McLean County Storm Activity
Wind, hail, and tornado activity from official NOAA sources (NWS & SPC) · Last 180 days · Updated Sep 11, 2026
McLean County, Illinois has recorded tornado activity: official National Weather Service (NWS) and Storm Prediction Center (SPC) records list 7 tornado reports among 54 severe weather events here in the last 180 days, alongside 11 hail reports with hail up to 1" and 36 high-wind reports with gusts up to 85 mph. The most recent recorded storm activity was in August 2026. This page updates daily: every event comes straight from official NOAA data — no estimates, no modeling, just the record.
What the radar showed
Last 30 days in McLean County
Recent storms — full detail available in the app
Storm activity from the last 30 days is summarized at the county level on this page. Exact locations, radar snapshots, and official warning boundaries for recent events are available with a free account.
See the specifics — free →Storm log — the official record, day by day
Events older than 30 days, as recorded by the National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center. Excerpts are quoted directly from official warnings and verified reports.
Tuesday, July 21, 2026
1 NWS warning — hail up to 0.88"
“At 535 AM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near Stanford, or 13 miles west of Normal, moving east at 55 mph. Hazard: Wind gusts up to 50 mph and nickel size hail. Impact: Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is possible. Locations impacted include...”
- Hail 0.88" McLean County NWS severe weather mention
Friday, July 10, 2026
1 SPC verified storm report — 1 tornado report
“Brief touchdown in a corn field observed on video. (ILX)”
- Tornado Tornado 2 NE Saybrook SPC verified report
Saturday, July 4, 2026
3 NWS warnings — hail up to 0.88", wind gusts up to 50 mph
“At 332 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along a line extending from near Gridley to Towanda to near McLean. Movement was east at 35 mph. Hazard: Wind gusts up to 50 mph. Impact: Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects. Locations impacted include...”
“At 258 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along a line extending from near Eureka to near Hopedale. Movement was east at 35 mph. Hazard: Wind gusts up to 50 mph and nickel size hail. Impact: Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is possible. Locations impacted include...”
- Wind 50 mph McLean County NWS severe weather mention
- Hail 0.88" McLean County NWS severe weather mention
- Hail 0.5" McLean County NWS severe weather mention
Wednesday, June 24, 2026
3 NWS warnings — hail up to 0.88"
“At 738 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near Eureka, moving southeast at 30 mph. Hazard: Wind gusts of 50 to 55 mph and nickel size hail. Impact: Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is possible. Locations impacted include... Eureka, El Paso, Goodfield, Carlock, Congerville, Secor, Kappa, and Panola.”
“At 801 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near Carlock, or 8 miles northwest of Normal, moving southeast at 25 mph. Hazard: Wind gusts up to 50 mph and penny size hail. Impact: Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is possible. Locations impacted include...”
- Hail 0.88" McLean County NWS severe weather mention
- Hail 0.75" McLean County NWS severe weather mention
- Hail 0.75" McLean County NWS severe weather mention
Wednesday, June 17, 2026
3 SPC verified storm reports — wind gusts up to 70 mph
“Wind gust observation from personal weather station...relayed through broadcast media. (ILX)”
“Transmission pole snapped and hanging wires over roadway at N 2380 E Rd.... just south of E 900 N Rd. (ILX)”
- Wind 70 mph Gridley SPC verified report
- Wind Unknown 4 E Gridley SPC verified report
- Wind Unknown Chenoa SPC verified report
Friday, June 12, 2026
1 NWS warning — wind gusts up to 50 mph
“A line of thunderstorms is sinking southeastward across southeast Missouri, southern Illinois, southwest Indiana, and western Kentucky early this morning. Wind gusts of 40 to 50 mph, torrential downpours, and frequent lightning can be expected.”
- Wind 50 mph McLean County NWS severe weather mention
Thursday, June 11, 2026
6 SPC verified storm reports — wind gusts up to 59 mph
“Large tree snapped about halfway up the base. The tree was approximately two to three feet in diameter. Time estimated by radar. A nearby personal weather station measu (ILX)”
“Social media photo showing a tree blown down. Time estimated by radar. (ILX)”
- Wind 59 mph Central Illinois Airpor SPC verified report
- Wind Unknown Le Roy SPC verified report
- Wind Unknown Lexington SPC verified report
- Wind Unknown 2 WNW Central Illinois SPC verified report
- Wind Unknown 3 SSW Bloomington SPC verified report
- Wind Unknown Carlock SPC verified report
Wednesday, June 10, 2026
5 SPC verified storm reports — wind gusts up to 78 mph
“A few four inch diameter tree limbs were blown down onto the front porch of a house. Time estimated by radar. (ILX)”
“Large tree branch down on Six Points Rd. just west of Juniper Ln. (ILX)”
- Wind 78 mph Le Roy SPC verified report
- Wind 60 mph Saybrook SPC verified report
- Wind Unknown Bellflower SPC verified report
- Wind Unknown 2 SW Bloomington SPC verified report
- Wind Unknown Lexington SPC verified report
Monday, June 8, 2026
1 NWS warning — wind gusts up to 50 mph
“At 1122 AM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over Minier, or 15 miles southeast of Morton, moving north at 35 mph. Hazard: Wind gusts up to 50 mph. Impact: Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects. Locations impacted include...”
- Wind 50 mph McLean County NWS severe weather mention
Thursday, April 16, 2026
12 SPC verified storm reports — wind gusts up to 85 mph, 6 tornado reports
“EF0... peak wind speed 85 mph... path length 3.2 miles. Tracked ENE across western and northern portions of Saybrook. A narrow... one block damage path consisted of sev (ILX)”
“EF1... path length 7.9 miles... peak wind speed 90 mph. The tornado began in rural northeast McLean County about 4 miles northwest of Colfax... damaging trees and power (ILX)”
- Tornado Tornado 1 W Saybrook SPC verified report
- Tornado Tornado 4 E Pleasant Hill SPC verified report
- Tornado Tornado Lexington SPC verified report
- Tornado Tornado 2 ENE Bloomington SPC verified report
- Tornado Tornado 5 WNW Bloomington SPC verified report
- Tornado Tornado 5 S Shirley SPC verified report
- Wind 85 mph Normal SPC verified report
- Wind Unknown Saybrook SPC verified report
- Wind Unknown 1 NNE Colfax SPC verified report
- Wind Unknown 4 E Towanda SPC verified report
- Wind Unknown Shirley SPC verified report
- Wind Unknown Carlock SPC verified report
Sunday, April 12, 2026
1 NWS warning — wind gusts up to 50 mph
“Moderately strong winds out of the south to southwest will continue late this evening into the overnight hours. Expect a few sporadic gusts of 40 to 50 mph with more frequent gusts of 25 to 40 mph. These winds can make driving difficult, especially for high profile vehicles.”
- Wind 50 mph McLean County NWS severe weather mention
Thursday, April 2, 2026
1 SPC verified storm report · 1 NWS warning — hail up to 1", wind gusts up to 50 mph
“WHAT...South winds 25 to 35 mph with gusts up to 50 mph expected. WHERE...Portions of central, east central, and southeast Illinois. WHEN...From 10 AM this morning to 7 PM CDT this evening. IMPACTS...Gusty winds will blow around unsecured objects. Tree limbs could be blown down and a few power outages may result.”
- Wind 50 mph McLean County NWS severe weather mention
- Hail 1" Danvers SPC verified report
Tuesday, March 31, 2026
2 NWS warnings — hail up to 0.75"
“At 1159 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over Heyworth, or 10 miles south of Bloomington, moving northeast at 30 mph. Hazard: Wind gusts up to 40 mph and penny size hail. Impact: Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is possible. Locations impacted include... Le Roy, Heyworth, and Downs.”
“At 1138 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over Atlanta, or 12 miles northeast of Lincoln, moving northeast at 25 mph. Hazard: Wind gusts up to 40 mph and penny size hail. Impact: Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is possible. Locations impacted include... Heyworth, Atlanta, McLean, and Shirley.”
- Hail 0.75" McLean County NWS severe weather mention
- Hail 0.75" McLean County NWS severe weather mention
Thursday, March 26, 2026
3 SPC verified storm reports — hail up to 1"
- Hail 1" 2 W Holder SPC verified report
- Hail 1" 3 N Shirley SPC verified report
- Wind Unknown Normal SPC verified report
Monday, March 16, 2026
1 NWS warning — wind gusts up to 50 mph
“WHAT...Northwest winds 25 to 35 mph with gusts up to 50 mph. WHERE...Portions of central, east central, southeast, and west central Illinois. WHEN...Until noon CDT today. IMPACTS...Gusty winds will blow around unsecured objects. Tree limbs could be blown down and a few power outages may result.”
- Wind 50 mph McLean County NWS severe weather mention
Today's severe weather outlook
Common questions
When was the last severe storm in McLean County, IL?
The most recent recorded event was in August 2026. Official NWS and SPC records show 54 severe weather events in McLean County over the last 180 days. Exact dates and locations for recent storms are available in the app with a free account.
Has there been hail in McLean County recently?
Yes — 11 hail reports in the last 180 days, with hail up to 1" recorded.
How do I check whether a specific address was affected?
Create a free IDOLCheck account and run an address check. It shows verified storm reports and official NWS warning boundaries around any specific property — county-level pages like this one only tell part of the story.