Greene County, Illinois
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 17061 · population 11,985 · 543 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 307 records for Greene County, Illinois from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 257 days; the most frequent are severe thunderstorm wind events (96 records). The most damaging was the April 24, 2002 hail ($492,000 in 2025 dollars). FEMA has issued 19 declarations naming the county since 1973, 17 of them for natural hazards; the latest for a natural hazard was “Severe Storms and Flooding” on September 19, 2019.
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
- 307on 257 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 022 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $15Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 21strongest F3
- FEMA declarations
- 19latest 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 Greene County most?
The most frequent records are severe thunderstorm wind events: 96 since 1955. 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 | 96 | 79 | 1955-2026 | 0 | 3 | $85K | 95 of 102 |
| Hail | 58 | 44 | 1963-2024 | 0 | 1 | $1.7M | 92 of 102 |
| Winter storms | 47 | 47 | 1997-2025 | 0 | 0 | – | 74 of 102 |
| Heat | 46 | 46 | 1999-2023 | 0 | 0 | – | 32 of 102 |
| Tornadoes | 21 | 19 | 1952-2024 | 0 | 18 | $13M | 83 of 102 |
| Floods | 18 | 17 | 2001-2021 | 0 | 0 | $54K | 99 of 102 |
| High wind and dust storms | 7 | 7 | 1997-2019 | 0 | 0 | $10K | 90 of 102 |
| Drought | 6 | 6 | 2005-2012 | 0 | 0 | – | 88 of 102 |
| Extreme cold | 5 | 5 | 2000-2024 | 0 | 0 | – | 91 of 102 |
| Heavy rain | 2 | 2 | 2003-2005 | 0 | 0 | – | 52 of 102 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 1 | 1 | 2004-2004 | 0 | 0 | – | 82 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 Greene County had?
NOAA records 21 tornadoes in Greene County from 1952 to 2024, the strongest rated F3, with 0 deaths and 18 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 22 tornadoes whose track touched Greene County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 21: they file a crossing tornado once per county segment, and the two databases differ on some tracks); along their whole tracks they killed 0 people.
| Date | Tornado | Rating | Path | Killed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1983-05-01 16:30, as SPC files it | Greenfield | F3 | 4 mi | 0 |
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Illinois.
Every tornado record filed for Greene County (21)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-04-18 | Greenfield, Greene County | EFU 3.68 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2021-10-11 | Wrights, Greene County | EF2 5.83 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 0 | $109K |
| 2021-06-26 | Barrow, Greene County | EFU 0.15 mi x 25 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2018-05-15 | Hillview, Greene County | EF0 0.69 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2015-05-29 | Woody, Greene County | EF1 4.68 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2012-08-31 | Carrollton, Greene County | EF0 1.44 mi x 60 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2009-08-19 | Barrow, Greene County | EF0 1.07 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2009-03-08 | Athensville, Greene County | EF1 4.81 mi x 352 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2006-03-12 | Barrow, Greene County | F1 2 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2006-03-12 | Barrow, Greene County | F1 3.5 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 2 | – |
| 2006-03-12 | Hillview, Greene County | F2 15 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1999-02-11 | Hillview, Greene County | F1 1.4 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $142K |
| 1995-07-25 | Roodhouse, Greene County | 0 | 0 | $5K | |
| 1995-05-27 | White Hall, Greene County | F1 8 mi x 120 yd | 0 | 0 | $281 |
| 1988-11-15 | Greene County | F2 0.1 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K step |
| 1983-05-01 | Greene County | F3 4 mi x 77 yd | 0 | 15 | $2.5M step |
| 1975-05-20 | Greene County | F2 | 0 | 0 | $250K step |
| 1962-04-30 | Greene County | F1 5.2 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1960-05-20 | Greene County | F0 | 0 | 0 | $3K step |
| 1960-05-06 | Greene County | F1 43.5 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K step |
| 1952-03-18 | Greene County | F1 3 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 1 | $25K 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 Greene County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the October 11, 2021 tornado ($109,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).
High resolution satellite data and information from storm spotters indicates the tornado touched down in an open field a little less than a mile south-southwest of the Berdan Road and Wrights Road intersection. The tornado moved north-northeast and intensified as it moved into the west side of the town of Wrights, IL. In Wrights, the tornado destroyed two new, well-built farm buildings, ripping one of from a concrete foundation around the perimeter of the building. The tornado then moved to the northeast, destroying two more farm buildings before crossing Wrights road, where it snapped a number of trees and rolled a camper onto a boat. The tornado continued to the northeast causing intermittent damage to trees and vegetation. The high resolution satellite data showed a prominent track in the open fields northeast of the NE 850 Ave and Super Slab Road Intersection. …
National Weather Service event narrative, NOAA Storm Events Database (search the full record, event 984763)
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-15 | Thunderstorm WindEldred, Greene County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-12-18 | Thunderstorm WindCarrollton, Greene County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-11-29 | Winter StormGreene County · forecast zone Greene | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-05-16 | Thunderstorm WindGreenfield, Greene County | 65 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-05-16 | Thunderstorm WindCarrollton, Greene County | 60 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-01-05 | Winter StormGreene County · forecast zone Greene | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2024-05-07 | Thunderstorm WindWoody, Greene County | 65 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2024-04-18 | TornadoGreenfield, Greene County | EFU 3.68 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2021-10-11 | TornadoWrights, Greene County | EF2 5.83 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 0 | $109K |
| 2021-06-26 | TornadoBarrow, Greene County | EFU 0.15 mi x 25 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2018-05-15 | TornadoHillview, Greene County | EF0 0.69 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2015-05-29 | TornadoWoody, Greene County | EF1 4.68 mi x 200 yd | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1983-05-01 | TornadoGreene County | F3 4 mi x 77 yd | 0 | 15 | $2.5M step |
| 1992-07-02 | Thunderstorm WindGreene County | 0 | 3 | – | |
| 2006-03-12 | TornadoBarrow, Greene County A second tornado formed 0.75 miles south of the Calhoun Green County tornado approximately 2.0 miles southwest of Barrow at 7:20 pm CST. This tornado initially damaged a few machine sheds and grain silos west of Highway 106 then traveled through the town of Barrow injuring 2 people, destroying two house trailers and ... | F1 3.5 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 2 | – |
| 1989-05-25 | HailGreene County | 1.75 in hail | 0 | 1 | – |
| 1952-03-18 | TornadoGreene County | F1 3 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 1 | $25K 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002-04-24 | HailGreenfield, Greene County | 1.75 in hail | 0 | 0 | $492K |
| 1999-02-11 | TornadoHillview, Greene County | F1 1.4 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $142K |
| 2021-10-11 | TornadoWrights, Greene County | EF2 5.83 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 0 | $109K |
| 1995-05-27 | TornadoWhite Hall, Greene County | F1 8 mi x 120 yd | 0 | 0 | $281 |
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: May 1, 1983 (tornado, Greene 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 Greene 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 | 2 | 2 | 13 | 17 | 31 | 15 | 12 |
| Hail | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 14 | 28 | 9 | 3 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 9 | 23 | 9 | 6 |
| Heat | – | – | – | – | 1 | 19 | 24 | 2 |
| Tornadoes | 1 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 3 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 0 | 10 | 5 | 3 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
Records by month in Greene County. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 22 · Feb 14 · Mar 16 · Apr 40 · May 48 · Jun 35 · Jul 51 · Aug 33 · Sep 12 · Oct 9 · Nov 9 · Dec 18 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Greene County
FEMA's register lists 19 declarations that include Greene County: 16 major disasters, 3 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for severe storm (8) and flood (6).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020-03-26 | DR-4489 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020-03-13 | EM-3435 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2019-09-19 | DR-4461 | Flood | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 2013-05-10 | DR-4116 | Flood | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding |
| 2008-10-03 | DR-1800 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 2008-06-24 | DR-1771 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 2006-03-28 | DR-1633 | Severe Storm | Tornadoes and Severe Storms |
| 2005-09-07 | EM-3230 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2003-05-15 | DR-1469 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| 2002-05-21 | DR-1416 | Tornado | Severe Storms, Tornadoes and Flooding |
| 1999-01-08 | EM-3134 | Snowstorm | Il-Winter Storm 1/1/99 |
| 1995-05-30 | DR-1053 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 1994-04-26 | DR-1025 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 1993-07-09 | DR-997 | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding |
| 1985-03-29 | DR-735 | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding |
| 1983-06-06 | DR-684 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes & Flooding |
| 1982-12-13 | DR-674 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes & Flooding |
| 1979-04-30 | DR-583 | Flood | Severe Storms & 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 Greene County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 18 flood or flash flood records for Greene County from 2001 to 2021, on 17 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Greene County ranks 1437th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $1.5 million on 77 claims filed in Greene County; the most in one year was 36 in 1993. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1979: 6 · 1982: 6 · 1983: 6 · 1984: 1 · 1985: 4 · 1986: 3 · 1993: 36 · 1994: 2 · 1995: 6 · 1996: 2 · 2008: 1 · 2015: 2 · 2024: 2; 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 Greene County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Greene County Very Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $6.1 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 | $528K | 2.5 modeled event-days a year |
| Landslide | Relatively Low | $11K | once in about 3 years (modeled) |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | $686K | 9.6 modeled event-days a year |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | $1.1M | 2.5 a year (modeled) |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | $600K | 5.9 a year (modeled) |
| Hail | Relatively Low | $202K | 4.7 a year (modeled) |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | $629K | once in about 2 years (modeled) |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | $98K | 48 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 Greene 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 Greene CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Greene County's FEMA declarations (CSV)19 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis