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $800K | $600K | 1 | 29 | County |
| 8 Jun 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | 2 | County |
| 9 Mar 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | 1 | — | County |
| 10 Jun 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Nov 1998 | High Wind | 54 mph | $60K | — | — | 1 | Forecast zone |
| 29 Jun 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $1.0M | — | — | 2 | County |
| 11 Jun 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $100K | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jun 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | — | — | — | 1 | County |
| 29 Jul 1996 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $2K | — | — | — | County |
Questions and answers
How many wind events has Knox County had?
220 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 Knox County?
17 Jun 2026 (Thunderstorm Wind, 63 mph). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging wind event recorded in Knox County?
The thunderstorm wind of 23 Aug 2007, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $800K and crop damage at $600K; 1 death recorded.
How does Knox County compare with Illinois for wind?
30.7 events per 100 square miles against 44.8 statewide; the county holds 220 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.