Pope County, Illinois
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 17151 · population 3,760 · 369 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 660 records for Pope County, Illinois from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 611 days; the most frequent are fog, smoke and funnel cloud records (113 records). 487 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 21, 1972 tornado: 3 deaths. FEMA has issued 12 declarations naming the county since 1973, 10 of them for natural hazards; the latest for a natural hazard was “Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Tornadoes” on November 26, 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
- 660on 611 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 38 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $40Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 14strongest F3
- FEMA declarations
- 12latest 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 Pope 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 | 112 | 1997-2026 | 0 | 0 | – | 10 of 102 |
| Winter storms | 107 | 107 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 0 | $14M | 15 of 102 |
| Heat | 83 | 83 | 1997-2025 | 0 | 2 | – | 9 of 102 |
| Floods | 78 | 73 | 1996-2025 | 0 | 3 | $2.0M | 14 of 102 |
| Extreme cold | 72 | 72 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 0 | $34K | 11 of 102 |
| High wind and dust storms | 61 | 61 | 1997-2025 | 0 | 0 | $6.9M | 14 of 102 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 56 | 53 | 1958-2024 | 0 | 0 | $1.6M | 97 of 102 |
| Drought | 35 | 35 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 0 | $4.9M | 7 of 102 |
| Hail | 34 | 28 | 1958-2023 | 0 | 0 | $6K | 98 of 102 |
| Tornadoes | 14 | 12 | 1972-2019 | 3 | 3 | $9.5M | 90 of 102 |
| Heavy rain | 7 | 7 | 2003-2015 | 0 | 0 | $52K | 20 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 Pope County had?
NOAA records 14 tornadoes in Pope County from 1972 to 2019, the strongest rated F3, with 3 deaths and 3 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 15 tornadoes whose track touched Pope County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 14: they file a crossing tornado once per county segment, and the two databases differ on some tracks); along their whole tracks they killed 8 people, 3 of them in Pope County.
| Date | Tornado | Rating | Path | Killed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013-11-17 14:05, as SPC files it | PaducahCrossed IL, KY | EF3 | 42.5 mi | 3 |
| 1972-04-21 17:20, as SPC files it | Eddyville | F3 | 0.3 mi | 3 |
| 2003-05-06 20:32, as SPC files it | Karnak | F4 | 33 mi | 2 |
| 2002-04-28 00:59, as SPC files it | Golconda | F3 | 22 mi | 0 |
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Illinois.
Every tornado record filed for Pope County (14)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019-06-23 | Waltersburg, Pope County | EF1 2.8 mi x 120 yd | 0 | 0 | $46K |
| 2016-05-10 | Bristol, Pope County | EF0 0.05 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2013-11-17 | New Liberty, Pope County | EF2 3.3 mi x 300 yd | 0 | 0 | $633K |
| 2006-09-22 | Bay City, Pope County | F1 2.3 mi x 300 yd | 0 | 0 | $22K |
| 2004-10-18 | Abbott, Pope County | F2 6 mi x 300 yd | 0 | 0 | $234K |
| 2003-05-06 | Temple Hill, Pope County | F3 13 mi x 600 yd | 0 | 0 | $4.0M |
| 2003-05-04 | Golconda, Pope County | F1 1.2 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2003-05-04 | Bay City, Pope County | F1 0.2 mi x 40 yd | 0 | 0 | $13K |
| 2002-04-28 | Dixon Spgs, Pope County | F3 12 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 1 | $656K |
| 1999-01-22 | Golconda, Pope County | F2 1.5 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 0 | $1.4M |
| 1990-10-03 | Pope County | F2 1 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K step |
| 1986-05-15 | Pope County | F0 0.2 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | $3K step |
| 1972-04-21 | Pope County | F1 | 0 | 2 | $250K step |
| 1972-04-21 | Pope County | F3 0.3 mi x 60 yd | 3 | 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 Pope County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the March 19, 2025 strong wind ($1,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-04-28 | DroughtPope County · forecast zone Pope | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-02-15 | Dense FogPope County · forecast zone Pope | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-26 | Cold/Wind ChillPope County · forecast zone Pope | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-24 | Winter StormPope County · forecast zone Pope | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-23 | Cold/Wind ChillPope County · forecast zone Pope | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-21 | Winter WeatherPope County · forecast zone Pope | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-08 | Dense FogPope County · forecast zone Pope | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-11-23 | Dense FogPope County · forecast zone Pope | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-11-22 | Dense FogPope County · forecast zone Pope | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-11-21 | Dense FogPope County · forecast zone Pope | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-11-07 | Dense FogPope County · forecast zone Pope | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-11-03 | Dense FogPope County · forecast zone Pope | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1972-04-21 | TornadoPope County | F3 0.3 mi x 60 yd | 3 | 0 | $25K step |
| 2010-08-03 | Excessive HeatPope County and Saline County · forecast zone Pope Excessively high heat indices were recorded in the late morning and afternoon hours of both the 3rd and 4th. On the 3rd, the heat index peaked at 118 degrees at the Carbondale airport. Similar values were measured elsewhere in southern Illinois. Heat indices only fell into the mid 80's at sunrise. On the 4th, the heat ... | 0 | 2 | – | |
| 1997-03-01 | Flash FloodEddyville, Pope County Highways 145 and 146, the two main arteries through Pope County, were closed by high water and debris. A vehicle attempting to cross a flooded highway became submerged in floodwater. A Pope County sheriffs deputy rescued the sole occupant of the vehicle, a female who was hanging from the luggage rack on the vehicle. ... | 0 | 2 | $92K | |
| 1972-04-21 | TornadoPope County | F1 | 0 | 2 | $250K step |
| 2016-07-06 | Flash FloodBristol, Pope County Flash flooding of a creek in the Shawnee National Forest resulted in significant injury to a camper. A campsite along the creek at Jackson Falls was quickly overtaken by floodwaters. The driver of a van parked near the creek was awakened by the rocking of the van by rushing floodwaters. He escaped, however a tent ... | 0 | 1 | $1K | |
| 2002-04-28 | TornadoDixon Spgs, Pope County The tornado touched down near Dixon Springs and tracked east, parallel and very close to Illinois Route 146. The path was through rural farm country and the Shawnee National Forest. A couple of farm buildings were damaged near the beginning of the track. Where the tornado crossed Route 146, a mobile home was ... | F3 12 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 1 | $656K |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009-01-26 | Winter StormPope County and Saline County · forecast zone Pope | 0 | 0 | $12M | |
| 2008-09-14 | High WindPope County and Saline County · forecast zone Pope | 56 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $6.9M |
| 2003-05-06 | TornadoTemple Hill, Pope County | F3 13 mi x 600 yd | 0 | 0 | $4.0M |
| 2008-02-11 | Winter StormPope County and Saline County · forecast zone Pope | 0 | 0 | $2.1M | |
| 1999-01-22 | TornadoGolconda, Pope County | F2 1.5 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 0 | $1.4M |
| 2008-03-18 | FloodMc Cormick, Pope County | 0 | 0 | $1.0M | |
| 2002-04-28 | TornadoDixon Spgs, Pope County | F3 12 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 1 | $656K |
| 2013-11-17 | TornadoNew Liberty, Pope County | EF2 3.3 mi x 300 yd | 0 | 0 | $633K |
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 $250K, in the dollars of the day) holds: April 21, 1972 (tornado, Pope County); October 3, 1990 (tornado, Pope 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 Pope 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 | – | – | – | – | 6 | 20 | 53 | 34 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 10 | 28 | 47 | 22 |
| Heat | – | – | – | – | 6 | 11 | 40 z | 26 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 18 | 24 | 25 | 11 |
| Extreme cold | – | – | – | – | 3 | 26 | 23 | 20 |
| High wind and dust storms | – | – | – | – | 2 | 14 | 31 | 14 |
Heat in the 2010s: 40 records against 11 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 Pope 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 Pope County. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 88 · Feb 75 · Mar 51 · Apr 78 · May 50 · Jun 38 · Jul 65 · Aug 41 · Sep 20 · Oct 36 · Nov 52 · Dec 66 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Pope County
FEMA's register lists 12 declarations that include Pope County: 9 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 |
| 2013-11-26 | DR-4157 | Tornado | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Tornadoes |
| 2011-06-07 | DR-1991 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 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 |
| 2003-05-15 | DR-1469 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| 2002-05-21 | DR-1416 | Tornado | Severe Storms, Tornadoes and Flooding |
| 1997-03-21 | DR-1170 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 1993-07-09 | DR-997 | 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 Pope County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 78 flood or flash flood records for Pope County from 1996 to 2025, on 73 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Pope County ranks 2830th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $0 on 1 claim filed in Pope County; the most in one year was 1 in 1983. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1983: 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 Pope County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Pope County Very Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $5.4 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 Low | $1.9M | once in about 108 years (modeled) |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Low | $86K | 1.1 a year (modeled) |
| Drought | Relatively Low | $139K | 5.1 modeled event-days a year |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | $429K | 4.2 a year (modeled) |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | $30K | 7.2 a year (modeled) |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | $459K | once in about 3 years (modeled) |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | $154K | 9.7 modeled event-days a year |
| Landslide | Very Low | $353 | about once 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 Pope 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 Pope CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Pope County's FEMA declarations (CSV)12 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis