Menard storm history
Storm events recorded in Menard, Illinois between 1950 and 2025.
345
Total events
14
Tornadoes
79
Hail
26
Floods
0
Deaths
$14.8M
Property damage
Most significant events
Strongest tornadoes, deadliest events, and biggest damage in this county. Up to 50 shown.
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…
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.
Hail Hail
Drought Drought
Severe Drought (D2) conditions developed across Menard County on June 27th and persisted through the end of the month. Agricultural stress was common across the county.
Hail Hail
Hail Hail
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Claypool Road south of Hedgerow School Road was closed due to high water.
Extreme Cold/Wind Chill Extreme Cold/Wind Chill
Temperatures between zero and ten degrees below zero and wind speeds of 25 to 35 mph resulted in a prolonged period of wind chills colder than 25 degrees below zero.
Winter Storm Winter Storm
Weather observers across Menard County reported 1 to 3 inches of snow. Strong northwesterly winds gusting in excess of 40mph created near white-out conditions at times, especially in rural locations. Numerous traffic accidents occurred as roads became snow-covered and hazardous. …
Heavy Snow Heavy Snow
Weather observers measured 6 to 8 inches of snow across Menard County...including 7.0 inches in Petersburg and 6.0 inches in Athens. Falling and blowing snow led to hazardous driving conditions and numerous traffic accidents across the area.
Winter Storm Winter Storm
Weather observers measured 6 to 12 inches of snow across Menard County...including 10.2 inches 6.5 miles south-southeast of Petersburg and 8.5 inches 1 mile west of Athens. The heavy snow accumulations and considerable blowing and drifting snow led to road closures and numerous t…
Tornado EF2 Tornado
A tornado touched down about one half mile east of Atterberry at 8:07 PM CST. The tornado tracked northeastward, significantly damaging a pair of metal sheds along Pin Hook Avenue. It mainly passed through open fields until reaching a farm along Masters Avenue about a half mile w…
Hail Hail
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Power lines were blown down.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Several trees were blown down.
Hail Hail
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Several power poles were blown into a field.
Heavy Snow Heavy Snow
Weather observers reported 5 to 9 inches of snow across Menard County from the evening of February 14th through the morning of February 16th...including 8.4 1 mile north of Athens and 5.3 7 miles south-southeast of Petersburg. Numerous traffic accidents occurred due to snow-cover…
Ice Storm Ice Storm
Numerous observers measured between 0.20 and 0.30 ice across Menard County. The heavy ice accumulation snapped many tree branches, caused scattered power outages, and created slick and hazardous travel conditions.
Events by year
| Year | Events | Tornadoes |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 11 | 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 |