States › Illinois › Stephenson County › Wind
Wind in Stephenson County, Illinois
281 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.
Stephenson County, Illinois, has 281 wind events in the NCEI record since 1950, with at least one in 51 different years.
June is the busiest month, with 82 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 168 events against 83 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 1.1% of the 24,881 wind events recorded in Illinois; its 49.8 per 100 square miles compares with 44.8 statewide.
216 wind reports with a measured or estimated speed reached the 58 mph severe threshold, and 25 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 | Stephenson County | Illinois | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wind events since 1950 | 281 | 24,881 | 701,953 |
| Per 100 square miles | 49.8 | 44.8 | 19.9 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 63.8 | 19.6 | 21.1 |
| Deaths recorded | 0 | 54 | 2,166 |
| Busiest month | June | June | June |
By year
Seasonality
0Feb
4Mar
3Apr
21May
34Jun
82Jul
68Aug
42Sep
14Oct
6Nov
6Dec
1
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
The 193 events kept for this page are the 120 most recent plus the 80 with the most damage, deaths or injuries out of 281. Magnitude is hail size, tornado rating or wind speed as recorded.
| Date | Event type | Magnitude | Property damage | Crop damage | Deaths | Injuries | Geography |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24 Jun 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jun 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jun 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Apr 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | 96 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Aug 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Aug 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jul 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Jul 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 93 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Jul 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Jul 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Jul 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Jul 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jul 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jul 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jul 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jun 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 May 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 May 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 May 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 May 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 May 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 May 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jul 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jul 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jul 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jul 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jul 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Jul 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jun 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jun 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jun 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Nov 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Aug 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Aug 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jul 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jul 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jul 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Mar 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 68 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Dec 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Aug 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jul 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jul 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Nov 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Aug 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Jul 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jul 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 May 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 May 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 May 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Sep 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Sep 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Jun 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 May 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 May 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Aug 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Aug 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jul 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jul 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jul 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $250 | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jul 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jul 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jul 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 May 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 May 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 May 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Aug 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jul 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jul 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Jul 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jun 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Feb 2016 | High Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 17 Sep 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jun 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Apr 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Jul 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Jun 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Jun 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jun 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jun 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jun 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Apr 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Apr 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Apr 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Apr 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Apr 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Apr 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 May 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 May 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 May 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 May 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Aug 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Aug 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Aug 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jul 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jul 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jul 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jul 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jul 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Jul 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Sep 2011 | Strong Wind | 55 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 12 Aug 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Aug 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 61 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jul 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jul 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jul 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jun 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 62 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jun 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jun 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jun 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 22 May 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 22 May 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 May 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 May 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Aug 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Aug 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jul 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jul 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Jun 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Jun 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Jun 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Apr 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $100K | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jul 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Jun 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $100K | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Jun 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $15K | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Aug 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Aug 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Aug 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Aug 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Aug 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 31 Jul 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $25K | — | — | 1 | County |
| 7 Jul 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jun 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jun 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jun 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jun 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Jun 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Jun 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jun 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $15K | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jun 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $15K | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jun 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $15K | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jun 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $15K | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jul 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jul 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | 66 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jul 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | 66 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jul 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | $4K | — | — | County |
| 17 Jul 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | $4K | — | — | County |
| 21 Jun 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jun 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jun 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Mar 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Sep 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | 66 mph | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Aug 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Jun 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $8K | $4K | — | — | County |
| 25 Jun 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Jun 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Oct 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Oct 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jun 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Apr 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Nov 2003 | High Wind | 62 mph | $20K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 5 Jul 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | $20K | $10K | — | 1 | County |
| 5 Jul 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $2.5M | $50K | — | — | County |
| 5 Jul 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $150K | $15K | — | — | County |
| 5 Jul 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 9 May 2003 | High Wind | 75 mph | $2.0M | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 4 May 2003 | High Wind | 55 mph | $1.0M | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 1 Jun 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Jun 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Jun 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 16 May 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $40K | — | — | 1 | County |
| 16 May 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $15K | — | — | — | County |
| 16 May 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $8K | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jun 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Jun 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Apr 1997 | High Wind | 60 mph | $100K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 19 Apr 1996 | Thunderstorm Wind | 104 mph | $1.2M | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Aug 1987 | Thunderstorm Wind | 67 mph | — | — | — | 1 | County |
| 22 Jun 1974 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jun 1974 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jun 1974 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jun 1974 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jun 1974 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jun 1974 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jun 1974 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Sep 1972 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Jun 1972 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jun 1971 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jun 1971 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Jun 1971 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Aug 1968 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Aug 1968 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Jul 1967 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 May 1956 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
Questions and answers
How many wind events has Stephenson County had?
281 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 Stephenson County?
24 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 Stephenson County?
The thunderstorm wind of 5 Jul 2003, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $2.5M and crop damage at $50K.
How does Stephenson County compare with Illinois for wind?
49.8 events per 100 square miles against 44.8 statewide; the county holds 281 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.