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Wind in McHenry County, Illinois
386 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 386 wind events in McHenry County, Illinois, between 1950 and 2026, spread over 50 years.
July is the busiest month, with 101 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 283 events against 71 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 1.6% of the 24,881 wind events recorded in Illinois; its 64.0 per 100 square miles compares with 44.8 statewide.
NCEI attributes 1 death in the county to damaging wind.
252 wind reports with a measured or estimated speed reached the 58 mph severe threshold, and 21 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 | McHenry County | Illinois | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wind events since 1950 | 386 | 24,881 | 701,953 |
| Per 100 square miles | 64.0 | 44.8 | 19.9 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 12.4 | 19.6 | 21.1 |
| Deaths recorded | 1 | 54 | 2,166 |
| Busiest month | July | June | June |
By year
Seasonality
1Feb
4Mar
31Apr
32May
29Jun
78Jul
101Aug
65Sep
21Oct
9Nov
9Dec
6
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 199 events kept for this page are the 120 most recent plus the 80 with the most damage, deaths or injuries out of 386. Magnitude is hail size, tornado rating or wind speed as recorded.
| Date | Event type | Magnitude | Property damage | Crop damage | Deaths | Injuries | Geography |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28 Jun 2026 | High Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 11 Jun 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jun 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jun 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jun 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jun 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jun 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Apr 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Apr 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | 76 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Apr 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Apr 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | 72 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Apr 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Apr 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Apr 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Apr 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Apr 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Sep 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Sep 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Aug 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Aug 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Aug 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Aug 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Aug 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Aug 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Aug 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Aug 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jul 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jul 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Jun 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Jun 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Jun 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Jun 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Jun 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Jun 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Jun 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Jun 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Jun 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 61 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Jun 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Jun 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Jun 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 May 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 May 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 May 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 May 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 May 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Mar 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Mar 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Mar 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Mar 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 66 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Mar 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 61 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Mar 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 61 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Mar 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Mar 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 31 Oct 2024 | High Wind | 45 mph | $50K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 27 Aug 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Aug 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Aug 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Aug 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Aug 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Aug 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Aug 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Aug 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Aug 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Jul 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Jul 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Jul 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jul 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jul 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jul 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jul 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jun 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jun 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jun 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 May 2024 | High Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 7 May 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 May 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Aug 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Aug 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Aug 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Jul 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Jul 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Apr 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Apr 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Apr 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 31 Mar 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 31 Mar 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 31 Mar 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 31 Mar 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 31 Mar 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 31 Mar 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 31 Mar 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Feb 2023 | High Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 5 Nov 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Nov 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Nov 2022 | High Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 12 Oct 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Oct 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Aug 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jul 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jul 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jul 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jul 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jul 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 68 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jul 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jul 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jul 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jun 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Apr 2022 | High Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 5 Mar 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Mar 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Mar 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Mar 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Mar 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 66 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Dec 2021 | High Wind | 61 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 15 Dec 2021 | High Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 15 Dec 2021 | High Wind | 66 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 15 Dec 2021 | High Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 11 Dec 2021 | High Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 25 Oct 2021 | High Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 7 Sep 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Sep 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Aug 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jun 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jun 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jun 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Apr 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | $100K | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jul 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jul 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | $30K | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jul 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jul 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jul 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | $15K | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jul 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jul 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 22 May 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Oct 2010 | High Wind | 58 mph | $100K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 21 Jun 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $500 | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Jun 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Apr 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Apr 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Apr 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 59 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Jul 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jun 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jun 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 31 Jul 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 31 Jul 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jul 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Jun 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | $30K | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Jun 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Jun 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Jun 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Jun 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jun 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 30 May 2008 | High Wind | 64 mph | $100K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 12 Aug 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | $30K | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jul 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 24 May 2007 | Strong Wind | 46 mph | $2K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 17 Jul 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | $200K | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Oct 2001 | High Wind | 58 mph | $5K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 7 Apr 2001 | High Wind | 53 mph | — | — | 1 | 1 | Forecast zone |
| 7 Jun 1995 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jul 1992 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | 2 | County |
| 18 Jul 1990 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jul 1989 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 May 1989 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Apr 1989 | Thunderstorm Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Sep 1988 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Aug 1987 | Thunderstorm Wind | 61 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Jul 1986 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jul 1986 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Jul 1986 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jul 1985 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 May 1985 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Apr 1985 | Thunderstorm Wind | 62 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jul 1984 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Apr 1984 | Thunderstorm Wind | 68 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Aug 1983 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Aug 1983 | Thunderstorm Wind | 71 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Aug 1983 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Aug 1983 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jul 1983 | Thunderstorm Wind | 87 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Jul 1983 | Thunderstorm Wind | 74 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Jul 1983 | Thunderstorm Wind | 74 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Apr 1981 | Thunderstorm Wind | 87 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Aug 1980 | Thunderstorm Wind | 66 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Aug 1980 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jul 1980 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jul 1980 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Jun 1975 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jun 1975 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 May 1975 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jun 1974 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jun 1973 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jun 1973 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 May 1970 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Aug 1968 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Aug 1968 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Jun 1968 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Jun 1968 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Nov 1960 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
Questions and answers
How many wind events has McHenry County had?
386 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 McHenry County?
28 Jun 2026 (High Wind, 60 mph). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging wind event recorded in McHenry County?
The thunderstorm wind of 17 Jul 2006, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $200K.
How does McHenry County compare with Illinois for wind?
64.0 events per 100 square miles against 44.8 statewide; the county holds 386 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.