Fayette County, Illinois
Tornadoes, hail, floods and severe storms recorded here between 1954 and 2026, from NOAA's Storm Events Database. Search an address to see which tornadoes came closest to it.
27
Tornado reports
65
Hail reports
28
Floods since 1996
383
All events
0
Deaths
$6.2M
Property damage
Tornado paths in Fayette County
The part of each tornado’s path NOAA recorded in this county, 27 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.
Tornado EF0 Tornado
A chaser photo taken around 3:50 on hwy 51 shows a tornado directly in front (south) of a tree line along the Fayette/Marion county line. Just to the west of the tornado in that image, an NWS storm survey found minor (EF-0) damage along the county line.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
A severe thunderstorm brought strong winds which broke large tree branches. One fell onto a cabin.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
A severe thunderstorm brought strong winds leading to multiple trees downed. Power lines were downed along CR 1900N near N 1300E.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
A severe thunderstorm brought strong winds that downed tree limbs. There were 2 cabins were damaged by the fallen limbs.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Between 2 and 3 inches of rain fell in a very short time. This led to flash flooding, particularly near the town of Ramsey. Roads were covered in up to 4 feet of water and at least one family was displaced from their home.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Between 3 and 5 inches of rain fell in a short period of time. This led to water over several roadways including at least 2 vehicles that got stuck in flood waters.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Thunderstorm winds downed 4 inch diameter limbs from a healthy tree.
Hail Hail
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Thunderstorm winds downed many limbs and at least 1 large tree near Pittsburg.
Winter Storm Winter Storm
A total of 5 to 8 inches of snow fell primarily during the morning hours. The snowfall rate reached 1 inch per hour at times.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Multiple towns and municipalities in northern Fayette County were affected by flash flooding according to emergency management, broadcast media, law enforcement/fire, and members of the public. In Wrights Corner, multiple roads had at least several inches of water covering them, …
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Thunderstorm winds downed a tree at the Ramsey substation. The storm then moved southeast where it snapped tree limbs of up to 4 inches in diameter in St. Elmo.
Tornado EF0 Tornado
A brief, weak tornado touched down between Carlyle Lake and Pope near 6:30 PM and moved northeast. Along its track, the tornado removed several shingles from a home and caused tree damage. The tornado lifted near County Road 700 at approximately 6:38 PM. The tornado was rated EF-…
Tornado EF2 Tornado
Shortly before 7pm, the tornado formed just south of County Road 750 in Fayette County, southeast of Shobonier, damaging trees and structures at a farm. The tornado tracked northeastward through fields and pockets of trees before impacting farms along County Rd 1100. Shortly afte…
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Thunderstorm winds caused minor damage to a roof near Ramsey.
Tornado EF0 Tornado
The tornado then crossed into Fayette County and caused minor tree damage southwest of Shafter before lifting at 5:29 PM. In Fayette County the tornado had a path length of 2.98 miles with a path width of 150 yards. The tornado was rated an EF0.
Tornado EF1 Tornado
At approximately 11:11 PM a tornado began just southwest of Hagarstown, IL in Fayette County and continued northeastward for 13.4 miles through Vandalia, IL before dissipating southwest of Sefton, IL in Fayette County around 11:23 PM. The worst damage occurred northeast of Vandal…
Hail Hail
Winter Storm Winter Storm
The storm began early on the 5th with a mix of snow and sleet falling through the morning. After a brief break in the afternoon, snow fell again in the evening. A total of 5 to 8 inches of snow and sleet fell across the county. Up to 0.5 inches of this fell in the form of sleet.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
There were multiple snapped large tree limbs and a light metal carport destroyed between St. Peter and Farina. Ten power poles were also downed on Highway 185.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Trees were downed across Illinois Route 140 at 300 Street and just east of Hagarstown. Trees were also downed in the Brownstown area. Additional cities in the path of this storm include Vandalia and Bluff City.
Hail Hail
Hail Hail
Cold/Wind Chill Cold/Wind Chill
Wind chill values dropped to as low as 25 below zero with the coldest values during the nighttime hours.
Excessive Heat Excessive Heat
A period of very hot and extremely humid weather began on Sunday, August 20 and lasted through Friday, August 25. Heat index values climbed to 110 to 120 degrees each day as measured by numerous reporting sites across the region.
Hail Hail
There were numerous hail reports between Vandalia and Brownstown at around 6PM CST. Hail in Vandalia was sub-severe, but the storm intensified and produced 1.00 to 1.25 in diameter hail in Brownstown.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
A large tree was blown down onto a power line.
Excessive Heat Excessive Heat
Excessive heat across the county with highs mid to upper 90s degrees each day. Heat index values as high as 107 both days.
Hail Hail
Winter Storm Winter Storm
Up to one inch of snow fell. The snow combined with gusty northwest winds (35-45 mph gusts) created extremely hazardous travel with sporadic near-blizzard conditions during the heaviest snowfall. Road conditions deteriorated rapidly during this event.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Thunderstorm winds snapped a couple of power poles on Illinois Route 185 near Shafter.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Thunderstorm winds blew down numerous large tree limbs as well as trees were blown down between Vandalia and the south side of Herrick.
Sleet Sleet
Up to an inch of sleet was reported in Fayette County.
Heavy Snow Heavy Snow
There were two rounds of precipitation with this system. The first round was rain changing to a mix of sleet and snow, then another round of heavy snow. Up to a quarter of an inch of sleet as well as a couple inches of snow was reported in parts of Fayette County during the morni…
Tornado EF1 Tornado
As it tracked to the northeast across Fayette County, it moved through Bingham, snapping additional trees. The tornado intensified and widened as it moved across the southeast portion of Ramsey State Park and across US Highway 51 north of Ramsey. The tornado continued to track no…
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Thunderstorm winds snapped off a couple of large pine trees and blew down numerous tree limbs at the Ramey Lake Golf Course.
Heavy Snow Heavy Snow
Several rounds of snow beginning the evening of February 14th. The last round of accumulating snow exited Fayette County by 10 pm on February 15th. Overall, snowfall amounts ranged from 6 to 8 inches.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Thunderstorm gust front blew down several trees and power lines between Brownstown and St. Elmo.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
A line of severe storms blew down several large trees. Also, several power lines were blown down in Vandalia.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
A significant downburst occurred over Vandalia Municipal Airport. One airplane was flipped over and sustained significant damage. Also, 4 hangers were destroyed and two more will likely be a total loss. Eight to nine power poles were snapped off. No injuries or deaths were report…
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Up to four inches of rain fell in a short amount of time over the central portions of Fayette County. Numerous roads were flooded including U.S. Highway 40 near at intersection with Illinois Route 185.
Heavy Snow Heavy Snow
Several rounds of heavy snow fell across Fayette County beginning during the afternoon hours of January 11th through the early morning hours of January 13th. The co-op observer in Ramsey reported 7.8 inches of snowfall.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Thunderstorm winds blew down numerous trees, tree limbs and power lines across the county. In Brownstown, a tree was blown down onto an unoccupied car causing major damage to the vehicle.
Excessive Heat Excessive Heat
High temperatures were in the mid 90s with heat index values 105 or higher each day.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Up to five inches of rain fell in a short amount of time causing flash flooding. Several roads were flooded including County Road 2125E between St. Elmo and St. James. Also, U.S. Highway 40 was flooded in spots between St. Elmo and county line. Numerous rural roads in the southea…
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Thunderstorm winds blew down several trees around town.
Hail Hail
Tornado EF2 Tornado
A strong tornado developed around 7 miles southeast of Vandalia, Illinois around 4:20 PM CDT and traveled northeast to the Fayette/Effingham County line by 4:34 PM CDT. The first tornado damage observed was near the intersection of E1050 Avenue and N1375 Street where a greenhouse…
Events by year, as a table
| Year | Events | Tornadoes |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 8 | 1 |
| 2025 | 11 | 4 |
| 2024 | 5 | 0 |
| 2023 | 5 | 0 |
| 2022 | 5 | 0 |
| 2021 | 3 | 1 |
| 2020 | 2 | 0 |
| 2019 | 3 | 0 |
| 2018 | 6 | 1 |
| 2017 | 5 | 0 |
| 2016 | 7 | 0 |
| 2015 | 10 | 0 |
| 2014 | 7 | 1 |
| 2013 | 8 | 1 |
| 2012 | 18 | 0 |
| 2011 | 28 | 3 |
| 2010 | 18 | 0 |
| 2009 | 12 | 0 |
| 2008 | 14 | 1 |
| 2007 | 6 | 0 |
| 2006 | 16 | 0 |
| 2005 | 12 | 0 |
| 2004 | 13 | 1 |
| 2003 | 11 | 0 |
| 2002 | 21 | 2 |
| 2001 | 14 | 0 |
| 2000 | 12 | 1 |
| 1999 | 14 | 1 |
| 1998 | 12 | 1 |
| 1997 | 8 | 0 |
| 1996 | 7 | 2 |
| 1995 | 2 | 0 |
| 1994 | 5 | 1 |
| 1992 | 3 | 0 |
| 1990 | 6 | 0 |
| 1989 | 2 | 0 |
| 1988 | 1 | 0 |
| 1987 | 3 | 0 |
| 1985 | 1 | 0 |
| 1984 | 2 | 1 |
| 1983 | 1 | 1 |
| 1982 | 5 | 0 |
| 1981 | 1 | 0 |
| 1980 | 1 | 0 |
| 1978 | 1 | 0 |
| 1974 | 7 | 1 |
| 1972 | 1 | 0 |
| 1971 | 1 | 0 |
| 1970 | 1 | 0 |
| 1969 | 2 | 0 |
| 1967 | 1 | 0 |
| 1966 | 4 | 0 |
| 1965 | 1 | 0 |
| 1964 | 3 | 0 |
| 1960 | 3 | 1 |
| 1957 | 2 | 0 |
| 1955 | 1 | 0 |
| 1954 | 1 | 1 |
Search your address
See every tornado that passed within 25 miles of a place in Fayette County, measured to its path.
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