Wabash County, Illinois
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 17185 · population 11,347 · 223 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 776 records for Wabash County, Illinois from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 705 days; the most frequent are floods and flash floods (122 records). 492 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 March 13, 2015 flood: 1 death and $6,226 in damage in 2025 dollars. FEMA has issued 10 declarations naming the county since 1989, 8 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
- 776on 705 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 158 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $95Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 19strongest F4
- FEMA declarations
- 10latest 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 Wabash County most?
The most frequent records are floods and flash floods: 122 since 1996. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Floods | 122 | 118 | 1996-2024 | 1 | 0 | $5.0M | 3 of 102 |
| Winter storms | 121 | 120 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 0 | $89K | 4 of 102 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 107 | 102 | 1997-2026 | 0 | 0 | – | 5 of 102 |
| High wind and dust storms | 78 | 78 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 0 | $336K | 3 of 102 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 78 | 76 | 1973-2024 | 0 | 4 | $1.4M | 12 of 102 |
| Extreme cold | 76 | 76 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 0 | $3.4M | 3 of 102 |
| Heat | 75 | 75 | 1997-2025 | 0 | 3 | – | 6 of 102 |
| Hail | 58 | 50 | 1976-2026 | 0 | 0 | $945K | 8 of 102 |
| Drought | 26 | 26 | 1998-2024 | 0 | 0 | $4.9M | 6 of 102 |
| Tornadoes | 19 | 16 | 1958-2024 | 0 | 51 | $78M | 11 of 102 |
| Heavy rain | 14 | 14 | 2004-2013 | 0 | 0 | – | 1 of 102 |
| Lightning | 2 | 2 | 2011-2011 | 0 | 0 | $79K | 25 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 Wabash County had?
NOAA records 19 tornadoes in Wabash County from 1958 to 2024, the strongest rated F4, with 0 deaths and 51 injuries recorded in the county. That is 11th of 102 Illinois counties and 171st 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 18 tornadoes whose track touched Wabash County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 19: 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 Wabash County.
| Date | Tornado | Rating | Path | Killed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990-06-02 17:20, as SPC files it | ShoalsCrossed IL, IN | F4 | 106 mi | 1 |
| 1989-01-07 17:24, as SPC files it | AllendaleCrossed IL, IN | F4 | 19 mi | 0 |
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Illinois.
Every tornado record filed for Wabash County (19)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-05-26 | Cowling, Wabash County | EF0 0.66 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | $941 |
| 2022-05-19 | Keensburg, Wabash County | EF2 8.52 mi x 300 yd | 0 | 0 | $504K |
| 2013-11-17 | Gards Pt, Wabash County | EF2 10.28 mi x 225 yd | 0 | 1 | $317K |
| 2013-07-01 | Bellmont, Wabash County | EF0 0.8 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2011-04-19 | Allendale, Wabash County | EF1 2.75 mi x 125 yd | 0 | 0 | $66K |
| 2011-04-19 | Keensburg, Wabash County | EF2 11.25 mi x 250 yd | 0 | 0 | $3.3M |
| 2010-10-26 | Allendale, Wabash County | EF1 1.5 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 0 | $11K |
| 2010-10-26 | Maud, Wabash County | EF0 1.44 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $5K |
| 1998-06-12 | Patton, Wabash County | F0 0.3 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | $4K |
| 1998-05-03 | Allendale, Wabash County | F0 0.2 mi x 40 yd | 0 | 0 | $36K |
| 1995-05-18 | Mt Carmel, Wabash County | F1 0.5 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $97K |
| 1993-08-16 | Mt.Carmel, Wabash County | F1 0.5 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $112K |
| 1990-06-02 | Wabash County | F4 13.3 mi x 300 yd | 0 | 0 | $2.5M step |
| 1989-01-07 | Wabash County | F2 2 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $2.5M step |
| 1989-01-07 | Wabash County | F4 7 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 50 | $25M step |
| 1974-05-30 | Wabash County | F0 | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1971-05-06 | Wabash County | F1 0.1 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1963-04-19 | Wabash County | F2 3.6 mi x 250 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K step |
| 1958-07-11 | Wabash County | F2 2.7 mi x 50 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 Wabash County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the January 14, 2026 strong wind ($10,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-04-27 | HailAllendale, Wabash County | 1.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-04-27 | HailOdgen, Wabash County | 1.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-02-19 | Dense FogWabash County · forecast zone Wabash | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-02-15 | Dense FogWabash County · forecast zone Wabash | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-02-01 | Cold/Wind ChillWabash County · forecast zone Wabash | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-30 | Cold/Wind ChillWabash County · forecast zone Wabash | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-25 | Extreme Cold/Wind ChillWabash County · forecast zone Wabash | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-24 | Heavy SnowWabash County · forecast zone Wabash | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-23 | Cold/Wind ChillWabash County · forecast zone Wabash | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-14 | Strong WindWabash County · forecast zone Wabash | 43 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $10K |
| 2025-11-23 | Dense FogWabash County · forecast zone Wabash | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-09-23 | Dense FogWabash County · forecast zone Wabash | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015-03-13 | FloodMt Carmel, Wabash County Minor flooding occurred on the Wabash River. At the Mount Carmel river gage, the river crested at 24.78 feet on the 19th. Flood stage is 19 feet. Backwater flooding of tributary creeks occurred, including Coffee Creek near Keensburg. One person drowned when his ultra-terrain vehicle became submerged in creek ... | 1 | 0 | $6K | |
| 1989-01-07 | TornadoWabash County | F4 7 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 50 | $25M step |
| 2005-07-21 | HeatEdwards County and Wabash County · forecast zone Wabash Several days of excessive heat and humidity caused a significant increase in heat-related illnesses. Hospitals reported that a majority of those treated were outdoor workers. The heat index peaked around 110 degrees each afternoon, and dropped to only around 80 degrees at night. True air temperatures reached the mid ... | 0 | 3 | – | |
| 2013-11-17 | TornadoGards Pt, Wabash County Four homes were damaged, and two mobile homes were destroyed. One mobile home was thrown across the road and the frame was wrapped around a tree. One woman inside was injured. Another nearby mobile home was turned on its side. One home had part of the roof lifted off. The garage of the residence was destroyed, but ... | EF2 10.28 mi x 225 yd | 0 | 1 | $317K |
| 2004-07-04 | Thunderstorm WindCountywide, Wabash County Large trees were blown down in Wabash County, specifically in the communities of Mount Carmel, Keensburg, and Bellmont. In Keensburg, several large trees were uprooted, and numerous large limbs over 6 inches in diameter were down. There was some minor structural damage. One car was damaged by a very large falling tree ... | 52 kt wind | 0 | 1 | $39K |
| 2002-04-28 | Thunderstorm WindCountywide, Wabash County Trees and power lines were down throughout the county. A woman received minor injuries from being struck by flying debris. A tree landed on a mobile home, causing moderate damage but no injuries. | 52 kt wind | 0 | 1 | $41K |
| 2001-10-24 | Thunderstorm WindCountywide, Wabash County A line of thunderstorms produced strong winds across the county. Mount Carmel's public utility lost about 15 poles, six of which were steel. A semi-tractor trailer rig was blown over on Illinois Route 1 at Keensburg. A trailer home was blown about 30 feet. Although the trailer was heavily damaged or destroyed, nobody ... | 61 kt wind | 0 | 1 | $83K |
| 1987-07-05 | Thunderstorm WindWabash County | 0 | 1 | – |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007-04-08 | Frost/FreezeEdwards County and Wabash County · forecast zone Wabash | 0 | 0 | $3.4M | |
| 2011-04-19 | TornadoKeensburg, Wabash County | EF2 11.25 mi x 250 yd | 0 | 0 | $3.3M |
| 1996-05-01 | FloodEdwards County and Wabash County · forecast zone Wabash | 0 | 0 | $1.9M | |
| 1996-05-03 | HailMt Carmel, Wabash County | 2.75 in hail | 0 | 0 | $941K |
| 1996-05-01 | FloodEdwards County and Wabash County · forecast zone Wabash | 0 | 0 | $941K | |
| 2005-01-05 | FloodEdwards County and Wabash County · forecast zone Wabash | 0 | 0 | $604K | |
| 2022-05-19 | TornadoKeensburg, Wabash County | EF2 8.52 mi x 300 yd | 0 | 0 | $504K |
| 2013-11-17 | TornadoGards Pt, Wabash County | EF2 10.28 mi x 225 yd | 0 | 1 | $317K |
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 $25M, in the dollars of the day) holds: January 7, 1989 (tornado, Wabash 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 Wabash 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 13 | 39 | 53 | 17 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 12 | 36 | 51 | 22 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | – | – | – | – | 5 | 18 | 57 z | 27 |
| High wind and dust storms | – | – | – | – | 5 | 18 | 31 | 24 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 0 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 16 | 25 | 23 | 7 |
| Extreme cold | – | – | – | – | 3 | 26 | 26 | 21 |
Fog, smoke and funnel clouds in the 2010s: 57 records against 18 in the decade before, 54 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 Wabash 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 Wabash County. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 100 · Feb 87 · Mar 64 · Apr 82 · May 61 · Jun 60 · Jul 89 · Aug 44 · Sep 28 · Oct 39 · Nov 40 · Dec 82 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Wabash County
FEMA's register lists 10 declarations that include Wabash County: 7 major disasters, 3 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for tornado (3) and severe storm (3).
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 1996-05-06 | DR-1112 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 1990-06-22 | DR-871 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes & Flooding |
| 1989-01-13 | DR-819 | Tornado | Severe Storms & Tornadoes |
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 Wabash County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 122 flood or flash flood records for Wabash County from 1996 to 2024, on 118 days, with 1 death. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Wabash County ranks 2358th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $30,000 on 10 claims filed in Wabash County; the most in one year was 4 in 1985. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1984: 2 · 1985: 4 · 1993: 1 · 1995: 2 · 1998: 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 Wabash County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Wabash County Very Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $7.6 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 | $432K | 4.5 modeled event-days a year |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low | $2.8M | once in about 142 years (modeled) |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | $418K | 9.1 modeled event-days a year |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | $42K | 7.8 a year (modeled) |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | $317K | 4.1 a year (modeled) |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Low | $28K | once in about 3 years (modeled) |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | $441K | once in about 6 years (modeled) |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | $305K | 1.2 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 Wabash 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
- Floods in IllinoisThe state's floods and flash floods, 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 Wabash CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Wabash County's FEMA declarations (CSV)10 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis