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Wind in Union County, Illinois
192 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.
Union County, Illinois, has 192 wind events in the NCEI record since 1950, with at least one in 46 different years.
April is the busiest month, with 27 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 130 events against 48 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 0.8% of the 24,881 wind events recorded in Illinois; its 46.4 per 100 square miles compares with 44.8 statewide.
NCEI attributes 3 deaths in the county to damaging wind.
53 wind reports with a measured or estimated speed reached the 58 mph severe threshold, and 11 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 | Union County | Illinois | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wind events since 1950 | 192 | 24,881 | 701,953 |
| Per 100 square miles | 46.4 | 44.8 | 19.9 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 113.5 | 19.6 | 21.1 |
| Deaths recorded | 3 | 54 | 2,166 |
| Busiest month | April | June | June |
By year
Seasonality
14Feb
19Mar
24Apr
27May
27Jun
11Jul
17Aug
11Sep
6Oct
8Nov
11Dec
17
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 192 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 27 Apr 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jan 2026 | Strong Wind | 40 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 8 Jan 2026 | Strong Wind | 40 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 14 Sep 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 20 May 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Mar 2025 | Strong Wind | 47 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 18 Mar 2025 | Strong Wind | 47 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 14 Mar 2025 | Strong Wind | 46 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 5 Mar 2025 | Strong Wind | 49 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 4 Mar 2025 | Strong Wind | 44 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 15 Aug 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jun 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Apr 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | $15K | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Apr 2024 | Strong Wind | 40 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 25 Mar 2024 | Strong Wind | 45 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 27 Feb 2024 | Strong Wind | 45 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 9 Jan 2024 | Strong Wind | 43 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 5 Aug 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $40K | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jul 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jul 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Jul 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $30K | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Apr 2023 | Strong Wind | 40 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 5 Apr 2023 | Strong Wind | 45 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 1 Apr 2023 | Strong Wind | 48 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 31 Mar 2023 | Strong Wind | 45 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 3 Mar 2023 | Strong Wind | 49 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 27 Feb 2023 | Strong Wind | 47 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 22 Feb 2023 | Strong Wind | 45 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 9 Feb 2023 | Strong Wind | 45 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 5 Nov 2022 | Strong Wind | 43 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 17 Jul 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jun 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Apr 2022 | Strong Wind | 45 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 10 Apr 2022 | Strong Wind | 45 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 30 Mar 2022 | Strong Wind | 45 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 16 Feb 2022 | Strong Wind | 40 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 24 Dec 2021 | Strong Wind | 45 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 15 Dec 2021 | Strong Wind | 48 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 5 Dec 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Oct 2021 | Strong Wind | 45 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 9 May 2021 | Strong Wind | 40 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 27 Apr 2021 | Strong Wind | 44 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 25 Mar 2021 | Strong Wind | 40 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 10 Mar 2021 | Strong Wind | 45 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 27 Dec 2020 | Strong Wind | 40 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 23 Dec 2020 | Strong Wind | 45 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 14 Nov 2020 | Strong Wind | 45 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 9 Jun 2020 | Strong Wind | 40 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 25 Apr 2020 | Strong Wind | 40 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 13 Apr 2020 | Strong Wind | 40 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 10 Jan 2020 | Strong Wind | 40 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 26 Nov 2019 | Strong Wind | 48 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 16 Jun 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $8K | — | — | — | County |
| 29 May 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $4K | — | — | — | County |
| 21 May 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Apr 2019 | Strong Wind | 40 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 30 Mar 2019 | Strong Wind | 39 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 13 Mar 2019 | Strong Wind | 45 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 9 Mar 2019 | Strong Wind | 45 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 24 Feb 2019 | Strong Wind | 45 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 27 Dec 2018 | Strong Wind | 45 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 25 Nov 2018 | Strong Wind | 45 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 19 May 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 May 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Apr 2018 | Strong Wind | 45 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 12 Apr 2018 | Strong Wind | 40 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 3 Apr 2018 | Strong Wind | 45 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 6 Mar 2018 | Strong Wind | 40 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 20 Feb 2018 | Strong Wind | 49 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 15 Feb 2018 | Strong Wind | 45 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 22 Jan 2018 | Strong Wind | 40 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 13 Dec 2017 | Strong Wind | 40 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 18 Nov 2017 | Strong Wind | 41 mph | $15K | — | 2 | — | Forecast zone |
| 10 Oct 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 27 May 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | $60K | — | — | — | County |
| 17 May 2017 | Strong Wind | 40 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 5 May 2017 | Strong Wind | 40 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 9 Apr 2017 | Strong Wind | 40 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 6 Mar 2017 | Strong Wind | 40 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 1 Mar 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Feb 2017 | Strong Wind | 35 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 10 Jan 2017 | Strong Wind | 45 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 22 Mar 2016 | Strong Wind | 45 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 28 Feb 2016 | Strong Wind | 45 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 19 Feb 2016 | Strong Wind | 45 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 28 Dec 2015 | Strong Wind | 51 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 13 Dec 2015 | Strong Wind | 47 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 9 Jul 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Nov 2014 | Strong Wind | 46 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 1 Jul 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $10K | — | — | — | 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 |
| 26 Jun 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 96 mph | $200K | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Apr 2013 | Strong Wind | 48 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 29 Jan 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $15K | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Dec 2012 | Strong Wind | 48 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 17 Oct 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Sep 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Aug 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $40K | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Nov 2011 | Strong Wind | 45 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 25 May 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $90K | — | — | — | County |
| 25 May 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | $40K | — | — | — | County |
| 25 May 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | $40K | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Apr 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Apr 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Apr 2011 | Strong Wind | 47 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 26 Oct 2010 | Strong Wind | 45 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 26 Oct 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $4K | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Apr 2010 | Strong Wind | 45 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 24 Dec 2009 | Strong Wind | 43 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 9 Dec 2009 | Strong Wind | 45 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 4 Aug 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Jul 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 8 May 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | $100K | — | — | — | County |
| 8 May 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Mar 2009 | Strong Wind | 46 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 8 Mar 2009 | Strong Wind | 43 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 11 Feb 2009 | High Wind | 58 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 9 Feb 2009 | Strong Wind | 45 mph | $1K | — | — | — | 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 | 60 mph | $1.0M | $500K | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 12 Jul 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $60K | — | — | — | County |
| 11 May 2008 | Strong Wind | 49 mph | $3K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 17 Feb 2008 | Strong Wind | 52 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 29 Jan 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | $100K | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Oct 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Aug 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $6K | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Dec 2006 | Strong Wind | 33 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 10 Aug 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jul 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 May 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Apr 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Mar 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | 66 mph | $40K | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Feb 2006 | Strong Wind | 49 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 19 Jan 2006 | Strong Wind | 48 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 8 Jan 2006 | Strong Wind | 46 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 15 Nov 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Nov 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Jun 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Jun 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Jun 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 May 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Aug 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Jul 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Jul 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 May 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Nov 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jul 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Apr 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Mar 2002 | High Wind | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 24 Oct 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Feb 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $8K | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Apr 2000 | High Wind | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 17 May 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Feb 1999 | Strong Wind | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 22 Jan 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Jun 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | $30K | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jun 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 21 May 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jul 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $4K | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Apr 1997 | High Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 20 Apr 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Oct 1996 | High Wind | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 5 May 1996 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $50K | — | — | 2 | County |
| 18 Jan 1996 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Nov 1995 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | $40K | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jun 1995 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 18 May 1995 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 May 1995 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 May 1995 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Apr 1994 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Sep 1990 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Aug 1988 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Jul 1988 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jul 1987 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | 1 | — | County |
| 25 Dec 1982 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Dec 1982 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 31 Aug 1982 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Aug 1982 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jul 1981 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Sep 1980 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 May 1978 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 May 1976 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 May 1976 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Sep 1974 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Aug 1969 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Jul 1966 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Mar 1963 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Feb 1960 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
Questions and answers
How many wind events has Union County had?
192 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 Union County?
27 Apr 2026 (Thunderstorm Wind, 64 mph). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging wind event recorded in Union County?
The high wind of 14 Sep 2008, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $1.0M and crop damage at $500K.
How does Union County compare with Illinois for wind?
46.4 events per 100 square miles against 44.8 statewide; the county holds 192 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.