255
Recorded events
0
Direct deaths
1
Direct injuries
$793K
Property damage
Thunderstorm Wind in McDonough County, Illinois: 255 recorded events between 1969 and 2026. The strongest on record measured 95. That places the county #660 nationally and #26 statewide for this hazard.
Decade by decade
Thunderstorm Wind in McDonough County, Illinois: events per decade
Reporting practice changed over time — early decades are undercounted, not calmer.
The busiest decade for thunderstorm wind in McDonough County is the 2000s, when 75 of the county's 255 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 McDonough County archive, thunderstorm wind makes up 43.1% of all recorded severe weather across 8 hazard types. Nationally the county sits at #660 for this hazard and #26 within Illinois, putting it in the 79.0 percentile of all U.S. counties.
Seasonality
Events by month
Jun is the peak month for thunderstorm wind in McDonough County with 90 recorded events, while Jan 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 13, 1999 | MACOMB | 52 | 0 | 1 | $0 |
Most recent
Latest recorded events
| Date | Location | Magnitude | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 27, 2026 | MACOMB | 50 | $0 |
| Apr 17, 2026 | FANDON | 63 | $0 |
| Apr 17, 2026 | INDUSTRY | 70 | $0 |
| Apr 17, 2026 | TENNESSEE | 70 | $0 |
| Apr 17, 2026 | COLMAR | 87 | $0 |
| Apr 17, 2026 | COLMAR | 61 | $0 |
| Apr 17, 2026 | COLMAR | 83 | $0 |
| Apr 21, 2025 | MACOMB | 56 | $0 |
| Apr 21, 2025 | MACOMB | 65 | $0 |
| Apr 21, 2025 | MACOMB | 70 | $10K |
Other hazards here
More from McDonough County
- Hail 196
- Flash Flood 45
- Tornado 43
From the record
What the reports say
Written by National Weather Service staff at the time of the event · public domain
Wind gusts estimated to be 70 mph tossed a grain bin onto the highway and power lines about 1.5 miles southeast of Walnut Grove, IL around 753 pm June 27. A barn in the area was also destroyed with debris tossed about a half mile into the field.
NWS survey found numerous trees and power lines down with several poles snapped. Several houses and trailers on the southeast side of town had minor roof and siding damage. Major damage was sustained to one mobile home and a metal pole barn. Winds were estimated at 61-70 knots (70-80 mph).
The Emergency Manager reported that apartment roof was heavily damaged with the middle section of the roof removed on both sides. In coordination with Emergency Management and reviewing photos of the damage and areas around it, this was determined to be from straight line winds with a speed of 80 mph. the time of the event was estimated using radar.
Quick answers
Frequently asked
How many thunderstorm wind events are on record in McDonough County, Illinois?
255 thunderstorm wind events are recorded in McDonough County between 1969 and 2026, causing 0 direct deaths.
What is the strongest thunderstorm wind recorded in McDonough County?
The strongest thunderstorm wind on record in McDonough County measured 95.
Where does the thunderstorm wind data for McDonough 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 McDonough County, Illinois.” Severe Weather History. severeweatherhistory.com/county/illinois/mcdonough-county/thunderstorm-wind/ · Data: NOAA/NCEI, FEMA, U.S. Census — public domain.