Champaign storm history
Storm events recorded in Champaign, Illinois between 1950 and 2025.
971
Total events
81
Tornadoes
218
Hail
71
Floods
12
Deaths
$166.7M
Property damage
Most significant events
Strongest tornadoes, deadliest events, and biggest damage in this county. Up to 50 shown.
A tornado touched down in an open field about 1 mile SE of Thomasboro at 12:45 PM CST and rapidly moved to the northeast. In less than a minute it increased in intensity, causing damage to 3 nearby farms and pushing 2 farm houses off their foundations. The tornado moved through o…
Tornado F3 Tornado
An 18 year-old University of Illinois college student died from hypothermia during the early morning hours when air temperatures were around 3 below zero and wind-chill values ranged from 10 below to 15 below zero.
An 89-year old woman wandered outside a nursing home and died of hypothermia in Champaign during the early morning hours of December 31st. Temperatures were around zero and wind-chill readings ranged from -10F to -20F when she was found.
Numerous traffic accidents occurred along I-57 near Champaign due to snow-covered and slushy road conditions. The most serious crash occurred at about 6:00pm near mile marker 238 between the I-74 interchange and Olympian Drive, resulting in the death of a 26 year-old man. The nor…
Weather observers across Champaign County measured 1 to 4 inches of sleet along with 6 to 8 inches of snow. Snow-covered and icy roads resulted in numerous traffic accidents. In addition, a 39-year old Champaign man died on February 1st of cardiac arrest suffered while trying to …
Numerous weather observers and automated weather equipment across Champaign County reported winds in excess of 35mph and visibilities reduced to less than one quarter of a mile due to blowing snow. Several traffic accidents occurred as a result of icy road conditions and poor vis…
Three to four inches of snow across Champaign County caused area roadways to become slick and hazardous. A 27-year old woman was killed when the vehicle she was riding in crossed the median on I-74 near Mahomet and collided with an oncoming semi truck. In addition, a 16-year old …
A homeless man was found dead in Champaign-Urbana at around 2 PM on January 8th. The coroner's office stated the man's death was due to hypothermia.
Slick road conditions caused numerous traffic accidents across Champaign County. One person was killed in an accident in Champaign (indirect fatality) due to snow and ice covered roads.
Heavy snow fell across Champaign county, with 6 to 8 inch snowfall totals common. An indirect fatality occurred near Savoy when a 45 year old woman slid off the road and was ejected from her pickup truck.
A period of freezing rain resulted in ice accumulations. A broadcast meteorologist reported a quarter inch of ice in Champaign. There were numerous car accidents or slide-offs. Carle Hospital in Urbana reported 47 fall injuries. Transportation services were also impacted, with Ch…
Golf ball-sized hail on the east side of Urbana. The hail was driven by 60 mph winds which resulted in damage to hundreds of house roofs and numerous automobiles, including at a car dealership.
Periods of thunderstorms with heavy rainfall produced rain rates of 1 to 2.5 inches for at least two hours from 0630-0830 LST in northwest and central Champaign County - including the cities of Champaign and Mahomet/Lake of the Woods. The highest rain totals ranged between 6.00 t…
A line of severe thunderstorms moved southeast across the eastern half of Champaign County. In Ludlow, at least 40 homes sustained minor to major damage as well as several businesses. Three large grain bins were destroyed and numerous trees and power lines were blown down. Widesp…
Heavy Snow Heavy Snow
Weather observers measured 5 to 7 inches of snow across Champaign County...including 6.2 inches in Champaign and 6.0 inches two miles north of Homer. Due to snow-covered and slick roadways, numerous traffic accidents occurred.
Extreme Cold/Wind Chill Extreme Cold/Wind Chill
Bitterly cold wind-chill values of -25 to -35 occurred across Champaign County during the morning of December 14th. The coldest hourly wind-chill reading observed at the Champaign Airport (KCMI) was -33.
Drought Drought
Due to a four-month precipitation deficit, Extreme Drought (D3) was ongoing at the start of the month. Despite above normal snowfall during December, precipitation was still below normal. The cooperative observer in Urbana measured 10.0 inches of snowfall during the month, but ju…
Heavy Snow Heavy Snow
Numerous weather observers measured 5 to 10 inches of snow across Champaign County...including 8.5 inches 0.4 miles south-southeast of Champaign and 6.2 inches 1.6 miles east of Mahomet. Due to both falling snow and considerable blowing and drifting snow, travel became extremely …
Drought Drought
Due to a three-month precipitation deficit, Extreme Drought (D3) was ongoing at the start of the month. Below normal precipitation persisted during November, with the cooperative observer three miles south of Urbana reporting 1.29 of precipitation which was 1.92 below normal. Tem…
Drought Drought
Due to a two-month rainfall deficit, Severe Drought (D2) was ongoing at the start of the month. The cooperative observer located three miles south of Champaign measured 1.53 inches of rainfall during October, which was 1.82 inches below normal. Temperatures were also well above n…
Drought Drought
The cooperative weather observer 3 miles south of Champaign measured 1.91 rainfall for the month of September, which was 1.16 below normal. Due to a multi-month rainfall deficit, Severe Drought (D2) conditions developed across Champaign County on September 2nd and persisted throu…
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Part of a metal roof was blown off a building at South Farms UIUC.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Drone footage and Sentinel satellite data showed circular damage to corn just west of the Vermilion County line and north of County Road 1100 North...consistent with a microburst.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
The US-136 underpass in Rantoul flooded and the road was closed.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Cars were driving through bumper-deep water flowing across the road on the north side of Champaign.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Several areas of corn were flattened along Route 45 from Tolono southward to Pesotum.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
A peak wind gust of 59 mph was measured at the ASOS at Willard Airport (KCMI).
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
A large tree was blown down onto a chain link fence, causing damage to the fence. A photo of the damage was shared via social media.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Power poles were snapped near a sports complex, and several trees were also damaged in town.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Several large tree branches were blown down.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Locally heavy rainfall of 3 to 4.5 inches resulted in several roads becoming flooded and impassable on the west side of Champaign. Flooded roads included Interstate Drive, Mattis Avenue, Country Fair Drive, and neighborhoods near I-57/I-72 interchange.
Tornado EF0 Tornado
A tornado touched down just west of County Road 2600 East and south of County Road 2600 North about 1.5 miles southwest of Gerald at 4:57 PM CDT. The tornado did some minor tree damage upon initial touchdown, then tracked northeastward to County Road 2600 North where it stripped …
Hail Hail
Hail Hail
Hail Hail
Hail Hail
Hail Hail
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
High Wind High Wind
ASOS site KCMI at Willard Airport measured a non-thunderstorm wind gust of 69 mph.
High Wind High Wind
A tree was blown down in Urbana.
High Wind High Wind
A few trees were damaged in Mahomet.
Events by year
| Year | Events | Tornadoes |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 46 | 3 |
| 2024 | 63 | 0 |
| 2023 | 67 | 3 |
| 2022 | 34 | 0 |
| 2021 | 14 | 2 |
| 2020 | 25 | 0 |
| 2019 | 44 | 3 |
| 2018 | 35 | 3 |
| 2017 | 24 | 0 |
| 2016 | 23 | 1 |
| 2015 | 33 | 1 |
| 2014 | 30 | 0 |
| 2013 | 28 | 2 |
| 2012 | 30 | 2 |
| 2011 | 30 | 1 |
| 2010 | 23 | 0 |
| 2009 | 28 | 0 |
| 2008 | 32 | 0 |
| 2007 | 18 | 0 |
| 2006 | 25 | 6 |
| 2005 | 18 | 0 |
| 2004 | 18 | 6 |
| 2003 | 21 | 4 |
| 2002 | 15 | 0 |
| 2001 | 15 | 3 |
| 2000 | 18 | 2 |
| 1999 | 17 | 3 |
| 1998 | 19 | 2 |
| 1997 | 10 | 0 |
| 1996 | 17 | 3 |
| 1995 | 4 | 0 |
| 1994 | 3 | 1 |
| 1992 | 3 | 1 |
| 1991 | 1 | 0 |
| 1990 | 3 | 2 |
| 1989 | 2 | 0 |
| 1987 | 8 | 2 |
| 1986 | 6 | 0 |
| 1985 | 2 | 1 |
| 1984 | 2 | 1 |
| 1983 | 5 | 0 |
| 1982 | 3 | 0 |
| 1981 | 13 | 2 |
| 1980 | 3 | 0 |
| 1979 | 5 | 0 |
| 1978 | 2 | 0 |
| 1977 | 7 | 0 |
| 1976 | 6 | 2 |
| 1975 | 6 | 0 |
| 1974 | 13 | 4 |
| 1973 | 2 | 0 |
| 1972 | 1 | 0 |
| 1971 | 2 | 1 |
| 1970 | 3 | 1 |
| 1969 | 1 | 0 |
| 1968 | 2 | 0 |
| 1967 | 2 | 2 |
| 1966 | 1 | 0 |
| 1965 | 4 | 0 |
| 1964 | 2 | 0 |
| 1963 | 5 | 1 |
| 1962 | 6 | 1 |
| 1961 | 7 | 2 |
| 1960 | 5 | 2 |
| 1958 | 4 | 1 |
| 1957 | 1 | 0 |
| 1956 | 2 | 0 |
| 1955 | 3 | 3 |
| 1953 | 1 | 1 |