Fayette County, Illinois
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 17051 · population 21,487 · 716 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 383 records for Fayette County, Illinois from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 285 days; the most frequent are severe thunderstorm wind events (150 records). The most damaging was the May 1, 2002 hail ($2.5 million in 2025 dollars). FEMA has issued 8 declarations naming the county since 2002, 6 of them for natural hazards; the latest for a natural hazard was “Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Tornadoes” on December 13, 2021.
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
- 383on 285 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 013 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $16Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 27strongest EF2
- FEMA declarations
- 8latest 2021
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 Fayette County most?
The most frequent records are severe thunderstorm wind events: 150 since 1957. 49% 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 | 150 | 111 | 1957-2026 | 0 | 0 | $203K | 92 of 102 |
| Hail | 65 | 50 | 1955-2026 | 0 | 1 | $2.5M | 100 of 102 |
| Winter storms | 50 | 50 | 1997-2025 | 0 | 0 | – | 86 of 102 |
| Heat | 47 | 47 | 1999-2023 | 0 | 0 | – | 35 of 102 |
| Floods | 28 | 27 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 0 | $699K | 92 of 102 |
| Tornadoes | 27 | 22 | 1954-2026 | 0 | 12 | $12M | 95 of 102 |
| Extreme cold | 5 | 5 | 2000-2024 | 0 | 0 | – | 99 of 102 |
| Drought | 4 | 4 | 2005-2012 | 0 | 0 | – | 101 of 102 |
| High wind and dust storms | 4 | 4 | 1997-2009 | 0 | 0 | $10K | 102 of 102 |
| Heavy rain | 2 | 2 | 2003-2005 | 0 | 0 | – | 57 of 102 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 1 | 1 | 2006-2006 | 0 | 0 | – | 90 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 Fayette County had?
NOAA records 27 tornadoes in Fayette County from 1954 to 2026, the strongest rated EF2, with 0 deaths and 12 injuries recorded in the county. 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 27 tornadoes whose track touched Fayette County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 27, the same count); along their whole tracks they killed 1 person, 0 of them in Fayette County.
| Date | Tornado | Rating | Path | Killed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 Fayette County (27)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-21 | Shobonier, Fayette County | EF0 0.22 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-04-30 | Shobonier, Fayette County | EF2 4.33 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 0 | $50K |
| 2025-04-30 | Carlyle Res North, Fayette County | EF0 5.01 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $8K |
| 2025-04-02 | Jimtown, Fayette County | EF0 2.98 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-03-14 | Hagarstown, Fayette County | EF1 13.39 mi x 400 yd | 0 | 0 | $110K |
| 2021-12-10 | Bingham, Fayette County | EF1 14.8 mi x 690 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2018-04-03 | Augsburg, Fayette County | EF2 10.87 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2014-02-20 | Brownstown, Fayette County | EF1 4.8 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2013-11-17 | Avena, Fayette County | EF2 8.5 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2011-02-28 | St Elmo, Fayette County | EF1 0.15 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2011-02-28 | St Elmo, Fayette County | EF2 0.08 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2011-02-28 | Confidnece, Fayette County | EF2 1.26 mi x 90 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2008-06-27 | Jimtown, Fayette County | EF0 1.47 mi x 40 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2004-05-30 | Shobonier, Fayette County | F0 0.1 mi x 40 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2002-06-11 | Vandalia, Fayette County | F0 0.7 mi x 40 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2002-06-11 | Vandalia, Fayette County | F0 2.5 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2000-05-12 | Vandalia, Fayette County | F0 1.5 mi x 40 yd | 0 | 0 | $26K |
| 1999-06-01 | Brownstown, Fayette County | F2 10 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1998-06-29 | Farina, Fayette County | F1 0.2 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 0 | $145K |
| 1996-04-19 | Shobonier, Fayette County | F1 3 mi x 80 yd | 0 | 0 | $141K |
| 1996-04-19 | Carlyle Res North, Fayette County | F1 1.5 mi x 80 yd | 0 | 0 | $141K |
| 1994-04-15 | Loogootee To, Fayette County | F1 2.5 mi x 60 yd | 0 | 0 | $995K |
| 1984-11-09 | Fayette County | F2 18 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 11 | $2.5M step |
| 1983-05-01 | Fayette County | F1 0.3 mi x 33 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K step |
| 1974-08-18 | Fayette County | F1 | 0 | 0 | $250 step |
| 1960-06-04 | Fayette County | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 1954-07-21 | Fayette County | F2 26.1 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 1 | $250K 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 Fayette County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the June 21, 2026 flash flood ($10,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-21 | Flash FloodBluff City, Fayette County | 0 | 0 | $10K | |
| 2026-06-21 | Flash FloodBingham, Fayette County | 0 | 0 | $1K | |
| 2026-06-21 | Thunderstorm WindAugsburg, Fayette County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-21 | Thunderstorm WindSt Paul, Fayette County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $10K |
| 2026-06-21 | Thunderstorm WindAugsburg, Fayette County | 55 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-21 | TornadoShobonier, Fayette County | EF0 0.22 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-03-11 | Thunderstorm WindWrights Corner, Fayette County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-02-19 | HailShobonier, Fayette County | 1.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-12-28 | Thunderstorm WindPittsburg, Fayette County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-11-29 | Winter StormFayette County · forecast zone Fayette | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-07-20 | Flash FloodLutz Spur, Fayette County | 0 | 0 | $600K | |
| 2025-07-16 | Thunderstorm WindDressor, Fayette County | 50 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1984-11-09 | TornadoFayette County | F2 18 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 11 | $2.5M step |
| 1989-05-25 | HailFayette County | 2.75 in hail | 0 | 1 | – |
| 1954-07-21 | TornadoFayette County | F2 26.1 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 1 | $250K 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.
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002-05-01 | HailFarina, Fayette County | 2.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | $2.5M |
| 1994-04-15 | TornadoLoogootee To, Fayette County | F1 2.5 mi x 60 yd | 0 | 0 | $995K |
| 2025-07-20 | Flash FloodLutz Spur, Fayette County | 0 | 0 | $600K | |
| 1998-06-29 | TornadoFarina, Fayette County | F1 0.2 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 0 | $145K |
| 1996-04-19 | TornadoCarlyle Res North, Fayette County | F1 1.5 mi x 80 yd | 0 | 0 | $141K |
| 2025-03-14 | TornadoHagarstown, Fayette County | EF1 13.39 mi x 400 yd | 0 | 0 | $110K |
| 2025-04-30 | TornadoShobonier, Fayette County | EF2 4.33 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 0 | $50K |
| 2000-05-12 | TornadoVandalia, Fayette County | F0 1.5 mi x 40 yd | 0 | 0 | $26K |
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 $2.5M, in the dollars of the day) holds: November 9, 1984 (tornado, Fayette 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 Fayette 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 | 2 | 12 | 8 | 9 | 32 | 37 | 35 | 15 |
| Hail | 1 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 9 | 26 | 14 | 6 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 7 | 25 | 12 | 6 |
| Heat | – | – | – | – | 1 | 19 | 25 | 2 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 2 | 9 | 14 | 3 |
| Tornadoes | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 6 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
49% 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 29 · Feb 22 · Mar 18 · Apr 54 · May 42 · Jun 79 · Jul 64 · Aug 36 · Sep 8 · Oct 4 · Nov 11 · Dec 16 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Fayette County
FEMA's register lists 8 declarations that include Fayette County: 5 major disasters, 3 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for tornado (3) and biological (2).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021-12-13 | EM-3577 | Tornado | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Tornadoes |
| 2020-03-26 | DR-4489 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020-03-13 | EM-3435 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2013-11-26 | DR-4157 | Tornado | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Tornadoes |
| 2011-03-17 | DR-1960 | Snowstorm | Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm |
| 2007-02-09 | DR-1681 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2005-09-07 | EM-3230 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2002-05-21 | DR-1416 | Tornado | Severe Storms, Tornadoes and 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 Fayette County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 28 flood or flash flood records for Fayette County from 1996 to 2026, on 27 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Fayette County ranks 2685th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $4,323 on 3 claims filed in Fayette County; the most in one year was 1 in 1979. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1979: 1 · 1982: 1 · 2002: 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 Fayette County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Fayette County Relatively Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $15.1 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 | $624K | 1.7 modeled event-days a year |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate | $675K | 5.1 a year (modeled) |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low | $3.0M | once in about 181 years (modeled) |
| Landslide | Relatively Low | $8K | once in about 2 years (modeled) |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | $920K | 9.9 modeled event-days a year |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | $1.6M | 1.8 a year (modeled) |
| Hail | Relatively Low | $325K | 3.6 a year (modeled) |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | $1.3M | once in about 2 years (modeled) |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
Counties that share a border with Fayette 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 Fayette CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Fayette County's FEMA declarations (CSV)8 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis