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Wind in Mercer County, Illinois
144 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 144 wind events in Mercer County, Illinois, between 1950 and 2026, spread over 47 years.
July is the busiest month, with 32 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 56 events against 68 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 0.6% of the 24,881 wind events recorded in Illinois; its 25.7 per 100 square miles compares with 44.8 statewide.
103 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 | Mercer County | Illinois | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wind events since 1950 | 144 | 24,881 | 701,953 |
| Per 100 square miles | 25.7 | 44.8 | 19.9 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 92.4 | 19.6 | 21.1 |
| Deaths recorded | 0 | 54 | 2,166 |
| Busiest month | July | June | June |
By year
Seasonality
0Feb
2Mar
15Apr
20May
16Jun
31Jul
32Aug
16Sep
2Oct
4Nov
4Dec
2
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
All 144 events, most recent first. 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 | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Apr 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Aug 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 May 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Aug 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Jul 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Jul 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jun 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jun 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jun 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Apr 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Apr 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Aug 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 May 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 May 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 | 81 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jul 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Jun 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Mar 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Aug 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Aug 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Jun 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Apr 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Nov 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 90 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Aug 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jul 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jul 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jul 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jul 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jul 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 May 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Sep 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Aug 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jul 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jul 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jul 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jul 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Feb 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jul 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jun 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Jul 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Jun 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 May 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 May 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Jun 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $100 | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jun 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jun 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Oct 2008 | High Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 29 Jul 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jul 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jul 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jul 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Jun 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 31 Mar 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Apr 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | $100K | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Apr 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | 66 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Apr 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $35K | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Apr 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | 90 mph | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Apr 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Mar 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $6K | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Mar 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Mar 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Mar 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $6K | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jun 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | 66 mph | $10K | $20K | — | — | County |
| 20 May 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $5K | $10K | — | — | County |
| 20 Jul 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | $10M | $3.0M | — | — | County |
| 18 Dec 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jun 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | 66 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jun 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Mar 2002 | High Wind | 49 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 9 Mar 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Mar 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Mar 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Aug 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jun 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jun 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jun 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 May 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Apr 2001 | Strong Wind | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 25 Feb 2001 | High Wind | 54 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 3 Oct 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jun 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jul 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $500 | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Jun 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jun 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Nov 1998 | High Wind | 61 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 29 Jun 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Mar 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Mar 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Sep 1997 | High Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 19 Jul 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jul 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jul 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jul 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jul 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | $5K | — | — | County |
| 19 Jul 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jul 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jun 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jun 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jun 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | $15K | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Apr 1997 | High Wind | 60 mph | $100K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 5 Apr 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Apr 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Apr 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Apr 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Oct 1996 | High Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 9 Aug 1995 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Aug 1995 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Aug 1995 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Aug 1995 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Apr 1995 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Aug 1993 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Jul 1992 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Nov 1991 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | 3 | County |
| 29 Nov 1991 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jun 1991 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Oct 1990 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jun 1990 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 May 1989 | Thunderstorm Wind | 82 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Aug 1988 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 May 1988 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Aug 1987 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 May 1986 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Apr 1984 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Dec 1982 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Aug 1980 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jul 1980 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Jul 1979 | Thunderstorm Wind | 61 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jun 1978 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Jul 1975 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Jul 1975 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 May 1975 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 May 1975 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jun 1974 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Apr 1973 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 May 1965 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 May 1965 | Thunderstorm Wind | 61 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Apr 1965 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Apr 1965 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jun 1961 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 May 1961 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jun 1957 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
Questions and answers
How many wind events has Mercer County had?
144 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 Mercer County?
17 Jun 2026 (Thunderstorm Wind, 60 mph). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging wind event recorded in Mercer County?
The thunderstorm wind of 20 Jul 2003, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $10M and crop damage at $3.0M.
How does Mercer County compare with Illinois for wind?
25.7 events per 100 square miles against 44.8 statewide; the county holds 144 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.