Johnson County, Illinois
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 17087 · population 13,301 · 344 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 719 records for Johnson County, Illinois from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 648 days; the most frequent are fog, smoke and funnel cloud records (113 records). 482 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 July 7, 2016 flood: 1 death, 1 injury and $18,000 in damage in 2025 dollars. FEMA has issued 7 declarations naming the county since 1973, 5 of them for natural hazards; the latest for a natural hazard was “Severe Winter Storm” on March 2, 2009.
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
- 719on 648 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 124 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $38Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 21strongest EF3
- 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 Johnson County most?
The most frequent records are fog, smoke and funnel cloud records: 113 since 1997. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 113 | 111 | 1997-2026 | 0 | 0 | – | 9 of 102 |
| Winter storms | 113 | 113 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 0 | $1.6M | 11 of 102 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 96 | 90 | 1974-2025 | 0 | 7 | $1.9M | 36 of 102 |
| Hail | 88 | 75 | 1965-2026 | 0 | 0 | $12M | 9 of 102 |
| Heat | 86 | 86 | 1997-2025 | 0 | 0 | – | 8 of 102 |
| Extreme cold | 76 | 76 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 0 | $4.3M | 8 of 102 |
| High wind and dust storms | 64 | 64 | 1996-2025 | 0 | 0 | $2.1M | 12 of 102 |
| Drought | 32 | 32 | 1996-2025 | 0 | 0 | $4.9M | 9 of 102 |
| Floods | 26 | 24 | 1996-2024 | 1 | 3 | $2.6M | 61 of 102 |
| Tornadoes | 21 | 15 | 1957-2025 | 0 | 14 | $8.6M | 57 of 102 |
| Heavy rain | 4 | 4 | 2003-2009 | 0 | 0 | – | 31 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 Johnson County had?
NOAA records 21 tornadoes in Johnson County from 1957 to 2025, the strongest rated EF3, with 0 deaths and 14 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 Johnson 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 1 person, 0 of them in Johnson County.
| Date | Tornado | Rating | Path | Killed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002-04-28 00:18, as SPC files it | Dongola to Cypress | F3 | 19.3 mi | 1 |
| 2024-05-26 17:38, as SPC files it | Goreville | EF3 | 4.87 mi | 0 |
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Illinois.
Every tornado record filed for Johnson County (21)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-03-15 | Boles, Johnson County | EF2 15.63 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 0 | $1.0M |
| 2024-05-26 | Elvira, Johnson County | EF1 4.7 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $14K |
| 2024-05-26 | Goreville, Johnson County | EF3 4.87 mi x 300 yd | 0 | 1 | $706K |
| 2015-06-19 | Goreville, Johnson County | EF1 0.4 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $6K |
| 2013-10-31 | Belknap, Johnson County | EF1 0.7 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $38K |
| 2011-05-25 | Crossroads, Johnson County | EF1 8.07 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | $98K |
| 2004-10-18 | Tunnel Hill, Johnson County | F1 8 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $78K |
| 2004-10-18 | Goreville, Johnson County | F2 4.3 mi x 250 yd | 0 | 2 | $781K |
| 2004-10-18 | Goreville, Johnson County | F1 2.5 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 1 | $16K |
| 2003-05-06 | Reevesville, Johnson County | F0 0.2 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2003-05-06 | Cypress, Johnson County | F0 0.2 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2002-04-28 | Vienna, Johnson County | F2 7 mi x 400 yd | 0 | 2 | $164K |
| 2002-04-28 | Cypress, Johnson County | F2 3 mi x 400 yd | 0 | 2 | $4.9M |
| 1998-06-14 | Tunnel Hill, Johnson County | F0 0.3 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | $9K |
| 1998-04-13 | Cypress, Johnson County | F1 1 mi x 40 yd | 0 | 1 | $109K |
| 1986-05-15 | Johnson County | F1 6 mi x 33 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1975-03-28 | Johnson County | F0 0.1 mi x 7 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1974-06-22 | Johnson County | F2 | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1972-04-14 | Johnson County | F2 10.9 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1972-04-14 | Johnson County | F2 4.9 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 5 | $25K step |
| 1957-12-18 | Johnson County | F2 0.1 mi x 33 yd | 0 | 0 | $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 Johnson County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the May 20, 2025 thunderstorm wind ($5,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).
Straight line wind damage occurred to several trees along Pleasant Grove Rd southwest of Buncombe, following the lifting of a tornado, including trees that snapped or were uprooted.
National Weather Service event narrative, NOAA Storm Events Database (search the full record, event 1272617)
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-04-27 | HailGoreville, Johnson County | 1.50 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-02-15 | Dense FogJohnson County · forecast zone Johnson | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-31 | Cold/Wind ChillJohnson County · forecast zone Johnson | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-26 | Cold/Wind ChillJohnson County · forecast zone Johnson | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-24 | Winter StormJohnson County · forecast zone Johnson | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-23 | Cold/Wind ChillJohnson County · forecast zone Johnson | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-21 | Winter WeatherJohnson County · forecast zone Johnson | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-08 | Dense FogJohnson County · forecast zone Johnson | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-11-23 | Dense FogJohnson County · forecast zone Johnson | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-11-22 | Dense FogJohnson County · forecast zone Johnson | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-11-21 | Dense FogJohnson County · forecast zone Johnson | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-11-07 | Dense FogJohnson County · forecast zone Johnson | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016-07-07 | FloodVienna, Johnson County Just northwest of Vienna, an elderly lady drowned after her vehicle was driven into a flooded creek. The 75-year-old woman died after her family drove off a section of the road that was covered in floodwater from Dutchman Creek. The vehicle was carried downstream. The other three individuals in the vehicle were ... | 1 | 1 | $18K | |
| 1972-04-14 | TornadoJohnson County | F2 4.9 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 5 | $25K step |
| 2012-07-01 | Thunderstorm WindGoreville, Johnson County A tree fell on a deck, injuring four people. The house was in a subdivision near Lake of Egypt. | 52 kt wind | 0 | 4 | $13K |
| 2008-03-18 | FloodGoreville, Johnson County Major flooding occurred in Vienna, where numerous businesses were flooded. A car dealership and another business had 2 to 3 feet of water inside. Local residents reported that flooding in Vienna was the worst since 1973. A number of residences around the county were flooded. Route 37 south of West Vienna was ... | 0 | 2 | $2.2M | |
| 2004-10-18 | TornadoGoreville, Johnson County The tornado turned east-southeast from Williamson County back into Johnson County. The bulk of the damage and injuries occurred in a neighborhood on the southern half of the Lake of Egypt. The two injured persons were mobile home residents whose homes were demolished. One of the mobile homes was swept clean off its ... | F2 4.3 mi x 250 yd | 0 | 2 | $781K |
| 2002-04-28 | TornadoCypress, Johnson County The tornado entered Johnson County near Cypress and was on the ground for only a few miles in Johnson County. Cypress was impacted directly, where about 50 structures were damaged, including a school. The school lost portions of upper story walls and the roof. Two trailers were destroyed. | F2 3 mi x 400 yd | 0 | 2 | $4.9M |
| 2002-04-28 | TornadoVienna, Johnson County This tornado was produced by the same supercell thunderstorm that spawned a long-track tornado over southern Union and southwest Johnson Counties. This tornado touched down along U.S. Highway 45, about 3 miles south of Vienna. The tornado moved east across Interstate 24, and then dissipated about 1.5 miles east of the ... | F2 7 mi x 400 yd | 0 | 2 | $164K |
| 2024-05-26 | TornadoGoreville, Johnson County An EF-3 tornado began north of Goreville, IL, where a security camera at a house on Newton Lane captured the tornado's formation. Crossing I-57, the tornado snapped large tree limbs and damaged an outbuilding on Pulley's Mill Ln. The tornado was again filmed crossing I-24 northeast of Goreville. Along IL-37, the ... | EF3 4.87 mi x 300 yd | 0 | 1 | $706K |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000-05-23 | HailGoreville, Johnson County | 2.75 in hail | 0 | 0 | $12M |
| 2002-04-28 | TornadoCypress, Johnson County | F2 3 mi x 400 yd | 0 | 2 | $4.9M |
| 2007-04-08 | Frost/FreezeJohnson County · forecast zone Johnson | 0 | 0 | $4.3M | |
| 2008-03-18 | FloodGoreville, Johnson County | 0 | 2 | $2.2M | |
| 2025-03-15 | TornadoBoles, Johnson County | EF2 15.63 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 0 | $1.0M |
| 2004-10-18 | TornadoGoreville, Johnson County | F2 4.3 mi x 250 yd | 0 | 2 | $781K |
| 2024-05-26 | TornadoGoreville, Johnson County | EF3 4.87 mi x 300 yd | 0 | 1 | $706K |
| 2002-04-28 | TornadoVienna, Johnson County | F2 7 mi x 400 yd | 0 | 2 | $164K |
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 $25K, in the dollars of the day) holds: April 14, 1972 (tornado, Johnson County); December 18, 1957 (tornado, Johnson County); April 14, 1972 (tornado, Johnson 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 Johnson 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | – | – | – | – | 5 | 20 | 55 | 33 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 10 | 32 | 49 | 22 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 28 | 33 | 21 | 11 |
| Hail | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 11 | 40 | 25 | 6 |
| Heat | – | – | – | – | 6 | 12 | 40 z | 28 |
| Extreme cold | – | – | – | – | 3 | 27 | 24 | 22 |
Heat in the 2010s: 40 records against 12 in the decade before, 40 of them forecast-zone records. Cells marked z rose mostly through zone records. The local National Weather Service office files these once per forecast zone, so a change in how it draws its zones or splits a storm into records moves this count as much as the weather does; read it beside the Johnson County days with a record above.
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 Johnson County. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 88 · Feb 72 · Mar 55 · Apr 83 · May 64 · Jun 54 · Jul 81 · Aug 51 · Sep 20 · Oct 38 · Nov 48 · Dec 65 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Johnson County
FEMA's register lists 7 declarations that include Johnson County: 4 major disasters, 3 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for biological (2) and severe storm (1).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020-03-26 | DR-4489 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020-03-13 | EM-3435 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2009-03-02 | DR-1826 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 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 |
| 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 Johnson County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 26 flood or flash flood records for Johnson County from 1996 to 2024, on 24 days, with 1 death. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Johnson County ranks 2685th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $20,000 on 3 claims filed in Johnson County; the most in one year was 2 in 2008. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
2008: 2 · 2023: 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 Johnson County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Johnson County Relatively Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $11.9 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Earthquake | Relatively Moderate | $4.4M | once in about 100 years (modeled) |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate | $676K | 4 a year (modeled) |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Moderate | $145K | about once a year (modeled) |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Moderate | $76K | 7.5 a year (modeled) |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | $623K | 10 modeled event-days a year |
| Hail | Relatively Low | $346K | 3.2 a year (modeled) |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | $1.2M | 1.1 a year (modeled) |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | $1.1M | once in about 3 years (modeled) |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
Counties that share a border with Johnson 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
- The Illinois recordEvery hazard in the state, its deadliest events and its federal declarations
- FEMA's risk rating for each hazard in Johnson CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Johnson County's FEMA declarations (CSV)7 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis