County Hazards

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Winter in Scott County, Illinois

45 winter storms and snow events in the NCEI Storm Events record, 1950 to 2026. Event types counted: Winter Storm, Winter Weather, Heavy Snow, Blizzard, Ice Storm, Lake-Effect Snow, Sleet.

45 events · 0 deaths recorded · peak month January · county share of state 0.6%

Winter event locations in and around Scott County. 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.

NCEI records 45 winter events in Scott County, Illinois, between 1950 and 2026, spread over 23 years.

January is the busiest month, with 20 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 27 events against 18 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.

The county holds 0.6% of the 8,149 winter events recorded in Illinois; its 17.9 per 100 square miles compares with 14.7 statewide.

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

MeasureScott CountyIllinoisUS
Winter events since 1950458,149287,339
Per 100 square miles17.914.78.1
Per 10,000 residents93.16.48.7
Deaths recorded01162,509
Busiest monthJanuaryJanuaryJanuary

By year

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

Seasonality

Jan
20
Feb
10
Mar
3
Apr
0
May
0
Jun
0
Jul
0
Aug
0
Sep
0
Oct
0
Nov
4
Dec
8
Winter events in Scott County by month of occurrence, all years.

Recorded events

All 45 events, most recent first. Magnitude is hail size, tornado rating or wind speed as recorded.

DateEvent typeMagnitudeProperty damageCrop damageDeathsInjuriesGeography
24 Jan 2026Heavy Snow—————Forecast zone
13 Dec 2025Winter Weather—————Forecast zone
29 Nov 2025Heavy Snow—————Forecast zone
12 Feb 2025Winter Weather—————Forecast zone
5 Jan 2025Heavy Snow—————Forecast zone
22 Jan 2024Winter Weather—————Forecast zone
22 Dec 2022Winter Storm—————Forecast zone
17 Feb 2022Winter Weather—————Forecast zone
1 Feb 2022Winter Storm—————Forecast zone
1 Jan 2021Winter Weather—————Forecast zone
11 Jan 2019Heavy Snow—————Forecast zone
15 Nov 2018Heavy Snow—————Forecast zone
20 Feb 2015Winter Weather—————Forecast zone
4 Feb 2014Heavy Snow—————Forecast zone
5 Jan 2014Heavy Snow—————Forecast zone
24 Mar 2013Heavy Snow—————Forecast zone
21 Feb 2013Heavy Snow—————Forecast zone
20 Dec 2012Blizzard—————Forecast zone
1 Feb 2011Blizzard—$21K———Forecast zone
6 Jan 2010Winter Weather—————Forecast zone
6 Jan 2009Winter Weather————1Forecast zone
1 Feb 2008Heavy Snow—————Forecast zone
31 Jan 2008Heavy Snow—————Forecast zone
15 Dec 2007Heavy Snow—————Forecast zone
8 Dec 2007Ice Storm—$100K———Forecast zone
12 Feb 2007Blizzard—————Forecast zone
12 Jan 2007Ice Storm—————Forecast zone
1 Dec 2006Winter Storm—————Forecast zone
30 Nov 2006Winter Storm—————Forecast zone
21 Mar 2006Blizzard—————Forecast zone
24 Nov 2004Winter Storm—————Forecast zone
15 Feb 2003Winter Storm—————Forecast zone
2 Jan 2003Heavy Snow—————Forecast zone
1 Jan 1999Heavy Snow—————Forecast zone
8 Mar 1998Winter Storm—————Forecast zone
14 Jan 1998Winter Storm—————Forecast zone
8 Jan 1998Heavy Snow—————Forecast zone
30 Dec 1997Heavy Snow—————Forecast zone
9 Dec 1997Heavy Snow—————Forecast zone
26 Jan 1997Winter Storm—————Forecast zone
24 Jan 1997Winter Storm—————Forecast zone
15 Jan 1997Winter Storm—————Forecast zone
8 Jan 1997Heavy Snow—————Forecast zone
18 Jan 1996Winter Storm—————Forecast zone
4 Jan 1996Winter Storm—————Forecast zone

Questions and answers

How many winter events has Scott County had?

45 events in the NCEI Storm Events record between 1950 and 2026. Reporting of winter storms and snow became far more complete after 1996, so early decades undercount.

When was the last recorded winter event in Scott County?

24 Jan 2026 (Heavy Snow). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.

What was the most damaging winter event recorded in Scott County?

The ice storm of 8 Dec 2007, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $100K.

How does Scott County compare with Illinois for winter?

17.9 events per 100 square miles against 14.7 statewide; the county holds 45 of the state's 8,149 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 Winter hub and the county page.