540
Recorded events
0
Direct deaths
6
Direct injuries
$1.3M
Property damage
Thunderstorm Wind in Kane County, Illinois: 540 recorded events between 1959 and 2026. The strongest on record measured 80. That places the county #94 nationally and #3 statewide for this hazard.
Decade by decade
Thunderstorm Wind in Kane County, Illinois: events per decade
Reporting practice changed over time — early decades are undercounted, not calmer.
The busiest decade for thunderstorm wind in Kane County is the 2020s, when 248 of the county's 540 recorded events were logged. Comparing decades is useful for spotting active periods, but the earliest years are thin because systematic reporting for this hazard began later.
Within the Kane County archive, thunderstorm wind makes up 59.5% of all recorded severe weather across 8 hazard types. Nationally the county sits at #94 for this hazard and #3 within Illinois, putting it in the 97.1 percentile of all U.S. counties.
Seasonality
Events by month
Jul is the peak month for thunderstorm wind in Kane County with 148 recorded events, while Dec is the quietest. Seasonality here is a property of the archive as much as the climate: reports cluster where population and spotter networks are densest.
Significant events
Deadliest on record
| Date | Location | Scale | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 4, 2012 | GENEVA | 52 | 0 | 2 | $0 |
| Jun 16, 2024 | CAMPTON HILLS | 52 | 0 | 1 | $0 |
| Jul 21, 2013 | HENPECK | 50 | 0 | 1 | $0 |
| Jun 13, 2008 | GENEVA | 60 | 0 | 1 | $20K |
| Jun 12, 2001 | COUNTYWIDE | 50 | 0 | 1 | $7K |
Most recent
Latest recorded events
| Date | Location | Magnitude | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 17, 2026 | ST CHARLES | 52 | $0 |
| Apr 15, 2026 | LA FOX | 52 | $0 |
| Apr 15, 2026 | KANEVILLE | 52 | $0 |
| Apr 15, 2026 | KANEVILLE | 56 | $0 |
| Apr 14, 2026 | LILY LAKE | 52 | $0 |
| Apr 14, 2026 | ELGIN | 52 | $0 |
| Apr 14, 2026 | HAMPSHIRE | 52 | $0 |
| Aug 16, 2025 | AURORA | 52 | $0 |
| Aug 16, 2025 | MONTGOMERY | 52 | $0 |
| Aug 16, 2025 | MONTGOMERY | 52 | $0 |
Other hazards here
More from Kane County
From the record
What the reports say
Written by National Weather Service staff at the time of the event · public domain
Wind gusts were estimated to 70 mph in St. Charles. High winds tore portions off the roof at St. Charles North High School. Roof debris, light poles, tree limbs and a crushed portable toilet littered the school grounds. About ten heating, ventilation and cooling units on the roof were either damaged or blown completely off the roof. Damage was also reported inside the school. A 150 year old oak tree was uprooted near Oxmoor Court. The falling tree broke a skylight on a house. Trees, tree limbs and power lines were blown down across many parts of St. Charles.
Numerous trees and large tree limbs were reported down across portions of Elgin. Approximately a mile northeast of Elgin, trees were uprooted and snapped. Two to three foot diameter trees fell onto homes and cars. Some roads were impassable.
Wind gusts were estimated between 70 mph and 80 mph. Hundreds of trees suffered damaged on the east side of Elgin. Some trees were uprooted with large branches on cars. Several roads were closed due to downed power lines.
Quick answers
Frequently asked
How many thunderstorm wind events are on record in Kane County, Illinois?
540 thunderstorm wind events are recorded in Kane County between 1959 and 2026, causing 0 direct deaths.
What is the strongest thunderstorm wind recorded in Kane County?
The strongest thunderstorm wind on record in Kane County measured 80.
Where does the thunderstorm wind data for Kane County come from?
All events come from the NOAA/NCEI Storm Events Database, the federal public-domain archive of severe weather reports. Dates are UTC, damage is as reported and not inflation-adjusted, and the most recent entries may still be revised.
Cite this page
“Thunderstorm Wind in Kane County, Illinois.” Severe Weather History. severeweatherhistory.com/county/illinois/kane-county/thunderstorm-wind/ · Data: NOAA/NCEI, FEMA, U.S. Census — public domain.