East Peoria

Population 22,088 (2025)

156 tornadoes have tracked within 25 miles of East Peoria since 1950, 9 of them rated EF3 or F3 or stronger; the most recent was on December 28, 2025.

Hazard fingerprint for East Peoria Tornado: 97th percentile. Tropical: 0th percentile. Wildfire: 0th percentile. Flood: 48th percentile. Hail & wind: 88th percentile. Heat: 65th percentile. Cold: 56th percentile. Winter: 45th percentile. TORTROPFIREFLOODSEVEREHEATCOLDWINTER

Hazard fingerprint Each spoke is this county’s percentile among U.S. counties where that hazard occurs. How it is computed

2026
  • Tornado damage paths within 25 miles since 1950156
  • Major flood years since 1978, Tazewell County4

At a glance

Tornado paths within 25 miles, tropical cyclone tracks within 100 miles and wildfire perimeters within 25 miles of the city centre. Storm events, flood insurance claims and disaster declarations are for Tazewell County. Earthquakes within 50 miles, volcanoes within 100 miles and smoke days are measured from the city centre; river and tide gauges, tsunami and landslide records and the drought index are for Tazewell County.

Tornadoes since 1950, within 25 mi

156

9 rated F3/EF3 or stronger

Details

Flood insurance claims

345

Tazewell County

$1.9 million paid since 1979

Details

Strongest tornado

EF4

November 17, 2013, 46.4 mile path

Largest earthquake within 50 mi

4.5magnitude

July 18, 1909, 46.9 miles away

Details

Federal disaster declarations

15

Most recent: Covid-19 Pandemic, 2020

Details

Record high

105°F

June 25, 1988

Details

Record low

−25°F

January 17, 1977

Details

Snowiest season

57.6in

Winter of 2013-14

Tornadoes

About 2 tornados a year since 1950, 9 of them rated F3/EF3 or stronger.

Strongest

November 17, 2013

EF4, 46.4 mile path

880 yards wide; 3 killed along the whole path.

Most recent

Sunday, December 28, 2025

EF1, 1.7 mile path

Within the past year.

Tornadoes by decade, within 25 miles Doppler radar era² 1950s: 4 4 1960s: 9 9 1970s: 20 20 1980s: 9 9 1990s: 35 35 2000s: 29 29 2010s: 28 28 2020s: 22 22 1950s1960s1970s1980s1990s2000s2010s2020s
Recorded tornadoes per decade. The 2020s are incomplete.
Tornadoes by month J: 3 F: 3 M: 13 A: 11 M: 44 44 J: 32 J: 25 A: 3 S: 8 O: 6 N: 5 D: 3 JFMAMJJASOND
By month of occurrence, all years.

Every recorded tornado

Tornadoes within 25 miles since 1950
Dec 28, 2025EF11.720000
Jun 18, 2025EFU0.25000
Apr 20, 2025EF114.510000
Mar 19, 2025EFU0.73000
Jul 15, 2024EFU0.98000
Jul 15, 2024EF11.210000
Jul 15, 2024EF112.210000
Jul 15, 2024EF01.48000
Jul 15, 2024EF10.410000
Jul 15, 2024EF02.510000
Jul 15, 2024EF12.415000
Jul 15, 2024EF04.38000
Jul 14, 2024EF10.75000
Mar 31, 2023EFU0.62000
Mar 31, 2023EF10.91000
Mar 31, 2023EFU0.21000
Oct 11, 2021EF02.57500
Oct 11, 2021EFU0.33000
Jul 15, 2020EFU0.11000
Jul 15, 2020EFU0.11000
May 28, 2020EFU1.72500
Mar 28, 2020EF13.35000
Sep 27, 2019EF01.910000
Jun 15, 2019EF12.420000
May 27, 2019EF00.11000
May 25, 2019EF10.715000
May 25, 2019EF11.120000
Dec 1, 2018EF00.15000
Dec 1, 2018EF05.52500
Jul 10, 2017EF01.65000
Mar 7, 2017EF22.820000
Mar 7, 2017EF17.415000
Feb 28, 2017EF317.860000
Feb 28, 2017EF00.910000
Feb 28, 2017EF00.12500
Mar 15, 2016EF03.720000
Mar 15, 2016EF27.544000
Aug 18, 2015EF02.07500
Jul 16, 2015EF22.425010
Apr 9, 2015EF00.11000
Nov 17, 2013EF446.48801253
Nov 17, 2013EF22.3100100
Sep 1, 2012EF00.12000
Jun 5, 2010EF22.325000
Jun 5, 2010EF20.825000
Jun 5, 2010EF02.010000
Jun 5, 2010EF13.97500
Jun 5, 2010EF14.910000
Jun 5, 2010EF22.15000
Jun 5, 2010EF25.75000
Jul 8, 2009EF00.11000
Jun 4, 2008EF06.115000
Jun 4, 2008EF01.53000
Jan 7, 2008EF13.010000
Jun 22, 2006F00.13000
Mar 30, 2005F00.11000
Jul 13, 2004F49.644030
Jul 5, 2004F00.11000
May 30, 2004F19.07500
May 30, 2004F00.11000
May 18, 2004F00.11000
May 18, 2004F10.35000
Jul 8, 2003F00.32000
Jun 11, 2003F00.11000
May 30, 2003F114.010000
May 30, 2003F27.315000
May 28, 2003F00.11000
May 28, 2003F00.11000
May 28, 2003F13.510000
May 10, 2003F18.020000
May 10, 2003F212.530040
May 10, 2003F11.510000
May 10, 2003F317.5440320
May 10, 2003F12.010000
May 10, 2003F22.510010
May 8, 2002F05.55000
May 18, 2000F00.22010
May 8, 2000F10.510000
Apr 20, 2000F00.32000
Jun 4, 1999F12.520000
Jun 4, 1999F00.32000
Jun 29, 1998F18.510000
Jun 29, 1998F11.510000
Apr 7, 1998F211.03000
Apr 7, 1998F00.13000
Apr 30, 1997F00.55010
Apr 30, 1997F024.05000
Jun 6, 1996F00.520000
Apr 19, 1996F04.010000
Jul 27, 1995F00.11000
Jul 27, 1995F00.11000
Jul 27, 1995F00.11000
May 27, 1995F00.11000
May 13, 1995F00.11000
May 13, 1995F00.11000
May 13, 1995F00.11000
May 13, 1995F325.0880250
May 13, 1995F17.022000
May 9, 1995F14.022020
Jul 20, 1994F00.32000
Jul 20, 1994F00.32000
Jun 26, 1994F00.22000
Aug 23, 1993F10.21000
May 4, 1992F00.13000
Oct 4, 1991F10.11000
Oct 4, 1991F10.42000
May 31, 1991F00.25000
May 14, 1991F00.12000
May 14, 1991F00.12000
Nov 27, 1990F21.020020
Jun 22, 1990F10.55000
Jun 19, 1990F11.010000
Jun 13, 1990F00.15000
Jun 13, 1990F07.02000
Jun 2, 1987F00.11000
May 20, 1987F10.55000
Sep 29, 1986F22.05000
Sep 24, 1986F22.57300
Jul 25, 1981F22.02000
Jun 8, 1981F10.11000
May 27, 1981F00.51300
Apr 13, 1981F134.515000
Sep 16, 1980F00.81700
Sep 7, 1977F10.214300
Jun 29, 1976F44.94000
Mar 26, 1976F20.51000
Mar 26, 1976F11.560000
Nov 29, 1975F218.61000
Jul 23, 1975F314.02,630692
May 30, 1975F24.310000
May 25, 1975F00.11000
Apr 18, 1975F10.55000
Jun 22, 1974F20.810000
Jun 19, 1974F00.11000
Jun 19, 1974F00.11000
Jun 8, 1974F00.11000
Oct 1, 1973F10.11000
Sep 4, 1973F014.61000
Jun 18, 1973F00.11000
Mar 31, 1973F10.11000
Jul 12, 1972F10.513000
Jun 15, 1971F01.53000
May 9, 1970F12.720000
Oct 10, 1969F21.020000
Jan 24, 1967F22.57300
Jan 24, 1967F23.37700
Sep 14, 1965F36.6200300
May 28, 1962F00.11000
May 14, 1961F022.91000
May 25, 1960F20.11000
May 16, 1960F20.11000
Apr 16, 1960F12.76000
Aug 13, 1956F33.82700
May 26, 1955F21.510010
May 28, 1954F10.11000
Nov 13, 1951F247.45000
  1. Injuries and deaths are for the tornado’s whole path, which may extend beyond this area.
  2. Weak tornadoes were under-recorded before Doppler radar coverage became national in the early 1990s, so earlier decades read low. Ratings use the Fujita scale before February 2007 and the Enhanced Fujita scale after.

Storm Prediction Center severe weather database, 1950 to 2025.

Hurricanes and tropical storms

No tropical storm or hurricane has tracked within 100 miles since records began in 1851.

Wildfire and smoke

No large wildfire has been mapped within 25 miles since satellite mapping began in 1984.

Smoke overhead

Smokiest year

2023: 57 days

Heavy smoke on 17 days in 2021, the most of any year.

Last 10 years

22.0 days a year

Medium or heavy smoke, 2016 to 2025.

2025

15 days

Medium or heavy smoke. 36 so far in 2026.

Days with medium or heavy smoke overhead, by year 2011: 11 2012: 13 2013: 11 2014: 12 2015: 18 2016: 2 2017: 9 2018: 14 2019: 12 2020: 14 2021: 51 2022: 16 2023: 57 57 2024: 30 2025: 15 201120122013201420152016201720182019202020212022202320242025
Days each year on which a satellite-traced plume of medium or heavy smoke covered the city centre, 2011 to 2025.
  1. A smoke day is a date on which a smoke plume traced by NOAA Hazard Mapping System analysts from satellite imagery covered this place's point (the county's population centre or the city centre). Counts here are of medium or heavy smoke. Since 2018 analysts have often drawn light smoke as one area over most of the continent, so light-smoke counts are not comparable from year to year. The plumes show smoke anywhere in the air above, not air quality at the ground, and smoke hidden by cloud is missed.

NOAA Hazard Mapping System smoke analysis, 2011 to 2026, retrieved October 30, 2026.

Floods and flood insurance

345 federal flood insurance claims since 1979, with $1.9 million paid.

Flood insurance figures are for Tazewell County, the county that contains East Peoria.

Federal flood insurance claims by year 1979: 51 1980: 40 1981: 8 1982: 90 90 1983: 15 1985: 39 1986: 5 1990: 12 1993: 14 1995: 8 2008: 5 2009: 5 2013: 12 2015: 6 2020: 5 197919852008
Claims per year since 1979. Years with fewer than five claims are not shown.

Most claims in one year

1982: 90 claims

$303,000 paid.

2nd most

1979: 51 claims

$355,000 paid.

3rd most

1980: 40 claims

$217,000 paid.

Claims by ZIP code

Flood insurance claims by ZIP code
6155497$720,000
6161192$372,000
6153438$278,000
6154624$104,000
6157123$58,000
19$76,000
6155019$82,000
617476$25,000
617345$39,000

Flood events since 1996

  • Flash Flood38
  • Flood10

This product uses the Federal Emergency Management Agency's OpenFEMA API, but is not endorsed by FEMA. The Federal Government or FEMA cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from the Agency's website(s).

OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Claims v3, refreshed August 4, 2026. NOAA Storm Events through 2026.

River crests

River gauges in Tazewell County, the county that contains East Peoria.

Most severe crest

April 23, 2013

Illinois River at Peoria Lock and Dam, 456.57 ft

9.57 feet above the 447.0 ft flood stage; major flooding by today’s categories.

Most recent moderate or major crest

May 22, 2020

Illinois River at Peoria Lock and Dam, 454.89 ft

Moderate flooding.

Highest river crests above flood stage
Apr 23, 2013Illinois River at Peoria Lock and Dam456.57+9.57Major
May 24, 1943Illinois River at Peoria Lock and Dam455.90+8.90Major
Mar 23, 1979Illinois River at Peoria Lock and Dam455.80+8.80Major
Mar 8, 1985Illinois River at Peoria Lock and Dam455.60+8.60Major
May 7, 2019Illinois River at Peoria Lock and Dam455.06+8.06Major
May 22, 2020Illinois River at Peoria Lock and Dam454.89+7.89Moderate
Dec 9, 1982Illinois River at Peoria Lock and Dam454.60+7.60Moderate
Jun 30, 2015Illinois River at Peoria Lock and Dam454.55+7.55Moderate
Sep 19, 2008Illinois River at Peoria Lock and Dam454.30+7.30Moderate
Mar 3, 1997Illinois River at Peoria Lock and Dam454.20+7.20Moderate
Jun 2, 2019Illinois River at Peoria Lock and Dam454.16+7.16Moderate
Jan 3, 2016Illinois River at Peoria Lock and Dam454.13+7.13Moderate
Feb 28, 2018Illinois River at Peoria Lock and Dam452.02+5.02Moderate
May 5, 2017Illinois River at Peoria Lock and Dam450.66+3.66Moderate
Feb 2, 2024Illinois River at Peoria Lock and Dam448.99+1.99Minor
Jun 25, 2026Illinois River at Peoria Lock and Dam448.16+1.16Minor
Jun 24, 2019Illinois River at Peoria Lock and Dam447.54+0.54Minor
Oct 3, 2019Illinois River at Peoria Lock and Dam447.28+0.28Minor
Nov 4, 2019Illinois River at Peoria Lock and Dam447.19+0.19Minor
Jul 4, 2021Illinois River at Peoria Lock and Dam447.15+0.15Minor
Nov 2, 2021Illinois River at Peoria Lock and Dam446.59−0.41Action
Jul 7, 2026Illinois River at Peoria Lock and Dam446.58−0.42Action
May 5, 2024Illinois River at Peoria Lock and Dam446.55−0.45Action
Feb 27, 2019Illinois River at Peoria Lock and Dam446.48−0.52Action
Apr 9, 2022Illinois River at Peoria Lock and Dam446.45−0.55Action

River gauges

River gauges and their highest listed crests
Illinois River at Peoria Lock and Dam447.0456.57 ftApr 23, 20135
  1. Crests are the highest and the recent crests the National Weather Service lists for each river gauge in the county that has a flood stage, not every flood. Flood categories use each gauge's current flood stages; crests from before levees, dams or channel changes may not be comparable. Crests measured on an old datum are left out of the rankings.

NOAA National Water Prediction Service gauge records, retrieved October 30, 2026.

Drought

In severe drought or worse for 157 of 1,581 months since 1895 (10%); the longest spell lasted 20 months.

The drought index is for Tazewell County, the county that contains East Peoria.

157

Months in severe drought or worse since 1895

57

Months in extreme drought

10%

Share of all months, severe or worse

17

Drought reports to the Weather Service since 1996

Lowest reading

July 1934

−6.62, extreme drought

Longest severe spell

20 months

June 1988 to January 1990.

Latest month

September 2026

+2.14, moderately wet

Last severe month: May 2026.

Months in severe drought or worse, by year 1895: 0 1896: 0 1897: 1 1898: 0 1899: 0 1900: 0 1901: 4 1902: 5 1903: 0 1904: 0 1905: 0 1906: 0 1907: 0 1908: 3 1909: 1 1910: 0 1911: 3 1912: 0 1913: 0 1914: 8 1915: 4 1916: 0 1917: 0 1918: 0 1919: 0 1920: 2 1921: 5 1922: 0 1923: 0 1924: 0 1925: 0 1926: 0 1927: 0 1928: 0 1929: 0 1930: 4 1931: 8 1932: 0 1933: 1 1934: 8 1935: 0 1936: 2 1937: 0 1938: 0 1939: 0 1940: 9 1941: 5 1942: 0 1943: 0 1944: 0 1945: 3 1946: 0 1947: 0 1948: 0 1949: 0 1950: 0 1951: 0 1952: 0 1953: 1 1954: 2 1955: 0 1956: 10 1957: 3 1958: 0 1959: 0 1960: 0 1961: 0 1962: 0 1963: 6 1964: 12 12 1965: 0 1966: 0 1967: 0 1968: 0 1969: 0 1970: 0 1971: 0 1972: 0 1973: 0 1974: 0 1975: 0 1976: 0 1977: 0 1978: 0 1979: 0 1980: 2 1981: 0 1982: 0 1983: 0 1984: 0 1985: 0 1986: 0 1987: 3 1988: 7 1989: 12 1990: 1 1991: 0 1992: 0 1993: 0 1994: 0 1995: 0 1996: 0 1997: 0 1998: 0 1999: 0 2000: 0 2001: 0 2002: 0 2003: 0 2004: 0 2005: 6 2006: 6 2007: 0 2008: 0 2009: 0 2010: 0 2011: 0 2012: 2 2013: 0 2014: 0 2015: 0 2016: 0 2017: 0 2018: 0 2019: 0 2020: 0 2021: 0 2022: 0 2023: 0 2024: 0 2025: 3 18951905191519251935194519551965197519851995200520152025
Months each year with a Palmer index of −3 or lower, 1895 to 2025. Twelve means the whole year.
  1. The Palmer Drought Severity Index is computed by NOAA each month from the county's average temperature and precipitation, relative to the county's own climate. Zero is normal; -3 or lower is severe drought and -4 or lower extreme drought. It describes the long-term balance of moisture, not water supply or crop losses.

NOAA NCEI nClimDiv county Palmer Drought Severity Index, 1895 to September 2026, issued October 6, 2026.

Earthquakes and landslides

1 earthquake of magnitude 4 or more within 50 miles since 1900; the largest was magnitude 4.5 in 1909.

1

Magnitude 3+ within 50 miles since 1973

1

Magnitude 4+ within 50 miles since 1900

0

Magnitude 5+ within 50 miles since 1900

Largest within 50 miles

July 18, 1909

Magnitude 4.5

Near Petersburg, Illinois; 46.9 miles away.

Most recent, magnitude 3 or more

November 15, 2023

Magnitude 3.6

1 km SSW of Standard, Illinois; 43.3 miles away.

Every earthquake of magnitude 4 or more within 50 miles

Earthquakes of magnitude 4 or more within 50 miles
Jul 18, 19094.546.9—Near Petersburg, Illinois
  1. Earthquakes of magnitude 2.5 or more in the USGS Comprehensive Catalog since 1900. Within 50 miles means the epicentre lies within 50 miles of the city centre.
  2. Small earthquakes were under-recorded before the modern seismic networks of the 1970s and are still missed in remote areas, so early decades read low. Magnitudes are as the catalogue reports them and mix scales (moment, local and body-wave).

USGS ANSS Comprehensive Earthquake Catalog, 1900 to present, retrieved October 30, 2026.

Mapped landslides

Landslides mapped in Tazewell County.

2

Landslides mapped, probable or better

2

With a recorded date

1

Source inventory

Mapped by NASA (2).

  1. Landslides mapped in the USGS compilation of landslide inventories across the United States (version 3.0, 2025), rated probable or better. The compilation joins inventories made by federal and state agencies for different purposes and areas, so the number mapped in a county reflects how closely it has been surveyed as much as how often its slopes fail. An area with few records may simply not have been mapped. Deaths are as recorded in the inventories; a slide listed in two inventories is counted once.

USGS Landslide Inventories across the United States, version 3.0, retrieved October 27, 2026.

Severe weather and other events

914 events in the National Weather Service record for Tazewell County, 776 of them since 1996.

138

Hail reports, 1 inch or larger

13

Hail, 2 inches or larger

348

Damaging gusts, 58 mph+

62

Winter weather events since 1996

14

Heat events since 1996

12

Cold events since 1996

Largest hail

May 28, 2003

3.00 inches

Strongest measured or estimated gust

July 15, 2024

100 mph

More event types since 1996

Other Storm Events types since 1996
Lightning200Aug 18, 2025
Dust storms and dust devils100May 21, 2024
Dense fog and smoke100Feb 4, 2008

Costliest events since 1996

  1. Nov 17, 2013Tornado$910 million
    National Weather Service narrative

    A tornado touched down 2.4 miles SE of East Peoria at 10:59 AM CST, then tracked northeastward through parts of East Peoria and Washington before crossing the border into Woodford County at 11:12 AM CST. One man in Washington was killed by the tornado, one woman from Washington died 11 days later from multiple serious injuries sustained by the tornado, one man died six weeks later from injuries sustained by the tornado, and 121 people were injured.| |In East Peoria: 20 homes were destroyed, while 75 homes, 7 businesses, and 5 apartment buildings suffered major damage. Minor damage occurred to 137 homes and 3 businesses. In addition, nearly 400 vehicles were damaged, thousands of…

  2. Nov 17, 2013Tornado$45.0 million
    National Weather Service narrative

    This tornado crossed the Illinois River from Peoria County at 10:53 AM CST. It tracked through the northwest side of Pekin before lifting 2 miles northeast of Pekin at 10:54 AM CST. Approximately 179 houses and 6 businesses suffered major damage, while 182 houses experienced minor roof damage. In addition, 3 apartment buildings lost their roofs, a power substation had minor damage, and hundreds of cars were damaged. Ten people were injured.

  3. Apr 17, 2013Flash Flood$31.4 million
    National Weather Service narrative

    Very heavy rainfall of 3.00 to 5.00 inches resulted in damage to thousands of houses and businesses in the county, which included the cities of East Peoria, Pekin, Washington and Morton. Every creek and stream in the western and northern part of the county was flooded. Nearly every road in the flooded area was impassable, including parts of Interstate 74 which had to be closed. Numerous water rescues were made. Mudslides were also reported on the bluffs along the Illinois River which did damage to a gas station and covered U.S. Highway 150 with several inches of mud.

  4. May 1, 2013Flood$21.7 million
    National Weather Service narrative

    High impact flooding on the Illinois River continued from April.||Several homes, businesses and roads along the Illinois River in Tazewell County suffered flood damage due to record river levels. A total of 374 structures were damaged by the flooding in Tazewell County. High impact flooding subsided when the river level at Peoria fell below a stage of 22 feet on May 8th.

  5. May 10, 2003Tornado$10.0 million
    National Weather Service narrative

    This long track tornado first touched down 3 miles southwest of South Pekin and traveled to the northeast. It destroyed several homes before reaching the eastern sections of South Pekin where it intensified to F3 strength. The tornado destroyed 50 homes, caused minor to major damage on an additional 80 homes before exiting the town. As the tornado approached Morton, it weakened briefly but quickly intensified again as it crossed the intersection of I-74 and I-155. When it crossed the highways, 8 vehicles were damaged and one injury was sustained when a car was overturned by the tornado as it crossed I-74. It destroyed several three story apartment buildings and severely damaged…

  6. Jun 29, 1998Thunderstorm Wind$2.0 million
    National Weather Service narrative

    As the storms moved through Tazewell County, more intense damage was observed in two main areas, Morton and South Pekin. In Morton, as a tornado moved through southwestern portions of the city, strong microburst winds (100 to 110 mph) caused considerable tree and power line damage, as well as, structural damage in and close to the tornado path which masked or "wiped out" any evidence of a possible tornado touchdown. The tornado occurrence was not discounted however, as there were numerous valid spotter observations plus a mesocyclone signature on doppler radar. In the South Pekin area, 7 railroad cars were blown over and two high-tension towers were blown down. Fortunately, no…

  7. Jul 16, 2015Tornado$1.2 million
    National Weather Service narrative

    A tornado touched down 0.6 miles south of Delavan at 11:39 PM CDT. The tornado then moved east-northeast across the south side of Delavan, damaging 51 homes. 15 of the homes sustained severe damage, including either the roofs being completely torn off or the majority of the roof deck being lifted off. Numerous garages, outbuildings, and trees were damaged. The tornado also crossed through the Prairie Rest Cemetery, damaging grave markers and several trees before dissipating in a cornfield 2.2 miles east-northeast of Delavan at 11:46 PM CDT.

  8. Dec 28, 2015Ice Storm, Tazewell$1.2 million
    National Weather Service narrative

    Weather observers across Tazewell County reported ice accumulations of up to 0.25. This amount of ice combined with winds gusting as high as 45 to 55 mph caused extensive damage to trees, power poles, and power lines. Several homes were damaged by falling trees and tree branches. About 60,000 people lost power for up to 4 days after the storm.

  9. Apr 19, 1996Tornado$1.0 million
    National Weather Service narrative

    A tornado touched down just south of the Logan/Tazewell County line (on 1350E), causing minor damage to three homes. Then the tornado travelled to the northeast, through the south side of Armington, destroying one home as well as several outbuildings. Also, 2 homes sustained major damage and 5 homes sustained minor damage. After moving through the Armington area, the tornado moved into southwestern McLean County. Here it destroyed a church and one home and caused major damage to another home in the area. Also, 8 homes sustained minor damage and numerous barns, outbuildings, grain bins, trees, and farm equipment were either damaged or destroyed. No injuries were reported. Damage…

  10. Jun 29, 1998Tornado$1.0 million
    National Weather Service narrative

    A tornado formed over the Marquette Heights area blowing down numerous trees and power lines as it travelled to the east southeast. When the tornado reached the Groveland area, numerous homes sustained minor to moderate damage and part of the canopy over the gas pumps at a convenience store was blown down. As the tornado reached the southwestern side of Morton it intensified. It caused considerable damage to a 30 store shopping center, tearing half the roof off and breaking windows. In this same area it also caused moderate damage to a cinema, several restaurants, and other businesses. Then the tornado moved into a residential area causing light to moderate damage to around 24…

  1. Storm Events records before 1996 cover only tornadoes, thunderstorm wind and hail. Damage figures are as reported by the National Weather Service at the time, not adjusted for inflation.

NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, 1950 to 2026, issued October 26, 2026.

Weather records

From General Wayne A Downing International A, 7.5 miles from the city centre, with records from 1943.

All-time high
105°FJun 25, 1988
All-time low
−25°FJan 17, 1977
Warmest night
79°F7 times, most recently Aug 25, 2023
Coldest day
−11°FDec 24, 1983
Wettest day
5.19 inJul 15, 2020
Snowiest day
12.2 inJan 13, 1979
Hottest year
2024mean 56.1°F
Coldest year
1979mean 48.1°F
Wettest year
199055.35 in
Driest year
198822.16 in
Snowiest season
57.6 in2013-14
Average monthly high and low temperature and precipitation, last 30 years, General Wayne A Downing International A 32°F 33° 18° 2.0 Jan 39° 21° 2.0 Feb 52° 32° 2.9 Mar 64° 42° 4.2 Apr 74° 53° 4.4 May 83° 63° 4.0 Jun 86° 67° 3.3 Jul 84° 65° 3.5 Aug 79° 57° 3.0 Sep 66° 45° 3.1 Oct 51° 33° 2.4 Nov 39° 24° 2.3 Dec Precipitation, inches
Average daily high and low by month, and average monthly precipitation, over the last 30 years.
Nights at or below freezing per year 1976: 146 146 1977: 120 1978: 134 1979: 138 1980: 141 1981: 118 1982: 120 1983: 113 1984: 122 1985: 117 1986: 122 1987: 118 1988: 140 1989: 131 1990: 128 1991: 123 1992: 114 1993: 128 1994: 116 1995: 130 1996: 139 1997: 130 1998: 91 1999: 117 2000: 122 2001: 116 2002: 126 2003: 123 2004: 111 2005: 112 2006: 104 2007: 125 2008: 122 2009: 114 2010: 114 2011: 112 2012: 104 2013: 137 2014: 129 2015: 98 2016: 99 2017: 95 2018: 138 2019: 126 2020: 120 2021: 114 2022: 118 2023: 91 2024: 85 2025: 108 19761986199620062016
Nights at or below freezing each complete year, last 50 years. Thirty-year average: 114.7.
Snowfall by winter 1976: 28.7 in 1977: 47.1 in 1978: 51.6 in 1979: 27.5 in 1980: 23.8 in 1981: 46.9 in 1982: 19.1 in 1983: 36.2 in 1984: 16.9 in 1985: 22.9 in 1986: 19.1 in 1987: 23.6 in 1988: 21.8 in 1989: 22.1 in 1990: 21.5 in 1991: 19.6 in 1992: 30.2 in 1993: 28.1 in 1994: 7.8 in 1995: 13.2 in 1997: 29.1 in 1998: 31.7 in 1999: 14.1 in 2000: 30.2 in 2001: 11.7 in 2002: 19.2 in 2003: 23.2 in 2004: 17.8 in 2005: 18.3 in 2006: 24.3 in 2007: 33.7 in 2008: 33.0 in 2009: 42.4 in 2010: 52.5 in 2011: 11.5 in 2012: 22.7 in 2013: 57.6 in 57.6 2014: 27.0 in 2015: 15.3 in 2016: 13.9 in 2017: 32.1 in 2018: 36.4 in 2019: 35.9 in 2020: 25.3 in 2021: 31.4 in 2022: 18.6 in 2023: 23.0 in 2024: 10.5 in 2025: 27.7 in 19761986199720072017
Total snowfall each winter (July to June), last 50 winters.

Median first snow

November 21

Earliest: October 18, 1972

Median last snow

March 25

Latest: May 8, 1966

0 of 82 winters had no measurable snow.

Station General Wayne A Downing International A (USW00014842), 655 ft elevation, 7.5 miles from the city centre. Daily records from 1943 to October 27, 2026; 99.9% of days in the last 30 years are complete. Records at a single station can differ from a city’s official threaded record, which may combine several stations.

NOAA NCEI Global Historical Climatology Network Daily.

Federal disaster declarations

15 since 1953. The most recent: Covid-19 Pandemic, March 26, 2020.

Declarations for Tazewell County.

Federal disaster declarations
Mar 26, 2020BiologicalCovid-19 PandemicMajor disasterDR-4489-IL
Mar 13, 2020BiologicalCovid-19EmergencyEM-3435-IL
Nov 26, 2013TornadoSevere Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and TornadoesMajor disasterDR-4157-IL
May 10, 2013FloodSevere Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disasterDR-4116-IL
Mar 17, 2011SnowstormSevere Winter Storm and SnowstormMajor disasterDR-1960-IL
Dec 29, 2006SnowstormSnowEmergencyEM-3269-IL
Sep 7, 2005HurricaneHurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergencyEM-3230-IL
May 15, 2003Severe StormSevere Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disasterDR-1469-IL
Jan 8, 1999SnowstormIl-Winter Storm 1/1/99EmergencyEM-3134-IL
Jun 22, 1990Severe StormSevere Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disasterDR-871-IL
Mar 29, 1985FloodSevere Storms & FloodingMajor disasterDR-735-IL
Dec 13, 1982Severe StormSevere Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disasterDR-674-IL
Apr 30, 1979FloodSevere Storms & FloodingMajor disasterDR-583-IL
Jun 10, 1974FloodSevere Storms & FloodingMajor disasterDR-438-IL
Apr 26, 1973FloodSevere Storms & FloodingMajor disasterDR-373-IL

This product uses the Federal Emergency Management Agency's OpenFEMA API, but is not endorsed by FEMA. The Federal Government or FEMA cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from the Agency's website(s).

OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries, retrieved October 30, 2026. Statewide declarations are not listed.

Sources and vintage

Every number on this page comes from these public records.

  • Tornadoes NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather database, through 2025.
  • Tropical cyclones NOAA National Hurricane Center HURDAT2 (Atlantic; Northeast and Central Pacific), through 2025.
  • Wildfire USGS/USFS Monitoring Trends in Burn Severity, through 2026.
  • Storm events NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, through 2026.
  • Flood insurance OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Claims v3, refreshed August 4, 2026.
  • Declarations OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2, retrieved October 30, 2026.
  • Weather records NOAA NCEI Global Historical Climatology Network Daily, station USW00014842.
  • River crests NOAA National Weather Service, National Water Prediction Service river gauges, retrieved October 30, 2026.
  • Drought NOAA NCEI nClimDiv county Palmer Drought Severity Index, through September 2026.
  • Smoke NOAA NESDIS Hazard Mapping System smoke analysis, retrieved October 30, 2026.
  • Landslides USGS Landslide Inventories across the United States, version 3.0 (2025).
  • Earthquakes USGS ANSS Comprehensive Earthquake Catalog (ComCat), retrieved October 30, 2026.

Joins, thresholds and known limits are set out in the methodology. Found an error? Report it. Page built October 30, 2026.