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Flood in Putnam County, Illinois
14 floods and flash floods events in the NCEI Storm Events record, 1950 to 2026. Event types counted: Flood, Flash Flood, Coastal Flood, Lakeshore Flood.
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.
Putnam County, Illinois, has 14 flood events in the NCEI record since 1950, with at least one in 12 different years.
June is the busiest month, with 5 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 9 events against 5 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 0.2% of the 6,507 flood events recorded in Illinois; its 8.7 per 100 square miles compares with 11.7 statewide.
Compared with Illinois
| Measure | Putnam County | Illinois | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flood events since 1950 | 14 | 6,507 | 183,559 |
| Per 100 square miles | 8.7 | 11.7 | 5.2 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 25.2 | 5.1 | 5.5 |
| Deaths recorded | 0 | 61 | 2,961 |
| Busiest month | June | June | June |
By year
Seasonality
0Feb
2Mar
0Apr
1May
3Jun
5Jul
2Aug
1Sep
0Oct
0Nov
0Dec
0
Recorded events
All 14 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 May 2020 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jun 2018 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Apr 2017 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jun 2015 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jun 2015 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Jun 2014 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Jun 2014 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Jul 2008 | Flash Flood | — | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Aug 2007 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 May 2004 | Flash Flood | — | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Feb 2001 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 31 May 2000 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jul 1998 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Feb 1997 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
Questions and answers
How many flood events has Putnam County had?
14 events in the NCEI Storm Events record between 1950 and 2026. Reporting of floods and flash floods became far more complete after 1996, so early decades undercount.
When was the last recorded flood event in Putnam County?
25 May 2020 (Flash Flood). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging flood event recorded in Putnam County?
The flash flood of 12 Jul 2008, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $50K.
How does Putnam County compare with Illinois for flood?
8.7 events per 100 square miles against 11.7 statewide; the county holds 14 of the state's 6,507 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 Flood hub and the county page.