Cumberland County, Illinois
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 17035 · population 10,425 · 346 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 255 records for Cumberland County, Illinois from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 194 days; the most frequent are severe thunderstorm wind events (87 records). The deadliest single record is the January 27, 2021 winter weather, filed for the forecast zone Cumberland, which covers the county: 1 death. FEMA has issued 9 declarations naming the county since 1974, 7 of them for natural hazards; the latest for a natural hazard was “Severe Storms and Flooding” on August 15, 2023.
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
- 255on 194 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 211 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $35Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 20strongest F3
- FEMA declarations
- 9latest 2023
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 Cumberland County most?
The most frequent records are severe thunderstorm wind events: 87 since 1982. 47% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1982 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 | 87 | 71 | 1982-2025 | 0 | 2 | $771K | 70 of 102 |
| Floods | 39 | 32 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 0 | $706K | 39 of 102 |
| Hail | 39 | 27 | 1979-2026 | 0 | 0 | $249K | 96 of 102 |
| Winter storms | 35 | 35 | 1996-2026 | 2 | 4 | $1.3M | 63 of 102 |
| Tornadoes | 20 | 17 | 1960-2026 | 0 | 5 | $994K | 42 of 102 |
| Heat | 13 | 13 | 1997-2023 | 0 | 0 | – | 44 of 102 |
| Drought | 7 | 7 | 2007-2026 | 0 | 0 | $30M | 62 of 102 |
| Extreme cold | 7 | 7 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 0 | – | 62 of 102 |
| High wind and dust storms | 7 | 7 | 1996-2012 | 0 | 0 | $19K | 69 of 102 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 1 | 1 | 2008-2008 | 0 | 0 | – | 58 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 Cumberland County had?
NOAA records 20 tornadoes in Cumberland County from 1960 to 2026, the strongest rated F3, with 0 deaths and 5 injuries recorded in the county. That is 42nd 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 17 tornadoes whose track touched Cumberland County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 20: they file a crossing tornado once per county segment, and the two databases differ on some tracks); along their whole tracks they killed 6 people, 0 of them in Cumberland County.
| Date | Tornado | Rating | Path | Killed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1977-08-21 12:00, as SPC files it | Neoga to Toledo | F3 | 26.9 mi | 6 |
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Illinois.
Every tornado record filed for Cumberland County (20)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-21 | Bradbury, Cumberland County | EF0 5.89 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-21 | Neoga, Cumberland County | EF1 0.85 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-04-02 | Jewett, Cumberland County | EF2 15.34 mi x 1,200 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-04-02 | Woodbury, Cumberland County | EF0 4.03 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-03-14 | Neoga, Cumberland County | EF2 5.21 mi x 300 yd | 0 | 2 | – |
| 2021-07-29 | Greenup, Cumberland County | EF0 0.52 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2019-09-01 | Neoga, Cumberland County | EF0 0.31 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2018-05-27 | Neoga, Cumberland County | EF0 0.81 mi x 25 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2006-04-02 | Neoga, Cumberland County | F0 0.8 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2003-05-10 | Neoga, Cumberland County | F0 0.1 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2002-06-11 | Neoga, Cumberland County | F0 2 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2002-05-01 | Neoga, Cumberland County | F1 1 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2002-05-01 | Neoga, Cumberland County | F0 0.3 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1999-04-08 | Janesville, Cumberland County | F0 0.1 mi x 33 yd | 0 | 0 | $89K |
| 1996-10-17 | Neoga, Cumberland County | F0 2.5 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 1 | – |
| 1984-04-12 | Cumberland County | F1 3 mi x 33 yd | 0 | 2 | $250K step |
| 1977-08-21 | Cumberland County | F3 15.7 mi x 77 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1963-06-13 | Cumberland County | F1 0.3 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | $3K step |
| 1961-03-06 | Cumberland County | F1 17.8 mi x 77 yd | 0 | 0 | $3K step |
| 1960-02-09 | Cumberland County | F1 1 mi x 27 yd | 0 | 0 | $3K 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 Cumberland County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the March 14, 2025 tornado (2 injuries).
An EF-2 tornado began on the southeast side of Neoga, tracking through Cumberland County for 5.2 miles before continuing into Coles County for an additional 7.7 miles, where it also produced EF-2 damage. The tornado began south of county road 1000N, then moved into the southeast side of Neoga where it damaged the roof of a home, the roof of the high school, and caved in the front door of the elementary school. From there, it moved northeast and damaged a grain bin near the US Route 45 and I-57 intersection. Two injuries occurred to semi-truck drivers as their vehicles were overturned on I-57 at the US-45 exit. As the tornado continued northeast, additional damage occurred to trees, power poles, and farm outbuildings. Just south of the Cumberland-Coles County line, the tornado produced EF-2 damage to a home where large sections of the roof structure were removed. …
National Weather Service event narrative, NOAA Storm Events Database (search the full record, event 1240125)
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-21 | TornadoBradbury, Cumberland County | EF0 5.89 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-21 | TornadoNeoga, Cumberland County | EF1 0.85 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-08 | FloodGreenup, Cumberland County | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-03-26 | HailBradbury, Cumberland County | 1.25 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-03-01 | DroughtCumberland County · forecast zone Cumberland | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-02-05 | DroughtCumberland County · forecast zone Cumberland | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-26 | Extreme Cold/Wind ChillCumberland County · forecast zone Cumberland | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-24 | Heavy SnowCumberland County · forecast zone Cumberland | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-12-13 | Winter WeatherCumberland County · forecast zone Cumberland | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-11-29 | Heavy SnowCumberland County · forecast zone Cumberland | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-07-20 | Thunderstorm WindGreenup, Cumberland County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-05-16 | HailWalla Walla, Cumberland County | 1.50 in hail | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021-01-27 | Winter WeatherCumberland County · forecast zone Cumberland An 18-year old female was killed when she lost control of her vehicle and hit a guardrail on I-57 near Neoga. Moderate snow was falling at the time. | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 2016-02-24 | BlizzardCumberland County · forecast zone Cumberland Weather observers across Cumberland County reported snowfall amounts of 3 to 5 inches. Winds gusting to between 45 and 55 mph created whiteout conditions from 1000 to 1400 CST. Snow-covered roads and poor visibility due to falling and blowing snow contributed to numerous traffic accidents across the county, especially ... | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 2000-03-11 | Heavy SnowCumberland County · forecast zone Cumberland Heavy snowfall of 6 to 10 inches, accompanied by blowing and drifting, occurred in parts of central and southeast Illinois from the morning into the early evening of March 11, 2000. Several weather related traffic accidents resulted in nine serious injuries and one fatality. A 16 year old male was killed in a one car ... | 0 | 4 | – | |
| 2025-03-14 | TornadoNeoga, Cumberland County An EF-2 tornado began on the southeast side of Neoga, tracking through Cumberland County for 5.2 miles before continuing into Coles County for an additional 7.7 miles, where it also produced EF-2 damage. The tornado began south of county road 1000N, then moved into the southeast side of Neoga where it damaged the roof ... | EF2 5.21 mi x 300 yd | 0 | 2 | – |
| 1984-04-12 | TornadoCumberland County | F1 3 mi x 33 yd | 0 | 2 | $250K step |
| 2024-06-29 | Thunderstorm WindToledo, Cumberland County A tree was blown down onto a car resulting in an injury to one person. | 52 kt wind | 0 | 1 | – |
| 1998-06-18 | Thunderstorm WindNeoga, Cumberland County Thunderstorm winds blew over a semi on I-57 near Neoga. The driver was ok, while his passenger sustained minor injuries. | 0 | 1 | – | |
| 1996-10-17 | TornadoNeoga, Cumberland County A tornado touched down 1 mile north northeast of Neoga, just east of Rt. 45. At this point the tornado blew over a 35 foot travel trailer slightly injuring one person. It then continued to the east crossing over Interstate 57 causing damage to a used car lot and a truck stop. It then moved east of town causing minor ... | F0 2.5 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 1 | – |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012-09-01 | DroughtCumberland County · forecast zone Cumberland | 0 | 0 | $30M | |
| 2011-02-01 | Winter StormCumberland County · forecast zone Cumberland | 0 | 0 | $1.3M | |
| 2000-10-04 | Flash FloodCountywide, Cumberland County | 0 | 0 | $514K | |
| 2014-05-11 | HailGreenup, Cumberland County | 2.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | $249K |
| 2012-08-16 | Thunderstorm WindNeoga, Cumberland County | 70 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $64K |
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 $250K, in the dollars of the day) holds: April 12, 1984 (tornado, Cumberland County).
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 Cumberland 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 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 11 | 31 | 20 | 18 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 1 | 15 | 18 | 5 |
| Hail | 0 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 2 | 9 | 14 | 5 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 9 | 7 | 10 | 9 |
| Tornadoes | 0 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 6 |
| Heat | – | – | – | – | 4 | 3 | 4 | 2 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
47% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1982 fell in June and July. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 20 · Feb 13 · Mar 18 · Apr 41 · May 41 · Jun 45 · Jul 31 · Aug 22 · Sep 4 · Oct 5 · Nov 7 · Dec 8 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Cumberland County
FEMA's register lists 9 declarations that include Cumberland County: 7 major disasters, 2 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for severe storm (3) and biological (2).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-08-15 | DR-4728 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 2020-03-26 | DR-4489 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020-03-13 | EM-3435 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2011-03-17 | DR-1960 | Snowstorm | Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm |
| 2008-06-24 | DR-1771 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 2005-09-07 | EM-3230 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2002-05-21 | DR-1416 | Tornado | Severe Storms, Tornadoes and Flooding |
| 1996-05-06 | DR-1112 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 1974-06-10 | DR-438 | Flood | Severe Storms & 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 Cumberland County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 39 flood or flash flood records for Cumberland County from 1996 to 2026, on 32 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Cumberland County ranks 2756th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $13,000 on 2 claims filed in Cumberland County; the most in one year was 1 in 1999. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1999: 1 · 2000: 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 Cumberland County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Cumberland County Very Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $7.4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drought | Relatively Moderate | $1.1M | 1.7 modeled event-days a year |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low | $1.1M | once in about 245 years (modeled) |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | $236K | 7.6 modeled event-days a year |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | $364K | 4.5 a year (modeled) |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | $40K | 7.4 a year (modeled) |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | $565K | 1.9 a year (modeled) |
| Hail | Relatively Low | $120K | 2.7 a year (modeled) |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Low | $33K | about once a year (modeled) |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
Counties that share a border with Cumberland 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 Cumberland CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Cumberland County's FEMA declarations (CSV)9 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis