McLean County, Illinois
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 17113 · population 170,926 · 1,183 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 1,003 records for McLean County, Illinois from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 497 days; the most frequent are severe thunderstorm wind events (368 records). The deadliest single record is the December 28, 2015 ice storm, filed for the forecast zone McLean, which covers the county: 2 deaths and $1.2 million in damage in 2025 dollars. FEMA has issued 11 declarations naming the county since 1968, 9 of them for natural hazards; the latest for a natural hazard was “Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm” on March 17, 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
- 1,003on 497 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 1952 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $211Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 122strongest F3
- FEMA declarations
- 11latest 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 McLean County most?
The most frequent records are severe thunderstorm wind events: 368 since 1958. 49% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1958 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 | 368 | 184 | 1958-2026 | 1 | 15 | $13M | 91 of 102 |
| Hail | 245 | 133 | 1961-2026 | 0 | 0 | $10K | 65 of 102 |
| Tornadoes | 122 | 83 | 1950-2026 | 0 | 5 | $67M | 13 of 102 |
| Winter storms | 99 | 71 | 1996-2026 | 9 | 31 | $3.5M | 98 of 102 |
| Floods | 52 | 40 | 1998-2026 | 0 | 0 | $14M | 96 of 102 |
| High wind and dust storms | 37 | 25 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 0 | $38K | 66 of 102 |
| Heat | 29 | 19 | 1997-2024 | 4 | 0 | – | 80 of 102 |
| Extreme cold | 21 | 17 | 1996-2026 | 4 | 0 | – | 76 of 102 |
| Drought | 20 | 16 | 2012-2026 | 0 | 0 | $112M | 82 of 102 |
| Lightning | 6 | 6 | 2008-2020 | 0 | 0 | $520K | 46 of 102 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 4 | 3 | 2008-2015 | 1 | 1 | – | 66 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 McLean County had?
NOAA records 122 tornadoes in McLean County from 1950 to 2026, the strongest rated F3, with 0 deaths and 5 injuries recorded in the county. That is 13th of 102 Illinois counties and 182nd of 3,080 U.S. 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 122 tornadoes whose track touched McLean County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 122, the same count); along their whole tracks they killed 0 people.
| Date | Tornado | Rating | Path | Killed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996-04-19 17:58, as SPC files it | Armington | F3 | 9.4 mi | 0 |
| 1974-04-03 13:30, as SPC files it | Anchor | F3 | 7.4 mi | 0 |
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Illinois.
Every tornado record filed for McLean County (122)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-11 | Mc Nulta, McLean County | EF0 1.11 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-12-28 | Saybrook, McLean County | EF1 0.86 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-06-18 | Laurette, McLean County | EFU 0.1 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2024-06-13 | Anchor, McLean County | EF1 4.2 mi x 1,300 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2024-06-13 | Anchor, McLean County | EF1 0.94 mi x 60 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2024-06-13 | Ballard, McLean County | EF1 1.27 mi x 80 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2024-06-13 | Ballard, McLean County | EF1 0.61 mi x 60 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2024-06-13 | Ballard, McLean County | EF1 0.71 mi x 60 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2023-01-03 | Troster, McLean County | EF1 0.46 mi x 25 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2022-09-18 | Le Roy, McLean County | EF0 2.97 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2022-04-30 | Colfax, McLean County | EFU 0.31 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2021-06-25 | Gillum, McLean County | EF0 0.21 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2020-07-15 | Gridley, McLean County | EFU 0.21 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2019-06-15 | Laurette, McLean County | EF1 1.94 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $46K |
| 2018-12-01 | Colfax, McLean County | EF1 0.49 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 0 | $129K |
| 2018-12-01 | Padua, McLean County | EF0 0.12 mi x 25 yd | 0 | 0 | $35K |
| 2018-12-01 | Le Roy, McLean County | EF2 2.44 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $88K |
| 2018-12-01 | Empire, McLean County | EF1 0.21 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $88K |
| 2018-06-21 | Clarksville, McLean County | EF0 0.17 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2014-05-28 | Le Roy, McLean County | EF0 0.2 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2011-05-25 | Le Roy, McLean County | EF1 10.3 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 0 | $13K |
| 2011-05-25 | Heyworth, McLean County | EF0 0.9 mi x 25 yd | 0 | 0 | $10K |
| 2009-08-19 | Holder, McLean County | EF0 2.48 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | $6K |
| 2008-06-15 | Colfax, McLean County | EF0 0.8 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | $69K |
| 2008-06-04 | Woodruff, McLean County | EF0 3.68 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2007-03-28 | Mc Lean, McLean County | EF0 0.1 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2006-06-02 | Danvers, McLean County | F0 0.2 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2006-04-02 | Gridley, McLean County | F0 1.1 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2006-04-02 | Arrowsmith, McLean County | F1 1 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2006-04-02 | Hudson, McLean County | F0 0.2 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2006-04-02 | Towanda, McLean County | F0 0.1 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2004-07-13 | Normal, McLean County | F0 0.1 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2004-05-23 | Gridley, McLean County | F2 5.3 mi x 216 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2004-05-18 | Bloomington, McLean County | F0 0.1 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2003-06-13 | Kumler, McLean County | F0 0.1 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2003-05-14 | Le Roy, McLean County | F0 0.1 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2003-04-04 | Mc Lean, McLean County | F0 0.1 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2002-05-08 | Gridley, McLean County | F0 1 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2000-08-23 | Twin Grove, McLean County | F1 0.5 mi x 86 yd | 0 | 0 | $12K |
| 2000-05-18 | Le Roy, McLean County | F0 0.1 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2000-05-18 | Le Roy, McLean County | F0 0.1 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2000-05-08 | Shamrock, McLean County | F2 4 mi x 400 yd | 0 | 4 | $300K |
| 1999-06-04 | Chenoa, McLean County | F0 2 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1999-06-04 | Lexington, McLean County | F0 0.1 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1999-06-04 | Heyworth, McLean County | F0 3.5 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1999-06-04 | Bloomington, McLean County | F0 0.1 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1999-06-04 | Carlock, McLean County | F0 0.1 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1999-06-04 | Anchor, McLean County | F0 3.5 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1999-06-04 | Saybrook, McLean County | F0 0.1 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1998-04-29 | Ellsworth, McLean County | F0 3 mi x 35 yd | 0 | 0 | $63K |
| 1997-04-30 | Downs, McLean County | F0 14.5 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $184K |
| 1996-04-19 | Mc Lean, McLean County | F3 4.8 mi x 880 yd | 0 | 0 | $1.9M |
| 1995-05-13 | Sabina To, McLean County | F1 4 mi x 220 yd | 0 | 0 | $1.0M |
| 1995-05-13 | Carlock, McLean County | F0 0.1 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | $290K |
| 1995-05-09 | McLean County | F1 3 mi x 220 yd | 0 | 0 | $205K |
| 1995-05-09 | Saybrook, McLean County | F0 2 mi x 220 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1995-05-09 | Leroy, McLean County | F1 13 mi x 220 yd | 0 | 0 | $290K |
| 1992-09-09 | McLean County | F0 0.2 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1992-08-26 | McLean County | F0 0.1 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1992-05-04 | McLean County | F0 0.1 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
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 McLean County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the March 19, 2025 thunderstorm wind (1 injury).
A semi-truck was overturned by thunderstorm wind gusts along I-39. The driver was transported to the hospital.
National Weather Service event narrative, NOAA Storm Events Database (search the full record, event 1240543)
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-17 | Flash FloodGillum, McLean County | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-06-17 | Flash FloodHendrix, McLean County | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-06-17 | Flash FloodLaurette, McLean County | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-06-17 | Flash FloodHeyworth, McLean County | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-06-17 | Thunderstorm WindMeadows, McLean County | 65 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-17 | Thunderstorm WindChenoa, McLean County | 70 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-17 | Thunderstorm WindGridley, McLean County | 61 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-11 | Thunderstorm WindTowanda, McLean County | 61 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-11 | Thunderstorm WindBellflower, McLean County | 61 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-11 | Thunderstorm WindBellflower, McLean County | 61 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-11 | Thunderstorm WindSaybrook, McLean County | 61 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-11 | Thunderstorm WindLe Roy, McLean County | 61 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015-12-28 | Ice StormMcLean County · forecast zone McLean Weather observers across McLean County reported ice accumulations of up to 0.25. This amount of ice combined with winds gusting as high as 35 to 45 mph caused extensive damage to trees, power poles, and power lines. Several homes were damaged by falling trees and tree branches. About 50,000 people lost power for up to ... | 2 | 0 | $1.2M | |
| 2010-02-05 | Winter WeatherMcLean County · forecast zone McLean Two to three inches of snow across McLean County caused area roadways to become slick and hazardous. A 27-year old woman was killed when the vehicle she was riding in collided with another vehicle just east of Gridley. Numerous other minor traffic accidents were also reported across the county. | 1 | 3 | – | |
| 2009-06-27 | Thunderstorm WindCovel, McLean County A canopy was blown across a road in rural McLean County, causing a head-on collision between two vehicles. The incident took place near the intersection of 1100 N and 600 E. A 91 year-old woman who was a passenger in one of the vehicles died at the scene. The strong winds were caused by a thunderstorm gust front and ... | 35 kt wind | 1 | 3 | $48K |
| 2015-12-07 | Dense FogMcLean County · forecast zone McLean Due to poor visibility in dense fog, a two-car accident occurred in rural McLean County just east of Bloomington on December 7th, 2015 at around 11:20 AM CST. The driver of one of the vehicles was killed, while the driver of the other vehicle was injured and treated at a local hospital. | 1 | 1 | – | |
| 2024-01-23 | Cold/Wind ChillMcLean County · forecast zone McLean A 59 year-old man from Normal died of hypothermia after slipping and falling outside. | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 2014-08-25 | HeatMcLean County · forecast zone McLean A 55 year-old man died in the town of Gridley in northern McLean County on Monday, August 25th as a result of prolonged exposure to heat. High temperatures at the time of his death were in the lower 90s, while heat index values were between 100 and 105. A Heat Advisory was in effect for McLean County at the time. | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 2014-01-31 | Winter WeatherMcLean County · forecast zone McLean A 48 year-old man died on February 3rd from injuries he sustained from a weather-related traffic accident on January 31st. The accident occurred just before 3 PM on January 31st at the intersection of Route 24 and County Road 2480 East in Chenoa when his pick-up truck was struck by a car that lost control in light ... | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 2014-01-26 | Cold/Wind ChillMcLean County · forecast zone McLean A 19 year-old man died as a result of hypothermia when he wandered away from the Chateau Hotel in Bloomington on January 26th. He was found in a field and pronounced dead at 8:25 AM. Air temperatures were in the single digits and wind-chill readings ranged from -3 to -8 at the time of his death. | 1 | 0 | – |
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012-09-01 | DroughtMcLean County · forecast zone McLean | 0 | 0 | $84M | |
| 2012-09-01 | DroughtDe Witt County and McLean County · forecast zone De Witt | 0 | 0 | $28M | |
| 2021-06-25 | Flash FloodStanford, McLean County | 0 | 0 | $13M | |
| 2012-08-09 | Thunderstorm WindDanvers, McLean County | 70 kt wind | 0 | 1 | $4.5M |
| 1998-06-29 | Thunderstorm WindCountywide, McLean County | 0 | 0 | $2.0M | |
| 2000-04-20 | Thunderstorm WindCountywide, McLean County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1.9M |
| 2015-12-28 | Ice StormMcLean County · forecast zone McLean | 2 | 0 | $1.2M | |
| 1995-05-13 | TornadoSabina To, McLean County | F1 4 mi x 220 yd | 0 | 0 | $1.0M |
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 13, 1981 (tornado, McLean County); August 24, 1982 (tornado, McLean County); August 24, 1982 (tornado, McLean 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 McLean 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 | 3 | 1 | 13 | 24 | 36 | 84 | 59 | 148 |
| Hail | 0 | 1 | 13 | 11 | 22 | 93 | 49 | 56 |
| Tornadoes | 4 | 8 | 19 | 26 | 23 | 20 | 9 | 13 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 24 | 37 | 29 | 9 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 1 | 10 | 20 | 21 |
| High wind and dust storms | – | – | – | – | 12 | 9 | 5 | 11 |
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 1958 fell in June and July. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 59 · Feb 37 · Mar 73 · Apr 118 · May 148 · Jun 210 · Jul 133 · Aug 85 · Sep 34 · Oct 18 · Nov 38 · Dec 50 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for McLean County
FEMA's register lists 11 declarations that include McLean County: 7 major disasters, 4 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for snowstorm (3) and biological (2).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020-03-26 | DR-4489 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020-03-13 | EM-3435 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2011-03-17 | 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 |
| 2001-01-17 | EM-3161 | Snowstorm | Illinois Winter Snow Storms |
| 1999-01-08 | EM-3134 | Snowstorm | Il-Winter Storm 1/1/99 |
| 1990-03-06 | DR-860 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Ice Storm |
| 1974-04-11 | DR-427 | Tornado | Tornadoes |
| 1973-04-26 | DR-373 | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding |
| 1968-06-05 | DR-242 | Tornado | Tornadoes, 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 McLean County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 52 flood or flash flood records for McLean County from 1998 to 2026, on 40 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), McLean County ranks 971st of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $1.7 million on 188 claims filed in McLean County; the most in one year was 35 in 1982. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1979: 18 · 1980: 14 · 1981: 19 · 1982: 35 · 1983: 2 · 1984: 2 · 1986: 11 · 1993: 7 · 1995: 1 · 1996: 6 · 1997: 1 · 2003: 17 · 2004: 3 · 2005: 2 · 2006: 1 · 2007: 1 · 2008: 8 · 2009: 2 · 2010: 1 · 2014: 1 · 2015: 9 · 2018: 2 · 2019: 2 · 2020: 3 · 2021: 14 · 2025: 2 · 2026: 4; 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 McLean County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates McLean County Relatively Moderate overall, with an expected annual loss of $81.3 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 | $26M | 4.9 a year (modeled) |
| Drought | Relatively High | $2.6M | 3.4 modeled event-days a year |
| Winter Weather | Relatively High | $358K | 11 a year (modeled) |
| Tornado | Relatively Moderate | $8.8M | 1.3 a year (modeled) |
| Hail | Relatively Moderate | $1.9M | 3.3 a year (modeled) |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Moderate | $2.6M | 6.3 modeled event-days a year |
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively Moderate | $33M | 1.3 a year (modeled) |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate | $1.8M | 5.1 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 McLean 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 McLean CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download McLean County's FEMA declarations (CSV)11 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis