Effingham County, Illinois
Tornadoes, hail, floods and severe storms recorded here between 1955 and 2026, from NOAA's Storm Events Database. Search an address to see which tornadoes came closest to it.
30
Tornado reports
86
Hail reports
78
Floods since 1996
466
All events
8
Deaths
$5.5M
Property damage
Tornado paths in Effingham County
The part of each tornado’s path NOAA recorded in this county, 30 in all. Zoom in and the paths widen to their surveyed width.
EF0EF1EF2EF3EF4EF5Unrated
Year by year
All storm eventsTornadoes
NOAA's storm database records tornadoes back to 1950 and hail and thunderstorm wind back to 1955, but floods only from 1996 on. Older floods are missing here. For those, the U.S. Geological Survey's stream gauge records and flood reports are the place to look.
Most significant events
The strongest tornadoes, deadliest events and biggest damage here, up to 50.
Originating in Beecher City within Effingham County, the tornado first touched down along E State Highway 33 at 7:56PM CDT. The storm's initial path spanned approximately one-quarter mile in width, resulting in EF0 and EF1 level damage. This impact was characterized by the snappi…
A 78 year-old woman from Shumway died as a result of heat stroke on July 13th. The woman fell into a ravine on her property and was unable to get out. She remained in the ravine in direct sunlight with heat index values of 100 to 105 degrees for nearly 8 hours. The county coroner…
Due to an extended power outage during a period of extremely cold temperatures, a man suffering from a chronic respiratory condition died of hypothermia in rural Dieterich.
Forty to fifty mile per hour wind gusts resulted in damage to numerous trees and tree limbs. During clean-up of the damaged trees, a 42-year old Effingham man fell from within a tree and died on October 29th due to injuries sustained from the fall.
Numerous traffic accidents were reported across Effingham County due to icy road conditions. Two people died(indirect fatalities) in a collision on I-57 just north of Effingham.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Tree limbs were blown down onto a home.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
US-45 north of Effingham was closed due to high water.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
East 700th Avenue and East 500th Avenue east of North 2300th Street were closed due to water flowing across the roadway.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Deep water was flowing across lawns, seeping into the basements of several homes in Dieterich.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Water was flowing across numerous low-lying country roads in central and southern Effingham County. Debris from nearby farm fields was washed onto a few roads.
Hail Hail
High Wind High Wind
A carport was blown into powerlines in Shumway. Several airports across southeast Illinois reported peak gusts between 55 and 60 mph.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Power lines were blown down.
Drought Drought
Due to a multi-month precipitation deficit dating back to Fall of 2025, Severe Drought (D2) was in place at the start of the month. However, above normal precipitation occurred during March, with the cooperative observer in Effingham recording 5.91 inches of precipitation which w…
Tornado EFU Tornado
A brief tornado was confirmed via storm chaser video. No damage occurred, so an intensity rating could not be assigned.
Thunderstorm winds contributed to a multi-vehicle accident on I-57 southwest of Watson, resulting in one indirect injury.
Hail Hail
Hail Hail
Hail Hail
Hail Hail
Hail Hail
Tornado EF0 Tornado
A tornado developed just south of the Clay-Effingham county line, producing damage at a farmstead along the county line east of 1800th Street. At this location, metal from the top of a silo was blown off, and a barn was damaged with roof pieces blown off to the northeast for abou…
Tornado EF0 Tornado
A tornado developed near Scooter Drive in Clay County. It tracked northeast, moving into Effingham County and tracking east of Edgewood. It dissipated near the intersection of East 100th Avenue and County Road 880. The maximum intensity of this tornado was EF-0, with damage limit…
Drought Drought
Drought conditions worsened and became Severe (D2) during the month. A cooperative observer in Effingham measured 1.50 inches of precipitation during February, which was 0.94 inches below normal. Dating back to last September, the precipitation deficit for Effingham was over 6 in…
Extreme Cold/Wind Chill Extreme Cold/Wind Chill
Bitterly cold wind-chill values of -20 to -30 occurred across Effingham County during the morning of January 26th. The coldest hourly wind-chill reading observed at the Effingham Airport (K1H2) was -22.
Heavy Snow Heavy Snow
Weather observers measured 8 to 12 inches of snow across Effingham County...including 8.7 inches in Effingham. Due to both falling and drifting snow, travel became extremely hazardous...leading to numerous traffic accidents on area roadways.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Numerous weather observers measured 2 to 4 inches of snow across Effingham County...including 4.3 inches 2 miles north-northwest of Effingham and 3.5 inches in Watson. Area roadways became snow-covered and hazardous...leading to a few traffic accidents.
Hail Hail
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
A tree was blown down onto Merchant Street.
Drought Drought
Due to a two-month rainfall deficit, Severe Drought (D2) was ongoing at the start of the month. Well below normal rainfall and above normal temperatures occurred during the first half of the month, with the cooperative weather observer in Effingham measuring just 0.05 inches of r…
Hail Hail
Drought Drought
The cooperative weather observer in Effingham measured 1.22 rainfall for the month of September, which was 1.67 below normal. Due to a two-month rainfall deficit, Severe Drought (D2) conditions developed across Effingham County on September 30th.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Water was flowing across Main Street between Division Street and Oak Street.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Water was flowing across Poplar Street in Beecher City.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
A few 6-inch diameter tree limbs were blown down.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
A large tree was blown down on North Park Road near Lake Sara.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Heavy rain fall resulted in water flowing over 300th road north of Mason beginning at 22:00 LST on June 30th. This flooding persisted into July 1st, but quickly dissipated before 01:00 LST.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Water was flowing over 300th Avenue on the north side of Mason. Flooding continued at this location into the early morning hours of July 1st, 2025, before dissipating.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
A six inch diameter tree was blown down. A photo of the damage was shared via social media.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Large branches, trees, and power lines were blown down in the town of Altamont.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
A 12 inch diameter tree branch was snapped in Altamont. A photo of the damage was shared via social media.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
A 3 to 6 inch diameter tree limb was blown down onto a vehicle, causing damage to the vehicle.
Hail Hail
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Tree branches were blown down across Route 40 southwest of Altamont.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
A power line was downed near the intersection of US-40 and North 500th Street.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Several power lines were downed across Lake Sara Road.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Power lines were downed near the intersection of US-40 and County Road 900 East.
Events by year, as a table
| Year | Events | Tornadoes |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 22 | 4 |
| 2025 | 37 | 3 |
| 2024 | 10 | 0 |
| 2023 | 16 | 0 |
| 2022 | 18 | 0 |
| 2021 | 5 | 2 |
| 2020 | 6 | 0 |
| 2019 | 6 | 0 |
| 2018 | 14 | 1 |
| 2017 | 12 | 0 |
| 2016 | 17 | 1 |
| 2015 | 18 | 0 |
| 2014 | 7 | 1 |
| 2013 | 11 | 1 |
| 2012 | 16 | 0 |
| 2011 | 24 | 0 |
| 2010 | 19 | 0 |
| 2009 | 7 | 0 |
| 2008 | 16 | 0 |
| 2007 | 7 | 0 |
| 2006 | 13 | 1 |
| 2005 | 12 | 0 |
| 2004 | 12 | 0 |
| 2003 | 10 | 0 |
| 2002 | 11 | 0 |
| 2001 | 9 | 0 |
| 2000 | 13 | 0 |
| 1999 | 10 | 1 |
| 1998 | 13 | 1 |
| 1997 | 9 | 0 |
| 1996 | 13 | 0 |
| 1995 | 2 | 0 |
| 1994 | 2 | 1 |
| 1993 | 1 | 0 |
| 1990 | 5 | 1 |
| 1989 | 2 | 1 |
| 1988 | 3 | 0 |
| 1987 | 1 | 0 |
| 1986 | 3 | 0 |
| 1985 | 1 | 0 |
| 1984 | 5 | 2 |
| 1983 | 1 | 1 |
| 1982 | 4 | 0 |
| 1981 | 1 | 0 |
| 1980 | 1 | 0 |
| 1977 | 2 | 0 |
| 1975 | 1 | 0 |
| 1974 | 2 | 1 |
| 1973 | 3 | 1 |
| 1971 | 1 | 0 |
| 1967 | 1 | 1 |
| 1964 | 1 | 0 |
| 1963 | 1 | 0 |
| 1961 | 3 | 2 |
| 1960 | 2 | 2 |
| 1959 | 1 | 1 |
| 1956 | 2 | 0 |
| 1955 | 1 | 0 |
Search your address
See every tornado that passed within 25 miles of a place in Effingham County, measured to its path.
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