Franklin County, Illinois
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 17055 · population 37,777 · 409 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 1,179 records for Franklin County, Illinois from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 803 days; the most frequent are winter storm records (180 records). 738 of them are forecast-zone records, which the National Weather Service files once per zone: a county covered by several zones receives each one, so a single storm can add several records on the same day. The deadliest single record is the April 27, 1971 tornado: 1 death and 20 injuries. FEMA has issued 10 declarations naming the county since 1973, 8 of them for natural hazards; the latest for a natural hazard was “Severe Storms and Flooding” on June 7, 2011.
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
- 1,179on 803 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 877 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $97Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 19strongest F4
- FEMA declarations
- 10latest 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 Franklin County most?
The most frequent records are winter storm records: 180 since 1996. 64% of its winter storm records since 1996 fell in January and February. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winter storms | 180 | 128 | 1996-2026 | 2 | 18 | $2.1M | 14 of 102 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 169 | 131 | 1962-2025 | 0 | 7 | $14M | 21 of 102 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 149 | 115 | 1997-2026 | 0 | 0 | – | 12 of 102 |
| Floods | 130 | 119 | 1996-2025 | 0 | 1 | $24M | 9 of 102 |
| Heat | 120 | 85 | 1997-2025 | 2 | 20 | – | 13 of 102 |
| Extreme cold | 117 | 83 | 1996-2026 | 3 | 0 | $67K | 10 of 102 |
| Hail | 116 | 84 | 1955-2026 | 0 | 0 | $262K | 15 of 102 |
| High wind and dust storms | 99 | 75 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 0 | $1.3M | 13 of 102 |
| Drought | 55 | 33 | 1998-2026 | 0 | 0 | $4.9M | 13 of 102 |
| Heavy rain | 21 | 20 | 2003-2015 | 0 | 0 | $23K | 4 of 102 |
| Tornadoes | 19 | 17 | 1957-2022 | 1 | 31 | $50M | 62 of 102 |
| Lightning | 3 | 3 | 2010-2015 | 0 | 0 | $38K | 27 of 102 |
| Wildfires | 1 | 1 | 2011-2011 | 0 | 0 | – | 6 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 Franklin County had?
NOAA records 19 tornadoes in Franklin County from 1957 to 2022, the strongest rated F4, with 1 death and 31 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 20 tornadoes whose track touched Franklin County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 19: they file a crossing tornado once per county segment, and the two databases differ on some tracks); along their whole tracks they killed 13 people, 1 of them in Franklin County.
| Date | Tornado | Rating | Path | Killed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1957-12-18 16:45, as SPC files it | Murphysboro | F4 | 28.3 mi | 11 |
| 2017-02-28 19:51, as SPC files it | ChristopherCrossed IL, MO | EF4 | 53.47 mi | 1 |
| 1971-04-27 15:43, as SPC files it | Chester | F3 | 4.5 mi | 1 |
| 1958-04-05 16:10, as SPC files it | Du Quoin | F3 | 20.6 mi | 0 |
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Illinois.
Every tornado record filed for Franklin County (19)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022-03-30 | Thompsonville, Franklin County | EF0 4.05 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $63K |
| 2021-12-05 | Ezra, Franklin County | EF1 3.88 mi x 175 yd | 0 | 0 | $87K |
| 2017-02-28 | Mulkeytown, Franklin County | EF3 4.37 mi x 400 yd | 0 | 0 | $963K |
| 2016-05-11 | Cleburne, Franklin County | EF0 0.05 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2015-06-19 | Ezra, Franklin County | EF1 0.92 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 0 | $623K |
| 2013-01-29 | Mulkeytown, Franklin County | EF0 0.58 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2011-04-19 | Benton, Franklin County | EF1 0.15 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $13K |
| 2011-04-19 | Royalton, Franklin County | EF1 0.3 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $105K |
| 2009-06-08 | Mulkeytown, Franklin County | EF1 1.59 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $8K |
| 2009-05-08 | Royalton, Franklin County | EF0 0.29 mi x 40 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2009-05-08 | Thompsonville, Franklin County | EF1 2.41 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2004-05-25 | Thompsonville, Franklin County | F0 0.5 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2002-11-10 | Royalton, Franklin County | F0 0.5 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $2K |
| 1996-04-19 | Mulkeytown, Franklin County | F1 0.7 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $38K |
| 1994-04-27 | West Frankfort, Franklin County | F1 1 mi x 25 yd | 0 | 1 | $995K |
| 1989-01-07 | Franklin County | F0 0.5 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1971-04-27 | Franklin County | F3 4.5 mi x 200 yd | 1 | 20 | $2.5M step |
| 1960-02-09 | Franklin County | F2 22.1 mi x 77 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K step |
| 1957-12-18 | Franklin County | F4 4.3 mi x 300 yd | 0 | 10 | $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 Franklin County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the April 2, 2026 strong wind ($1,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-04-27 | HailMacedonia, Franklin County | 1.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-04-27 | HailChristopher, Franklin County | 1.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-04-02 | Strong WindFranklin County · forecast zone Franklin | 35 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2026-02-15 | Dense FogFranklin County · forecast zone Franklin | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-02-10 | DroughtFranklin County · forecast zone Franklin | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-30 | Cold/Wind ChillFranklin County · forecast zone Franklin | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-26 | Cold/Wind ChillFranklin County · forecast zone Franklin | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-24 | Heavy SnowFranklin County · forecast zone Franklin | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-23 | Cold/Wind ChillFranklin County · forecast zone Franklin | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-08 | Strong WindFranklin County · forecast zone Franklin | 35 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2025-11-23 | Dense FogFranklin County · forecast zone Franklin | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-11-22 | Dense FogFranklin County · forecast zone Franklin | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1971-04-27 | TornadoFranklin County | F3 4.5 mi x 200 yd | 1 | 20 | $2.5M step |
| 2010-12-24 | Winter WeatherFranklin County · forecast zone Franklin A weak low pressure system moved eastward across the Lower Mississippi Valley on Christmas Eve, reaching the Southeast states during the overnight hours. At the same time, a rather strong upper level disturbance moved southeast across the central Plains. This combination of systems resulted in widespread snowfall ... | 1 | 3 | – | |
| 2025-02-20 | Cold/Wind ChillFranklin County · forecast zone Franklin One fatality occurred just west of the Rural King in West City when a man slipped into a pond and could not climb out. The official cause of death was drowning with hypothermia as a plausible alternative cause. The air temperature was around 13 degrees Fahrenheit. | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-02-15 | Cold/Wind ChillFranklin County · forecast zone Franklin A man lost his life when he was stuck outside with temperatures as low as 29 degrees Fahrenheit. The fatality occurred in a field along Cyril James Road northeast of Benton. | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 2016-08-05 | HeatFranklin County · forecast zone Franklin South of the Interstate 64 corridor, afternoon heat indices peaked from 105 to 114 degrees on the afternoons of the 4th and 5th. In Benton in Franklin County, a 43-year-old man died after working outdoors in the heat. The man was found unresponsive indoors, and he was pronounced dead that evening at a local hospital. ... | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 2013-01-13 | Winter WeatherFranklin County · forecast zone Franklin Sleet and freezing rain caused some hazardous travel conditions. North of a line from Anna to Vienna and Harrisburg, less than one-quarter inch of icing occurred, mainly on elevated objects. Some slick spots developed on roads, especially bridges and overpasses. A fatal accident occurred on Interstate 57 at mile post ... | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 2004-12-23 | Cold/Wind ChillFranklin County and Williamson County · forecast zone Williamson Bitterly cold temperatures arrived in the wake of a paralyzing snowstorm. In Murphysboro, an 84-year-old woman died from hypothermia after venturing outdoors to locate her pet dog on the evening of December 22. The woman apparently became disoriented and collapsed from hypothermia. Although she was located about an ... | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 1998-06-22 | HeatFranklin County and Williamson County · forecast zone Williamson Temperatures exceeded 90 degrees for at least 7 consecutive days. Oppressive humidity produced heat indicies as high as 110 degrees. The prolonged heat and humidity resulted in the death of an elderly man in Johnston City, near Marion. The coroner measured the temperature in his apartment, where his body was found, at ... | 1 | 0 | – |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996-05-10 | Flash FloodWest Frankfort, Franklin County | 0 | 0 | $15M | |
| 2009-05-08 | Thunderstorm WindWest Frankfort, Franklin County | 74 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $8.3M |
| 1996-04-28 | Flash FloodWest Frankfort, Franklin County | 0 | 0 | $5.7M | |
| 2008-03-18 | FloodThompsonville, Franklin County | 0 | 0 | $2.1M | |
| 1994-04-27 | TornadoWest Frankfort, Franklin County | F1 1 mi x 25 yd | 0 | 1 | $995K |
| 2017-02-28 | TornadoMulkeytown, Franklin County | EF3 4.37 mi x 400 yd | 0 | 0 | $963K |
| 2009-01-26 | Winter StormFranklin County and Williamson County · forecast zone Williamson | 0 | 0 | $688K | |
| 2011-05-01 | FloodPlumfield, Franklin County | 0 | 1 | $656K |
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: April 27, 1971 (tornado, Franklin County, 1 killed); December 18, 1957 (tornado, Franklin 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 Franklin 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 26 | 64 | 66 | 24 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 0 | 4 | 7 | 8 | 28 | 46 | 42 | 34 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | – | – | – | – | 11 | 38 | 71 | 29 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 21 | 39 | 45 | 25 |
| Heat | – | – | – | – | 12 | 25 | 57 | 26 |
| Extreme cold | – | – | – | – | 6 | 53 | 32 | 26 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
64% of its winter storm records since 1996 fell in January and February. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 136 · Feb 120 · Mar 95 · Apr 145 · May 82 · Jun 108 · Jul 134 · Aug 79 · Sep 43 · Oct 63 · Nov 59 · Dec 115 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Franklin County
FEMA's register lists 10 declarations that include Franklin County: 7 major disasters, 3 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for severe storm (4) and biological (2).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020-03-26 | DR-4489 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020-03-13 | EM-3435 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2011-06-07 | DR-1991 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 2009-07-02 | DR-1850 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes |
| 2005-09-07 | EM-3230 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2005-02-01 | EM-3199 | Snowstorm | Record/Near Record Snow |
| 2002-05-21 | DR-1416 | Tornado | Severe Storms, Tornadoes and Flooding |
| 1996-05-06 | DR-1112 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 1983-06-06 | DR-684 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes & Flooding |
| 1973-04-26 | DR-373 | 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 Franklin County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 130 flood or flash flood records for Franklin County from 1996 to 2025, on 119 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Franklin County ranks 1569th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $549,000 on 60 claims filed in Franklin County; the most in one year was 11 in 2008. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1979: 3 · 1980: 4 · 1981: 2 · 1982: 6 · 1983: 5 · 1987: 1 · 1990: 1 · 1991: 3 · 1994: 1 · 1996: 8 · 1998: 1 · 2002: 2 · 2006: 1 · 2008: 11 · 2009: 1 · 2011: 2 · 2015: 1 · 2017: 5 · 2020: 1 · 2021: 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 Franklin County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Franklin County Relatively Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $31.9 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cold Wave | Relatively High | $5.1M | 1.2 a year (modeled) |
| Strong Wind | Relatively High | $1.4M | 4.2 a year (modeled) |
| Winter Weather | Relatively High | $225K | 7.8 a year (modeled) |
| Earthquake | Relatively Moderate | $12M | once in about 127 years (modeled) |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Moderate | $1.8M | 10 modeled event-days a year |
| Tornado | Relatively Moderate | $2.8M | once in about 3 years (modeled) |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Moderate | $110K | once in about 2 years (modeled) |
| Lightning | Relatively Moderate | $247K | 53 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 Franklin 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
- Winter storms in IllinoisThe state's winter storm records, 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 Franklin CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Franklin County's FEMA declarations (CSV)10 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis