Mercer County, Illinois
Tornadoes, hail, floods and severe storms recorded here between 1952 and 2026, from NOAA's Storm Events Database. Search an address to see which tornadoes came closest to it.
45
Tornado reports
96
Hail reports
55
Floods since 1996
538
All events
2
Deaths
$36.8M
Property damage
Tornado paths in Mercer County
The part of each tornado’s path NOAA recorded in this county, 45 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 F3 Tornado
A direct death occurred due to the ice storm when a 70 year old male in rural Joy, Illinois was struck by an ice-laden tree branch that fell on him. He was clearing branches from his driveway during the ice storm on February 24 when the branch struck him on the head. He was initi…
Heavy rains resulted in widespread flash flooding of roads and highways across all of Mercer County, especially the eastern half during the morning of May 13.
Also reported by spotters. Considerable damage in Viola, Hamlet, North Henderson, and Aledo with numerous trees and power lines down. Large areas of corn flattened.
IL 94 and 17 closed
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
A personal weather station north of New Windsor measured a thunderstorm wind gust of 52 knots.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Multiple downed tree branches, up to 3 inches in diameter. Porta-potty blown over. The time was estimated from radar data.
Tornado EF0 Tornado
A brief EF0 tornado passed through Viola, IL, with maximum winds around 85 mph. Much of the damage noted along the short path was done to trees, uprooting and snapping some, with tree tops also sheared off others. Some structural damage was noted in town, where half of a house ro…
Blizzard Blizzard
The COOP Observer in Aledo reported 3.8 inches of new snow. Interstate 74 was closed due to an accident in blowing snow from Woodhull to the Knox County border. Falling and accumulated snow combined with strong winds with frequent winds gusts of 35 to 45 MPH resulted in widesprea…
Hail Hail
Winter Storm Winter Storm
The COOP Observer in Aledo reported 7.7 inches of snow.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Trees and power lines were blown down in town.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
A public report of flash flooding at this location.
Tornado EF1 Tornado
This long-lived EF1 tornado began west of the town of Joy and tracked through Millersburg and ended about a mile and a half west of Illinois 94. Significant damage to numerous trees as well as utility poles, along with minor outbuilding damage.
Tornado EF1 Tornado
This EF1 tornado with peak estimated wind speed of 100 MPH developed over New Boston and persisted for a short time after departing town to the northeast. Concentrated damage in town included a roof blown off a downtown masonry building and numerous trees uprooted or snapped.
Tornado EF1 Tornado
This EF1 tornado, with maximum winds of 95 mph, tracked through Reynolds producing damage to mainly trees.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
A public report of two 2 to 3 inch diameter tree branches snapped by thunderstorm winds.
Tornado EF0 Tornado
This short-lived EF-0 tornado brought tree damage, including a large uprooted tree, and a small outbuilding damaged. The peak estimated winds were 85 mph.
Hail Hail
A lot of nickel to dime size hail was seen, with a few quarter size hail observed. The time was estimated from radar data.
Ice Storm Ice Storm
Trained spotters and DOT reported widespread slick conditions with a 0.1 to 0.3 of an inch of ice accumulation on the ground and elevated surfaces.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Report of a tree down on both lanes of 82nd street, south of Keithsburg Illinois.
Tornado EF1 Tornado
An NWS Storm Survey found a tornado touched down northwest of Taylor Ridge in Rock Island County. The tornado damaged trees, dented two large grain bins, and damaged power poles. The tornado then moved into Mercer County around 18:27 CST, about a third of a mile west of US Route …
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
A public report of a a large section of a tree snapped off and fell on a car.
Hail Hail
A public report via Mping of penny size hail.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
A public report of 3 inch tree limbs down.
Flood Flood
The Mississippi River at New Boston rose above its major flood stage of 18.5 feet around 5 PM on July 2 and crested at 20.82 feet on July 11th. The river fell back below flood stage 3 Pm on July 20th.
Flood Flood
The Mississippi River at Keithsburg rose above its major flood stage of 17 feet around 2 PM on July 2nd and crested at 19.02 feet on July 11th. The river fell back below major flood stage around 5 PM on July 20th.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Social media post of powerlines down closing Highway 67 in both directions.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Large branch broken off of a hickory tree.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Several large tree branches over Highway 17, blocking the road. Time estimated from radar.
Hail Hail
Hail Hail
A public report of nickel to quarter size hail.
Hail Hail
Hail Hail
Hail Hail
Location and time of the event was estimated.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
A public report of power poles down near Highway 17and 200th Street. The time of the event was estimated using radar.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
An NWS Storm Survey found that a portion of the roof was torn off the Community Bible Fellowship Church.
Hail Hail
The hail was half dollar to silver dollar size.
Hail Hail
Photo received through social media.
Winter Storm Winter Storm
Numerous reports of 8 to 12 inches of snow were received, with widespread significant drifting snow continuing into the evening hours.
Winter Storm Winter Storm
Snowfall reports ranged from 5.8 inches from the COOP Observer in Aledo to a public report of 7.0 inches from 2 miles northeast of New Windsor.
Hail Hail
Hail Hail
Broadcast media relayed a report of a mix of quarter to half dollar size hail.
Hail Hail
A trained spotter reported that the hail last for 2 to 3 minutes. The time of the event was estimated using radar.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
A member of the public reported a few 2-3 inch diameter tree branches were blown down south of Hamlet.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Powerlines were downed by strong thunderstorm wind gusts.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Reports of trees and powerlines down throughout the county.
Events by year, as a table
| Year | Events | Tornadoes |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 5 | 1 |
| 2025 | 9 | 4 |
| 2024 | 22 | 1 |
| 2023 | 12 | 0 |
| 2022 | 7 | 2 |
| 2021 | 8 | 0 |
| 2020 | 13 | 2 |
| 2019 | 16 | 1 |
| 2018 | 9 | 0 |
| 2017 | 9 | 1 |
| 2016 | 8 | 0 |
| 2015 | 9 | 3 |
| 2014 | 16 | 3 |
| 2013 | 19 | 0 |
| 2012 | 12 | 0 |
| 2011 | 5 | 0 |
| 2010 | 18 | 0 |
| 2009 | 6 | 0 |
| 2008 | 34 | 0 |
| 2007 | 20 | 0 |
| 2006 | 30 | 4 |
| 2005 | 14 | 0 |
| 2004 | 12 | 0 |
| 2003 | 31 | 8 |
| 2002 | 13 | 0 |
| 2001 | 20 | 0 |
| 2000 | 27 | 0 |
| 1999 | 14 | 1 |
| 1998 | 12 | 3 |
| 1997 | 29 | 0 |
| 1996 | 9 | 1 |
| 1995 | 9 | 0 |
| 1993 | 1 | 0 |
| 1992 | 1 | 0 |
| 1991 | 4 | 0 |
| 1990 | 2 | 0 |
| 1989 | 1 | 0 |
| 1988 | 2 | 0 |
| 1987 | 3 | 1 |
| 1986 | 1 | 0 |
| 1984 | 1 | 0 |
| 1982 | 3 | 0 |
| 1981 | 4 | 0 |
| 1980 | 3 | 0 |
| 1979 | 1 | 0 |
| 1978 | 2 | 1 |
| 1977 | 1 | 0 |
| 1975 | 7 | 0 |
| 1974 | 6 | 3 |
| 1973 | 3 | 1 |
| 1972 | 1 | 1 |
| 1971 | 1 | 0 |
| 1967 | 1 | 0 |
| 1965 | 7 | 2 |
| 1961 | 2 | 0 |
| 1959 | 1 | 0 |
| 1957 | 1 | 0 |
| 1952 | 1 | 1 |
Search your address
See every tornado that passed within 25 miles of a place in Mercer County, measured to its path.
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