Pontiac

Every recorded tornado

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.

Smoke overhead

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.

Flood insurance figures are for Livingston County, the county that contains Pontiac.

Claims by ZIP code

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 Livingston County, the county that contains Pontiac.

River gauges

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.

The drought index is for Livingston County, the county that contains Pontiac.

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.

Every earthquake of magnitude 4 or more within 50 miles

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.

More event types since 1996

Costliest events since 1996

1. Jun 5, 2010Tornado$3.0 million
   National Weather Service narrative

   The beginning of the Dwight tornado occurred about 6 miles west of Dwight and about a quarter mile south of IL Route 17. On N 2200 E Road, 0.3 miles south of IL Route 17, a farm house sustained damage to windows, siding, and shingles, with many trees uprooted or damaged. Outbuildings were also damaged. The tornado at this point was rated EF1, with a path width of 70 yards. Debris from this farm was spread 200 yards wide across the field at N 2300E Road. ||The tornado proceeded to strike the golf course at N 2400 E Road, where numerous large trees were snapped and uprooted. Golf cart sheds were unroofed or severely damaged. At this point the tornado was rated low end EF2 with a…

2. Jan 8, 2008Flood$2.0 million
   National Weather Service narrative

   Heavy rain fell onto saturated and frozen ground across Livingston County on January 8th. The rain quickly ran off into streams and rivers which then overflowed their banks. Widespread and significant flooding occurred in many areas of the county including the city of Pontiac. Much of the city was under water with businesses, schools and homes flooded and damaged. One man died after slipping and falling in his flooded basement and many others had to be rescued after their cars became stranded in flood waters. Numerous roads were flooded and closed across the county. Storm total rainfall amounts included 3.87 inches in Fairbury, 3.40 inches in Pontiac and 2.58 inches in Dwight.

3. Jun 5, 2010Tornado$750,000
   National Weather Service narrative

   Very quickly after the tornado that hit Streator lifted, yet another tornado touched down over extreme northern Livingston county approximately one quarter mile south of the county line and about a half mile west of 1100 E Road. Shortly after touching down, this tornado caused severe damage to homes on 1100 E Road and destroyed a barn as well. There were also several large trees downed in this location. As the tornado continued eastward, it completely collapsed a metal truss high tension electrical tower and bent over several other metal truss electrical towers in its path, which is consistent with low end EF3 damage. At this time the tornado was moving through an extremely rural…

4. Jun 11, 1998Flood$250,000
   National Weather Service narrative

   Thunderstorms dumped 4 to 6 inches of rain in northeast Livingston County. A cooperative observer at Dwight measured 4.75 inches. Numerous roads, yards and basements were flooded. A car dealership suffered about $250,000 in damages when the parking lot flooded. Gooseberry Creek and Brewster Creek flooded. Illinois Highway 47 was closed.

5. Jun 14, 2000Thunderstorm Wind$150,000
   National Weather Service narrative

   Thunderstorms developed over the area, rapidly intensifying and began moving eastward at 30 mph. Wide spread wind damage was reported across all three counties. The community of Chatsworth received the most damage, with large trees and utility lines down throughout the town. Witnesses reported a 160 foot storage unit being lifted up to the height of a telephone pole, turning and then exploding in the air. Estimated cost of the unit is $150,000. A utility trailer and two semi trailers were toppled also. Near Paxton farm buildings were damaged, and in Chebanse numerous trees fell across power lines and into streets.

6. Jun 5, 2010Tornado$100,000
   National Weather Service narrative

   A secondary tornado occurred 3 miles northwest of Dwight in northern Livingston County. The tornado began near the intersection of Rd 3300N and 2300E, where it caused minor damage to a home and surrounding trees. The tornado continued to the southeast where it derailed a train off its tracks near 2400E Road. At this point, the tornado moved east causing minor damage to some area trees before crossing Interstate 55, where it then lifted. The tornado was rated EF0 with winds estimated at around 80 mph and a path width of 20 yards.

7. Nov 17, 2013Tornado$75,000
   National Weather Service narrative

   This is a continuation of a tornado that began in Tazewell County (NWS Central Illinois) and tracked across Woodford County, entering NWS Chicago county warning area in La Salle County, and finally ending in Livingston County. The tornado entered Livingston County about a third of a mile north of E 2400 N Road where power poles were leaning. Several outbuildings were heavily damaged or destroyed on E 2475 N Road. Hardwood trees were snapped on N 200 E Road as well as wooden power poles. A large shed housing a fire engine was completely destroyed with the fire engine rolled onto its side on Long Point Blacktop Road near the intersection of N 400 E Road. On the northeast side of…

8. Jun 7, 2008Tornado$50,000
   National Weather Service narrative

   A tornado touched down near 2000E and 2900N. Utility poles were snapped along 2900N. On 2100E north of 3000N, half of the roof of a barn was blown off. At 3100N, a house suffered roof and tree damage. The tornado ended near 2200E, just south of 3200N.

9. Jun 4, 2008Tornado$40,000
   National Weather Service narrative

   A tornado touched down in Waldo Township, south of 1100 North, between 100 East and 200 East. A house suffered roof damage near this location. A small agriculture building was blown around a larger agricultural machine shed and destroyed. The larger machine shed suffered some roof damage. Trees and a child's play set were also damaged. Tree damage was reported south of 1200 North between 300 East and 400 East. Some small agricultural buildings were destroyed south of 1300 North, just east of 400 East.

10. May 24, 2006Thunderstorm Wind$25,000
    National Weather Service narrative

    A semi tractor trailer was blown over on Interstate 55 near Route 116. The driver needed to be cut out of the truck and was taken to the hospital.

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.

All-time high

111°F2 times, most recently Jul 15, 1936

All-time low

−28°FFeb 13, 1905

Warmest night

83°FAug 18, 1947

Coldest day

−11°F2 times, most recently Dec 22, 1989

Wettest day

9.09 inSep 28, 2019

Snowiest day

14.0 in2 times, most recently Feb 2, 2022

Hottest year

1921mean 54.8°F

Coldest year

1904mean 47.8°F

Wettest year

201957.22 in

Driest year

190120.39 in

Snowiest season

61.7 in1981-82

Station Minonk (USC00115712), 750 ft elevation, 20.6 miles from the city centre. Daily records from 1896 to October 26, 2026; 98.3% 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.

Declarations for Livingston County.

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.

• 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 USC00115712.
• 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.