Peoria County, Illinois
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 17143 · population 181,691 · 619 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 875 records for Peoria County, Illinois from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 468 days; the most frequent are severe thunderstorm wind events (406 records). The deadliest single record is the March 8, 1998 winter storm, filed for the forecast zone Peoria, which covers the county: 2 deaths. FEMA has issued 15 declarations naming the county since 1973, 13 of them for natural hazards; the latest for a natural hazard was “Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding” on May 10, 2013.
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
- 875on 468 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 2051 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $429Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 32strongest F4
- FEMA declarations
- 15latest 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 Peoria County most?
The most frequent records are severe thunderstorm wind events: 406 since 1955. 48% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1955 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 | 406 | 214 | 1955-2026 | 2 | 7 | $8.5M | 11 of 102 |
| Hail | 238 | 131 | 1957-2026 | 0 | 0 | $3.8M | 14 of 102 |
| Winter storms | 72 | 71 | 1996-2026 | 4 | 10 | $3.8M | 59 of 102 |
| Floods | 49 | 43 | 1996-2023 | 1 | 2 | $200M | 62 of 102 |
| Tornadoes | 32 | 25 | 1961-2024 | 0 | 30 | $168M | 68 of 102 |
| High wind and dust storms | 20 | 18 | 1996-2024 | 0 | 0 | $131K | 49 of 102 |
| Extreme cold | 17 | 17 | 1996-2026 | 6 | 0 | – | 48 of 102 |
| Heat | 16 | 16 | 1997-2025 | 7 | 0 | – | 64 of 102 |
| Drought | 15 | 15 | 2012-2026 | 0 | 0 | $44M | 55 of 102 |
| Lightning | 9 | 8 | 2008-2022 | 0 | 2 | $486K | 13 of 102 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 1 | 1 | 2008-2008 | 0 | 0 | – | 85 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 Peoria County had?
NOAA records 32 tornadoes in Peoria County from 1961 to 2024, the strongest rated F4, with 0 deaths and 30 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 38 tornadoes whose track touched Peoria County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 32: 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1976-06-29 13:45, as SPC files it | Dunlap | F4 | 4.9 mi | 0 |
| 1965-09-14 14:40, as SPC files it | Peoria | F3 | 6.6 mi | 0 |
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Illinois.
Every tornado record filed for Peoria County (32)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-07-15 | Alta, Peoria County | EF0 2.54 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2024-07-15 | Dunlap, Peoria County | EF1 2.4 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2024-07-15 | Laura, Peoria County | EF0 4.35 mi x 80 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2020-05-28 | Edelstein, Peoria County | EFU 1.69 mi x 25 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2020-03-28 | Bartonville, Peoria County | EF1 3.27 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $342K |
| 2017-07-10 | Princeville, Peoria County | EF0 1.6 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2017-02-28 | Edgewater Terrace, Peoria County | EF0 0.89 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $90K |
| 2017-02-28 | Dunlap, Peoria County | EF0 0.07 mi x 25 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2016-03-15 | Pottstown, Peoria County | EF0 3.68 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | $320K |
| 2016-03-15 | Trivoli, Peoria County | EF2 7.55 mi x 440 yd | 0 | 0 | $1.2M |
| 2015-04-09 | Akron, Peoria County | EF0 0.15 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2013-11-17 | Orchard Mines, Peoria County | EF0 0.16 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $51K |
| 2010-06-05 | Orange Prairie, Peoria County | EF0 2.02 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $135K |
| 2010-06-05 | Kramm, Peoria County | EF1 3.88 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 0 | $230K |
| 2010-06-05 | Southport, Peoria County | EF1 4.86 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $115K |
| 2010-06-05 | Elmwood, Peoria County | EF2 2.1 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $115M |
| 2010-05-25 | Laura, Peoria County | EF0 0.65 mi x 15 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2009-07-08 | Lancaster, Peoria County | EF0 0.1 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1998-04-07 | Hanna City, Peoria County | F0 0.1 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1997-04-30 | Elmwood, Peoria County | F0 16 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $46K |
| 1996-06-06 | Mossville, Peoria County | F0 0.5 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1996-04-19 | Brimfield, Peoria County | F0 4 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1995-05-13 | Princeville, Peoria County | F1 7 mi x 220 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1990-06-13 | Peoria County | F0 7 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | $3K step |
| 1981-07-25 | Peoria County | F2 2 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K step |
| 1981-05-27 | Peoria County | F0 0.5 mi x 13 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1976-06-29 | Peoria County | F4 4.9 mi x 40 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K step |
| 1974-06-08 | Peoria County | F0 | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1973-03-31 | Peoria County | F1 | 0 | 0 | $3K step |
| 1965-09-14 | Peoria County | F3 6.6 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 30 | $2.5M step |
| 1962-05-28 | Peoria County | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 1961-05-14 | Peoria County | F3 20.2 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $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 Peoria County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the July 23, 2025 heat (1 death).
A 61-year old man was found unresponsive outdoors in Peoria on July 23rd. Temperatures at the time were in the lower 90s while heat index readings were around 107 degrees. The man was given emergency treatment for hyperthermia, but died in the hospital a short time later.
National Weather Service event narrative, NOAA Storm Events Database (search the full record, event 1277316)
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-17 | Thunderstorm WindPrinceville, Peoria County | 55 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-17 | Thunderstorm WindBellevue, Peoria County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-17 | Thunderstorm WindDunlap, Peoria County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-17 | Thunderstorm WindPrinceville, Peoria County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-11 | Thunderstorm WindPeoria County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-11 | Thunderstorm WindPeoria County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-11 | Thunderstorm WindWest Peoria, Peoria County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-11 | Thunderstorm WindBartonville, Peoria County | 61 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-11 | Thunderstorm WindTrivoli, Peoria County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-11 | Thunderstorm WindGlasford, Peoria County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-11 | Thunderstorm WindGtr Peoria Airport, Peoria County | 55 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-11 | HailBartonville, Peoria County | 1.00 in hail | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998-03-08 | Winter StormPeoria County · forecast zone Peoria A storm over the Southern Plains moved northeast bringing rain to the area which switched over to snow in the evening on March 8th. The snowfall persisted overnight with a mixture of freezing rain and snow in our southeastern counties. By the time the snow tapered off, snowfall amounts ranged from 2 inches in Coles ... | 2 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-07-23 | HeatPeoria County · forecast zone Peoria A 61-year old man was found unresponsive outdoors in Peoria on July 23rd. Temperatures at the time were in the lower 90s while heat index readings were around 107 degrees. The man was given emergency treatment for hyperthermia, but died in the hospital a short time later. | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 2024-07-15 | Thunderstorm WindElmore, Peoria County A tree fell onto an RV that was parked on a property off Cedar Bluff Road near the Spoon River south of Elmore. Nearly a week later, on July 23, 2024, a 77-year old man from New York was reported missing after last being seen in his RV. Law enforcement found that his cell phone last used a phone tower near Elmore, and ... | 52 kt wind | 1 | 0 | – |
| 2023-07-27 | Excessive HeatPeoria County · forecast zone Peoria A two-day stretch of dangerous heat and humidity occurred across the Midwest as high temperatures climbed into the 90s while dewpoints were in the upper 70s or low 80s. In Peoria County, Peoria International Airport recorded high temperatures of 98 degrees on both July 27 and July 28, a maximum dewpoint of 82 degrees ... | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 2021-01-20 | Cold/Wind ChillPeoria County · forecast zone Peoria A 57-year old man died as a result of hypothermia after he fell outside his Chillicothe home and could not get back inside. Weather conditions were near normal for the time of year, with early morning lows in the teens and afternoon highs reaching the middle 30s. | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 2020-02-13 | Cold/Wind ChillPeoria County · forecast zone Peoria A 64-year old homeless man from Peoria died in his car around midday on February 13th. Temperatures at the time of his death were in the teens while wind-chill values were sub-zero. An autopsy revealed his cause of death as hypothermia. | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 2020-01-20 | Cold/Wind ChillPeoria County · forecast zone Peoria An 80 year-old woman was found dead in her home on the morning of January 20th. After an autopsy, the cause of death was determined to be hypothermia due to very cold conditions in her home, which did not have a functioning heater. The low temperature at the Peoria Airport that morning was 9 degrees. | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 2019-07-17 | Excessive HeatPeoria County · forecast zone Peoria A 61-year old woman died from heatstroke in Peoria on July 21st. She was found inside a 97-degree house with no air conditioning. | 1 | 0 | – |
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013-04-17 | Flash FloodSankoty, Peoria County | 0 | 2 | $127M | |
| 2010-06-05 | TornadoElmwood, Peoria County | EF2 2.1 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $115M |
| 2013-06-24 | Flash FloodElmore, Peoria County | 0 | 0 | $38M | |
| 2013-05-01 | FloodNorth Chillicothe, Peoria County | 1 | 0 | $35M | |
| 1998-06-29 | Thunderstorm WindCountywide, Peoria County | 0 | 4 | $2.8M | |
| 2016-11-02 | HailElmwood, Peoria County | 1.75 in hail | 0 | 0 | $2.5M |
| 2015-12-28 | Ice StormPeoria County · forecast zone Peoria | 0 | 0 | $2.1M | |
| 2009-06-18 | Thunderstorm WindElmwood, Peoria County | 61 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1.5M |
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: September 14, 1965 (tornado, Peoria County); May 14, 1961 (tornado, Peoria 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 Peoria 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 | 1 | 8 | 16 | 22 | 53 | 88 | 90 | 128 |
| Hail | 1 | 4 | 9 | 11 | 10 | 62 | 90 | 51 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 14 | 23 | 22 | 13 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 3 | 11 | 26 | 9 |
| Tornadoes | 0 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 6 | 1 | 12 | 5 |
| High wind and dust storms | – | – | – | – | 6 | 5 | 4 | 5 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
48% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1955 fell in June and July. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 37 · Feb 34 · Mar 71 · Apr 82 · May 141 · Jun 197 · Jul 117 · Aug 82 · Sep 40 · Oct 12 · Nov 32 · Dec 30 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Peoria County
FEMA's register lists 15 declarations that include Peoria County: 9 major disasters, 6 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for flood (5) and snowstorm (5).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020-03-26 | DR-4489 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020-03-13 | EM-3435 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2013-05-10 | DR-4116 | Flood | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding |
| 2011-03-17 | DR-1960 | Snowstorm | Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm |
| 2008-10-03 | DR-1800 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 2006-12-29 | EM-3269 | Snowstorm | Snow |
| 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 |
| 1985-03-29 | DR-735 | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding |
| 1982-12-13 | DR-674 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes & Flooding |
| 1979-04-30 | DR-583 | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding |
| 1979-01-16 | EM-3068 | Snowstorm | Blizzards & Snowstorms |
| 1974-06-10 | DR-438 | 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 Peoria County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 49 flood or flash flood records for Peoria County from 1996 to 2023, on 43 days, with 1 death. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Peoria County ranks 153rd of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $23.6 million on 2,547 claims filed in Peoria County; the most in one year was 575 in 1982. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1978: 26 · 1979: 364 · 1980: 32 · 1981: 25 · 1982: 575 · 1983: 162 · 1984: 13 · 1985: 370 · 1986: 37 · 1988: 1 · 1989: 1 · 1990: 25 · 1991: 3 · 1992: 1 · 1993: 43 · 1994: 1 · 1995: 62 · 1996: 9 · 1997: 108 · 1998: 20 · 1999: 8 · 2001: 3 · 2002: 32 · 2003: 2 · 2004: 4 · 2005: 12 · 2006: 1 · 2007: 10 · 2008: 99 · 2009: 121 · 2010: 7 · 2011: 4 · 2013: 215 · 2014: 2 · 2015: 46 · 2016: 10 · 2017: 4 · 2018: 8 · 2019: 46 · 2020: 28 · 2022: 3 · 2023: 1 · 2024: 1 · 2026: 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 Peoria County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Peoria County Relatively Moderate overall, with an expected annual loss of $84.7 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 | $25M | 5.4 a year (modeled) |
| Tornado | Relatively High | $13M | once in about 2 years (modeled) |
| Strong Wind | Relatively High | $3.1M | 5.6 a year (modeled) |
| Hail | Relatively High | $2.9M | 3.8 a year (modeled) |
| Ice Storm | Relatively High | $827K | 1.2 a year (modeled) |
| Lightning | Relatively High | $1.0M | 45 a year (modeled) |
| Winter Weather | Relatively High | $288K | 11 a year (modeled) |
| Landslide | Relatively Moderate | $115K | once in about 4 years (modeled) |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
Counties that share a border with Peoria 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 Peoria CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Peoria County's FEMA declarations (CSV)15 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis