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Wind in Pulaski County, Illinois

144 damaging wind events in the NCEI Storm Events record, 1950 to 2026. Event types counted: Thunderstorm Wind, High Wind, Strong Wind.

144 events · 1 deaths recorded · peak month March · county share of state 0.6%

2025-05-16: Wind2025-03-30: Wind2025-03-30: Wind2025-03-30: Wind2025-03-30: Wind2025-03-30: Wind2024-08-15: Wind2023-07-18: Wind2023-05-08: Wind2023-04-15: Wind2023-03-31: Wind2019-06-21: Wind2019-06-19: Wind2019-02-07: Wind2018-08-15: Wind2017-05-27: Wind2016-07-19: Wind2016-07-06: Wind2014-04-27: Wind2012-09-07: Wind2011-11-14: Wind2011-05-22: Wind2011-04-19: Wind2010-04-24: Wind2009-06-16: Wind2008-07-08: Wind2008-01-29: Wind2007-10-18: Wind2007-05-15: Wind2006-09-22: Wind2006-08-10: Wind2006-05-25: Wind2006-03-12: Wind2006-03-09: Wind2006-03-09: Wind2005-06-08: Wind2005-05-13: Wind2005-03-30: Wind2004-06-12: Wind2004-06-09: Wind2004-05-30: Wind2003-07-28: Wind2003-07-18: Wind2003-05-10: Wind2003-05-10: Wind2003-05-04: Wind2003-05-04: Wind2001-10-24: Wind2001-08-09: Wind2001-02-24: Wind2000-09-22: Wind1999-06-06: Wind1999-05-17: Wind1998-06-12: Wind1997-07-14: Wind1997-07-08: Wind1997-06-13: Wind1997-04-20: Wind1996-10-22: Wind1996-05-05: Wind1996-01-18: Wind1992-07-14: Wind1990-09-07: Wind1988-08-27: Wind1975-07-05: Wind1970-06-20: Wind1970-05-09: Wind1967-05-11: Wind1967-05-01: Wind1962-07-16: Wind1958-06-14: Wind1958-06-14: Wind
Wind event locations in and around Pulaski County. Dots: Wind event locations in the kept record. Boundaries: US Census Bureau.

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.

Pulaski County, Illinois, has 144 wind events in the NCEI record since 1950, with at least one in 38 different years.

March is the busiest month, with 27 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 87 events against 49 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 72.3 per 100 square miles compares with 44.8 statewide.

NCEI attributes 1 death in the county to damaging wind.

41 wind reports with a measured or estimated speed reached the 58 mph severe threshold, and 7 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

MeasurePulaski CountyIllinoisUS
Wind events since 195014424,881701,953
Per 100 square miles72.344.819.9
Per 10,000 residents284.319.621.1
Deaths recorded1542,166
Busiest monthMarchJuneJune

By year

195019882026
Wind events recorded in Pulaski County per year, 1950 to 2026 (2026 is partial).

Seasonality

Jan
10
Feb
16
Mar
27
Apr
14
May
21
Jun
15
Jul
11
Aug
5
Sep
5
Oct
4
Nov
7
Dec
9
Wind events in Pulaski County by month of occurrence, all years.

Magnitude distribution

under 58 mph98
58–73 mph34
74–95 mph6
96 mph and over1
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.

DateEvent typeMagnitudeProperty damageCrop damageDeathsInjuriesGeography
16 May 2025Thunderstorm Wind60 mph$1K———County
30 Mar 2025Thunderstorm Wind70 mph$10K———County
30 Mar 2025Thunderstorm Wind74 mph$2K———County
30 Mar 2025Thunderstorm Wind81 mph$5K———County
30 Mar 2025Thunderstorm Wind100 mph$20K———County
30 Mar 2025Thunderstorm Wind81 mph$10K———County
19 Mar 2025Strong Wind47 mph$1K———Forecast zone
14 Mar 2025Strong Wind43 mph$1K———Forecast zone
5 Mar 2025Strong Wind41 mph$1K———Forecast zone
15 Aug 2024Thunderstorm Wind90 mph$35K———County
25 Mar 2024Strong Wind43 mph$1K———Forecast zone
27 Feb 2024Strong Wind40 mph$1K———Forecast zone
12 Jan 2024Strong Wind41 mph$1K———Forecast zone
18 Jul 2023Thunderstorm Wind64 mph$8K———County
8 May 2023Thunderstorm Wind70 mph$20K———County
15 Apr 2023Thunderstorm Wind58 mph$2K———County
1 Apr 2023Strong Wind40 mph$1K———Forecast zone
31 Mar 2023Strong Wind45 mph$1K———Forecast zone
31 Mar 2023Thunderstorm Wind64 mph$20K———County
3 Mar 2023Strong Wind45 mph$1K———Forecast zone
27 Feb 2023Strong Wind45 mph$1K———Forecast zone
22 Feb 2023Strong Wind40 mph$1K———Forecast zone
9 Feb 2023Strong Wind45 mph$1K———Forecast zone
5 Nov 2022Strong Wind43 mph$1K———Forecast zone
11 Apr 2022Strong Wind40 mph$1K———Forecast zone
30 Mar 2022Strong Wind45 mph$1K———Forecast zone
25 Mar 2021Strong Wind45 mph$1K———Forecast zone
10 Jan 2020Strong Wind40 mph$1K———Forecast zone
26 Nov 2019Strong Wind40 mph$1K———Forecast zone
21 Jun 2019Thunderstorm Wind75 mph$20K—11County
19 Jun 2019Thunderstorm Wind64 mph$5K———County
11 Apr 2019Strong Wind40 mph$1K———Forecast zone
30 Mar 2019Strong Wind40 mph$1K———Forecast zone
13 Mar 2019Strong Wind45 mph$1K———Forecast zone
9 Mar 2019Strong Wind40 mph$1K———Forecast zone
24 Feb 2019Strong Wind43 mph$1K———Forecast zone
7 Feb 2019Thunderstorm Wind60 mph————County
27 Dec 2018Strong Wind40 mph$1K———Forecast zone
25 Nov 2018Strong Wind35 mph$1K———Forecast zone
15 Aug 2018Thunderstorm Wind64 mph$20K———County
13 Apr 2018Strong Wind45 mph$1K———Forecast zone
12 Apr 2018Strong Wind40 mph$1K———Forecast zone
6 Mar 2018Strong Wind40 mph$1K———Forecast zone
15 Feb 2018Strong Wind40 mph$1K———Forecast zone
22 Jan 2018Strong Wind40 mph$1K———Forecast zone
13 Dec 2017Strong Wind40 mph$1K———Forecast zone
18 Nov 2017Strong Wind40 mph$1K———Forecast zone
27 May 2017Thunderstorm Wind70 mph————County
5 May 2017Strong Wind40 mph$1K———Forecast zone
6 Mar 2017Strong Wind40 mph$1K———Forecast zone
10 Feb 2017Strong Wind40 mph$1K———Forecast zone
10 Jan 2017Strong Wind45 mph$1K———Forecast zone
19 Jul 2016Thunderstorm Wind64 mph$8K———County
6 Jul 2016Thunderstorm Wind70 mph$7K———County
28 Feb 2016Strong Wind45 mph$1K———Forecast zone
19 Feb 2016Strong Wind45 mph$1K———Forecast zone
28 Dec 2015Strong Wind45 mph$1K———Forecast zone
13 Dec 2015Strong Wind54 mph$1K———Forecast zone
24 Nov 2014Strong Wind45 mph$1K———Forecast zone
27 Apr 2014Thunderstorm Wind60 mph$3K———County
12 Mar 2014Strong Wind46 mph$1K———Forecast zone
20 Feb 2014Strong Wind45 mph$1K———Forecast zone
26 Jan 2014Strong Wind45 mph$1K———Forecast zone
21 Jan 2014Strong Wind45 mph$1K———Forecast zone
20 Dec 2012Strong Wind45 mph$1K———Forecast zone
7 Sep 2012Thunderstorm Wind58 mph$2K———County
14 Nov 2011Thunderstorm Wind64 mph$15K———County
13 Nov 2011Strong Wind45 mph$1K———Forecast zone
22 May 2011Thunderstorm Wind64 mph$4K———County
19 Apr 2011Thunderstorm Wind64 mph$30K———County
3 Apr 2011Strong Wind49 mph$1K———Forecast zone
26 Oct 2010Strong Wind45 mph$1K———Forecast zone
24 Apr 2010Thunderstorm Wind60 mph————County
24 Dec 2009Strong Wind39 mph$1K———Forecast zone
9 Dec 2009Strong Wind45 mph$1K———Forecast zone
16 Jun 2009Thunderstorm Wind70 mph$100K———County
24 Mar 2009Strong Wind46 mph$1K———Forecast zone
8 Mar 2009Strong Wind43 mph$1K———Forecast zone
11 Feb 2009High Wind58 mph$5K———Forecast zone
27 Dec 2008Strong Wind45 mph$1K———Forecast zone
14 Sep 2008High Wind64 mph$3.0M$3.0M——Forecast zone
8 Jul 2008Thunderstorm Wind58 mph$2K———County
11 May 2008Strong Wind45 mph$1K———Forecast zone
17 Feb 2008Strong Wind52 mph$1K———Forecast zone
29 Jan 2008Thunderstorm Wind70 mph$100K———County
18 Oct 2007Thunderstorm Wind58 mph$6K———County
15 May 2007Thunderstorm Wind58 mph$4K———County
1 Dec 2006Strong Wind32 mph$1K———Forecast zone
22 Sep 2006Thunderstorm Wind58 mph$2K———County
10 Aug 2006Thunderstorm Wind58 mph————County
25 May 2006Thunderstorm Wind59 mph————County
12 Mar 2006Thunderstorm Wind90 mph$100K———County
9 Mar 2006Thunderstorm Wind58 mph————County
9 Mar 2006Thunderstorm Wind60 mph$7K———County
16 Feb 2006Strong Wind49 mph$1K———Forecast zone
19 Jan 2006Strong Wind32 mph$1K———Forecast zone
8 Jan 2006Strong Wind45 mph$1K———Forecast zone
8 Jun 2005Thunderstorm Wind60 mph————County
13 May 2005Thunderstorm Wind58 mph$2K———County
30 Mar 2005Thunderstorm Wind58 mph————County
12 Jun 2004Thunderstorm Wind58 mph$3K———County
9 Jun 2004Thunderstorm Wind58 mph————County
30 May 2004Thunderstorm Wind60 mph————County
28 Jul 2003Thunderstorm Wind58 mph————County
18 Jul 2003Thunderstorm Wind58 mph————County
10 May 2003Thunderstorm Wind58 mph————County
10 May 2003Thunderstorm Wind63 mph————County
4 May 2003Thunderstorm Wind60 mph————County
4 May 2003Thunderstorm Wind60 mph————County
9 Mar 2002High Wind—————Forecast zone
24 Oct 2001Thunderstorm Wind60 mph$8K———County
9 Aug 2001Thunderstorm Wind60 mph$5K———County
24 Feb 2001Thunderstorm Wind60 mph$3K———County
22 Sep 2000Thunderstorm Wind75 mph————County
20 Apr 2000High Wind—————Forecast zone
6 Jun 1999Thunderstorm Wind58 mph$3K———County
17 May 1999Thunderstorm Wind64 mph$40K———County
7 Feb 1999Strong Wind—————Forecast zone
12 Jun 1998Thunderstorm Wind58 mph$4K———County
14 Jul 1997Thunderstorm Wind58 mph$4K———County
8 Jul 1997Thunderstorm Wind60 mph————County
13 Jun 1997Thunderstorm Wind60 mph————County
30 Apr 1997High Wind60 mph————Forecast zone
20 Apr 1997Thunderstorm Wind58 mph————County
22 Oct 1996Thunderstorm Wind58 mph————County
5 May 1996Thunderstorm Wind—$50K———County
18 Jan 1996Thunderstorm Wind—$10K———County
20 Jun 1995Thunderstorm Wind58 mph————County
8 Jun 1995Thunderstorm Wind0 mph$100K———County
7 Jun 1995Thunderstorm Wind58 mph————County
18 May 1995Thunderstorm Wind58 mph————County
17 May 1995Thunderstorm Wind58 mph————County
18 Apr 1995Thunderstorm Wind58 mph————County
14 Jul 1992Thunderstorm Wind0 mph————County
7 Sep 1990Thunderstorm Wind0 mph————County
27 Aug 1988Thunderstorm Wind0 mph————County
5 Jul 1975Thunderstorm Wind0 mph————County
20 Jun 1970Thunderstorm Wind0 mph————County
9 May 1970Thunderstorm Wind0 mph————County
11 May 1967Thunderstorm Wind0 mph————County
1 May 1967Thunderstorm Wind0 mph————County
16 Jul 1962Thunderstorm Wind0 mph————County
14 Jun 1958Thunderstorm Wind0 mph————County
14 Jun 1958Thunderstorm Wind0 mph————County

Questions and answers

How many wind events has Pulaski 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 Pulaski County?

16 May 2025 (Thunderstorm Wind, 60 mph). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.

What was the most damaging wind event recorded in Pulaski County?

The high wind of 14 Sep 2008, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $3.0M and crop damage at $3.0M.

How does Pulaski County compare with Illinois for wind?

72.3 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.