Macomb
Population 14,530 (2025)
109 tornadoes have tracked within 25 miles of Macomb since 1950, 10 of them rated EF3 or F3 or stronger; the most recent was on April 20, 2025.
Hazard fingerprint Each spoke is this county’s percentile among U.S. counties where that hazard occurs. How it is computed
- Tornado damage paths within 25 miles since 1950109
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 McDonough 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 McDonough County.
Strongest tornado
F4
May 13, 1995, 50.0 mile path
Snowiest season
51.5in
Winter of 1978-79
Tornadoes
About one tornado a year since 1950, 10 of them rated F3/EF3 or stronger.
Strongest
May 13, 1995
F4, 50.0 mile path
1,000 yards wide.
Deadliest
June 21, 1981
1 killed, F3
12 injured along the whole path.
Most recent
Sunday, April 20, 2025
EF0, 4.0 mile path
Within the past year.
Every recorded tornado
| Apr 20, 2025 | EF0 | 4.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 20, 2025 | EF1 | 3.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 20, 2025 | EF1 | 7.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jun 13, 2024 | EFU | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Jun 13, 2024 | EFU | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| May 19, 2024 | EFU | 0.6 | 0 | 0 |
| Mar 14, 2024 | EF1 | 1.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Aug 26, 2023 | EFU | 0.5 | 0 | 0 |
| Aug 26, 2023 | EF0 | 0.4 | 0 | 0 |
| Aug 6, 2023 | EFU | 8.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 4, 2023 | EF3 | 19.9 | 4 | 0 |
| Apr 4, 2023 | EFU | 0.8 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 4, 2023 | EF1 | 1.9 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 4, 2023 | EF1 | 8.3 | 0 | 0 |
| Jul 8, 2022 | EFU | 0.8 | 0 | 0 |
| May 31, 2022 | EF1 | 1.6 | 0 | 0 |
| May 13, 2022 | EFU | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Aug 25, 2021 | EFU | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Jul 10, 2021 | EF0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Mar 28, 2020 | EF1 | 2.1 | 0 | 0 |
| May 24, 2019 | EF0 | 1.2 | 0 | 0 |
| May 24, 2019 | EF1 | 1.9 | 0 | 0 |
| May 24, 2019 | EF1 | 7.8 | 0 | 0 |
| Dec 1, 2018 | EF0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Dec 1, 2018 | EF0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Dec 1, 2018 | EF1 | 1.4 | 0 | 0 |
| Aug 16, 2018 | EF0 | 3.1 | 0 | 0 |
| May 9, 2016 | EF0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| May 9, 2016 | EF0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Mar 15, 2016 | EF1 | 8.3 | 0 | 0 |
| Mar 15, 2016 | EF2 | 8.2 | 0 | 0 |
| Dec 23, 2015 | EF1 | 10.7 | 0 | 0 |
| Jun 10, 2011 | EF0 | 0.2 | 0 | 0 |
| Jun 21, 2010 | EF0 | 0.6 | 0 | 0 |
| Dec 27, 2008 | EF0 | 0.3 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 2, 2006 | F1 | 12.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 2, 2006 | F0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 |
| May 2, 2004 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| May 10, 2003 | F1 | 2.7 | 0 | 0 |
| May 10, 2003 | F1 | 3.0 | 0 | 0 |
| May 10, 2003 | F2 | 6.0 | 0 | 0 |
| May 10, 2003 | F2 | 69.2 | 4 | 0 |
| Jun 12, 2002 | F0 | 1.8 | 0 | 0 |
| Jul 17, 2001 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Sep 11, 2000 | F0 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 |
| Jun 1, 1999 | F0 | 5.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 8, 1999 | F0 | 20.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 5, 1999 | F2 | 9.4 | 0 | 0 |
| Jun 29, 1998 | F1 | 5.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jun 29, 1998 | F0 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jun 18, 1998 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Jun 14, 1998 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| May 12, 1998 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| May 12, 1998 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| May 12, 1998 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 7, 1998 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Jul 19, 1997 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| May 18, 1997 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 30, 1997 | F0 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 30, 1997 | F0 | 17.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 30, 1997 | F1 | 2.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 30, 1997 | F0 | 12.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jul 27, 1995 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| May 13, 1995 | F4 | 7.0 | 45 | 0 |
| May 13, 1995 | F2 | 14.0 | 2 | 0 |
| May 13, 1995 | F4 | 50.0 | 7 | 0 |
| May 9, 1995 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Jun 24, 1993 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| May 11, 1993 | F1 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 |
| Jul 25, 1992 | F0 | 3.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jul 25, 1992 | F0 | 7.0 | 0 | 0 |
| May 17, 1991 | F0 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Nov 27, 1990 | F2 | 6.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jun 13, 1990 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Mar 8, 1990 | F2 | 42.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mar 27, 1985 | F1 | 3.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 29, 1984 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| May 30, 1982 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Mar 12, 1982 | F2 | 0.1 | 1 | 0 |
| Jun 21, 1981 | F3 | 8.8 | 12 | 1 |
| Jun 8, 1981 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Jun 8, 1981 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Sep 7, 1977 | F1 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Jul 23, 1975 | F3 | 11.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Jun 24, 1975 | F0 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 |
| Jun 21, 1974 | F1 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Jun 21, 1974 | F1 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Jun 20, 1974 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Jun 20, 1974 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Jun 14, 1974 | F3 | 48.6 | 2 | 0 |
| Apr 13, 1974 | F2 | 19.5 | 10 | 0 |
| Sep 30, 1973 | F3 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Aug 8, 1973 | F1 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Jun 2, 1973 | F1 | 3.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jun 2, 1973 | F1 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Jul 17, 1972 | F1 | 27.2 | 0 | 0 |
| Jul 18, 1971 | F1 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Feb 19, 1971 | F1 | 12.0 | 2 | 0 |
| May 23, 1966 | F1 | 2.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 21, 1964 | F3 | 14.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Jul 21, 1961 | F1 | 147.4 | 0 | 0 |
| May 14, 1961 | F3 | 127.1 | 8 | 0 |
| May 16, 1960 | F1 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Sep 27, 1959 | F2 | 9.4 | 1 | 0 |
| Sep 26, 1959 | F1 | 18.8 | 0 | 0 |
| May 21, 1957 | F3 | 13.7 | 0 | 0 |
| May 9, 1957 | F1 | 2.7 | 0 | 0 |
| Mar 14, 1957 | F2 | 2.3 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 23, 1955 | F1 | 8.0 | 0 | 0 |
- Injuries and deaths are for the tornado’s whole path, which may extend beyond this area.
- 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: 62 days
Heavy smoke on 18 days in 2021, the most of any year.
Last 10 years
22.3 days a year
Medium or heavy smoke, 2016 to 2025.
2025
16 days
Medium or heavy smoke. 39 so far in 2026.
- 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
16 federal flood insurance claims since 1978, with $133,000 paid.
Flood insurance figures are for McDonough County, the county that contains Macomb.
Claims by ZIP code
| 61422 | 7 | $101,000 |
| 61420 | 6 | $2,406 |
Flood events since 1996
- Flash Flood47
- Flood31
- Heavy Rain25
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 McDonough County, the county that contains Macomb.
Most severe crest
April 19, 2013
La Moine River at Colmar, 28.94 ft
8.94 feet above the 20.0 ft flood stage; major flooding by today’s categories.
Most recent moderate or major crest
July 12, 2021
La Moine River at Colmar, 22.48 ft
Moderate flooding.
| Apr 19, 2013 | La Moine River at Colmar | 28.94 | +8.94 |
| Jan 3, 1965 | La Moine River at Colmar | 27.03 | +7.03 |
| Mar 5, 1985 | La Moine River at Colmar | 26.61 | +6.61 |
| May 13, 2002 | La Moine River at Colmar | 25.76 | +5.76 |
| Oct 4, 1986 | La Moine River at Colmar | 25.69 | +5.69 |
| Sep 25, 1970 | La Moine River at Colmar | 25.14 | +5.14 |
| May 17, 2009 | La Moine River at Colmar | 25.06 | +5.06 |
| Jun 21, 1990 | La Moine River at Colmar | 24.81 | +4.81 |
| Jun 4, 1980 | La Moine River at Colmar | 24.79 | +4.79 |
| Jun 16, 2011 | La Moine River at Colmar | 24.59 | +4.59 |
| Jul 5, 1981 | La Moine River at Colmar | 24.35 | +4.35 |
| Jul 26, 1993 | La Moine River at Colmar | 24.23 | +4.23 |
| May 28, 1996 | La Moine River at Colmar | 24.21 | +4.21 |
| May 5, 2013 | La Moine River at Colmar | 24.08 | +4.08 |
| Jul 21, 2010 | La Moine River at Colmar | 24.07 | +4.07 |
| May 26, 2019 | La Moine River at Colmar | 24.06 | +4.06 |
| May 18, 1995 | La Moine River at Colmar | 23.90 | +3.90 |
| Dec 4, 1982 | La Moine River at Colmar | 23.82 | +3.82 |
| Jul 27, 1948 | La Moine River at Colmar | 23.75 | +3.75 |
| Feb 22, 2014 | La Moine River at Colmar | 23.74 | +3.74 |
| Sep 25, 1961 | La Moine River at Colmar | 23.70 | +3.70 |
| Nov 3, 1977 | La Moine River at Colmar | 23.50 | +3.50 |
| Feb 19, 2008 | La Moine River at Colmar | 23.43 | +3.43 |
| Apr 25, 1976 | La Moine River at Colmar | 23.17 | +3.17 |
| Jun 28, 2015 | La Moine River at Colmar | 23.15 | +3.15 |
River gauges
| La Moine River at Colmar | 20.0 | 28.94 ft | 16 |
- 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 159 of 1,581 months since 1895 (10%); the longest spell lasted 21 months.
The drought index is for McDonough County, the county that contains Macomb.
159
Months in severe drought or worse since 1895
78
Months in extreme drought
10%
Share of all months, severe or worse
15
Drought reports to the Weather Service since 1996
Lowest reading
August 1934
−7.10, extreme drought
Longest severe spell
21 months
August 1913 to April 1915.
Latest month
September 2026
+2.69, moderately wet
Last severe month: March 2026.
- 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
1 earthquake of magnitude 4 or more within 50 miles since 1900; the largest was magnitude 4.0 in 1905.
0
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
April 13, 1905
Magnitude 4.0
Near Keokuk, Iowa; 38.0 miles away.
Most recent, magnitude 3 or more
April 13, 1905
Magnitude 4.0
Near Keokuk, Iowa; 38.0 miles away.
Every earthquake of magnitude 4 or more within 50 miles
| Apr 13, 1905 | 4.0 | 38.0 |
- 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.
- 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.
Severe weather and other events
787 events in the National Weather Service record for McDonough County, 684 of them since 1996.
119
Hail reports, 1 inch or larger
12
Hail, 2 inches or larger
215
Damaging gusts, 58 mph+
122
Winter weather events since 1996
5
Heat events since 1996
17
Cold events since 1996
Largest hail
May 13, 1995
4.00 inches
Strongest measured or estimated gust
June 29, 1998
109 mph
More event types since 1996
| Lightning | 4 | 0 |
| Dense fog and smoke | 9 | 0 |
Costliest events since 1996
- May 10, 2003Tornado$400,000
National Weather Service narrative
Tornado developed in Adams County (WFO LSX) and moved northeast through Hancock County and entered McDonough County at 1830 CST 3.9 miles southeast of Fountain Green. Tornado continued moving northeast passing 1.2 miles south of Sciota and 1.7 miles north of Good Hope. At 2.4 miles north of Good Hope, the tornado began a gradual turn to the left and exited McDonough County into Warren County 5.6 miles NNE of Good Hope at 1904 CST. Damage ranged from F0 to F1 and path length in McDonough County was 23.0 miles.
- Jun 22, 2010Flood$250,000
National Weather Service narrative
Heavy rains during the third week of June resulted in the La Moine River at Colmar going above the moderate flood stage level of 22 feet on June 22 around 12 pm. It crested around 22.8 feet around 7 am June 24. It fell below the moderate flood stage level around 1 am June 26.
- May 13, 2010Flood$250,000
National Weather Service narrative
Heavy rains during the second week of May resulted in the La Moine River at Colmar going above the moderate flood stage level of 22 feet on May 13 around 10 pm. It crested around 23.4 feet around 1 am May 15. It fell below the moderate flood stage level around 3 pm May 16.
- Jun 14, 2010Flood$250,000
National Weather Service narrative
Heavy rains during the second week of June resulted in the La Moine River at Colmar going above the moderate flood stage level of 22 feet on June 14 around 12 pm. It crested around 22.9 feet around 7 pm June 14. It fell below the moderate flood stage level around 9 am June 17.
- May 15, 2009Flood$250,000
National Weather Service narrative
Heavy rains from May 13th to May 15th resulted in the La Moine River near Colmar going above the moderate flood stage level of 22 feet around 9 pm on May 15 and the major flood stage level of 24 feet around 1:30 am on May 17. It crested around 24.84 feet around 6 pm on May 17. It fell back below the major flood stage level around 10:30 am on May 18 and the moderate flood stage level around 6 am on May 19. The East Fork of the La Moine River also flooded, resulting in several road closures due to the river flowing over roadways.
- Apr 17, 2013Flash Flood$250,000
National Weather Service narrative
Several rounds of heavy rain-producing showers and thunderstorms resulted in flash flooding across much of Mc Donough County from mid afternoon on April 17 through the morning of April 18.
- Mar 15, 2016Tornado$200,000
National Weather Service narrative
An EF-2 tornado with winds estimated at 115 mph touched down north of Good Hope Illinois in McDonough County. It traveled northeast, crossing into Warren County west of Prairie City and eventually into Fulton County. Several homes were severely damaged with most of the damage occurring to farm outbuildings and trees.
- Apr 2, 2006Tornado$150,000
National Weather Service narrative
A supercell produced a long track tornado across northern McDonough county. The tornado first touched down 3 miles south of Blandinsville and moved east-northeast. The tornado moved through the town of Sciota in the 1629-1630 CST time period and dissipated shortly after crossing U.S. 67 2.5 miles north of Good Hope. Considerable damage occurred to trees and buildings along its path.The Hire Township maintenance garage was destroyed. A metal pole barn was destroyed and another heavily damaged. Two wood barns and 7 grain bins were destroyed along the path with 4 grain bins heavily damaged. Most of the damage occurred roughly 3 miles south of Blandinsville.
- Jun 15, 2011Flood$125,000
National Weather Service narrative
Heavy rains from June 13th to June 15th resulted in the La Moine River at Colmar going above the major flood stage level of 24 feet on June 16 around 1246 am CDT. It crested around 24.3 feet around 7 am CDT June 16. It fell below the major flood stage level around 826 pm CDT June 16.
- May 10, 2003Heavy Rain$100,000
National Weather Service narrative
A strong spring storm system moved through the Mississippi valley during the late afternoon and evening hours producing widespread severe weather. In an unprecedented move, WFO Quad Cities held a press conference the day before to warn of a high probability of significant tornadoes in the afternoon and evening hours of Saturday May 10th, with the area most at risk south of a Keosauqua, Iowa to Princeton, Illinois line. Supercell thunderstorms developed and continued into the evening hours spawning several long track tornadoes and produced copious amounts of large hail. Luckily, most of the tornado tracks were in open country and therefore damage was minimized. After dark, a severe…
- 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 La Harpe, 17.5 miles from the city centre, with records from 1895.
- All-time high
- 113°FAug 9, 1934
- All-time low
- −30°FFeb 13, 1905
- Warmest night
- 84°FJul 27, 1930
- Coldest day
- −10°FDec 22, 1989
- Wettest day
- 10.25 inJun 10, 1905
- Snowiest day
- 16.0 inMar 23, 1897
- Hottest year
- 1918mean 56.0°F
- Coldest year
- 2014mean 48.2°F
- Wettest year
- 200954.10 in
- Driest year
- 198820.80 in
- Snowiest season
- 51.5 in1978-79
Median first snow
November 27
Earliest: September 8, 2008
Median last snow
March 24
Latest: May 15, 2004
0 of 119 winters had no measurable snow.
Station La Harpe (USC00114823), 678 ft elevation, 17.5 miles from the city centre. Daily records from 1895 to October 27, 2026; 97.3% 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
11 since 1953. The most recent: Severe Storms and Flooding, August 15, 2023.
Declarations for McDonough County.
| Aug 15, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4728-IL |
| Mar 26, 2020 | Biological | DR-4489-IL |
| Mar 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3435-IL |
| May 10, 2013 | Flood | DR-4116-IL |
| Mar 17, 2011 | Snowstorm | DR-1960-IL |
| Dec 29, 2006 | Snowstorm | EM-3269-IL |
| Sep 7, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3230-IL |
| May 15, 2003 | Severe Storm | DR-1469-IL |
| May 21, 2002 | Tornado | DR-1416-IL |
| Jan 17, 2001 | Snowstorm | EM-3161-IL |
| Jan 8, 1999 | Snowstorm | EM-3134-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 USC00114823.
- 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.
- 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.