Menard County, Illinois
Tornadoes, hail, floods and severe storms recorded here between 1966 and 2026, from NOAA's Storm Events Database. Search an address to see which tornadoes came closest to it.
17
Tornado reports
81
Hail reports
27
Floods since 1996
367
All events
0
Deaths
$14.8M
Property damage
Tornado paths in Menard County
The part of each tornado’s path NOAA recorded in this county, 17 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.
A tornado touched down on the west side of Lake Petersburg at 12:37 PM CST, then tracked northeast over the lake and across Sunny Acres Road, before lifting southeast of the intersection of Tice Road and Illinois 123 at 12:40 PM CST. A total of 29 homes sustained significant stru…
Tornado EF1 Tornado
A tornado touched down in southern Menard County near Hurie Avenue, just east of the community of Loyd. Tree branches were broken off as it tracked southeast through rural areas...reaching the Sangamon County line about 2.5 miles west of State Route 97.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Two transmission line poles were broken off and blocked the road on North Middletown Ave. and Hubly St.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Photos showed wind damage at the Hand of Fate Brewery Building in Petersburg.
Tornado EF1 Tornado
A tornado touched down along Reimer Avenue about 3 miles northeast of Tallula at 10:49pm CDT. It damaged a grain bin and several trees at a farmstead on Reimer Avenue, then continued east-northeastward damaging numerous trees in Lincoln's New Salem State Park and removing shingle…
Tornado EF1 Tornado
A tornado touched down near the intersection of Clemens Road and A Kent Street west of Athens at 10:59pm CDT. It tracked southwestward damaging numerous trees as it passed just southwest of Athens and quickly dissipated as it reached Fitschen Road on the south edge of Athens at 1…
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
A tree was blown down onto a powerline.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Several tree branches and powerlines were blown down.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Numerous trees were blown down.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Multiple trees were blown down along IL-97 in Petersburg.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Water was flowing across IL-123.
Hail Hail
Hail Hail
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Snow accumulations of 1 to 3 inches were reported across the county, along with westerly wind gusts of 40 to 50 mph. This resulted in blowing snow, slick roadways, and reduced visibility. The emergency manager reported visibility as low as one-eighth of a mile along IL-29 north o…
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 across the region during March. By mid-March, the drought had improved and was no longer classified as …
Drought Drought
Due to a multi-month precipitation deficit dating back to Fall of 2025, as well as one of the driest Februarys on record, drought conditions worsened and became Severe (D2) during the month. The Severe Drought (D2) then persisted through the end of the month. Streamflows and soil…
Extreme Cold/Wind Chill Extreme Cold/Wind Chill
Bitterly cold wind-chill values of -20 to -30 occurred across Menard County during the morning of January 26th.
Heavy Snow Heavy Snow
Weather observers measured 5 to 7 inches of snow across Menard County. Due to both falling and drifting snow, travel became extremely hazardous...leading to numerous traffic accidents on area roadways.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Weather observers measured 3 to 5 inches of snow across Menard County...including 4.5 inches 1 mile west of Athens. Due to snow-covered and slick roadways, numerous traffic accidents occurred.
Drought Drought
Due to a four-month precipitation deficit, Severe Drought (D2) was ongoing at the start of the month. However, multiple disturbances during the second half of November produced sufficient precipitation to improve the drought conditions to Moderate Drought (D1) by December 2nd.
Heavy Snow Heavy Snow
Numerous weather observers measured 5 to 10 inches of snow across Menard County...including 9.8 inches in Athens and 7.5 inches in Petersburg. Due to both falling snow and considerable blowing and drifting snow, travel became extremely hazardous...leading to numerous accidents on…
Drought Drought
Due to a three-month precipitation deficit, Severe Drought (D2) was ongoing at the start of the month. Continued below normal precipitation and above normal temperatures led to the Severe Drought (D2) persisting through the month.
Drought Drought
Due to a two-month rainfall deficit, Severe Drought (D2) was ongoing at the start of the month. Continued below normal precipitation and above normal temperatures led to the Severe Drought (D2) persisting through the month. Burn bans were implemented in some communities beginning…
Drought Drought
Due to a two-month rainfall deficit, Severe Drought (D2) conditions developed across Menard County on September 30th. Burn bans have been put into place across parts of the county accordingly.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
A few trees and tree branches were blown down.
Tornado EF1 Tornado
Sentinel satellite data indicated a tornado began 2.6 miles northwest of Berlin in Sangamon County. The tornado tracked northeast through Sangamon County, damaging trees and grain bins, eventually crossing County Road 7 into Menard County. It produced tree damage at a residence j…
Tornado EF1 Tornado
The tornado began along Ed Hinrichs Road, where it produced minor damage to trees. It then moved northeast, destroying five grain bins and removing the tops of hardwood trees at a farmstead along Gellerman Road. The last observed damage was at a pair of homes along Newmansville A…
Tornado EFU Tornado
Video shared by a trained spotter showed a brief tornado began in eastern Cass County south of Newmansville. Sentinel satellite imagery showed the tornado tracking for approximately 1.8 miles through Cass County before crossing County Line Road north of Pschirrer Road and continu…
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Sentinel satellite imagery showed an area of mild crop damage oriented towards the northeast. The area of crop damage extended from near the intersection of Fairgrounds Street and Cape Horn Hill Road northeast towards the Sangamon River, ending at Wilken Avenue.
Hail Hail
Hail Hail
Ping-pong ball sized hail fell at Athens Community Park.
Hail Hail
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Scattered tree damage occurred throughout Athens.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
A farm shed was destroyed on Hurie Avenue west of Highway 97 and a sign was blown over on Highway 97.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Wind-driven hail damage occurred to a home north of Athens.
Dust Storm Dust Storm
Emergency managers reported blowing dust reducing visibility below one quarter mile along IL-123 south of Tallula.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
A tree was blown down, resulting in damage to a garage and power lines.
Hail Hail
High Wind High Wind
A park pavilion collapsed due to high winds. A power pole was also snapped.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Weather observers measured 1 to 3 inches of snow across Menard County...including 1.4 inches 1 mile north of Petersburg. Due to snow-covered roadways, several traffic accidents were reported.
Heavy Snow Heavy Snow
Weather observers measured 6 to 8 inches of snow across Menard County...including 6.2 inches in Petersburg. Due to snow-covered and hazardous roadways, numerous traffic accidents were reported.
Excessive Heat Excessive Heat
Heat index readings peaked at 110-115 degrees during the afternoon of August 27th. No heat-related deaths were reported.
Hail Hail
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Minor tree and structural damage at a home east of Greenview.
Ice Storm Ice Storm
A period of freezing rain resulted in ice accumulations. A trained spotter reported a quarter inch of ice eight miles east of Petersburg. There were numerous car accidents or slide-offs. Transportation services were also impacted across the region, with many bus, train, or airpla…
Extreme Cold/Wind Chill Extreme Cold/Wind Chill
Brisk northwesterly winds in conjunction with air temperatures dipping below zero resulted in dangerously cold wind-chill values bottoming out at 25 below to 35 below zero at times.
Excessive Heat Excessive Heat
A prolonged stretch of dangerous heat and humidity occurred across the Midwest. Peak afternoon heat indices were near or over 110 degrees each day, and heat indices remained above 80 degrees overnight. A mesonet station near Tallula measured a maximum heat index of 118 degrees on…
Drought Drought
Severe Drought (D2) conditions lingered across Menard County into the first week of August. Agricultural stress was common.
Excessive Heat Excessive Heat
A two-day stretch of dangerous heat and humidity occurred across the Midwest as high temperatures climbed into the 90s while dewpoints were in the upper 70s or low 80s. In Menard County, a mesonet station in Tallula measured a maximum heat index of 119 degrees on July 27, and als…
Drought Drought
Severe drought conditions (D2) that developed in June persisted across Menard County through July. Agricultural stress was common.
Events by year, as a table
| Year | Events | Tornadoes |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 17 | 3 |
| 2025 | 23 | 3 |
| 2024 | 5 | 0 |
| 2023 | 9 | 0 |
| 2022 | 4 | 0 |
| 2021 | 8 | 1 |
| 2019 | 15 | 1 |
| 2018 | 4 | 0 |
| 2017 | 6 | 0 |
| 2016 | 12 | 0 |
| 2015 | 10 | 1 |
| 2014 | 8 | 0 |
| 2013 | 8 | 0 |
| 2012 | 11 | 0 |
| 2011 | 17 | 2 |
| 2010 | 17 | 1 |
| 2009 | 13 | 0 |
| 2008 | 20 | 0 |
| 2007 | 6 | 0 |
| 2006 | 17 | 1 |
| 2005 | 9 | 0 |
| 2004 | 10 | 0 |
| 2003 | 8 | 0 |
| 2002 | 10 | 0 |
| 2001 | 8 | 0 |
| 2000 | 4 | 0 |
| 1999 | 8 | 1 |
| 1998 | 16 | 1 |
| 1997 | 16 | 0 |
| 1996 | 9 | 1 |
| 1995 | 2 | 0 |
| 1994 | 4 | 0 |
| 1992 | 6 | 0 |
| 1991 | 4 | 0 |
| 1990 | 2 | 0 |
| 1988 | 2 | 0 |
| 1987 | 1 | 0 |
| 1986 | 5 | 0 |
| 1984 | 1 | 0 |
| 1982 | 2 | 0 |
| 1981 | 3 | 0 |
| 1974 | 2 | 0 |
| 1973 | 1 | 1 |
| 1969 | 1 | 0 |
| 1966 | 3 | 0 |
Search your address
See every tornado that passed within 25 miles of a place in Menard County, measured to its path.
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