Perry County

Every recorded tornado

1. Injuries and deaths are for the tornado’s whole path, which may extend beyond the county. Deaths recorded within Perry County: 1.
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.

Every storm within 100 miles

1. Tropical storms and hurricanes (34 kt or more, still tropical) at closest approach. Post-tropical remnants with gale-force winds are listed but not counted. Direct: track within 50 miles; near: within 100 miles. Distance is measured to the county boundary for counties and to the city centre for cities, using positions interpolated hourly between HURDAT2 fixes.

National Hurricane Center HURDAT2, 1851 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.

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.

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 county boundary (or inside the county).
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. Mar 14, 2025Tornado$1.5 million
   National Weather Service narrative

   An EF-2 tornado developed northwest of Vergennes in Jackson County and moved north northeast into Perry County Illinois at Zolter Road. It then moved northeast, passing to the west of DuQuoin and through the community of St Johns. It continued northeast and dissipated just north of Highway 154 at Marlow Road. The tornado snapped over a dozen wooden power poles, damaged the roofs of several homes, and damaged dozens of trees and a few barns and outbuildings. Just before it dissipated it broke several windows out of a church and turned over some gravestones in the adjacent cemetery. The estimated peak wind was 135 mph.

2. Jun 8, 2009Thunderstorm Wind$1.3 million
   National Weather Service narrative

   Downburst winds affected a swath of eastern and southern Perry County. The heart of the damage swath cut a path through the northeast and east sides of DuQuoin. The average path width was three-quarters of a mile. The damage path length was about six miles long. Many dozens to hundreds of trees were down on homes, vehicles, power lines, and other structures. Eight homes received major damage, and 82 others had minor damage. Nine vehicles were destroyed. A large portion of the metal roof was blown off a large industrial building. A semi trailer was overturned. Approximately 40 power poles were destroyed. Up to 1200 citizens were without power. There were two minor injuries due to…

3. Mar 11, 2006Tornado$1.2 million
   National Weather Service narrative

   The tornado entered Perry County, IL from Randolph County about 1.5 miles south of Highway 154. The Perry County segment of the tornado was rated at its maximum intensity and width shortly after crossing the county line. Shortly after crossing into Perry County, some coal trucks were blown over, and a modular home was totally destroyed on Route 154 near Route 150. Two persons in the home were trapped inside for a time, but they sustained only minor injuries that were treated at a local hospital. Route 150 was closed for 12 hours due to downed trees and power lines. Within a few miles of the destroyed modular home, some hogs were killed at a hog farm, and an empty grain bin was…

4. Apr 19, 2011Thunderstorm Wind$1.0 million
   National Weather Service narrative

   Extensive damage occurred in the DuQuoin area. Two concentrated areas of damage were observed. The first area extended northeastward into the southwest portion of DuQuoin. Another concentrated area was southeast of DuQuoin. Wind gusts were measured at three separate locations south and southwest of DuQuoin. The measurements were 88 mph, 66 mph, and 61 mph. The wind gust to 66 mph was measured at the DuQuoin/Perry County airport. Emergency management personnel reported that 55 single family dwellings were damaged, including six that were extensively damaged and one that was a total loss. The majority of these homes received only shingle loss or minor roof damage. One mobile home…

5. Jun 19, 2011Tornado$550,000
   National Weather Service narrative

   A tornado crossed through the DuQuoin State Fairgrounds, where damage was estimated around one-half million dollars. Dozens of large trees were snapped or uprooted. Several small camper trailers were overturned. One unoccupied trailer was demolished. Three persons were trapped inside a camper at the DuQuoin State Fairgrounds. They were extricated by fire and rescue personnel. One person sustained minor injuries in an overturned trailer. Several homes lost some shingles and sustained mainly minor damage from fallen trees. At the state fairgrounds, a shower/restroom facility and the Farm Service building were destroyed by falling trees. Large hvac units were lifted off the roof of…

6. Mar 19, 2020Tornado$300,000
   National Weather Service narrative

   The tornado started near the community of Sunfield on U.S. Highway 51. At least a dozen homes were damaged, including four with major structural damage. This included numerous broken windows and roof damage. One home had part of its roof decking removed, and another had its attached garage blown apart from the house. At least five camper trailers were blown over, with one lofted over 200 yards across a field. Several outbuildings and garages were partly or completely levelled. Dozens of trees were snapped or uprooted. Some power lines were down. A trained spotter witnessed the tornado. The tornado path crossed Du Quoin Lake and ended on Highway 154. Peak winds were estimated near 100 mph.

7. May 30, 2004Tornado$250,000
   National Weather Service narrative

   The tornado began on Bethel Church Road and ended at the Washington County line near where U.S. Highway 51 crosses the county line. Five barns were destroyed directly by wind. Other damage was due mostly to trees falling on buildings. At least four residences were moderately damaged. A machinery storage building and sheds were demolished. An airplane hangar was destroyed. Numerous trees were blown down, blocking some roads. At a church camp along the Washington County line, many trees were blown down, including one that fell on the camp office. A house was damaged. Peak winds were estimated near 90 MPH.

8. Nov 18, 2017Tornado$250,000
   National Weather Service narrative

   The EF-0 tornado touched down just north of the downtown business district and tracked east through a residential area. Eyewitness reports of the tornado were obtained. The maximum estimated wind speed was 65 mph. Numerous homes and businesses sustained shingle and siding damage. A large tree fell onto a home. Hundreds of tree limbs were down, damaging several vehicles. Widespread power outages occurred. A power pole was snapped. A dozen mobile homes were damaged, including a mobile home that was moved off its foundation. The mobile home was not tied down.

9. Mar 18, 2008Flood$250,000
   National Weather Service narrative

   A house along Beaucoup Creek near the Pinckneyville-Du Quoin Airport flooded. Water in the basement rose to within three inches of the floor joists. Four feet of water filled an adjacent barn. The mortar was washed out of the foundation blocks. The family used a boat to access the house. Numerous basements were flooded around the county, including more than 100 in Du Quoin alone. Sump pumps and shop vacs were sold out at many stores. Several roads were closed in Du Quoin. An intersection was closed by flooding in Du Quoin.

10. Apr 28, 1996Flash Flood$220,000
    National Weather Service narrative

    Very heavy rainfall of 4 to 7 inches in less than 24 hours caused major flash flooding. Schools were closed in DuQuoin due to flooded roads and school buildings. Sandbags were placed around the Pinckneyville water filtration plant to stave off a rising creek. Perry County was eventually declared a federal disaster area.

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

113°F2 times, most recently Jul 25, 1934

All-time low

−22°FJan 13, 1912

Warmest night

82°F3 times, most recently Jun 23, 2016

Coldest day

−3°FDec 22, 1989

Wettest day

6.70 inNov 14, 1993

Snowiest day

14.0 inJan 14, 1918

Hottest year

2024mean 62.5°F

Coldest year

1979mean 53.1°F

Wettest year

201172.12 in

Driest year

197121.85 in

Snowiest season

41.0 in1917-18

Station Du Quoin 4 Se (USC00112483), 420 ft elevation, 8.5 miles from the population centre. Daily records from 1898 to October 24, 2026; 98.6% 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.

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.

Neighbouring counties

• 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 USC00112483.
• 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.