Union 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.
24
Tornado reports
55
Hail reports
69
Floods since 1996
774
All events
8
Deaths
$14.8M
Property damage
Tornado paths in Union County
The part of each tornado’s path NOAA recorded in this county, 24 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.
The tornado first touched down in very hilly terrain in the Shawnee National Forest and then tracked east, crossing Route 127 just north of Mill Creek. The tornado then directly struck the community of Dongola, where most of the damage and casualties occurred. A 69-year-old woman…
Tornado F3 Tornado
Severe flash flooding impacted Union County. There were two water rescues in the county. One car stalled in high water on Mount Glen Road near Cobden. First responders were able to rescue the driver, a young female. The second water rescue involved a vehicle in the Trail of Tears…
A 3-year-old child was killed when her grandmother attempted to carry her across a flooded creek on foot. The grandmother was unable to cross the creek in her vehicle, so she attempted to cross on foot. The grandmother lost her footing in the creek, and the child was swept away a…
About ten damage claims were filed with insurance companies as a result of the hailstorm. Enough hail fell to clog storm drains and turn the ground white. Undetermined damage was done to apple orchards.
Historic flooding inundated the county after close to 12 inches of rain fell in 48 hours. Levees were overtopped along the Clear Creek drainage district, essentially cutting the county in two. All east-west roads were impassable or closed. Between 30 and 35 people were rescued or…
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
A social media post included a picture depicting several large portions of trees down, damaging the front porch of a home in Anna.
Dense Fog Dense Fog
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Cold/Wind Chill Cold/Wind Chill
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Winter Storm Winter Storm
Cold/Wind Chill Cold/Wind Chill
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Winter Weather Winter Weather
Strong Wind Strong Wind
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Strong Wind Strong Wind
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Drought Drought
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Several power outage reports were made from Cobden and Jonesboro as the thunderstorm outflow boundary swept through northern Union County. Distance from the storm core suggests wind was the predominant cause rather than lightning.
Excessive Heat Excessive Heat
Excessive Heat Excessive Heat
Extreme heat continued from the third week of July.
Excessive Heat Excessive Heat
Extreme heat continued into late July.
Heat Heat
Dense Fog Dense Fog
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Tornado EF1 Tornado
An EF1 tornado touched down along Hwy 146 approximately 6.5 miles northeast of Dongola. It uprooted and snapped several trees along with causing some minor shingle and siding damage to a few homes. Peak winds were 100 mph and max width was 50 yards along its approximately 2 mile …
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Following the lifting of a tornado just west of Mount Pleasant, straight line wind damage uprooted a tree on Woods Rd and brought down tree branches further east.
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Strong Wind Strong Wind
Strong Wind Strong Wind
Strong Wind Strong Wind
Strong Wind Strong Wind
Strong Wind Strong Wind
Cold/Wind Chill Cold/Wind Chill
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Heavy Snow Heavy Snow
Winter Weather Winter Weather
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Heavy Snow Heavy Snow
Events by year, as a table
| Year | Events | Tornadoes |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 13 | 0 |
| 2025 | 27 | 1 |
| 2024 | 33 | 1 |
| 2023 | 26 | 0 |
| 2022 | 36 | 0 |
| 2021 | 24 | 0 |
| 2020 | 24 | 1 |
| 2019 | 30 | 0 |
| 2018 | 38 | 2 |
| 2017 | 25 | 0 |
| 2016 | 27 | 0 |
| 2015 | 30 | 0 |
| 2014 | 25 | 3 |
| 2013 | 15 | 0 |
| 2012 | 33 | 1 |
| 2011 | 33 | 1 |
| 2010 | 26 | 0 |
| 2009 | 28 | 0 |
| 2008 | 27 | 1 |
| 2007 | 23 | 1 |
| 2006 | 25 | 0 |
| 2005 | 17 | 0 |
| 2004 | 13 | 1 |
| 2003 | 18 | 0 |
| 2002 | 17 | 1 |
| 2001 | 15 | 0 |
| 2000 | 12 | 0 |
| 1999 | 19 | 2 |
| 1998 | 18 | 0 |
| 1997 | 14 | 0 |
| 1996 | 11 | 0 |
| 1995 | 9 | 0 |
| 1994 | 2 | 0 |
| 1993 | 1 | 0 |
| 1991 | 2 | 0 |
| 1990 | 1 | 0 |
| 1989 | 2 | 0 |
| 1988 | 2 | 0 |
| 1987 | 1 | 0 |
| 1986 | 1 | 0 |
| 1984 | 1 | 0 |
| 1982 | 4 | 0 |
| 1981 | 1 | 0 |
| 1980 | 1 | 0 |
| 1978 | 1 | 0 |
| 1977 | 1 | 0 |
| 1976 | 3 | 1 |
| 1975 | 1 | 0 |
| 1974 | 1 | 0 |
| 1973 | 1 | 1 |
| 1972 | 4 | 2 |
| 1969 | 4 | 1 |
| 1967 | 1 | 0 |
| 1966 | 1 | 0 |
| 1963 | 2 | 0 |
| 1960 | 1 | 0 |
| 1957 | 1 | 1 |
| 1955 | 2 | 2 |
Search your address
See every tornado that passed within 25 miles of a place in Union County, measured to its path.
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