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Wind in Washington County, Illinois
147 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.
NCEI records 147 wind events in Washington County, Illinois, between 1950 and 2026, spread over 46 years.
June is the busiest month, with 33 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 73 events against 58 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 26.1 per 100 square miles compares with 44.8 statewide.
108 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 | Washington County | Illinois | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wind events since 1950 | 147 | 24,881 | 701,953 |
| Per 100 square miles | 26.1 | 44.8 | 19.9 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 107.7 | 19.6 | 21.1 |
| Deaths recorded | 0 | 54 | 2,166 |
| Busiest month | June | June | June |
By year
Seasonality
4Feb
3Mar
9Apr
23May
20Jun
33Jul
22Aug
13Sep
5Oct
3Nov
9Dec
3
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 147 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 May 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Mar 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Mar 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Apr 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Apr 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Apr 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Apr 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Mar 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Aug 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Aug 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 8 May 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 7 May 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Apr 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Mar 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Jul 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jul 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Jul 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Jun 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Apr 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Feb 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jun 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 19 May 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Oct 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Aug 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 61 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jun 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 31 May 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Mar 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Sep 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jul 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jul 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 May 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 May 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 May 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Apr 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Apr 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Sep 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Aug 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 May 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Apr 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 May 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 May 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 May 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Sep 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | — | — | — | 1 | County |
| 7 Sep 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jan 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Jun 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jun 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jun 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jun 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jun 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Jun 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jun 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Apr 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Apr 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Feb 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Jul 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 31 May 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Dec 2009 | Strong Wind | 45 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 8 Jun 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Mar 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Mar 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Dec 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Dec 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Sep 2008 | Strong Wind | 49 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 12 Jul 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jun 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jun 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Jun 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jun 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jun 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 May 2008 | Strong Wind | 49 mph | — | $2K | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 5 Feb 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Jan 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jul 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jul 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Nov 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Nov 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Nov 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Nov 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Aug 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Jun 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Nov 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Nov 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Nov 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jul 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jul 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jul 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 May 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jun 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | 86 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jun 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jul 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 May 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 May 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Oct 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Aug 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | 61 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Aug 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Aug 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Aug 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Aug 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Jul 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Jul 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Mar 2001 | High Wind | 46 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 9 May 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 May 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jun 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Jun 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Jun 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | — | — | — | 1 | County |
| 18 Jun 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Jun 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Aug 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Apr 1997 | High Wind | 52 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 30 Apr 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Aug 1996 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jul 1996 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jul 1996 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Jan 1996 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Jun 1995 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $300 | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jun 1995 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | $200 | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Apr 1994 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | $500 | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Apr 1994 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | $500 | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Apr 1994 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | $500K | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Apr 1994 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jul 1992 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jul 1992 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Apr 1992 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Nov 1991 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Jun 1991 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jun 1990 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Jan 1990 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 May 1988 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Jul 1987 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Jun 1985 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Apr 1985 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Mar 1984 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Aug 1983 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jul 1983 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jun 1982 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jul 1981 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Apr 1981 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Apr 1975 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Apr 1975 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Apr 1975 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jun 1974 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jun 1974 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jun 1973 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Nov 1965 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Oct 1960 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
Questions and answers
How many wind events has Washington County had?
147 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 Washington County?
16 May 2026 (Thunderstorm Wind, 60 mph). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging wind event recorded in Washington County?
The thunderstorm wind of 15 Apr 1994, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $500K.
How does Washington County compare with Illinois for wind?
26.1 events per 100 square miles against 44.8 statewide; the county holds 147 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.