Clinton County, Illinois
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 17027 · population 36,801 · 474 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 470 records for Clinton County, Illinois from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 327 days; the most frequent are severe thunderstorm wind events (206 records). The deadliest single record is the December 2, 1982 tornado: 2 deaths. FEMA has issued 7 declarations naming the county since 1969, 5 of them for natural hazards; the latest for a natural hazard was “Hurricane Katrina Evacuation” on September 7, 2005.
The record, 1950 to 2026
Storm records filed for the county each year (2026 to June 30, 2026). Before 1996 NOAA recorded only tornadoes (from 1950), thunderstorm wind and hail (from 1955).
- recorded, no damage figure
- under $100,000
- $100,000 or more
- $1 million or more
- $10 million or more, or a death
- $100 million or more, or 10 deaths
- a year's colour: its recorded damage or deaths
- a year with a death
- 1955: wind and hail recorded from 1955
- 1996: all 48 event types from 1996
- Storm records
- 470on 327 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 37 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $135Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 31strongest F4
- FEMA declarations
- 7latest 2020
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records through June 30, 2026 (file revision 20260918); damage converted to 2025 dollars with the BLS CPI-U. Search the record at NCEI. BLS consumer price index.
What hazards hit Clinton County most?
The most frequent records are severe thunderstorm wind events: 206 since 1957. 43% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1957 fell in June and July. The rank column places the county among Illinois's counties by days with a record per 1,000 square miles of land over each hazard's complete period.
| Hazard | Records | Days | First, last | Killed | Injured | Damage | Rank in state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 206 | 138 | 1957-2026 | 0 | 0 | $686K | 30 of 102 |
| Hail | 96 | 59 | 1957-2025 | 0 | 0 | $145K | 54 of 102 |
| Heat | 50 | 50 | 1999-2025 | 0 | 4 | – | 26 of 102 |
| Winter storms | 46 | 46 | 1996-2025 | 0 | 3 | – | 68 of 102 |
| Tornadoes | 31 | 26 | 1956-2026 | 2 | 0 | $133M | 31 of 102 |
| Floods | 23 | 23 | 1996-2025 | 1 | 0 | $968K | 86 of 102 |
| High wind and dust storms | 6 | 6 | 1996-2009 | 0 | 0 | $51K | 91 of 102 |
| Extreme cold | 5 | 5 | 2000-2024 | 0 | 0 | – | 90 of 102 |
| Drought | 3 | 3 | 2005-2012 | 0 | 0 | – | 98 of 102 |
| Heavy rain | 3 | 3 | 2003-2008 | 0 | 0 | – | 42 of 102 |
| Lightning | 1 | 1 | 2000-2000 | 0 | 0 | $17K | 72 of 102 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (county and forecast-zone records attributed to the county; a zone record shows its own totals on each county it covers). Days: dates with at least one record of the hazard in the county. Ranks: days with a record per 1,000 square miles of land (Census Bureau 2024 Gazetteer), since 1950 for tornadoes, 1955 for hail and thunderstorm wind, 1996 for the rest.
How many tornadoes has Clinton County had?
NOAA records 31 tornadoes in Clinton County from 1956 to 2026, the strongest rated F4, with 2 deaths and 0 injuries recorded in the county. That is 31st of 102 Illinois counties by days with tornadoes per 1,000 square miles since 1950. A tornado that crossed a county line is counted in each county it touched, with the length of its path inside the county.
Counted as whole tornadoes rather than county records, the Storm Prediction Center's database holds 28 tornadoes whose track touched Clinton County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 31: they file a crossing tornado once per county segment, and the two databases differ on some tracks); along their whole tracks they killed 9 people, 2 of them in Clinton County.
| Date | Tornado | Rating | Path | Killed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1956-02-24 23:45, as SPC files it | BellevilleCrossed IL, MO | F4 | 77.6 mi | 6 |
| 1982-12-02 21:10, as SPC files it | New Baden to Albers | F3 | 10.5 mi | 2 |
| 1958-04-05 14:20, as SPC files it | Vandalia | F3 | 60.5 mi | 1 |
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Illinois.
Every tornado record filed for Clinton County (31)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-04-27 | Germantown, Clinton County | EF1 11.66 mi x 350 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-04-27 | Trenton, Clinton County | EF1 3.84 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-03-15 | Ferrin, Clinton County | EF1 4.18 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-03-14 | Trenton, Clinton County | EF2 3.13 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 0 | $700K |
| 2024-05-26 | Frogtown, Clinton County | EF1 17.64 mi x 325 yd | 0 | 0 | $111K |
| 2024-05-26 | New Baden, Clinton County | EF0 7.56 mi x 500 yd | 0 | 0 | $24K |
| 2022-05-19 | St Rose, Clinton County | EF1 5.75 mi x 250 yd | 0 | 0 | $50K |
| 2022-05-19 | Bartelso, Clinton County | EF0 1.65 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $30K |
| 2020-05-27 | Posey, Clinton County | EFU 0.07 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2013-11-17 | Jamestown, Clinton County | EF1 0.37 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2013-11-17 | Wamac, Clinton County | EF0 1.18 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2012-09-25 | Damiansville, Clinton County | EF0 0.16 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2012-03-02 | New Baden, Clinton County | EF0 0.65 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2011-04-22 | St Rose, Clinton County | EF2 3.05 mi x 500 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2006-07-21 | Germantown, Clinton County | F1 2.5 mi x 60 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2006-07-21 | Trenton, Clinton County | F0 3.5 mi x 60 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2005-07-04 | Albers, Clinton County | F0 0.8 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2004-05-30 | Breese, Clinton County | F1 7 mi x 80 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2004-05-19 | St Rose, Clinton County | F0 0.1 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2003-06-10 | Germantown, Clinton County | F0 1.2 mi x 40 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2003-04-04 | Bartelso, Clinton County | F1 4 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2000-06-16 | Carlyle, Clinton County | F0 1.5 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1990-11-26 | Clinton County | F0 0.5 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1982-12-02 | Clinton County | F3 10.5 mi x 100 yd | 2 | 0 | $25M step |
| 1979-10-22 | Clinton County | F1 2 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1975-04-18 | Clinton County | F1 2.5 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K step |
| 1968-04-03 | Clinton County | F1 8.3 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K step |
| 1967-12-21 | Clinton County | F2 1 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $2.5M step |
| 1964-03-08 | Clinton County | F2 13.1 mi x 40 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1958-04-05 | Clinton County | F3 46.3 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K step |
| 1956-02-25 | Clinton County | F4 9.7 mi x 500 yd | 0 | 0 | $2.5M step |
A damage figure marked "step" is a record from before 1993: NOAA then filed damage by category, and the figure is the category as entered, in the dollars of that year, not an estimate of the loss.
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, tornado records by county (path length in the county, maximum width); ratings as published: F scale before February 1, 2007, EF scale after. Whole-track figures: NOAA Storm Prediction Center tornado database (1950-2025). SPC severe weather database.
When was the last damaging storm in Clinton County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the July 17, 2025 flash flood ($1,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-05-16 | Thunderstorm WindCarlyle, Clinton County | 61 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-04-27 | TornadoGermantown, Clinton County | EF1 11.66 mi x 350 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-04-27 | TornadoTrenton, Clinton County | EF1 3.84 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-03-15 | TornadoFerrin, Clinton County | EF1 4.18 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-01-08 | Thunderstorm WindShattuc, Clinton County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-07-22 | Excessive HeatClinton County · forecast zone Clinton | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-07-17 | Flash FloodSt Rose, Clinton County | 0 | 0 | $1K | |
| 2025-04-30 | HailAviston, Clinton County | 2.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-04-30 | HailAviston, Clinton County | 1.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-04-30 | HailTrenton, Clinton County | 1.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-04-02 | Thunderstorm WindBeckemeyer, Clinton County | 60 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-04-02 | Thunderstorm WindBartelso, Clinton County | 60 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database; every record of 2025-2026 is listed, earlier ones when they caused deaths, injuries or $250,000 of damage (2025 dollars), and every tornado.
The deadliest and costliest records
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1982-12-02 | TornadoClinton County | F3 10.5 mi x 100 yd | 2 | 0 | $25M step |
| 2015-05-11 | FloodDamiansville, Clinton County Sugar Creek was in flood after the area received up to 5 inches of rain in 3 days. Where Sugar Creek crosses Airport Road, it was at least 2 to 3 feet deep. The road was closed with a sign denoting this. However, a 28 year old man in a GMC Sierra pickup truck drove into the flood waters around 530 am on May 12th and ... | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 2008-02-11 | Winter WeatherClinton County · forecast zone Clinton Light freezing rain and sleet fell during the morning hours of February 11, 2008 resulting in numerous auto accidents and schools closing early. Three injuries were reported in accidents in Clinton County. | 0 | 3 | – | |
| 2007-08-05 | Excessive HeatClinton County · forecast zone Clinton The first and only real Heat Wave of the summer began on August 4th and lasted through August 16th. High temperatures were consistently from the middle 90s to around 100 with the Heat Index from 105 to 110 degrees. Two deaths were reported in Madison County and one in St. Clair County. Two were found in homes that did ... | 0 | 2 | – | |
| 1999-07-18 | HeatClinton County · forecast zone Clinton A heat wave gripped the region the last 2 weeks of July. Temperatures remained in the middle to upper 90s with a few days topping 100 degrees. The Heat Index ranged from 105 to near 115 degrees. Most of the deaths and injuries occurred in the Metro East area of St. Louis, primarily Madison and St. Clair counties. | 0 | 2 | – |
A damage figure marked "step" is a record from before 1993: NOAA then filed damage by category, and the figure is the category as entered, in the dollars of that year, not an estimate of the loss.
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996-06-10 | Flash FloodCountywide, Clinton County | 0 | 0 | $941K | |
| 2025-03-14 | TornadoTrenton, Clinton County | EF2 3.13 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 0 | $700K |
| 2000-10-04 | Thunderstorm WindStolletown, Clinton County | 65 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $360K |
| 2024-05-26 | TornadoFrogtown, Clinton County | EF1 17.64 mi x 325 yd | 0 | 0 | $111K |
| 2022-05-19 | TornadoSt Rose, Clinton County | EF1 5.75 mi x 250 yd | 0 | 0 | $50K |
| 2022-05-19 | TornadoBartelso, Clinton County | EF0 1.65 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $30K |
| 2024-05-26 | TornadoNew Baden, Clinton County | EF0 7.56 mi x 500 yd | 0 | 0 | $24K |
| 2024-05-26 | Thunderstorm WindCarlyle Res South, Clinton County | 70 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $14K |
Before 1993 NOAA filed damage by category, not amount, so the list above starts in 1993. The highest category filed here before then (entered as $25M, in the dollars of the day) holds: December 2, 1982 (tornado, Clinton County, 2 killed).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database: deaths and injuries direct and indirect; damage is property plus crops as estimated by the National Weather Service, converted to 2025 dollars.
Is it getting more frequent?
Records per decade for Clinton County's most frequent hazards. Counts rose everywhere after 1996, when NOAA began recording every event type, so compare decades within a hazard's complete period only (the shaded cells come before it).
| Hazard | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020-26 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 4 | 5 | 7 | 19 | 41 | 63 | 41 | 26 |
| Hail | 1 | 2 | 1 | 10 | 8 | 40 | 28 | 6 |
| Heat | – | – | – | – | 1 | 20 | 26 | 3 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 7 | 22 | 12 | 5 |
| Tornadoes | 2 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 5 | 9 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 2 | 14 | 5 | 2 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
43% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1957 fell in June and July. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 32 · Feb 21 · Mar 32 · Apr 59 · May 69 · Jun 62 · Jul 89 · Aug 46 · Sep 20 · Oct 9 · Nov 16 · Dec 15 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Clinton County
FEMA's register lists 7 declarations that include Clinton County: 5 major disasters, 2 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for biological (2) and flood (2).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020-03-26 | DR-4489 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020-03-13 | EM-3435 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2005-09-07 | EM-3230 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2002-05-21 | DR-1416 | Tornado | Severe Storms, Tornadoes and Flooding |
| 1982-12-13 | DR-674 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes & Flooding |
| 1973-04-26 | DR-373 | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding |
| 1969-08-30 | DR-276 | Flood | Heavy Rains & Flooding |
Source: FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (v2), declarations through October 2, 2026; one declaration is counted once however many areas it names. OpenFEMA dataset page.
How many floods has Clinton County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 23 flood or flash flood records for Clinton County from 1996 to 2025, on 23 days, with 1 death. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Clinton County ranks 1928th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $646,000 on 29 claims filed in Clinton County; the most in one year was 9 in 2015. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1982: 1 · 1984: 1 · 1993: 2 · 1995: 1 · 2000: 1 · 2002: 2 · 2005: 1 · 2011: 1 · 2013: 6 · 2015: 9 · 2017: 1 · 2020: 1 · 2021: 1 · 2024: 1; the other years: 0.
Source: FEMA OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Claims, as of September 8, 2026; claims by year of loss, payments in the dollars of the year paid. OpenFEMA dataset page.
FEMA's modeled risk for Clinton County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Clinton County Relatively Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $27.6 million. These are FEMA's model estimates of future loss from 18 hazards, not a count of what happened; they can differ from the record above.
| Hazard | Risk rating | Expected annual loss | Modeled frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Strong Wind | Relatively High | $1.7M | 5.7 a year (modeled) |
| Earthquake | Relatively Moderate | $7.0M | once in about 161 years (modeled) |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Moderate | $2.2M | 1.4 a year (modeled) |
| Tornado | Relatively Moderate | $2.4M | once in about 2 years (modeled) |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | $1.4M | 11 modeled event-days a year |
| Hail | Relatively Low | $701K | 4.6 a year (modeled) |
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively Low | $11M | about once a year (modeled) |
| Drought | Relatively Low | $308K | 1.7 modeled event-days a year |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
Counties that share a border with Clinton County
Source: U.S. Census Bureau county adjacency file; NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records since 1950. The Census Bureau's adjacency file.
Next
- Tornadoes in IllinoisEvery Illinois tornado since 1950 and the counties with the most per square mile
- Severe thunderstorm wind in IllinoisThe state's severe thunderstorm wind events, by county, year and month
- The Illinois recordEvery hazard in the state, its deadliest events and its federal declarations
- FEMA's risk rating for each hazard in Clinton CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Clinton County's FEMA declarations (CSV)7 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis