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Wind in Pope County, Illinois
117 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 117 wind events in Pope County, Illinois, between 1950 and 2026, spread over 34 years.
March is the busiest month, with 17 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 72 events against 41 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 0.5% of the 24,881 wind events recorded in Illinois; its 31.7 per 100 square miles compares with 44.8 statewide.
30 wind reports with a measured or estimated speed reached the 58 mph severe threshold, and 5 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 | Pope County | Illinois | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wind events since 1950 | 117 | 24,881 | 701,953 |
| Per 100 square miles | 31.7 | 44.8 | 19.9 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 309.6 | 19.6 | 21.1 |
| Deaths recorded | 0 | 54 | 2,166 |
| Busiest month | March | June | June |
By year
Seasonality
10Feb
14Mar
17Apr
16May
15Jun
11Jul
6Aug
2Sep
3Oct
6Nov
9Dec
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
All 117 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19 Mar 2025 | Strong Wind | 40 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 14 Mar 2025 | Strong Wind | 40 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 5 Mar 2025 | Strong Wind | 40 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 2 Apr 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Jul 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jul 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Apr 2023 | Strong Wind | 40 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 31 Mar 2023 | Strong Wind | 45 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 3 Mar 2023 | Strong Wind | 43 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 27 Feb 2023 | Strong Wind | 48 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 22 Feb 2023 | Strong Wind | 40 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 9 Feb 2023 | Strong Wind | 40 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 5 Nov 2022 | Strong Wind | 45 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 8 Jul 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Mar 2022 | Strong Wind | 45 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 6 Mar 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | $17K | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Jun 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $15K | $500K | — | — | County |
| 25 Mar 2021 | Strong Wind | 45 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 14 Nov 2020 | Strong Wind | 43 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 10 Jan 2020 | Strong Wind | 40 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 26 Nov 2019 | Strong Wind | 41 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 11 Apr 2019 | Strong Wind | 40 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 30 Mar 2019 | Strong Wind | 45 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 14 Mar 2019 | Strong Wind | 41 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 9 Mar 2019 | Strong Wind | 40 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 24 Feb 2019 | Strong Wind | 45 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 27 Dec 2018 | Strong Wind | 40 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 25 Nov 2018 | Strong Wind | 40 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 28 Jun 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $35K | — | — | — | County |
| 28 May 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Apr 2018 | Strong Wind | 45 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 12 Apr 2018 | Strong Wind | 40 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 6 Mar 2018 | Strong Wind | 40 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 15 Feb 2018 | Strong Wind | 40 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 22 Jan 2018 | Strong Wind | 40 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 18 Nov 2017 | Strong Wind | 40 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 27 May 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $6K | — | — | — | County |
| 5 May 2017 | Strong Wind | 40 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 6 Mar 2017 | Strong Wind | 40 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 10 Feb 2017 | Strong Wind | 40 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 10 Jan 2017 | Strong Wind | 40 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 28 Feb 2016 | Strong Wind | 45 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 19 Feb 2016 | Strong Wind | 45 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 13 Dec 2015 | Strong Wind | 47 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 24 Nov 2014 | Strong Wind | 46 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 1 Jul 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $4K | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Mar 2014 | Strong Wind | 46 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 20 Feb 2014 | Strong Wind | 45 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 26 Jan 2014 | Strong Wind | 45 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 21 Jan 2014 | Strong Wind | 45 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 20 Dec 2012 | Strong Wind | 45 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 1 Sep 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Nov 2011 | Strong Wind | 45 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 21 Aug 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Aug 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jun 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $15K | — | — | — | County |
| 25 May 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 100 mph | $120K | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Apr 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | $100K | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Apr 2011 | Strong Wind | 49 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 1 Feb 2011 | Strong Wind | 46 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 26 Oct 2010 | Strong Wind | 45 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 15 Jun 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Dec 2009 | Strong Wind | 45 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 9 Dec 2009 | Strong Wind | 45 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 11 Feb 2009 | High Wind | 58 mph | $15K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 27 Dec 2008 | Strong Wind | 45 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 19 Dec 2008 | Strong Wind | 45 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 14 Sep 2008 | High Wind | 64 mph | $2.0M | $3.0M | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 31 May 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $15K | — | — | — | County |
| 11 May 2008 | Strong Wind | 49 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 17 Feb 2008 | Strong Wind | 52 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 15 May 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $15K | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Dec 2006 | Strong Wind | 32 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 2 Apr 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $6K | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Mar 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Feb 2006 | Strong Wind | 49 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 19 Jan 2006 | Strong Wind | 32 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 8 Jan 2006 | Strong Wind | 30 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 30 Jun 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Apr 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Oct 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $35K | — | — | — | County |
| 30 May 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 May 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | $15K | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Apr 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 May 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Nov 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Mar 2002 | High Wind | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 24 Oct 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Oct 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Jul 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Oct 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Sep 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | 62 mph | $15K | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Apr 2000 | High Wind | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 26 Mar 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Jan 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jun 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 17 May 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Apr 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Apr 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $8K | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Feb 1999 | Strong Wind | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 22 Jan 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jun 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jul 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $4K | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Apr 1997 | High Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 20 Apr 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Oct 1996 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 May 1996 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Jan 1996 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jun 1995 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jun 1995 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jun 1995 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 May 1995 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Apr 1994 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jun 1985 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 May 1985 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Nov 1975 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 May 1958 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
Questions and answers
How many wind events has Pope County had?
117 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 Pope County?
19 Mar 2025 (Strong Wind, 40 mph). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging wind event recorded in Pope County?
The high wind of 14 Sep 2008, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $2.0M and crop damage at $3.0M.
How does Pope County compare with Illinois for wind?
31.7 events per 100 square miles against 44.8 statewide; the county holds 117 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.